Title
Pikes Peak Community College Student Pass Program
Presenter:
Craig Blewitt, Transit Services Manager
Body
Summary:
The City of Colorado Springs Transit Services Division/Mountain Metropolitan Transit has reached a proposed agreement with Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) on a student pass program, including a new bus route to the PPCC Rampart (North) Campus. Transit Services staff will present this agreement, along with an overview of the community-wide college student pass program, to City Council at its June 25 Work Session.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Background:
Currently, Mountain Metropolitan Transit (MMT) has student pass program agreements with Colorado College (CC) and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), whereby each institution assesses additional fees to their students each semester in exchange for full access to the MMT system during that semester. These agreements benefit all involved - the institutions, MMT, and most importantly, the students.
This proposed service agreement with PPCC is similar in scope to those with CC and UCCS, as it also includes an assessed fee to PPCC students which allows them access to our system; but it differs in that a new transit route has been developed to serve their Rampart Campus, which currently is not accessible by the MMT system. PPCC students will be assessed an additional service fee to help fund this new transit route from the Voyager Parkway Transfer Center to PPCC’s Rampart Campus.
This proposed service agreement outlines the services provided by MMT, and the obligations of PPCC; including administering PPCC student identification cards, payment to MMT of the fee assessed to each registered student, as well as the additional service fee that funds the new route to the Rampart Campus. This agreement also includes a payment schedule. The term of this service agreement begins with the commencement of the fall semester 2018 (August 27, 2018) and concludes at the end of the summer semester 2020.
This proposed agreement is consistent with City Strategic Plan Initiative 2C-04: Improve and expand transit services.
Financial Implications:
The net annual cost for the new route to PPCC’s Rampart Campus is $217,000 for weekday-daytime service (approx. 12 hours of service). Since the Colorado Springs Health Foundation awarded a $120,000, two-year grant ($60,000 for the first year and second-year funding contingent upon good ridership) to this project, the initial annual cost of operation is reduced to $157,000. As outlined in the service agreement, PPCC agrees to assess the additional student fee that is expected to generate $157,000 annually for two years to MMT; providing the cost to operate the new Rampart Campus route. During the two-year service agreement period, there is no financial impact to MMT.
The new bus route is considered a demonstration project. If success is demonstrated after two years, MMT has committed to continuing the route operation in future years without that additional student fee revenue, pending budget availability.
Board/Commission Recommendation:
Regular briefings were given to the Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Board on the status of the student pass program and new transit service to PPCC’s Rampart Campus.
Stakeholder Process:
MMT staff has collaborated and coordinated with PPCC administration and staff for nearly five (5) years to reach terms agreeable to both organizations and to our customers. Both entities have engaged in student information and education campaigns that resulted in the successful April 2018 measure that led to the student body voting to approve the increased student and service fees to enhance student access to the MMT system and for the implementation of a new transit route to PPCC’s Rampart Campus.
Alternatives:
N/A
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
N/A
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A