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Title:
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Agreement with University of Florida to provide Campus Bus Service
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Title
Agreement with University of Florida to provide Campus Bus Service
Explanation
Every two years the City of Gainesville renews a contract with the University of Florida (UF) for the Regional Transit System (RTS) to provide on campus bus routes. Ridership on campus bus routes fiscal year to date has increased some 18.4% from last year and 23.5% from two years ago. Ridership year to date is 906,822 passenger boardings. This past year UF eliminated all fares on its campus bus routes when the student Gator One Card became a bus pass on city bus routes.
This contract renewal will extend the campus bus service for another two-year period at the same cost per hour as was charged for the previous two years. UF will add two buses to the current 9 buses to serve the new park and ride lot behind the new University of Florida Hotel and Conference Center at Hull Road and SW 34th Street.
In addition, UF and RTS will be seeking a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) service development grant to establish a new campus circulator route. This new route will link the new Veterinary School on SW 16th Avenue with the Health Sciences Center on Archer Road and the main campus. This new route, if funded by FDOT, will require two additional buses.
Fiscal Note
The total cost of providing the 11 buses for campus routes will be $950,000 per year. This amount has already been included in RTS's FY 2000 budget.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality; and 2) authorize the City Manager to apply for FDOT Service Development Grant to establish a new campus circulator route in conjunction with the University of Florida.