AGENDA ITEM 9-D
ACTION ITEM
TO:
CHAIRMAN COVINGTON AND THE VRE OPERATIONS BOARD
FROM:
DALE ZEHNER
DATE:
FEBRUARY 17, 2012
RE:
AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE CONTRACT WITH SCHEIDT &
BACHMANN FOR FARE COLLECTION SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
The VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
amend the Scheidt & Bachmann fare collection contract to add split payment
functionality. The amendment will be for 137,960, plus a 10% contingency of $13,796,
for a total amount not to exceed $151,756.
BACKGROUND:
On January 1, 2012, the federal transit benefit decreased from $235/month to
$125/month. As a result, the cost of a VRE monthly ticket now exceeds the amount of
benefit provided to many VRE riders, resulting in a need to supplement monthly benefits
with personal funds to cover the full cost of a ticket. Additionally, many agencies are
also now converting to prepaid debit/credit cards as a means of providing the transit
benefit to their employees.
The current VRE fare collection system Ticket Vending Machines (TVM) and Ticket
Office Machines (TOM) do not allow for multiple forms of payment per ticket (i.e. a
prepaid transit benefit card and a personal credit card). In years past, customers
received paper vouchers (which are no longer in existence) and were able to purchase
a VRE ticket using the paper voucher and a credit card at all VRE vendors. Now that
the transit benefit is provided on a benefit card, passengers needing to add value must
use Commuter Direct to purchase their tickets. Currently, only Commuter Direct has the
ability to combine the benefit amount and a personal debit/credit card for a single
payment transaction.
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This proposed amendment will authorize Scheidt & Bachmann (S&B) to develop the
software changes necessary to modify the VRE fare collection system such that
passengers can pay for a portion of their ticket with a transit benefit and then pay the
remaining amount on a personal debit/credit card. Once completed, this type of multiple
payment transaction will be available at all VRE stations and vendors. Work is
expected to take six months from the notice to proceed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this project is included in VRE’s Capital Improvement Program as part of
the fare collection project. This project is funded using Federal Congestion Mitigation
and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds, with the match provided by the state. The project
manager’s estimate for this work was $138,000. The estimated budget in detail is
provided below.
Scope of Work






Design and Engineering - $104,200
Testing/Quality Assurance - $16,330
S&B Project Management - $17,430
Subtotal - $137,960
Contingency (10%) – 13,796
TOTAL - $151,756
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TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
CHAIRMAN COVINGTON AND THE VRE OPERATIONS BOARD
DALE ZEHNER
FEBRUARY 17, 2012
AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE CONTRACT WITH SCHEIDT &
BACHMANN FOR FARE COLLECTION SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT
RESOLUTION
9d-02-2012
OF THE
VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS
OPERATIONS BOARD
WHEREAS, on January 1, 2012, the federal transit benefit decreased from $235/month
to $125/month; and,
WHEREAS, the cost of a VRE monthly ticket now exceeds the amount of the benefit
provided to many VRE riders; and,
WHEREAS, many VRE riders must now supplement their monthly benefits with
personal funds to cover the full cost of a VRE ticket; and,
WHEREAS, the current VRE fare collection system does not allow multiple forms of
payment to be used for a single purchase transaction; and,
WHEREAS, this proposed amendment would enable an option for multiple forms of
payment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board authorizes
the Chief Executive Officer to amend the Scheidt & Bachmann fare collection contract to
add split payment functionality; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the amendment will be for $137,960, plus a 10%
contingency of $13,796, for a total amendment value not to exceed $151,756 and a total
contract value not to exceed $10,028,724.
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