D4-1 Firm-Discipline 4_Draft Final.pdf

ARIZONA DOT DISCIPLINE 4 1

DISCIPLINE 4 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE – TRANSIT OPERATIONS TASKS

OVERVIEW

RLS & Associates, Inc. has provided transit consulting services for more than 37 years. The firm specializes exclusively in public transit and possesses a broad portfolio of services aligned with Transit Planning Tasks:

♦ Network design and redesign to improve coverage, directness, and legibility ♦ Timetable development and headway optimization tied to demand patterns ♦ Route optimization and stop spacing analysis using APC/GIS data ♦ Comprehensive operational analysis (COA) and performance diagnostics ♦ Forecasting of future needs using demographics, land-use, and travel markets ♦ Stakeholder and public engagement tailored to rural, tribal, and small-urban contexts ♦ Marketing analysis to support service launches

Our DBE certification in 35 states allows ADOT to meet its DBE goals while engaging an experienced partner.

ARIZONA EXPERIENCE

Under ADOT’s prior On-Call Transit Consultant Services (CTR053909), our team completed regulatory compliance reviews supporting ADOT and subrecipients. Representative assignments relevant to this discipline include:

♦ Regulatory compliance reviews for rural and tribal transit providers; and, ♦ Drug and Alcohol Program assessments.

The success of these task assignments demonstrates our familiarity with ADOT’s systems and our ability to deliver timely, high‑quality work.

COMBINED REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS (NATIONAL EXPERIENCE)

The following table summarizes additional representative projects that underscore our qualifications across all disciplines and supporting tasks.

Client Dates Key Areas Description Federal Transit Administration Comprehensive Operations and Technical Assistance Program

(CORTAP)

2019- Current

Compliance with FTA updates and oversight; site visits;

reviews of all FTA regulatory compliance topics; Subject Matter Expertise

RLS is a contractor under the FTA CORTAP triennial review program. The team provides comprehensive oversight reviews for transit agencies of all sizes, including urban, rural, and tribal transit. The team also provides State Management Reviews, corrective action plans, and training.

Illinois Department of Transportation – Federal Compliance Reviews for Rural Grantees (State of Illinois)

2007–

Compliance reviews;

Title VI/EEO; ADA;

procurement/third‑party contracting; asset management

Conducted statewide reviews of rural and small urban subrecipients, covering procurement, Title VI, ADA, maintenance and financial management. Issued detailed reports with citations and corrective actions and tracked closures to completion, elevating consistency and reducing repeat findings.

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Georgia Department of Transportation – FTA Program Compliance Services (State of Georgia)

2007–

On‑call technical assistance;

compliance reviews;

drug & alcohol; civil rights;

ADA; asset management; cost allocation;

procurement/third‑party contracting; safety and security; transit planning

Provided comprehensive program oversight support, helping GDOT and its subrecipients meet FTA requirements across all program areas. Work included policy updates, desk and on‑site reviews and rapid responses to questions from GDOT and local providers.

Created clear corrective actions and tracked closures to strengthen statewide compliance.

North Carolina Department of Transportation – General On‑Call Compliance Services (State of North Carolina)

2007– Current

On‑call technical assistance;

FTA rules and regulations;

training; compliance reviews;

drug & alcohol; civil rights;

ADA; procurement/third‑party contracting

As NCDOT’s on‑call advisor, answered real‑time compliance questions, prepared guidance and conducted targeted reviews for rural and small urban subrecipients.

Developed training and tools, supported grant management procedures and assisted with risk assessments and rural‑to‑urban transitions, improving response times and consistency statewide.

Ohio Department of Transportation – General On‑Call Technical Assistance Program (State of Ohio)

2007–

On‑call technical assistance;

FTA rules and regulations;

training; compliance reviews;

drug & alcohol; civil rights;

DBE; ADA; asset management;

cost allocation; procurement/ third‑party contracting; safety and security; transit planning

Delivered hands‑on assistance tailored to each rural and small urban agency’s needs.

Combined policy guidance, field visits and follow‑up coaching to resolve compliance issues and improve operations, supporting consistency in procedures and reporting across the state.

Tennessee Department of Transportation – General On‑Call Services (State of Tennessee)

2013–

On‑call technical assistance;

compliance reviews; training;

asset management; safety

(PTASP)

Supported TDOT with Section 5311 and 5310 program compliance reviews, development of a five‑year strategic plan and annual reports and rapid technical assistance to subrecipients. Assisted with Transit Asset Management and Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan updates, coordinated public transit human services plans, developed a mobility manager toolkit and advised on non‑emergency medical transportation strategies.

Oregon Department of Transportation – Compliance Monitoring System (State of Oregon)

2010–

Program design; compliance reviews; on‑call technical assistance; training;

procurement/third‑party contracting

Designed and implemented ODOT’s risk‑based compliance monitoring program, including tools, checklists and reporting workflows. Performed desk and onsite reviews, trained staff and created a findings tracking database to monitor corrective actions, standardizing oversight for Section 5310/5311 and state funds.

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Nevada Department of Transportation – Consulting Services for FTA Subrecipients (State of Nevada)

2013–

On‑call technical assistance;

compliance reviews; FTA rules and regulations;

procurement/third‑party contracting

Assisted NDOT’s subrecipients with targeted compliance and program support, focusing on high‑risk areas. Provided policy templates, reviewed procurement files and advised on corrective actions. Follow‑up coaching helped agencies sustain improvements.

Alaska Department of Transportation – Drug and Alcohol Program Oversight (State of Alaska)

2008–

Drug & alcohol; training;

compliance reviews

Supported Alaska’s FTA drug and alcohol oversight program through onsite reviews, policy updates and training. Evaluated service agents, verified MIS reporting and provided practical tools for DERs and DAPMs.

Corrective actions and follow‑up technical assistance helped subrecipients sustain compliance.

New Mexico Department of Transportation – Drug and Alcohol Program Oversight (State of New Mexico)

2014–

Drug & alcohol; training;

compliance reviews

Supports New Mexico’s FTA drug and alcohol oversight program through onsite reviews, policy updates and training. Evaluates service agents, verifies MIS reporting and provides practical tools for DERs and DAPMs.

Corrective actions and follow‑up technical assistance bring subrecipients into sustained compliance.

Indiana Department of Transportation – Section 5311 Compliance Reviews (State of Indiana)

1999–

Compliance reviews; FTA rules and regulations;

procurement/third‑party contracting

Conducts an average of 10 compliance reviews per year of Indiana’s Section 5311 rural transit providers. Prepared a two‑volume program manual and a comprehensive field compliance review guide to ensure consistent coverage of all topical areas and expedite review and report production.

West Virginia Department of Transportation – Technical Assistance and Drug & Alcohol Reviews (State of West Virginia)

2006–

On‑call technical assistance;

compliance reviews;

drug & alcohol; safety and security;

procurement/third‑party contracting

Provided WV DOT with technical assistance, training and compliance oversight, including Section 5310/5311 site visits and reviews of policies, safety plans and procurement files.

Delivered training on the safety‑sensitive drug & alcohol program and updated policy and procedure manuals.

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PAST PROJECT SUMMARIES

The following project summaries are provided to illustrate RLS’ ability to deliver diverse planning, operations and compliance work across rural and small urban contexts.

ADOT On‑Call Transit Consultant Services, Arizona Department of Transportation – Multimodal Planning Division

RLS & Associates, Inc. performs site visits and compliance oversight for the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) 24 sub-recipients of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Section 5311 Rural Transit grant program. At the request of ADOT, RLS also conducts site visits and compliance oversight for 10 sub-recipients of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities. This process includes Documentation and Procedure Preparation; Desk Review;

Onsite Visit covering all FTA compliance areas; Report; Corrective Action Closures.

Transit Operations, Budget Management, and Safety Plans

Cost Allocation Review and Assistance, El Dorado Transit, CA RLS provided a third-party expert review of El Dorado Transit's cost allocation process and policies to ensure compliance with FTA, CalTrans, NTD, and other public transit funding requirements. In addition to the review of policy and procedure, RLS prepared a written Standard Operating Procedures guide for cost allocation.

El Dorado Transit operates public transit for the Western Slope of El Dorado County. The service area includes census-designated urbanized areas and rural areas. Therefore, the system receives FTA revenue from Sections 5307 and 5311 Programs. El Dorado County transit revenue also comes from local, state and other sources. The system operates demand response, fixed route, and commuter bus services.

Addressing Transportation Insecurity through Early Morning/After Hours Workforce Transportation, Richland County Transit Board, OH

RLS & Associates developed a set of service alternatives for a workforce transportation pilot program serving the City of Mansfield (Ohio) urbanized area. The alternatives will be prepared following a comprehensive analysis of existing conditions and input garnered through an extensive community engagement campaign. The RLS project team performed outreach activities in accordance with the established engagement campaign, including the administration of a public survey and facilitation of stakeholder interviews. RLS provided technical support to Richland County Transit, as requested, during the time leading up to the implementation of recommendations, as adopted.

Robeson County Microtransit Feasibility Study, NC RLS , under contract to NCDOT IMD, worked with South East Area Transit System (SEATS) to identify unmet needs in Robeson County and determine the feasibility of a revised transportation service alternatives to meet demands. RLS recommended a combination of microtransit and advance-reservation demand response transportation for different geographic areas.

Transportation Development Plan, Wausau, WI The TDP was initiated because the public transit system’s (MetroRide) performance measures have not improved since its previous TDP and, while transit has proven its essential role ridership has not grown.

MetroRide provides fixed route and paratransit services in the City of Wausau. Wausau recognizes potential opportunities for overall system improvements including expanding service coverage to include important trip

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generators that are outside of the City limits. RLS examined the existing route structure and schedule and facilitated a comprehensive and meaningful community and key stakeholder input opportunity that resulted in a five-year implementation plan.

CityBus Comprehensive Operations Analysis, IN RLS is in the process of developing a Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) for Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation. The data-driven service evaluation involved route-by-route and systemwide analysis of service levels, routes, and bus stops. RLS used Remix to analyze the routes and microtransit service.

Currently, RLS is working with CityBus to explore service alternatives and prepare detailed recommendations to enhance the operations and sustainability of the transit system. The study is being conducted with consideration and projections of new major employers and housing developments planned for the immediate service area and other communities in the region. It will include a financial plan including the identification of potential funding sources and a cost-benefit analysis of the recommended services. RLS also provided a Fare Structure Analysis for CityBus under an expanded scope of work.

Training

Tennessee Rural Transit Assistance Program (TNRTAP), Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) hired RLS & Associates, Inc. to administer the Tennessee Rural Transit Assistance Program (TNRTAP). As part of this task, RLS has provided planning and preparation of the annual work plan, developing and providing training programs, convening quarterly meetings for the TNRTAP Advisory Committee, facilitating special events, and technical assistance. The team has also been responsible for the creation and update of the TNRTAP website.

INRTAP 2022 – 2025, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) For over 17 years, RLS has provided direct staff support and technical assistance to the Indiana Department of Transportation through the Indiana RTAP program. The dedicated three FTE RTAP staff complemented by the entire RLS staff, as needed, support the six INDOT Office of Transit staff. The INRTAP office is responsible for developing and managing all aspects of the 5310 and 5311 RTAP training programs from a state-of-the-art training center in Columbus, IN. In addition to training, the INRTAP office provides staff support to INDOT for drug and alcohol and regulatory compliance reviews for 5311 subrecipients, 5310 regulatory compliance reviews, technical assistance to Section 5310 and 5311 subrecipients, TAM plan development and updates, production of the annual transit report, Intercity Bus Study, Title VI plan, preventative maintenance, and safety plan compliance oversight, as well as assistance with program manual and state manual updates. Based on the US Census data, the FTA establishes Urbanized Area (UZA) boundaries throughout the United States.

Communities included within these UZA boundaries are not eligible for Section 5311 rural transit program funding and must transition to Section 5307 urbanized funding. RLS understands that INDOT would like to evaluate the service area of four Section 5311 systems, Hillcroft, Monroe County, Jay/Randolph and WCIEDD to determine the impact the new UZA boundaries may have on public transportation service in Indiana.

Safety Plans

Transit Infrastructure Fund Scoring, Southwestern Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) RLS assisted Woolpert Consulting Firm in scoring Project Funding Applications for the distribution of funding from SORTA’s Transit Infrastructure Fund. RLS concentrated on Criteria 10 (Existing Daily Users) and 12 (Transit

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Impact). At the direction of SORTA, this work included a review of project applications, rating projects in the field and in work sessions with the SORTA Support Staff, building consensus in all areas of the program, and developing the Project Priority Listings for the recommended funding package to integrate communities.

West Virginia On-Call Transit Consulting, West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) RLS provides on-call planning and technical assistance to WVDOT. Planned tasks under this contract include facility maintenance, expansion, and efficiency studies; service and fleet evaluations; organizational and management analyses; safety planning; transit feasibility studies; transit asset management assistance; GTFS data collection for fixed and deviated routes; GIS mapping; and bus stop ADA compliance. At a high level, the overall intent of RLS's work under this contract is to support WVDOT in its efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the state's transit systems.

University of Georgia Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan Development Project, Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)

Review existing University of Georgia Campus Parking and Transit’s existing TAM Plan and re-develop the Plan into the format required for GDOT to be compliant with FTA’s 49 CFR Part 625. Create a long-term investment strategy for replacing assets meeting or exceeding their Useful Life Benchmarks (ULB)s or are no longer in a State of Good Repair (SGR); define the criteria used to determine SGR, create an inventory of all Tier II assets, and set SGR targets for a four-year period.

TECHNICAL APPROACH

Our approach is designed to provide flexible, responsive and compliant support for ADOT and its subrecipients across all six disciplines. Each task assignment will include a detailed scope of work, deliverables, schedule and cost estimate, and will follow these principles:

1. Collaborative Planning: We begin each assignment with a kickoff meeting to confirm objectives, stakeholders and deliverable formats. We engage ADOT project managers and local stakeholders throughout the project to ensure that solutions align with local needs and ADOT’s strategic goals.

2. Data‑Driven Analysis: We collect and analyze demographic, ridership and operational data; employ GIS, transportation demand modeling and cost estimation tools; and assess service performance using industry benchmarks. Compliance and Best Practices: All deliverables will incorporate FTA and state program requirements, ADA and Title VI regulations, DBE goals and drug & alcohol policies. We follow ADOT’s GIS standards, use the MPD Billing Summary and Reimbursement Form and include federal disclaimer language as required.

3. Transparent Communication: We maintain regular communication with ADOT project managers through progress calls, status reports and draft deliverables. Quarterly usage reports and final presentations will be provided in accordance with administrative requirements.

4. Quality Assurance: Each deliverable is reviewed internally by senior staff to ensure accuracy, clarity and adherence to scope. Lessons learned from prior task assignments are applied to continuously improve our processes.

Additional Services & Value Added In addition to the services required under the six disciplines, RLS offers Drug and Alcohol Reviews and Compliance; Identifications of solutions to meet Civil Rights and other FTA Requirements; Grants and Program Management Support; Technical Training; and Mobility Innovation.

These additional services will help ADOT and its subrecipients meet program objectives beyond the core Discipline requirements.

Technical Approach