From the Director –

Last month the Transit Director attended the Zero Bus Emission (ZEB) Conference in Anaheim, CA. This conference is organized by Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), a leader in electrification transition. While at the conference, the Director also had the opportunity to tour the Proterra manufacturing facility in City of Industry, CA (San Gabriel Valley/Los Angeles). The 157,100 square foot facility is a “one stop shop” assembling the batteries and buses. Additionally, Sandy was allowed to observe as a California transit agency performed their post build inspections and final road tests before accepting delivery of their vehicles. Proterra is an All American Company with best-in-class electric powertrain technology for heavy-duty vehicles and is the manufacturer the City partnered with for the Federal LowNo Grant Program. Currently SMART, in Wilsonville, operates Proterra Electric Buses with resoundingly positive reviews.

https://www.proterra.com/press-release/proterra-los-angeles-battery/

Post conference, the City reached out to PGE with many questions about charging management systems, utility demand services, off peak charging, emergency measures for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and more. As the City begins to build the infrastructure for electrification, it is important that we also build a best practices model that can be followed for optimal costs, range of operation and safety prioritization.

In the beginning of November, PGE will be out for a site walk to begin the design and build process. PGE estimates the design and build to take about 14 months. Proterra also estimates the bus build-out timeline at 14 months. Grant funding will be available for 3 years.

SAM has recently participated n the Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee (STFAC) for the 24-25 biennium funding process. SAM was successful during the process and was awarded all of the funding requested for a total of $640,726. This includes:

SAM Estacada: $89,515; SAM Elderly and Disabled Program: $85,322; SAM rides local dial-a-ride: $273,113; Preventative Maintenance: $146,426; SAM bus and bus stop improvements (upgrades of solar lighting): $46,350.

Also in September, SAM attended the big kick off celebration of TriMet’s first Bus Rapid Transit route (the FX on Division) and was invited on the first official ride of their 60 foot articulated buses.

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From the Program Administrator – Ridership Stats and Other Highlights

Historically, September has typically experienced a decrease in ridership compared to the other months of the year. The usual September decrease, in combination with driver shortages and changes due to the pandemic, showed a slight decrease of 2.30% as compared to September 2021 ridership. Transit agencies nationwide are experiencing similar drops in ridership with an average of 60% ridership compared to pre-pandemic levels. SAM services fall in step with the current trend with some services ranking higher than the average. SAM-Gresham is is at 69.39% ridership, Estacada is at 39.88% ridership, the Shopper Shuttle is at 55% ridership and SAM rides is at 66.52%.

SAM, along with SandyNet and Public works, have switched to FirstNet radio service, the same service emergency responders use. Radios are a vital connection for drivers and dispatch. The range and clarity is excellent, and has many additional features in the software that our current radios do not have. The cost remains the same but we are not charged for replacing malfunctioning equipment.

SAM is also in process of updating our dispatch software to Passio Go. This grant funded project will include features that our previous software had including providing riders with real time information on buses, valuable reporting for staff and automated voice announcements. It will also have many new features such as automated call reminders for scheduled rides and electronic manifests that can be updated on demand.

SAM rides provided a group birthday ride for a group to celebrate at Bornstedt Park. The trolley ride was a highlight for the group! This is one of the innovative ways SAM serves the community.

From the Director — Sandy STIF Plan

Each biennium Transit designs a new STIF Plan, which is funded with Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF). STIF was created as part of the HB2017 Keep Oregon Moving Legislation that was passed in 2017. Projects funded by this program began in 2019. The projects below in yellow have been funded since 2019 by this plan as well as project 7 in gray.

Each STIF Plan is designed using the Transit Master Plan goals and priorities as each project has to be part of a local plan to be funded. The funding allocations are vetted through the Transit Advisory Board and voted on by the Clackamas County HB2017 Transit Advisory Committee along with plans put forward by all Clackamas County providers. The Plan is then added to TriMet’s STIF Plan and approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission.

Below is the STIF Plan for the 2024-2025 Biennium using projected (ODOT estimated) funds in the chart below. These are the highlights of the new plan:

1. Continue to fund route expansions in yellow.
2. Add weekend service to the Shopper Shuttle. (highest community priority from the public and stakeholder feedback during the Transit Master Plan process).
3. Cover administrative costs that are generated through this program such as the audit fees.
4. Program Reserve allows funding to be set aside in case STIF or other expected funds decrease unexpectedly.
5. Carry over, Capacity Project is funding that has been collected since 2019 for the planning and construction of future Sandy Operations Center expansion. These are the funds that will be used as match to the planning grant (5339) recently awarded and approved by Council.
6. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – these funds will help cover costs associated with the transition to an electric fleet, including infrastructure and vehicle costs.

These are the projects that have been funded by STIF in the past:

1. Route Expansions – a) 2 runs added to SAM Shopper Shuttle Monday – Friday and a redesign of the Shopper Shuttle to accommodate after school programs b) 1 run added to SAM Gresham Monday – Friday c) 1 run added to SAM Estacada Monday – Saturday
2. New Bus Stop Signs
3. New Computers and Monitors for staff and dispatch
4. New Transit Tax Software
5. New Dispatch Software
6. Accumulating funds for future capacity expansion at the Sandy Operations Center
7. Bus Stop Improvements

STIF Regional Coordination

Additionally there are STIF Regional Coordination Funds that SAM has applied for through the TriMet HB2017 Advisory Committee (PTIP). These funds would be used to create the new SAM Clackamas Town Center Route and would include the procurement of a new vehicle for this route. This project will be voted on by the TriMet HB2017 Committee (PTIP). If successful, this route could begin as early as July 1, 2023.

From the Program Administrator – Ridership Stats

As noted in the chart above, August 2022 SAM ridership provided 7,289 rides, the highest overall ridership of the calendar year. This is down by 1.47% compared to August 2021. Although overall ridership is down slightly, SAM rides experienced a 17.75% increase in ridership as compared with August of 2021, providing 816 rides. Driver shortages and Covid are part of the reason we experienced a small decline in ridership.

RIDERSHIP TRENDS

SAM provided 6,565 rides in June. May and June ridership are equal to that of one year ago. In looking at ridership patterns, it appears the fixed route services are recovering at a faster rate than the dial-a-ride programs. SAM rides, our local in-town dial-a-ride service, remains very low with 653 rides in June 2022 as compared to 1,045 in June 2019 pre COVID. This is partially due to COVID and partially due to driver shortages.

CONTRACT UPDATE

The wage increases approved by Council in May went into effect June 1, 2022. With the increase in wages, MV has been able to recruit, hire and train 5 new drivers. However, due to the stress of the driver shortage and contract negotiations, the General Manager resigned. SAM staff were quick to recommend an interim General Manager, Alan McQuire-Nash who has been a driver and dispatcher with SAM since 2015. He is doing a spectacular job as the Interim General Manager. Unfortunately he is also a business owner so he is not able to fill the position permanently. MV has stated that they will actively recruit a new GM upon the negotiation of a new contract. Alan has agreed to keep us moving in the right direction as Interim until a new contract is in place or a new contractor.

During the contract negotiation approval, Council was made aware of an increase in contract rates. SAM did apply for a grant through the COVID CARES ACT NEEDS BASED grant process and was awarded $285,000 to cover the increase in costs. SAM was also awarded funding to install driver shields in 3 large buses.

Ongoing Projects: Electrification

We had our Partner Program kick off with Portland General Electric on July 15th to move our bus barn infrastructure toward an electric future. SAM applied and was accepted into PGE’s Fleet Partner Program which will work with Sandy help plan and build the appropriate charging infrastructure. Public Works staff member Ryan Wood also attended the meeting and Public Works will join Transit on the application for further savings at the City.

Here’s an example of how PGE custom cost incentives can help SAM build out our charging site.

For more information on the PGE Fleet Partner Program click here.

Staff attended a National Transit Conference in early May to better understand transit in a post COVID environment. Many of the courses taken focused on new transit funding and financial management, policy and procedure development, procurement and post COVID recovery.

Transit has been accepted into the PGE Fleet Partnership Program to begin transitioning the bus barn infrastructure to support an electric fleet. The first kick off meeting will be held in July.

It is now official that SAM was awarded funding for a new, heavy duty all electric transit bus. This will be a replacement vehicle for a 35′ diesel that will have reached it’s useful life of at least 500,000 miles. The diesel will be kept as a back up vehicle until no longer needed.

Transit was also awarded a grant for planning of two future buildings at the Sandy Operations Center. Due to financial restrictions, an Operations Facility Master Plan was created with the development of the Operations Center and construction was planned in phases. This grant has been awarded to conceptual development, including architectural and engineering services, for the second administration building and the maintenance bay that are identified in the Master Plan.

The Operations Center is an 8 acre facility, with 5 acres in various stages of the Master Plan. The expansion of the Operations Center has recently been supported by both the Facilities Plan and the Transit Master Plan. Both the maintenance bay and the second building are not explicitly planned for Transit and all Departments who utilize the Operations Center (Public Works, Transit, Parks and Recreation, Police, SandyNet, Planning, Administration) will be included in the planning phase as well as City Council. This grant opportunity allows the City to continue to plan for infrastructure growth and present shovel ready projects in future grant funding cycles.

Transit has begun the contracting process with a new technology company for the ITS RFP. Transit will bring the Intent to Award and Contract language to City Council June 21, 2022.

Ridership is holding steady as compared to May 2021, with a very slight (1.4%) overall increase. Most of that increase can be attributed to a 4% increase on the SAM Gresham route.

Ridership took a dip in April as compared to April 2021 and especially compared to pre COVID levels. As you can see from these charts, ridership was significantly rising on the Estacada and Shopper routes until COVID. Staff will attend a National Transit Conference in early May to better understand transit in a post COVID environment. Staff are focused on capital projects, returning ridership, new technological options and more.

Transit sent in an application and began working with PGE in the Fleet Partnership Program to begin the process of transitioning the bus barn infrastructure to support an electric fleet.

The RFP process begun in January to replace DoubleMap has come to a close. The selection committee has selected a vendor to which an Intent to Award will be issued. Transit will bring the Intent to Award and Contract language to City Council in June.

Ridership is showing a slight increase in 2022 (yellow). Dial-a-ride ridership continues to stay low, partially due to a lack of available drivers to meet the demand. SAM currently has one driver, one vehicle for SAM rides and one driver, one vehicle for the Elderly and Disabled program. Typically, we would have two drivers, two vehicles for each service during peak service hours.

In February 2022, SAM provided 5,714 rides whereas February 2021 SAM provided 5,300 rides.

SAM and MHX continue to experience the driver shortage that many agencies have faced over the past year. MHX continues to have the biggest challenges of retention due to the stress involved in the steep grade (Timberline Road) and the weather. Currently, drivers are often faced with 6 and 7 day work schedules, a trend that is not sustainable.

Currently SAM uses a hybrid SUV (Ford Escape) for this purpose. SAM has already secured grant funding for the replacement which is enough for a fully electric SUV and the charging infrastructure required. No match is necessary with the grant funding. Because the vehicle needs to be all wheel drive (AWD), electric and American made, SAM has chosen the Tesla Model Y.

In January, SAM posted an Request For Proposals (RFP) for a new contract for real time arrival information (currently DoubleMap is the vendor) and data collection. The County, Canby Area Transit and South Clackamas Transit District are all included in the RFP to explore savings through the addition of capital equipment purchased and save time for all agencies involved by reducing the need for each agency to go through a procurement process. Bids were received for the ITS replacement for real time information and data collection on vehicles. Bids were due February 23, 2022 and three vendors bid on the project. All three vendors were selected to move forward through the evaluation process by the selection committee.

All Clackamas County transit agencies continue to work together, meeting weekly, to find ways to collaborate, share successes and develop better services for the region. Many refer to our group of agencies as the Clackamas County Coalition and the strong working relationship we have developed has proven a successful partnership. Additionally, we meet with the HB 2017 regional coordination group. It is through this collaboration that SAM has requested future STIF funds to begin the new route to the Clackamas Town Center. If selected for approval, the route will begin July 1, 2023.

As shown in the chart, COVID 19 continues to impact Sandy Transit ridership. Ridership did show a slight increase in 2021 over 2020, until snow storms hit in December.

January ridership exactly reflects January 2022. In January 2022, SAM provided 6,014 rides whereas January 2021 SAM provided 5,947 rides.

During the snow storms, SAM continued to operate, never canceling an entire day. SAM Gresham ran hourly rather than every half hour, SAM rides and Elderly and Disabled out-of-town medical rides were for life sustaining trips only such as dialysis, prescription pick up and cancer treatments. The Shopper Shuttle was suspended for a few days, as people had the option to schedule with SAM rides if it was life sustaining.

SAM and MHX continue to experience the driver shortage that many agencies have faced over the past year. MHX continues to have the biggest challenges of retention due to the stress involved in the steep grade (Timberline Road) and the weather. Two full time MHX drivers quit in January, forcing all drivers and dispatch to struggle to cover all the shifts. This puts stress on both services, although currently MHX is the only service canceling runs. SAM’s dial-a-ride programs, however, are also down to one driver causing scheduling difficulties and low ridership in those programs. Currently, drivers are often faced with 6 and 7 day work schedules, a trend that is not sustainable.

MV has sent drivers from Redmond, WA to help cover the MHX shifts and 3 drivers have been hired. The new drivers though will need to be trained and obtain CDLs, a process which will likely take 3-4 months.

SAM is currently speaking with vendors to procure an all electric SUV to be used as a shift change and service vehicle, sometimes employed to pick up passengers during inclement weather but not very often. Currently SAM uses a hybrid SUV (Ford Escape) for this purpose. SAM has already secured grant funding for the replacement which is enough for a fully electric SUV and the charging infrastructure required. No match is necessary with the grant funding. Because the vehicle needs to be all wheel drive (AWD), SAM is currently looking at Tesla Model Y or Ford Mach E.

In January, SAM posted an Request For Proposals (RFP) for a new contract for real time arrival information (currently DoubleMap is the vendor) and data collection. The County, Canby Area Transit and South Clackamas Transit District are all included in the RFP to explore savings through the addition of capital equipment purchased and save time for all agencies involved by reducing the need for each agency to go through a procurement process. Bids are due February 23, 2022.

All Clackamas County transit agencies continue to work together, meeting weekly, to find ways to collaborate, share successes and develop better services for the region. Many refer to our group of agencies as the Clackamas County Coalition and the strong working relationship we have developed has proven a successful partnership.

As shown in the chart, COVID 19 continues to impact Sandy Transit ridership. Ridership did show a slight increase in 2021 over 2020, until snow storms hit in December.

During the snow storms, SAM continued to operate, never canceling an entire day. SAM Gresham ran hourly rather than every half hour, SAM rides and Elderly and Disabled out-of-town medical rides were for life sustaining trips only such as dialysis, prescription pick up and cancer treatments. The Shopper Shuttle was suspended for a few days, as people had the option to schedule with SAM rides if it was life sustaining.

SAM and MHX are beginning to experience the driver shortage that many agencies have faced over the past year. TriMet recently reduced service by 9% due to a driver shortage, as well as Sunset Empire on the coast and other agencies across the state. SAM and MHX may be faced with similar difficult decisions if new drivers are not brought on board and trained immediately. Currently, drivers are often faced with 6 work day schedules, a trend that is not sustainable.

A new partnership has been developed between Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Department of Correction to train soon to be released offenders to become Transit drivers upon release. SAM Director, Andi Howell, has been part of this developing project as one of three transit agencies represented. Andi’s role has primarily been to help the Departments of Correction and Transportation understand what training is required and what types of crimes would be unacceptable. SAM’s board had a meaningful and enlightening conversation regarding this program. Done correctly, this program could help fill an urgent need and give released offenders a second chance and a real opportunity for success. All involved also understand the very real and stringent safe guards that must be in place when this project launches.

2022 will be a productive year at Sandy Transit. In January, negotiations with MV Transportation, SAM’s contractor, will begin for contract year 2022 beginning in July. MV Transportation has been the contractor for 2 years and has shown significant improvement in those years with their ability to operate SAM and MHX.

SAM and MHX have also had conversations regarding SAM taking the lead on both contracts as we did in 2020. That proved to be a successful arrangement, led to many efficiencies and a more streamlined administrative model.

SAM will be applying for new grant funding for many capital projects. 2022 may prove to be the year SAM steps toward alternative fuel vehicles, beginning with an all electric SUV to be used as a shift change and service vehicle, sometimes employed to pick up passengers but not very often. Currently SAM uses a hybrid SUV (Ford Escape) for this purpose. SAM has already secured grant funding for the replacement of the Escape from CARES Act funding that requires no local match.

In January, SAM will post an Request For Proposals (RFP) for a new contract for real time arrival information (currently DoubleMap is the vendor) and data collection. The County, Canby Area Transit and South Clackamas Transit District are all included in the RFP to explore savings through the addition of capital equipment purchased and save time for all agencies involved by reducing the need for each agency to go through a procurement process.

All Clackamas County transit agencies continue to work together, meeting weekly, to find ways to collaborate, share successes and develop better services for the region. Many refer to our group of agencies as the Clackamas County Coalition and the strong working relationship we have developed has proven a successful partnership.

In September SAM carried 7,054 passengers. Ridership increased 25.2% over September 2020 and is 33% lower than pre-COVID levels. As shown in the ridership chart, September is typically a low ridership month. This September SAM did not experience a significant drop however.

SAM’s new Ford Transit Vans are on the road and receiving great feedback from drivers and passengers alike. SAM has one more Ford Transit Van on order, using CARES ACT funds.

SAM staff conducted on board surveys of both SAM and MHX services in September. Survey collection has been different since COVID. Previously, SAM staff rode all services on various days, which also required the use of drivers and volunteers, to collect surveys in person. Since COVID, SAM has collected survey data onboard by leaving surveys on the buses and the drivers inform passengers to fill them out if they’d like AND surveys are conducted online. While these methods do not elicit the same response rate as an on board surveyor, it does still collect some necessary information.

Of those surveyed on board, 62% began their trip in Sandy with 61% choosing Sandy as their destination. Approximately 59% will use 1 bus for their trip while 35% will use 2-3 and 5% will use 4 or more buses or trains to get to their final destination. 42% use transit almost daily with another 32% use the bus 3-4 times weekly, ultimately 74% use the bus at least 3-4 times weekly. Over half (at 53%) use the bus to commute. Shopping/running errands is the next most common purpose (24%). As illustrated in the chart, the 45 to over 60 population are the highest demographic.

Of those surveyed on board, 69% earn under $19,999 per year and 82% earn less than $39,999 per year.

Finally, of those who responded, 62% would not have been able to make the trip if public transit were not available.

In summary, SAM’s passengers are heavily transit dependent. They tend to be older, female (chart not shown, 54% female), with lower earnings and no other way to make their commute trip, shopping or errands if public transit were not available. They generally believe the service is very good (highest option) or Satisfactory (next highest) as 97.5% answered as such for buses on time 82% for convenient schedules and 94% for easy to read schedules. Where SAM needs improvement seems to be on the website and the mobile. For the website, 76% answered very good or satisfactory and the mobile app received the lowest very good/satisfactory ratings at 63%.

The most requested improvement to the service was more frequent service with 57% responding very important and 26% somewhat important (83%). More Sunday service was the next most requested improvement with 78% responding very important or somewhat important.

The following are comments from the September survey, there were zero negative comments:

Love SAM bus just wish there were more rides on weekends!

Love SAM. They’re really reliable and the drivers are kind.

I have been using public transit for many years and the Sandy Transit is by far the best I have ever used.

I know most of the drivers from riding and the operators that do the scheduling. These are hard working people. I have also found that if I am time and everyone could be, their day would run smooth. I would like to thank each and every one for their service. I have trouble with my balance and I am helped often getting on and off with my walker and groceries. They become friends. Thank you people.

Super grateful for the servie you (SAM) provide. Sincerly!