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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A TRANSFER AGREEMENT FOR TRANSIT PATRONS BETWEEN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND MIAMI TRANSIT SYSTEMS, INC. D/B/A CONCHITA TRANSIT EXPRESS; AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXERCISE THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN; AND AUTHORIZING APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO FUTURE SIMILAR AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER LOCAL JITNEY COMPANIES

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that that this Board approves a Transfer Agreement for transit patrons between Miami-Dade County and Miami Transit Systems, Inc. d/b/a Conchita Transit Express in substantially the form attached hereto and made a part hereof; authorizes the County Mayor, Mayor�s designee, or Miami-Dade Transit Director to exercise the provisions contained therein; and authorizes approval to enter into future similar agreements with other local jitney companies.

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Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Joe A. Martinez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor

Subject:Resolution Authorizing the County Mayor or Designee to Execute the Transfer Agreement Between Miami-Dade County and Miami Transit Systems, Inc. d/b/a Conchita Transit Express Relating to the Automated Fare Collection System Transfer Fare Media and Authorizing Approval to Enter Into Future Similar Agreements with Other Local Jitney Companies
..RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) authorize the County Mayor or designee to execute the Transfer Agreement between Miami-Dade County and Miami Transit Systems, Inc. d/b/a Conchita Transit Express (CTE) relating to the Automated Fare Collection System transfer fare media and authorizing approval to enter into future similar agreements with other local Jitney companies.

SCOPE
CTE�s route operates in Commission Districts 6, 12 and 13. However, since CTE riders transfer into the Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) system, and since this item authorizes execution of similar agreements with other Jitney providers, the impact of this agenda item will be countywide.

FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact would be approximately $32,400. As outlined below, the primary purpose of this agreement is to provide seamless, regional transportation to the rider while preserving the same rate as if the passenger was transferring within the Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) system. The monthly ridership for this agreement is anticipated to be approximately 1,800 passengers. Without this agreement in place, the cost to a passenger transferring onto Metrorail would be $2.00. With this agreement, the cost to the passenger would be $0.50�which is currently the cost to a passenger transferring from a MDT Metrobus vehicle to Metrorail. It is anticipated that the yearly foregone revenue of $1.50 per the anticipated monthly ridership would be approximately $32,400.

TRACK RECORD/MONITOR
The MDT staff members responsible for monitoring these Agreements are David Ritchey, Interim Assistant Director, MDT, and Jose Fernandez, Interim Controller, MDT.

DELEGATED AUTHORITY
In accordance with Section 2-8.3 of the Miami-Dade County Code related to identifying delegation of Board authority, there are no authorities beyond that specified in the resolution.

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In 1993, MDT entered into an agreement wherein Conchita�s Transit Express (CTE) received paper transfers from MDT to sell to CTE patrons transferring onto Metrorail in exchange for accepting transfers from MDT riders exiting Metrorail and boarding CTE�s vehicles at Hialeah Station. This agreement was entered into to reduce costs to the mutual patrons and provide a uniform and simplified method to facilitate the convenient transfer between the two systems, enabling CTE patrons to transfer onto the MDT rail system for the same fare given to Metrobus riders transferring onto Metrorail.

On October 1, 2009, MDT transitioned to the EASY Card Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS). The system is an automated fare vending and collection system which provides residents and visitors the ability to use a single fare instrument �smart card�, known as the EASY Card or EASY Ticket, on public transportation. However, the EASY Card system eliminated paper transfers on Metrobus, requiring passengers transferring to Metrorail to have a valid MDT fare media (EASY Card or Ticket) in order to transfer at the established $0.50 transfer fee. As a result, MDT was no longer able to supply CTE with paper transfers.

At that time, MDT entered into a 6-month demonstration pilot program with CTE for the purpose of establishing a plan for the payment of EASY Tickets to MDT for customers transferring between systems. Under the pilot, MDT agreed to provide CTE an adequate supply of EASY Tickets each loaded with a 1-day pass for sale on board CTE vehicles only to customers transferring to MDT. CTE paid MDT $2.50 for each EASY Ticket purchased within 30 days from receipt of invoice. Customers would purchase an EASY ticket (stamped with a return trip date) from CTE for $5 on a CTE vehicle. CTE would then pay MDT $2.50 per pass and CTE would retain the remaining $2.50. This arrangement preserved the $5 round trip cost to patrons who used CTE to transfer into the Metrorail system prior to the inception of the EASY Card system, with each entity retaining $2.50 from the total $5 round trip fee -patrons boarded CTE at their $2.00 fare, then transferred onto Metrorail for $0.50; upon return, patrons boarded MDT at the $2.00 fare, plus the $0.50 transfer fee to board CTE.

The pilot was administratively extended through June 2011. In June 2011, MDT evaluated the ridership history associated with the passes distributed to CTE during the term of the pilot. This review revealed extensive usage of the 1 day passes throughout the MDT system at transfer points other than the Metrorail transfer at CTE�s Hialeah station terminus. As a result, MDT determined that a One Ride Easy Ticket valid exclusively for boarding at the Hialeah Metrorail station would be designed in lieu of the previously provided 1 day pass. This would achieve the intended purpose of enabling CTE customers to transfer between the Hialeah Metrorail Station and CTE�s system without the risk to MDT of potential loss of revenue associated with the unlimited trips allowed by the 1 day pass.

CTE is a licensed Jitney service provider that offers transportation services to complement Miami-Dade Transit�s bus service and operates on specific Miami-Dade County approved routes. The attached Transfer Agreement will preserve a seamless transfer between the two systems which is designed to benefit the mutual ridership, allowing CTE passengers to ride both systems for the same price as if they were transferring from a Metrobus onto the Metrorail at Hialeah Station. This Transfer Agreement will establish a plan for the payment of EASY Ticket Transfers to the County, while promoting partnership and seamless integration between the transit service providers.

There are a total of ten licensed jitney service providers currently registered with the County. All jitney service providers intersect or stop near Metrorail stations. To date, no other jitney service provider has approached the County to request transfer arrangements. However, in the event any other jitney service provider expresses an interest in participating in the same program, approval of this item will allow the Mayor or designee to administratively execute similar agreements with other jitney providers.



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Deputy Mayor/County Manager