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WEST SAN LEANDRO SHUTTLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANKUAL REPORT F`Y 2008-09 During FY 2004-05, the SLTMO and the City continued to pursue all available grant opportunities to support the shuttle program. The City was again successful in obtaining a grant from the BAAQMD; and the SLTMO, in partnership with the Davis Street Family Resource Center (DSFRC), obtained a second two-year LIFT grant in the amount of $266,666. Since the LIFT grant from MTC was provided to fund transportation for DSFRC clients, the SLTMO expanded the LINKS route in January 2005 to include the DSFRC, located on Teagarden Street. The change in the service route to include DSFRC required the original BID to be re-formed to include additional businesses that lie within one-quarter mile of the expanded service area. The LINKS continued to see healthy ridership during FY 2006-07 with total hoardings exceeding 209,690. Average monthly hoardings for the FY 2006-07 were 17,474 with a high of 19,735 in October of 2006. The specific impact of the route change to include the DSFRC continues to be seen in the dramatic and continued increase of average monthly ridership. Average ridership from January 2004 to January 2005 (the inception date of the route change to include DSFRC) increased 27% to 11,890 total hoardings for January 2005, then increased another 24% from January 2005 to January 2006 for a total of 14,782 total hoardings, and then increased another 22% to reach 18,096 total hoardings in January 2007. Although current adverse economic conditions have affected some business operations in the West San Leandro Industrial Area with problems such as companies having to downsize their number of employees, relocation of businesses or closures of businesses leaving vacant properties, the LINKS continued to have a ridership of more than 160,000 total hoardings during FY 2007-08. July and August 2008 hoardings spiked to 17,115 and 13,720 hoardings versus the previous year's 14,038 and 12,550 hoardings. The spike in numbers is likely attributable to increased fuel prices that occurred spring and early summer of 2008. A full ridership report, from the inception of the shuttle through August 2008, is included as Exhibit A to this report. The current method of counting the number of passengers is by a manual clicker used by the shuttle driver. The SLTMO and staff have recommended improving the counting method by implementing an automated counter as the shuttle is boarded. The Executive Director and the SLTMO are exploring different alternatives to automating the passenger counting method. LINKS Operation for Fiscal Year 2007-08 In response to the California Air Resources Board regulations which required the LINKS transition from Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles to gasoline vehicles, effective January 1, 2008, LINKS service was modified to two 32-passenger gasoline-fueled busses operating from 5:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., five days a week (Monday -Friday) and one CNG vehicle that operates for one hour during the peak morning commute. The SLTMO requires MV Transportation to specify as to the exact amount of gasoline, and CNG vehicle use on their monthly invoices. The LINKS service consists of a 6.25 mile loop through the central and western areas of San Leandro bounded by Davis Street on the north, Doolittle Drive on the west, Farallon Drive on the south and San Leandro Boulevard on the east. Starting in 2008, the number of LINKS stops was increased from 11 to 23 to reduce intermittent stops (see LINKS route map -Exhibit B). The 3~1~<{{;ail