To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure - Transit
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2231
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Updated Agreement for Clipper Fare Payment System on Sonoma County Transit
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Transit Systems Manager to execute the amended and restated Memorandum of Understanding with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to participate in the Clipper fare payment system.
end
Executive Summary:
The execution of the amended and restated Clipper Memorandum of Understanding with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission will allow Sonoma County Transit to continue to participate in the Clipper fare payment system.
Discussion:
The San Francisco Bay Area’s automated transit fare payment system is called Clipper. The Clipper universal fare card is a reloadable contactless smart card used for electronic payment of fares that is designed to operate on all fixed-route transit systems in the region. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) currently operates Clipper on behalf of transit agencies in the Bay Area. Sonoma County Transit is one of several smaller transit agencies in the North Bay on which Clipper was implemented.
Sonoma County Transit executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for Clipper in May 2014. The MOU outlined the responsibilities of MTC and Sonoma County Transit related to the implementation, operation and maintenance of Clipper. Responsibilities of the transit agency include following the Clipper operating rules, paying its share of Clipper operating costs, and accepting transfer of ownership of fare payment equipment.
In August 2015, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission amended and restated the MOU for Clipper to include a more equitable cost sharing formula. The Clipper program had allocated operating costs based on a formula that was developed prior to wide-scale implementation of the system more closely aligned the allocation of the costs to actual operating cost drivers and usage of Clipper by each agency’s customers.
An amended and restated MOU now needs to be executed that reflects program changes necessary for the Next Generation Clipper system. Compared with the previous MOU, this version includes references to new cost-sharing agreements for the Next Generation Clipper system and the Regional Transit Connection (RTC) discount program. The Next Generation Clipper system provides more options including Mobile Clipper cards on your phone, mobile ticketing and improved online account-based management. The RTC program provides people with disabilities discounted access to fixed-route transit.
The MOU has a ten-year term. It is estimated that Sonoma County Transit’s annual cost will not exceed $50,000.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
10/20/2015 No. 24: Board authorized the Transit Systems Manager to execute an amended and restated Memorandum of Understanding between Sonoma County Transit and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to participate in the Clipper fare payment system.
4/22/14 No. 25: Board authorized the Transit Systems Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding between Sonoma County Transit and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to participate in the Clipper fare payment system.
2/26/13 No. 53: Resolution adopted by the Board adopting Sonoma County Transit’s FY 2012 - 2021 Short Range Transit Plan Update. Resolution No. 13-0078.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The FY 2022-23 Transit operations budget has sufficient appropriations for the fiscal year cost of $50,000 for the operation and maintenance costs for Sonoma County Transit participation in the Clipper program. Future costs will be included with recommended budget requests.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
2022 Clipper Memorandum of Understanding
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None