TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: JUNE 23, 2026
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH MODEL 1 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES FOR TWO CLAREMONT DIAL-A-RIDE VANS (FUNDING SOURCE: TRANSPORTATION FUND)
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SUMMARY
Claremont Dial-a-Ride (DAR) is a demand-response paratransit service available to all Claremont residents. To maintain a safe and reliable fleet, staff recommend replacing two aging DAR vehicles with two new, ADA-accessible MobilityTRANS Class V Ford Transit vans. The vehicles will be purchased through the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CalACT) procurement cooperative from Model 1 Commercial Vehicles at a total cost of $261,309.63.
The City has accumulated Federal, State, and local transportation funding allocations that are reserved for eligible transit purposes and administered through the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Sufficient transportation funds are available to support this purchase. Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the purchase and appropriate transportation funds to complete the acquisition.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
A. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Model 1 Commercial Vehicles in the amount of $261,309.63 for the purchase of two MobilityTRANS Class V Dial-a-Ride vehicles; and
B. Appropriate $261,309.63 in available Federal, State, and local transportation funds to fully fund the purchases.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Refer the item to staff for additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The total cost for the purchase of two replacement Dial-a-Ride vehicles is $261,309.63, including vehicle acquisition, mobility equipment, taxes, procurement fees, vehicle graphics, and associated delivery costs.
The City of Claremont receives Federal, State, and local transportation funding allocations and utilizes these funds to support transit operations and related capital expenditures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, transit ridership declined substantially while supplemental transportation funding was received from Federal and regional sources. The combination of reduced expenditures and supplemental funding resulted in accumulated transportation fund balances that remain reserved for eligible transit purposes.
These reserved transportation funds are administered through Metro and may be requested and drawn down for approved transit capital projects. Staff has confirmed that sufficient reserved transportation funds are available to fully fund the purchase of replacement vehicles.
The vehicles will be procured through the CalACT cooperative purchasing program, which complies with applicable Federal, State, and local procurement requirements and provides participating agencies with competitively solicited pricing. Utilizing the cooperative purchasing program allows the City to streamline procurement, reduce administrative costs, and obtain favorable pricing without conducting a separate procurement process.
Staff recommends appropriating $261,309.63 in available transportation funds for the purchase of two replacement Dial-a-Ride vehicles. No General Fund resources are required.
The staff cost to prepare this report and administer the vehicle procurement is estimated at $2,450 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
The City maintains a Dial-a-Ride fleet that provides transportation services for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and other residents requiring mobility assistance. As vehicles age, reliability declines and maintenance costs increase, creating operational challenges and reducing service availability.
Two vehicles within the existing fleet have reached the point where replacement is recommended based on age, condition, maintenance history, and long-term operating costs. Replacement of these vehicles will improve reliability and help to ensure the continued provision of safe and efficient transportation services for Claremont residents.
The proposed replacement vehicles are MobilityTRANS Class V Ford Transit vans specifically configured for paratransit operations. Each vehicle includes ADA-accessible features, wheelchair securement systems, and passenger configurations designed to safely accommodate ambulatory passengers and riders utilizing mobility devices.
Replacement of aging vehicles will improve fleet reliability, reduce maintenance costs, enhance passenger safety, and ensure continued delivery of high-quality Dial-a-Ride services to Claremont residents.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Sustainable City Plan, Economic Sustainability Plan, General Plan, the 2024-26 Budget, and the Youth and Family Master Plan.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Kristin Mikula
Community Services Director Community Services Manager