8H Consent Calendar 2017 1204 - Laserfiche WebLink

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File Number: 17-648 Francisco, Oakland, San Jose), as part of its review of the annual report. On November 13, 2017, the Advisory Board met to complete the annual review of the LINKS Shuttle. The FY 2017-18 Annual Report is attached to the Resolution. Analysis The Annual Report includes a review of the LINKS shuttle’s performance, planned operations, budget, and a recommendation for the 2018 BID assessment. Following is a summary of the Annual Report. Current Operations The free LINKS shuttle operates Monday - Friday during peak commute hours (5:45 - 9:45 am and 3:00 - 7:00 pm). LINKS provides critical “first and last mile” connection between BART and employers in West San Leandro, serving major employers including Coca Cola Bottling Company, Federal Express, Walmart, and Costco, as well as small employers. There are over 600 employers and almost 17,000 employees in the LINKS service area, which is defined as the area within a quarter mile of the shuttle route. LINKS also provides transportation to retail centers and the Davis Street Family Resource Center, which services 10,000 low-income people each year. Participation in the BID helps businesses comply with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Commuter Benefits program. In 2014, the BAAQMD implemented the Commuter Benefits Program that requires all employers with 50 or more full-time employees to provide commuter benefits to their employees. To comply with the Program, employers must select one (or more) of four commuter benefit options and register with BAAQMD. Participation in the LINKS BID satisfies Option 3 (“Employer Provided Transit”) under the requirements, allowing businesses to save time and money when compared to creating their own in-house program. A new rider survey was conducted in 2016. The survey showed significant improvement in rider satisfaction, which is most likely due to the expanded service. Overall satisfaction with the service increased with 90% of riders rating the service good to excellent. Schedule satisfaction improved significantly moving from a 64% good to excellent rating to 81%. If LINKS were not available, 23% of the LINKS riders surveyed indicated that they would drive alone demonstrating that LINKS significantly reduces single occupancy vehicle trips. Rider comments included “Great Service, “Drivers are always so kind” and “Thank you!” LINKS Shuttle Ridership The expanded LINKS service started in March 2015. The updated north and south loops provide more frequent service with shorter wait times, shorter round-trip rides and connections to businesses that previously could not access LINKS. Ridership for the “old” LINKS service averaged 165,000 rides per year with an average of 674 rides per day. In 2016-17 LINKS provided 205,000 rides and averaged 800 rides per day. Staff and the SLTMO anticipate that Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 11/28/2017 195