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File Number: 16-655 <br />Steve Magidson of Docustream. The Advisory Board’s duties include review of the LINKS <br />performance and budget and a recommendation for the BID assessment rate. On November 21, <br />2016 the Advisory Board met to complete the annual review of the LINKS Shuttle. The FY <br />2016-17 Annual Report is attached to the Resolution for your information. <br />Analysis <br />The Annual Report includes a review of the LINKS performance, planned operations, budget and <br />a recommendation for the FY 2016-17 BID assessment. Following is a summary of the Annual <br />Report. <br />Service Enhancements <br />The BID renewal process provided an opportunity to consider service improvements. After <br />outreach to businesses and in-depth work with transportation experts, the LINKS route was <br />divided into two loops and expanded. The updated service started in March 2015. The new north <br />and south loops provide more frequent service with shorter wait times, shorter round-trip rides <br />and connections to businesses that previously could not access LINKS. <br />During this period, the San Leandro Transportation Management Organization (SLTMO) <br />implemented other improvements including updated LINKS branding, new signage, brochure and <br />new website. Over this last year, the LINKS brochure was translated into Spanish and Chinese <br />and bus benches were added to stops that did not already have an existing AC Transit bench and <br />where space permitted. <br />Current Operations <br />The free LINKS shuttle operates Monday - Friday during peak commute hours (5:45 - 9:45 am <br />and 3:00 - 7:00 pm). LINKS provides critical “first and last mile” connection between BART and <br />employers in West San Leandro, serving major employers including Coca Cola Bottling <br />Company, Federal Express, Walmart, and Costco, as well as small employers. There are over <br />600 employers and almost 17,000 employees in the LINKS service area. LINKS also provides <br />transportation to retail centers and the Davis Street Family Resource Center, which services <br />10,000 low-income people each year. <br />Participation in the BID helps businesses comply with the BAAQMD Commuter Benefits <br />program. In 2014, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) implemented a new <br />Commuter Benefits Program that requires all employers with 50 or more full-time employees to <br />provide commuter benefits to their employees. To comply with the Program, employers must <br />select one (or more) of four commuter benefit options and register with BAAQMD. Participation <br />in the LINKS BID satisfies Option 3 (“Employer Provided Transit”) under the new requirements, <br />allowing businesses to save time and money when compared to creating their own in-house <br />program. <br />A new rider survey was conducted in 2016. The survey showed significant improvement in rider <br />satisfaction, most likely due to the expanded service. Overall satisfaction with the service <br />increased with 90% of riders rating the service good to excellent. Schedule satisfaction improved <br />significantly moving from a 64% good to excellent rating to 81%. If LINKS were not available, <br />23% of the LINKS riders surveyed indicated that they would drive alone demonstrating that LINKS <br />substantively reduces single occupancy vehicle trips. Rider comments included “Great Service, <br />Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 11/29/2016