Council approves $1.92 million contract to modernize Bee Line bus technology

The Glendale City Council voted unanimously on May 5 to authorize a contract with Connexiones Limited for up to $1,923,000 to modernize the Bee Line bus technology system, city staff said.

City staff said the Bee Line’s existing real-time arrival hardware and onboard systems — including a surveillance system and an automated voice-announcement (AVA) system installed more than a decade ago — have exceeded their useful life and are incompatible with third-party trip-planning apps. Martha D’Andrea, deputy director of public works, told the council the project will add features such as automatic passenger counters for federal reporting, onboard Wi‑Fi and integrated vehicle tracking compatible with Caltrans’ California Integrated Travel Project standards.

“The proposed technologies will modernize and integrate all bus systems, providing operational efficiency and enhancing the Bee Line passenger experience,” D’Andrea said during the presentation.

The contract will be procured through the TIPS interlocal purchasing cooperative to meet federal purchasing requirements and to expediate procurement. The city received $668,000 in state transit and intercity rail capital funds to cover a portion of the capital costs; staff said the grant will cover about 77 percent of hardware, one-time setup and installation costs in year one.

Council members asked questions about fiscal impact, vendor experience and rider accessibility. Council member Garpetian noted the presentation’s fiscal tables and asked staff to confirm year-one and multi-year cost lines; staff said the larger figure reflects a multi-year total and that most capital costs are grant-funded.

Public commenters offered brief remarks before the vote. Beth Brooks urged the council not to routinely dispense with competitive bidding; a caller representing Thomas Jefferson Elementary described unrelated Metro BRT construction concerns near a school and asked the city to coordinate on traffic and air-quality mitigations.

Council member Asatrian moved to adopt the resolution dispensing with competitive bidding and authorizing the city manager to execute the contract; the motion was seconded by Council member Najarian and adopted by roll call. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Council member Asatrian, Council member Brotman, Council member Najarian and Mayor Mary Kasakian; Council member Rotman was absent and did not vote.

Next steps: staff will execute the agreement, begin procurement as authorized and install the new systems with a three-year maintenance term and two optional two-year extensions, subject to future appropriation for ongoing operations.