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Receive a Presentation and Discuss the LA County Free Fare Proposals Being Discussed as a Result of LA Metro’s Fareless System Initiative.
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Meeting Date: October 27, 2020
Contact Person/Dept: Rolando Cruz, Chief Transportation Officer /Transportation
Phone Number: (310) 253-6500
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Mobility, Traffic and Parking Subcommittee, Bicycle and Pedestrian, and Culver CityBus e-mail distribution lists via GovDelivery (10/21/2020);
Department Approval: Rolando Cruz, Chief Transportation Officer (10/20/20)
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
In conjunction with its Economic Recovery Planning, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) initiated a new exploratory task force on September 1, 2020 to work on a proposal to eliminate fares for all riders on LA Metro buses and trains. The effort is being called the Fareless System Initiative (FSI or OPERATION FSI), and the final deliverable of the task force will be a plan to the LA Metro CEO and ultimately to the LA Metro Board of Directors for their consideration by the end of 2020, with the plan including possible funding scenarios and sources.
Realizing that this initiative would significantly impact all LA County riders of LA Metro and the other municipal transit agencies operating in the region, the LA County Municipal Operator’s Association (LACMOA) requested the study to also consider the entire LA County region. As a result of this request, an ad hoc committee of LA Metro and LACMOA representatives has been established to guide the study with the goal of ensuring that each operator understands the impacts associated with such an initiative. The Culver City Chief Transportation Officer has been appointed to this ad hoc committee to ensure that Culver CityBus interests are considered.
Staff will be presenting the first draft of the FSI Ad Hoc committee considerations to the Mobility, Traffic and Parking Subcommittee as a way of updating and engaging the City Council in this key decision. Considering LA Metro’s goal of providing final recommendations by the end of calendar year 2020, staff is seeking this Subcommittee’s guidance and input on the frequency of updates and the extent of community engagement required in the process.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
No fiscal impacts exist in association with the discussion of this item.
ATTACHMENTS
None
RECOMMENDED MOTION
That the Mobility, Traffic and Parking Subcommittee:
Receive and file a Presentation on the LA County Free Fare proposals being discussed as a result of LA Metro’s Fareless System Initiative, discuss the impacts and consideration on Culver CityBus operations, and provide direction to staff on frequency of updates and extent of community engagement in the process.