CC SR 20210706 03 - Preserve Shuttle Pilot Program Extension
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 07/06/2021
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to extend the Preserve Shuttle Program for an
additional 90 days.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Approve a 90-day extension of the Preserve Shuttle Pilot Program to run
concurrently with the implementation of the ParkMobile online parking reservation
system; and
(2) Approve an additional appropriation of $20,000 in Proposition A Funds for the pilot
Preserve Shuttle Program.
FISCAL IMPACT: To date, the operation of the Preserve Shuttle Program has been
budgeted at $20,000 which was funded through Proposition A for FY
2020-21. To cover continued costs associated with the operation of
the pilot Preserve Shuttle Program for an additional 90 days, $20,000
is recommended to be appropriated for FY 2021-22which will be
funded through Proposition A, from the Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Local Return Program.
Amount Budgeted: $0
Additional Appropriation: $20,000
Account Number(s): 216-400-0000-5120
(Proposition A – Transit Programs)
ORIGINATED BY: Daniel Trautner, Deputy Director Recreation and Parks
REVIEWED BY: Cory Linder, Director Recreation and Parks
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Shuttle Rider Survey (Page A-1)
BACKGROUND:
On March 16, 2021, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between the City and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority (PVPTA) to operate
shuttle services to connect and access certain key Preserve areas. The Preserve Shuttle
1
Program was approved as a pilot program for a pe riod of 90-days to provide access to
the Preserve, at specific locations, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. beginning on April 9, 2021. At the end of the pilot program,
the City would assess the effectiveness of the pilot program, and if warranted, the MOU
allows the City to extend the term of the program for up to an additional nine months.
Tonight, the City Council is being asked to assess the effectiveness of the pilot program
and to consider extending it for an additional 90 days.
DISCUSSION:
In coordination with the PVPTA, the City designated shuttle stop locations, route , and
scheduling. The shuttle hub is located at the Civic Center/Alta Vicente Reserve, and
shuttle stops exist at the following three locations:
• Point Vicente Interpretive Center (PVIC)
• Abalone Cove Park/Reserve/Beach
• Lower Portuguese Bend Reserve (formerly known as Gateway Park) on Palos
Verdes Drive South
The shuttle hub and stops were improved with the installation of decomposed granite
surfacing, informational kiosks, benches, trash cans, and wayfinding signs. Additional
improvements were made to Upper Point Vicente Park/Civic Center to direct traffic and
pedestrians to approved parking areas and trailheads.
As a means to influence where visitors go to enter the Preserve after they have entered
the City, the Preserve Shuttle was advertised using electronic message boards placed at
four locations (Palos Verdes Drive South/Palos Verdes Drive East Switchbacks, RPV City
Hall, Crest Road/Crenshaw Boulevard, and Hawthorne Boulevard/Silver Spur Road) well
within the City boundaries. Additionally, information on the Preserve Shuttle Program was
placed on the City’s website and via listserv notifications. Certain social media platforms
were not used to advertise the Shuttle Program to prevent incentivizing increased visitors.
During the pilot period, the Preserve Shuttle operated for 36 days and was canceled on
four occasions due to roadwork or conflicting events at City Hall. Recreation and Parks
staff provided information and outreach at the shuttle hub at Upper Point Vicente
Park/Civic Center, the shuttle stop at Lower Portuguese Bend, and on the shuttle bus
during shuttle operating hours.
The final operating day of the 90-day Preserve Shuttle Pilot Program is July 4, 2021,
unless extended this evening. To date, there have been 620 total passenger trips on the
Preserve Shuttle. This reflects the number of one-way shuttle trips, so individuals who
took a round-trip ride were counted twice. Passenger trips were counted and provided
weekly by PVPTA shuttle drivers.
All shuttle riders were asked to respond to a Shuttle Rider Survey (Attachment A-1)
regarding their visit to the Preserve. Riders were asked to provide their home ZIP code,
2
the number of people in their group, frequency of visits to RPV, favorite Preserve, trail or
park, usual parking location when visiting the Preserve, preferred activity when visiting,
and how they heard about the Preserve Shuttle. As of June 20, 2021, 119 riders
completed and submitted surveys. Of the respondents, 44 were Peninsula residents
(Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates, and Rolling Hills),
and 21 were from communities neighboring the Peninsula (San Pedro, Lomita, Torrance,
and Redondo Beach). A total of 53 respondents were from other ZIP codes.
From the survey responses, the most common parking locations for visitors to the
Preserve were City Hall and the Crest Road/Crenshaw Boulevard and Del Cerro Park
area, followed by Ladera Linda/Forrestal and PVIC. Twenty-eight respondents indicated
their usual parking location is City Hall, and 23 responded Crest Road/Crenshaw
Boulevard or Del Cerro Park area. Seven responded Ladera Linda or Forrestal and six
PVIC. Beginning May 21, shuttle riders were asked how they heard about the Preserve
Shuttle. Of the 32 riders who answered the question, eight responded that they heard
about the shuttle from the RPV website and six from electronic message boards at various
locations around the City. Six respondents heard about the shuttle from unspecified social
media sites, and 14 riders heard by other means, mostly by word of mouth or by finding
the shuttle when they parked but did not know about it in advance. No riders indicated
that they heard about the shuttle from the City’s social media.
Peninsula Cities
37%
Neighboring South
Bay cities
18%
All Other Cities
45%
Home ZIP of Preserve Shuttle Riders
3
During the initial 90-day pilot period, minor modifications were made to the shuttle route
and stop locations based on input from the PVPTA and residents, and to lessen the
impact on neighborhoods.
In conjunction with the implementation of Council-approved parking regulations, a fee-
based parking system, and increased parking enforcement, the Preserve Shuttle was
intended to divert traffic and Preserve visitors from impacted Preserve parking and entry
points, including the Del Cerro Park area. Due to delays in implementing the paid parking
system, the Preserve Shuttle did not run concurrently with parking regulations and paid
parking near Del Cerro Park. Staff anticipates increased interest in the Preserve Shuttle
from visitors deterred by the new parking regulations once operational.
On July 6, the ParkMobile online parking reservation system for Del Cerro Park and the
popular Portuguese Bend Reserve will launch, and visitors will be able to use the
ParkMobile website or mobile app to reserve parking spaces on Crenshaw Boulevard
south of Crest Road and Park Place, near the Rattlesnake and Burma Road Trailheads.
In light of the delay of the ParkMobile parking reser vation in order to assess the
effectiveness of the Pilot Preserve Shuttle Program, Staff recommends that the City
Council approve a 90-day extension to run concurrently with the implementation of the
ParkMobile online parking reservation system.
The City Council budgeted $20,000 in FY 2020-21 using Proposition A Funds for the pilot
Preserve Shuttle Program, which is set to end in mid -July. If the City Council elects to
extend the term of the program for 90 days, Staff is asking for an additional appropria tion
of $20,000 in the FY 2021-22 budget. The additional appropriation would be funded from
Proposition A funds from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
RPV Website
17%
Other Social Media
13%
Other/Word of
Mouth
25%
Message board
13%
No Answer
32%
How did riders hear about the Preserve
Shuttle?
4
Local Return Program. The use of Proposition A funds would continue to subsidize the
cost and allow for complimentary shuttle services.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Approve a 90-day extension of the Preserve Shuttle Pilot Program with a
modified route and/or stops, such as adding a stop at Del Cerro Park (upper
Portuguese Bend Reserve) to run concurrently with the implementation of
parking restrictions and a fee-based parking system.
2. Do not approve the extension of the Preserve Shuttle Pilot Program thereby
retiring the program.
3. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
5
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES!
From what ZIP code are you visi�ng?________________________________________________
How many people are in your group? Just me 2-3 4-5 6+
How o�en do you visit the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve and/or Rancho Palos Verdes parks?
This is my first �me Less than 1x/month 1x/month 1x/week More than 1x/week
Do you have a favorite Preserve, trail, or park?__________________________________________________
Where do you usually park your vehicle when you visit?___________________________________________
What is your preferred ac�vity here? (Choose one)
Hike/Bike the Trails Visit Abalone Cove Park & beach Visit Point Vicente Interpre�ve Center
Other ________________________________________________________________________________________
How did you hear about the Preserve Shutle?
City of RPV Website RPV TV City of RPV social media Other social media Message Board Other __________
Have you used the Preserve Shutle before? Yes No, this is my first �me
Is there anything else you think we should know?
____________________________________________________________________________________
Your feedback helps us improve our services. Thank you!
UPDATED 6/17/2021
A-1