1. Use of Discount Debit Cards in Intercity Taxi Card Program
Solano Transportation Authority
Presented by:
Richard Weiner and Debbie McQuilkin
November 14, 2018

2. Solano transportation authority
Joint Powers Agreement between eight cities and the County
Countywide Transportation Planning managing and providing transportation programs
Conduit for Funding to Transit Agencies in Dixon, Vacaville, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Vallejo/Benicia
Paratransit and Taxi Programs in each city

3. ADA Plus: Non-Low Income
What is
the Intercity Paratransit Taxi Card Program?
An “ADA Plus” program – operating in addition to ADA required paratransit services provided by public transit operators
Previously reduced intercity taxi fare was available for ambulatory ADA certified passengers only
ADA Plus: Non-Low Income
$40 for $100 worth of scrip for non-low income patrons
ADA Plus: Low Income
$20 for $100 worth of scrip for low income patrons

4. Prior intercity taxi program
Taxi Scrip
$15 for $100 worth of scrip
Companies collect scrip from drivers, bundle and submit to STA
Incentives for picking up riders with collapsible wheelchairs
Scrip caps vary by city
Program Management
Sensitivity training
Monthly reporting
Overseen by Vacaville, then County, then transitioned to STA
Hired Nelson\Nygaard 2014 to oversee process

5. Ridership Information
Transition from County to STA (February 1, 2015)
First Year at STA
New Fare Adoption FY FY FY FY FY
Taxi Scrip Sold
4,460
4,728
4,804
4,006 NA
Fare Revenue
$66,916
$70,935
$71,475
$99,300
Passenger Trips
11,844
12,824
12,408
10,035
9,740
Cost
$556,504
$582,585
$588,726
$443,160
$479,164
Farebox Recovery Ratio
12%
22%
15%

6. Modified Taxi Scrip Program
Examined three models
MODEL 1
Modified Taxi Scrip Program
FEATURES
Accessible taxi options
Increased fares
Replacing scrip with flat fare tickets up to x-value
LIMITATIONS
Doesn’t address accountability/billing issues
Fraud control difficult
Challenge of modifying fare structure

7. Examined three models MODEL 2 Brokerage Model ALTERNATIVE MODEL
CUSTOMERS
BROKER
Examined three models
ALTERNATIVE MODEL
MODEL 2
Brokerage Model
FEATURES
Handle all contracting and administrative tasks
Assign trip requests
No need for processing scrip as each trip pre-approved
LIMITATIONS
Relatively new concept for Solano County
Probably be administered from remote location, lack of familiarity
Added contractor costs above existing model

8. Examined three models MODEL 3 Dedicated Fleet ALTERNATIVE MODEL
FEATURES
One city/contractor operate program as addition to existing paratransit program
Uses simple well-understood model
Allows multiple flexible options for cost containment
LIMITATIONS
High cost per vehicle hour
Unclear if any current operators have additional capacity
Low trip volumes/long distance trips make efficient scheduling difficult

9. Taxi Card program elements
Low-income subsidy
Multiple Transit Agencies
Card-Based (versus paper)
Accessible Taxi Option
Zone-Based Fares
Options for Loading Value
Multiple Taxi Companies

10. Phase II for the Intercity Taxi Card Program
Phase 1 (February 2010)
Phase 2 (October 1, 2018 in Benicia and Vallejo)
Intercity taxi based service for ADA qualified, program eligible ambulatory persons
Non-ambulatory
Intercity transport service for ADA qualified, program eligible persons utilizing a:
Wheelchair
Mobility Scooter
Other service areas to be phased in during FY

11. Phase II: Intercity Taxi Card Program
DECEMBER 2017
MAY 2018
September 2018
STA Board approves moving to a pre-paid purchasing card model
STA Board approves use of the Prepaid Expense (PEX) Card
Public Hearing for proposed change from per mile charge to zone rates for the following reasons:
Easier to utilize for both passengers and service providers
Greater accountability
More transparent cost methodology

12. The mechanics of the program
Design Shaped by Program size
No staffing 24/7
STA model fairly low capital costs
Two platforms
Purchasing and loading value on card
Use of card in taking taxi trips
More elaborate programs found in large systems too costly
No infrastructure in place to adopt San Francisco model

13. How Poynt program works
Point of Sale: Terminal and Register
Connects to any merchant bank
Cash and charge capabilities
“Back Office” ability to view/manage all transit operator locations
Multiple peripherals
WiFi capability
Multiple peripherals
Affordable
Located in each transit location

14. Pre-Paid Visa Debit Card
How PEX works
Pre-Paid Visa Debit Card
Limit card transactions to transportation only
Spend limit amount can be controlled
A STA Card that is given customers
No employer/employee relationship necessary
Cards use ADA #s instead of customer names

15. Role of transit agency, call center, and Taxi Driver
Transit Agency Role
Customer purchases funds at local transit operator
Transit staff verifies customer’s taxi fund purchases have not exceeded operator allocation limits by checking the PEX system
Transit staff manually enters client data (ADA # and name) into POYNT system upon purchase of taxi funds

16. Role of transit agency, call center, and Taxi Driver
Call Center Role
Call Center staff monitors POYNT “back office” for transactions at each transit operator location
Call Center staff then calculates correct conversion ($20/$100 or $40/$100) and loads the ITX PEX Visa card on the PEX “back office”
Funds are available as soon as these steps are completed

17. Role of transit agency, call center, and Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver Role
Customer calls local cab operator to schedule a ride
Cab driver calls in charge to dispatch office once customer is in the cab
Flat rates
No metering charges
Client knows exactly how much ride will cost
Travel To/From:
Zonal Rates:
Dixon – Vallejo/Benicia
$90
Dixon – Fairfield/Suisun
$55
Dixon - Vacaville
$30
Fairfield/Suisun - Vacaville
$25
Fairfield/Suisun - Rio Vista
$65
Fairfield – Vallejo/Benicia
Vacaville – Vallejo/Benicia
$80
Vacaville - TAFB
Rio Vista - Vacaville
Rio Vista - Dixon
Rio Vista – Vallejo/Benicia
$125
Vallejo/Benicia - Dixon
Vallejo/Benicia – Fairfield/Suisun
Vallejo/Benicia - Vacaville

18. Some of the challenges we’ve faced
Accessible taxi option
Coordination between multiple transit agencies
Establishing equitable fares for more costly accessible trips
Making the link between the Poynt and Pex platforms
Ensuring drivers will take rides based on zone-system
Relies heavily on manual data entry

19. Benefits of current model
No need to create database “from scratch”
Expected improvement in ability to track trip data
Hopeful reduction in fraud
Customers may call in to add/purchase taxi funds vs. purchasing in person
Flat rates and cost transparency from customer perspective
Anticipated reduction in administrative burden to transit operators
Accessible vehicle availability

20. Next steps Evaluation of program effectiveness in early 2019
Expansion to other cities in Solano County
Explore potential for incorporating TNCs

21. Debbie McQuilkin
Richard Weiner