Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Chris Walton
Department: Transportation
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO APPROVE Paratransit Riders Choice Program, which adds an additional transportation choice for ADA eligible customers to complement their existing Paratransit services by providing a not-to-exceed $18 per trip subsidy to utilize a taxi company or licensed transportation network company of their choosing who accepts the County’s Rider’s Choice payment card to arrange their trip.
ACTION: (T-10:21 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Bogen voted in the affirmative telephonically. Commissioner Rich was inaudible during the vote.
B. MOTION TO APPROVE most reasonable/sole source designation for CabConnect, Inc. for payment card services for the Paratransit Rider’s Choice Program.
ACTION: (T-10:21 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Bogen voted in the affirmative telephonically. Commissioner Rich was inaudible during the vote.
C. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute an agreement, prepared and approved by the Office of the County Attorney, with CabConnect, Inc. for payment card services for the Paratransit Rider’s Choice Program for a three-year term, with the option to renew for an additional two one-year terms, at an estimated contract cost of $3,180,000. The initial contract period shall begin on February 1, 2021 and terminate three years from that date.
(Per the Tuesday Agenda Memorandum, the Board’s consideration of the item is based on the revised edit as noted in the scrivener’s error section.)
ACTION: (T-10:21 AM) Approved. (Scrivener’s Error - See County Administrator’s Report: Currently reads: C. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE … The initial contract period shall begin on February 1, 2021 and terminate three years from that date. Should read: C. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE … The initial contract period shall begin on February 1, 2021.)
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Bogen voted in the affirmative telephonically. Commissioner Rich was inaudible during the vote.
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Why Action is Necessary
A. Board of County Commissioners' (Board) approval is required to establish a program.
B. In accordance with the Broward County Procurement Code, Section, 21.34, Sole Source Procurement, a sole source procurement above the award authority of the County Administrator must be approved and awarded by the Board.
C. In accordance with the Broward County Procurement Code, Section 21.31.a.4, Award Authority, Board approval is required for awards exceeding $500,000
What Action Accomplishes
A. Provides for the continuation of the Paratransit Riders Choice Program which adds an additional transportation choice for ADA eligible customers to complement their existing Paratransit services by providing a not to exceed $18 per trip subsidy to utilize a taxi company or licensed transportation network provider of their choosing who accepts the County’s Rider’s Choice payment card to arrange their trip.
B. Approves the sole source designation of CabConnect, Inc. for payment card services for the Paratransit Rider’s Choice Program.
C. Authorizes the County Administrator to execute an agreement, prepared and approved by the Office of the County Attorney, with CabConnect, Inc. for payment card services for the Paratransit Rider’s Choice Program for a not-to-exceed term of five years.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
April 4, 2017, Item No. 45
November 14, 2017, Item Nos. 34, 40, 41 and 45
December 12, 2017, Item No. 85
January 29, 2019, Item No.62
Summary Explanation/Background
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board's values of "Cooperatively delivering an efficient and accessible regional intermodal transportation network" and "Consistently delivering responsive, efficient, quality services to the public and internal customers."
As background, on April 4, 2017, Item 45, the Board approved the creation of the Paratransit Rider’s Choice Pilot Program (“Pilot Program”). The program was intended to provide an additional transportation choice for up to 150 eligible customers to complement their existing Paratransit services by providing a subsidy to utilize a taxi company or licensed transportation network provider of choice to arrange their trip. It was determined that the subsidy would be provided via a payment card issued to a participant.
At its December 12, 2017 meeting, Item 85, the Board approved a motion to authorize the County Administrator to execute an agreement, prepared and approved by the Office of the County Attorney, for payment card services with CabConnect, Inc. for the Transit Division’s Paratransit Item Rider’s Choice Pilot Program to begin in January 2018. The Contract with Cabconnect was executed on January 18, 2018.
At its January 29, 2019 meeting, Item 62, the Board approved the continuation of the Pilot Program for an additional two-year period. During the two-year extension, staff looked to expand the program by increasing enrollment; the per trip subsidy was increased from $15 to $18; and staff was to evaluate the feasibility of using the payment card system to also serve as a system to collect paratransit and fares in addition to cash payment. The agreement with CabConnect, Inc. was subsequently amended and expires on January 31, 2021.
During the Pilot Program extension (from February 2019 to current), the number of program participants increased from 144 to 575. During the entire three-year Pilot Program period, 398 of the 575 participants have taken trips with the Pilot Program. The Pilot Program’s total ridership for the 398 participants is 50,311 trips at a cost of $682,500, an average trip cost of $13.56. The TOPS system average cost per trip for the same three-year period is approximately $26.03. This amounts to an average cost savings of $12.47 per trip for a total savings of approximately $627,378 for the 50,311 trips taken.
The new agreement with CabConnect will include approximately $180,000 paid to CabConnect for the administration and cashiering services provided; and a potential pass-thru amount of close to $3,000,000 to be paid to the participating Taxicab and Transportation Network Companies (TNC) in Broward County who provide the trips. CabConnect provides an open interface for any taxi company or TNC who wish to utilize the card processing solution to accept the Rider’s Choice payment card.
In summary, the Pilot Paratransit Rider’s Choice Program successfully provided increased user convenience, trips at a lower cost than the existing TOPS program and provided 50,311 trips and $682,500 in revenue to the local taxi industry.
Source of Additional Information
Chris Walton, Director, Transportation Department, (954) 357-8301
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
It is expected that the lower taxi subsidy will be covered by the reduction in the number of Paratransit trips the customers would take at the higher per trip cost. Funds for Paratransit transportation trips are currently budgeted in the Transit Division's Fiscal Year 2021 Operational fund.