SUBJECT:  FUNDING SUPPORT FOR MTC BAY AREA AIR PASSENGER SURVEY

 

COUNCIL DISTRICT:  City-Wide

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Approval for the Airport Department to contribute up to $102,650 to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the 2001 Bay Area Air Passenger Survey.

 

BACKGROUND

 

Approximately every five years since 1975, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) conducts an air passenger survey at San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC) International Airports and publishes its findings.  The purpose of the survey is to profile air travel characteristics in the Bay Area which, in turn, provide valuable planning, ground access, customer service and marketing data.  This survey, for example, provides information on where our air passengers originate within the region, their mode of ground access and how many SFO and OAK passengers are from Santa Clara County.  MTC's last survey was conducted in 1995.

 

ANALYSIS

 

The 2001 Bay Area Air Passenger Survey will be conducted over the next few months.  Historically, each of the three airports contributes funds to MTC for the survey based on the sample size desired.  For the 2001 survey, the Airport Department has proposed a contribution of up to $102,650 to cover MTC's cost to survey a minimum of 7,000 departing passengers at SJC.  As with previous cost-sharing arrangements with MTC, the Airport's funding commitment will be in the form of a "letter agreement" with payments tied to completion of project milestones.

 

PUBLIC OUTREACH

 

Not applicable.

 

COORDINATION

 

The Airport's participation in the regional air passenger survey has been coordinated with MTC.

 

COST IMPLICATIONS

 

The Airport's 2001-02 Capital Improvement Program has funds available to cover the proposed $102,650 contribution to MTC.

 

BUDGET REFERENCE

 

Fund:                            Airport Renewal & Replacement Fund - 527

Amount:                       $1,050,000

Budget Document:        2001-02 Proposed Capital Budget, Page 69, Item 60

                                    (as adopted by Council on June 19, 2001, Ordinance No. 26415)

 

 

RALPH G. TONSETH

Director of Aviation

Airport Department