Baldwin Park releases RFP for new transit contractor; service changes, fare cuts highlighted

Daniel Padilla, Baldwin Park’s director of public works, told the City Council on Sept. 17 that the city has issued a request for proposals for a new transit services contractor and described planned service changes, vehicle requirements and a procurement schedule.

Padilla said the city implemented several study recommendations already: fixed‑route fares were cut from $1.00 to $0.50, seniors and disabled riders now ride free, and the express route was eliminated. “We will provide the existing five El Dorado fixed‑route buses,” Padilla said, and the new contractor would supply four smaller vehicles for Dial‑A‑Ride and weekend micro‑transit service.

The RFP, Padilla said, requires contractor vehicles to be fewer than five years old and to have fewer than 75,000 miles at the start of service. Those replacement vehicles must seat seven passengers and include one wheelchair position. The RFP allows compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel billed as a pass‑through cost to the city but gives the city discretion to provide CNG fuel as well.

Padilla described planned schedule and service changes: fixed‑route service will operate Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Dial‑A‑Ride hours remain 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily; and weekend fixed‑route service will be replaced by an on‑demand micro‑transit service (Saturday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.) that will pick up riders who call, use an app or the website. He said new marketing materials will be provided when the service changes take effect.

Padilla said the RFP was issued Sept. 1, a mandatory vehicle inspection was held Sept. 13 with five proposers attending, proposals are due Oct. 2, and staff plans to bring a recommended contract award to the council on Nov. 5 with an intended service start of Dec. 1 subject to potential vehicle procurement delays.

On evaluation, Padilla said the city will score proposals on compliance with RFP requirements (20 percent), experience providing similar service (20 percent), qualifications and experience of personnel (20 percent), and cost (40 percent). He also said the city intends a five‑year contract term to accommodate the vehicle requirements.

Council members asked staff about the city’s CNG fueling capacity and the condition of existing buses. Padilla said the city recently opened a CNG station that “needs some significant repairs,” and the city is also using a neighboring city’s station for now. On vehicle useful life, Padilla said the grant‑funded fixed‑route buses have remaining useful life of roughly four years (he described the federal useful life as typically 10 years or 500,000 miles and estimated these buses at about 55 percent through that life). He said the city will develop a transition plan and will research options for the out‑of‑service trolleys, including whether they may be sold.

The council did not vote on the RFP at the meeting; Padilla asked for council input and questions and staff will proceed with the procurement schedule described.

Ending: The RFP timetable sets a firm near‑term procurement path: proposals due Oct. 2 and an intended contract award on Nov. 5. Padilla cautioned the Dec. 1 service start date could slip if the selected contractor needs time to procure vehicles.