Pasadena’s Department of Transportation Wants to Join Mutual Assistance Compact

The City of Pasadena wants to be included in the California Statewide Transit Mutual Assistance Compact (TransMAC), a statewide agreement that establishes a formal process where member agencies, such as local governments and public transit providers, may receive and provide mutual assistance to each other in the form of personnel, services and equipment that may be necessary during an emergency.

Initiated in 2010 in Southern California through coordinated efforts by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), and the California Emergency Management Agency, among other agencies, TransMAC has evolved into a collaboration among 22 transit agencies serving the whole state.

In an Agenda Report for the Pasadena City Council, the Department of Transportation said TransMAC member agencies are able to coordinate response activities and share resources when necessary, even without a formal emergency declaration. The agreement facilitates rapid, short-term deployment of emergency support – including personnel, equipment, materials and related services prior to, during, and after an incident or a pre-planned major event.

The Transportation Department said the compact is modeled on mutual aid agreements used by law enforcement, fire and utilities throughout the state.

“TransMAC sets forth the terms and conditions under which members agree to provide or receive mutual assistance, and establishes the framework for activation, withdrawal, member responsibilities, reimbursement, documentation, legal and liability issues,” the Department said in the report.

The Department also said TransMAC does not require any member “to deplete its own resources to furnish mutual assistance.”

Executing the agreement does not compel the City of Pasadena to provide resources, the Transportation Department also explained. Pasadena and the other TransMAC members will follow their own adopted emergency plans for use of their resources, as long as the plans comply with local, regional, and state operations plans.

Members requesting assistance also commit to reimburse direct costs incurred by the member providing assistance, with rates depending on the negotiated rate determined by the providing member, the report said.

The City Council’s Municipal Services Committee will review the recommendation on Tuesday during its regular meeting before forwarding it to the full City Council next week.

To see a generic format of the California TransMAC, visit https://accessla.org/uploads/files/TransMAC%20Agreement.pdf.