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Council keeps Smart Shuttle pilot running pending MTA funding negotiations
Summary
The council voted 10-0 to continue Smart Shuttle service for two months while the city negotiates continued funding with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; staff said Smart Shuttle is being used primarily as MTA overload relief on crowded routes.
The Los Angeles City Council on May 30 approved continuation of the Smart Shuttle pilot for a limited period while negotiations with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) proceed. The vote on item 21 was 10-0.
Phil Aker of the Department of Transportation briefed the council, saying Smart Shuttle had evolved into an MTA overload-relief service and that MTA currently funds three of the four Smart Shuttle program areas. Aker told the council the city operates shorter-distance services that accept MTA passes and cost about $40 an hour to operate versus roughly $100 an hour for MTA buses on the same crowded corridors. He listed 10 lines currently operating as overload relief in areas including MacArthur Park/Westlake/Wilshire Center/Koreatown, Northeast San Fernando Valley, West San Fernando Valley and South Central.
Aker said vehicle fleets are aging and MTA and the city are negotiating continued operating funding; staff recommended operating the program for two more months while MTA funding is finalized. Councilmember Nate Holden questioned program goals and earlier program design assumptions; other councilmembers and the department noted the program was originally intended to provide several types of service but in practice has operated mainly as overload relief for heavily used MTA segments.
After the briefing the council opened and closed the roll; the chair announced 10 ayes and the item was approved. Council direction was limited to continuing the pilot while staff completes funding negotiations with MTA.
