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FCCASE# :3 CONSIDER CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR RAMSEY STAR EXPRESS By: Brian E. Olson, Director of Public Works / Principal City Engineer Background: The City of Ramsey has successfully operated the Ramsey Star Express Commuter Coach service since January 2007. A graph for Average Daily Trips along the corridor is attached to the case. As the graph indicates there has been some reduction of the Northstar Commuter Coach participation but overall the corridor ridership has increased by 162 riders per day in 2008. and slightly decreased to 128 riders through June 2009. According to the model that was prepared for the preliminary design, the expected ridership at a Ramsey Rail Station has been estimated at 497. The Metropolitan Council interpretation of the data in the model indicates that these are not "new" transit users but rather riders that would go to the Elk River or Anoka stations in the absence of the Ramsey tail station or Ramsey Star Express. This gives the City really only two options: 1) give up on the vision of a rail stop or 2) continue the operation of the Ramsey Star Express until after the rail starts and prove that the ridership and a rail stop is justified. The City's current contract with First Transit is approximately $40,000 per month. Since there is a loss of backup bus service provided for the Ramsey Star Express from the Northstar Commuter Coach, First Transit has indicated that it will cost an additional $4,200 per month after the train starts. Ridership is currently paying for approximately $14,000 per month. As the City Council may recall, the Ramsey Star Express was discussed at a work session on August 11, 2009. There was significant discussion at that time regarding the fare to be charged and the consensus was to keep the rate the same. We would revisit the fare issue when we discuss the extension in 2010. Attachments: Average Daily Trip Graph Past Council work session minutes Article in the Anoka Union - dated August 28, 2009 Funding: The City's current contract is approximately $40,000 per month. Since there is a loss of backup bus service provided for the Ramsey Star Express from the Northstar Commuter Coach, First Transit has indicated that it will cost an additional $4,200 per month after the train starts. Ridership is currently paying for approximately $14,000 per month. The funding for the operation of this service is proposed to be taken from the Landfill Trust Fund. Recommendation: Authorize staff to enter into a 6 month contract extension (Oct 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010) with First Transit for the operation ofthe Ramsey Star Express.