BACKGROUND

The City of Fresno, with a population of just over 530,000, is located in the San Joaquin Valley of California, mid-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Fresno is California's fifth largest city and the San Joaquin Valley's largest metropolitan city.

Fresno Area Express (FAX), which is housed in the City of Fresno's Transportation Department, is the largest public transit provider in the region, and serves 154 square miles in the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area (FCMA).

FAX operates scheduled fixed-route service throughout the FCMA on 18 routes, seven days per week. During FY2021, FAX provided 5.6 million fixed-route passenger trips (down by approximately one-half from pre-COVID levels) with a fleet of 118 fixed-route buses. Generally, FAX routes follow a modified grid pattern. Seven lines converge downtown on weekdays with coordinated schedules at Courthouse Park in Downtown Fresno. Service hours generally run from 5:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. weekdays and from 6.30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on weekends. Late night service, until midnight, is provided Monday through Saturday on select routes at 60-minute frequencies.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

FAX is seeking to enter into a three-year contract, with two optional one-year contract extensions, for consultant services to assist with activities related to Title VI. Over a five-year period, the workload will include the 2025 FAX Title VI Program update, up to fifteen service/fare/facility equity analyses, and other tasks associated with Title VI compliance and/or environmental justice that strengthen FAX's implementation of Title VI requirements.

2025 FAX Title VI Program Update

Every three years, FAX must update its Title VI Program in accordance with federal requirements. The most recently updated FAX Title VI Program is scheduled for City Council approval on October 13, 2022, for submittal to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). In collaboration with FAX staff, the Consultant will prepare a comprehensive update of the 2022 FAX Title VI Program. As part of this effort, the consultant will prepare and submit a draft Language Assistance Plan (LAP) to ensure that FAX provides meaningful access to benefits, services, information, programs, and activities to persons with limited English proficiency. The Consultant will support the design of a public engagement program with internal and external stakeholders, including strategic and inclusive processes with a particular focus on engaging communities of color, low-income populations, and transit-dependent persons throughout the Fresno metropolitan area. Building upon the most recently approved FAX Title VI Program, the Consultant will assist with updates of all data, tables, maps, regulations, and relevant information in the Program update.

FAX Title VI Service Equity Analyses, Fare Equity Analyses, and Other Related Efforts

FAX periodically plans and implements service and fare changes. FAX has never conducted a Facilities Equity Analysis. As an FTA funding recipient, FAX is required to conduct an assessment to determine whether proposed service or fare changes or the construction of any transit facilities will result in a disparate impact or disproportionate burden on certain segments of the population.

A Disparate Impact is when a facially neutral policy or practice disproportionately affects members of a group identified by race, color, or national origin. A Disproportionate Burden is when a neutral policy or practice disproportionately affects low-income populations more than non-low-income populations.

While difficult to quantify, FAX anticipates up to 15 fare or service equity analyses over the five-year contract period. FAX is requesting consultant assistance in evaluating the potential impacts of the proposed changes as required under the FTA Title VI guidelines as defined in FTA Circular C 4702.1B - Title VI Requirements Guidelines for Federal Transit Administration Recipients and the FTA Environmental Justice (EJ) guidelines as documented in the FTA Proposed Circular C 4703.1 – Environmental Justice Policy Guidance for Federal Transit Administration Recipients. Responsibilities under these guidelines include:

• Analyzing how the proposed changes impact low-income and minority populations.
• Identifying whether there will be a disparate impact or disproportionate burden on Title VI and EJ riders; and
• Identifying methods to avoid, minimize, and mitigate identified potential impacts or burdens.

Consultant assistance is requested in, but not limited to, the following areas.

Data Collection and Analyses

FAX currently uses Remix software for its route planning. Maps of any service changes will be provided in this format. Minimum required tasks include:

• Collect and analyze the data needed to assess the effects of the proposed changes or the construction of new facilities on minority and low-income populations.
• Identify service meeting the FAX defined "major service change."
• Develop GIS-based map(s) that identify minority and low-income populations.
• Utilize outputs from Remix or data from the most current American Community Survey (ACS) and/or Census.
• Utilize data collected from FAX's most recent on-board survey (2022) and/or additional surveys conducted by FAX or the Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) within the contract time period.

Analysis of Proposed Changes and Findings

• Assess the effects of the proposed service/fare changes or the construction of new facilities on minority and low-income populations/riders and assess the alternatives available for riders affected by the changes.
• For all routes with “major service changes,” determine if the route carries or serves an area with above-average minority or low-income populations/riders.
• Identify if the proposed changes disproportionately affect Title VI and EJ riders.
• Prepare and document a report of the findings, including an Executive Summary that can be used for presentation purposes.
• For all service changes where an above average level of impact was experienced by an above average low income or minority population:
  • Compare the travel time and cost for the current route with the travel time and cost to the rider of the alternatives.
  • Identify mitigations.

Public Engagement

For all proposed service or fare changes or the construction of new facilities, FAX will conduct a series of public outreach meetings including pop-up events at major transit locations and public workshops. The Consultant will be responsible for:

• Preparing a Preliminary Title VI analysis, including draft Executive Summary, to be referenced as necessary at these events.
• Developing GIS-based maps and other outreach tools to be utilized by FAX at these events.
• Summarizing the public engagement process that FAX executed, including meeting dates and attendees as available, for inclusion in the final report.

DESIRED OUTCOMES

Desired outcomes include technical expertise and assistance to help FAX prepare its 2025 FAX Title VI Program Update; any required Service Equity Analyses, Fare Equity Analyses, and Facilities Equity Analyses; and integration, coordination, and internal consistency across all efforts.

ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES

Anticipated deliverables over the course of the three-to-five-year contract period include the following, phased over time, as necessary:

Title VI Equity Analyses and Other Related Efforts

Title VI Service Equity Analyses, Fare Equity Analyses, and Facilities Equity Analyses, as necessary, based on proposed service changes, proposed fare changes, and proposed transit facilities.

2025 FAX Title VI Program Update

The 2025 FAX Title VI Program Update.

FAX will require all products to be accessible and editable through MS Word and Excel. All final PDF documents will be provided in an accessible file format, per the City of Fresno Administrative Order 8-20.

COMMENCE WORK

Within approximately ten (10) days of the Notice to Proceed, a kick-off meeting with the consultant team and FAX shall be held. The selected consultant may commence work following the meeting.