REQUEST TO PROVIDE A SUPPLEMENTAL PILOT TAXI SERVICE FOR THE
DIAL – A – RIDE PROGRAM KNOWN AS "THE WAVE"

 

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that Council:

1. Authorize the City Manager to establish a contract with South Bay Yellow Cab of Gardena, California to provide supplemental taxi service in the form of a voucher program for "The Wave" Dial-A-Ride program.
2. Direct the City Manager to modify the existing agreement with the City of Redondo Beach that currently administers "The Wave" program to accommodate the voucher program as outlined in this proposal.

BACKGROUND

During the month of July, a request for proposal was sent to the taxi companies that are currently permitted to operate in the City of Hermosa Beach. The proposal sought bids on how their companies could provide supplemental transportation services currently provided by the joint Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach Dial – A – Ride program known as "The Wave." It was requested that the submitted proposal outline a voucher program that would be honored by their taxi company. Eligible residents would be able to purchase vouchers from the City that would be honored by the taxi driver when utilized. An eligible resident would pay a nominal fee ($2 each) for the purchase of the vouchers. A voucher would be good for a one way fare. If a resident decided to utilize the taxi voucher as opposed to the "Wave" bus, the resident could contact the taxi service that would respond and transport the resident to any location currently serviced by "The Wave". The advantage to such a program would allow an eligible resident to travel to a desired location more directly and quickly as opposed to waiting for The Wave bus to transport them.

Currently "The Wave" carries approximately 800 persons per month (one-way trips) and is available to any Hermosa Beach resident. A one way fare is $1.00 while senior citizens and disabled persons ride for $.50 one way. It is proposed that this pilot program utilizing vouchers for the taxi service would be available to only senior citizens and the disabled. The Cities of Carson and Torrance restrict their voucher programs to senior citizens and the disabled as well.

ANALYSIS

Three proposals were submitted by United Independent Taxi of Los Angeles, South Bay Yellow Cab of Gardena and All Yellow Taxi of Gardena, California. These three companies are licensed to operate in Hermosa Beach.

United Independent Taxi submitted the lowest bid of $11.00 that would be invoiced to the City for each voucher collected. As apart of their proposal, United would require that a resident contact "The Wave" dispatch center first if the resident desired to utilize the taxi service. However, United would only provide supplemental taxi service when The Wave was overbooked. The Wave dispatching staff would determine when United Independent Taxi would be contacted for supplemental taxi service.

South Bay Yellow Cab submitted a bid of $14.00 that would be invoiced to the City for each voucher collected. South Bay Yellow would provide service to all areas currently covered by The Wave. South Bay Yellow Cab would allow up to 4 passengers to travel together on one voucher (if from the same pick-up point and going to the same drop-off point). South Bay Yellow Cab would also provide Hermosa residents with a toll free number to call directly when a resident wanted to use this service instead of calling "The Wave." (As described in the United proposal)

All Yellow Taxi would provide a phone number for residents to call when desiring to utilize the program. All Yellow Taxi would provide service to all locations serviced by The Wave. However, All Yellow Taxi did not submit a bid amount to the City in their proposal.

It is recommended that while South Bay Yellow Cab submitted a slightly higher bid amount, their service proposal is much more comprehensive and accessible to residents. South Bay Yellow Cab has the largest fleet of taxis of the three companies submitting proposals and would easily be able to accommodate Hermosa residents using this program.

FISCAL IMPACT

Funding for this service is provided by Proposition A monies and is located in the Community Development Department’s Dial – A – Ride program budget. It is difficult to project the number of potential users of this program. If 20% of the current 800 riders utilized this program each month, the annual cost could be about $21,000 to $25,000 per year.

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ATTACHMENT A

CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH DIAL-A-TAXI PROGRAM

 

• Only eligible residents of Hermosa Beach may participate. Senior Citizens 62 years of age and older or disabled persons of any age may participate. (Proof of disability is required) Proof of Hermosa Beach residency will be required.
• Vouchers cost $2 each and up to 20 vouchers may be purchased per calendar month. Vouchers can be purchased at the Finance Department just like a parking permit.
• Each $2 voucher allows the rider a one way trip from one pick-up point to one destination within the same geographical area as currently serviced by "The Wave" program.
• Eligible residents can call for a taxi directly using a local toll free number. No reservation is required.
• All rides must begin or end in Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach or any of the satellite locations serviced by The Wave.
• Tipping is prohibited.
• An eligible resident may ride with up to 3 additional passengers on one voucher as long as it is from the same pick-up point to the same drop-off point.
• Eligible residents will continue to utilize their Wave ID card.

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