Fiscal Note
A resolution (RES-07-00686) was previously approved by the Council in June, 2007, authorizing a pass agreement with Madison Area Technical College (MATC) for three years with an option for an extension. However, Metro has indicated that MATC staff changes and subsequent re-prioritizing at MATC resulted in the contract not being signed, and Metro entered into new negotiations with MATC several months ago.
This resolution will authorize a two year contract that provides for the reimbursement by MATC for free access by MATC students to Metro Transit fixed route and ADA paratransit services pursuant to the TPC-approved fare tariff. $335,382 in anticipated revenues is included in Metro's 2008 operating budget. The total amount billable during the first year of the agreement shall be based on ridership x $0.88 per fixed-route ride. There shall be a minimum and a maximum of +/- 16% for the 2007-08 academic year over or under the actual 2006-07 ridership, identical to the original resolution. For the 2008-09 academic year, the per ride rate will be $0.952 with a minimum and maximum of +/- 16% over the previous year's actual ridership. This is different from the 12% in the original resolution. This change is the result of an agreed upon modification of the summer ridership base for 2007-08 that will be used as the basis for 2008-09 billing. Paratransit rides will be billed at the rate of the applicable peak or off-peak ADA paratransit fare in the TPC-approved fare tariff. Contract revenues have been anticipated in the 2008 Transit Utility operating budget and will be included in future Metro operating budgets.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into an agreement with Madison Area Technical College (MATC) for provision of free access by MATC students to Metro Transit fixed route and ADA paratransit services, with reimbursement for student trips during the contract period.
Body
PREAMBLE
Resolution RES-07-00686 was passed authorizing a student ride pass program for Madison Area Technical College. Before the agreement could be completed, staff and other changes at MATC resulted in Metro Transit renegotiating the terms of the agreement with MATC. MATC wanted a two rather than three year agreement. In addition, MATC was concerned with the ridership numbers, particularly in the summer months. Billing for ride pass programs is typically based on the number of rides over or under the previous year's actual ridership. In the past, MATC had a combined spring/summer ride pass, which meant students not attending summer school could still use the pass during the summer. MATC will begin restricting summer pass usage to those students actually attending summer school. Therefore, Metro will base maximum payments for summer ridership during this agreement on deflated numbers (the 2005-06 academic year) rather than on higher ridership years. MATC will in turn agree to a higher maximum percentage (16% compared to 12%) for both years of the agreement in order to share the risk appropriately.
WHEREAS, Madison Area Technical College and Metro Transit have had a successful and productive contracting arrangement for an unlimited ride pass program for MATC students for years, and both parties wish to extend their agreement for a two year period; and
WHEREAS, the parties have negotiated specifications which meet all Transit and Parking Commission criteria set in advance for ride pass programs;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and the City Clerk are authorized to enter into an agreement with Madison Area Technical College for the purpose of providing a student unlimited ride pass program for the two year term of the agreement with reimbursement by MATC to the Transit Utility for student trips during academic years 2007-08 and 2008-09.