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BACKGROUND <br /> The City of Pleasanton provides a paratransit service that offers transportation for <br /> Pleasanton and Sunol seniors that are at least 70 years old and/or individuals that are <br /> at least 18 years old and meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) eligibility <br /> requirements. <br /> Since January 2008, the City's paratransit services included both the "Door-to-Door" <br /> and "Downtown Route" programs. The "Door to Door" program is a shared ride service <br /> that takes individuals from their residence to a specific destination like a doctor's office <br /> or medical facility for an appointment. The "Door to Door" program is funded through a <br /> combination of outside sources which includes the Metropolitan Transportation <br /> Commission (MTC) and the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda <br /> CTC), as well as fares and the City's General Fund. <br /> In 2008, the City applied for and was awarded additional funding through Measure B <br /> Gap Grant Program to offer the "Downtown Route" program, which required a City <br /> funding match of 19.13% from the General Fund. <br /> The "Downtown Route" program is a shared ride service and takes individuals on a <br /> fixed route that includes local shopping districts and other popular destinations. This <br /> shuttle service was slow to gain and retain ridership from its inception. Staff engaged <br /> the senior community through focus groups, increased outreach at senior living <br /> communities and mail-in surveys to determine the cause of low ridership and <br /> implemented many of their suggestions in an effort to increase the number of rides. <br /> Despite making modifications to the routes, service days, and destinations, ridership <br /> remained low. The program has also been unable to meet the required performance <br /> measures established by the Alameda CTC since 2013. <br /> Additionally, Alameda CTC revised the discretionary funding guidelines for the Gap <br /> Grant Program that funded the "Downtown Route" program. Prior to FY 2017/18, the <br /> required minimum match was 19.13%; the new guidelines require a 50% minimum <br /> match. With low ridership and the increase in the match percentage, the decision was <br /> made to eliminate the shuttle program. <br /> Successful program elements from the "Downtown Route" program will be retained and <br /> paid for through Measure BB funds. The program elements include: group day trips and <br /> outreach, education and mobility coordination with other Tri-Valley transportation <br /> providers. <br /> The Transportation Development Act (TDA) provides for the disbursement of funds <br /> through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for the purpose of providing <br /> community transit services to local residents. Measure B/BB provides for the <br /> disbursement of funds through the Alameda County Transportation Commission <br /> (Alameda CTC) for the purpose of providing community transit services to seniors and <br /> people with disabilities. Eligible agencies like the City of Pleasanton are required to file <br /> applications annually with both the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and <br /> the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) to receive their <br /> funding allocation. <br /> Page 2 of 4 <br />