AgdaPkt 2016-05-23 Closed, Joint SA and PFA

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6.1.D. - Page 4 Throughout the pilot program, Redwood City staff evaluated the locations of the bike share stations/kiosks and moved several stations with the goals of increasing ridership and increasing the reach of the network by placing some stations further from downtown. Some station moves were successful, such the move from a downtown site to the 400 block of Broadway adjacent to Stanford in Redwood City, where the station is now used by commuters traveling to and from the Caltrain stations in Redwood City and Palo Alto. Ridership at this station shifted from the least-used to the second most popular location in Redwood City's network (the most popular bike share station is at Redwood City's Caltrain station). On March 8, 2016 City staff provided a bike share update to the Complete Streets Advisory Committee (CSAC). Committee members reviewed and discussed the bike share program and agreed that the costs of continuing the current program are not justified. The Committee asked City staff to monitor San Mateo's SoBi pilot program in the hope that it or a similar system might prove more appropriate for Redwood City. The CSAC also recommended installing more bike racks in Redwood City, both to serve existing needs and to support a future bike-based (smart bike) bike share system. For cities opting out, Motivate will remove bike share equipment (bikes and stations) in July. Redwood City staff will work with Motivate to ensure that Redwood City riders are notified and that signage is placed near bike share stations. The City's electronic newsletters and social media will also be utilized to communicate updates. Internally, staff will advise department heads so that they know the bikes and stations will be removed. The Peninsula Partners are interested in further exploring other forms of bike share that are more cost effective and flexible. These agencies will consider forming a larger working group, potentially including other interested cities along the Caltrain corridor, to research technologies, operators, and next steps for moving toward a regional bike share program on the peninsula. ALTERNATIVES The Council could direct staff to continue with the Motivate system for 6-12 months, which would require a FY 2016-17 budget request of approximately $160,000 and require staff time to negotiate one or more agreements with Motivate in the short term. FISCAL IMPACT Staff time required to launch a new bike share system serving several peninsula cities could be significant, and could require funding requests for the FY 2017-18 budget. The demands on staff time depend on the structure of the program (regional vs. individual city) and to what degree the analysis and decisions will be made by the cities/agencies or by the vendor/operator. The Peninsula Partners are exploring options for funding a contract position to lead a regional effort, and for finding a "home" (lead agency) for that person.