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Sierra Madre council rejects Transdev offer, directs staff to pursue interim transit options and reissue RFP
Summary
Council voted to reject Transdev's final proposal after staff said the cost exceeded the city's transportation budget; council directed staff to reconvene the transportation ad hoc committee, pursue short-term stopgap measures for seniors, and reissue a new RFP early next year.
The Sierra Madre City Council voted on Dec. 9 to reject the final proposal from Transdev for the city’s local transportation program after staff reported the company’s offer exceeded the available transportation budget and would have provided significantly reduced hours of service.
Senior Analyst Carlson told the council that Transdev (formerly First Transit) was the only fully qualified proposer on the recent RFP but that the company’s final offer, even after negotiations, was not financially sustainable. "The cost for the services that were sought exceeded the city's transportation budget," Carlson said, asking the council to reject the offer and reconvene the transportation ad hoc subcommittee to reissue a revised RFP.
Council members cited the long-running impacts on seniors and residents who previously relied on the city’s shuttle and dial-a-ride services. Public commenters described hardships: Joe Reed said frequent users — including elderly and disabled residents — have been left without practical access to groceries or regular trips since the shuttle's mechanical failure in July 2024; Reed urged even stop-gap measures. "It’s been very unsettling to see that those services have still been promoted by the city," he said.
The council approved a motion to reject Transdev’s proposal, reconvene the transportation subcommittee with a tight scope to develop a long-term solution and direct staff to implement interim options where feasible. Council discussed possible interim measures including: (1) limited, need-based subsidies for rideshare or taxi service for eligible seniors; (2) temporary contracting with neighboring jurisdictions’ dial-a-ride services; and (3) evaluating vehicle acquisition or leasing (including electric shuttles) to lower long-term costs.
Carlson said staff will review short-term stopgap models (including lessons learned from Monrovia and other nearby cities), check Prop A fund restrictions on allowable uses, and prepare a timeline for a new RFP early next year. The council asked staff to prioritize quick, narrowly scoped options to reduce immediate hardship for seniors while the subcommittee finalizes a durable procurement strategy.
