WCCTAC

West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

March 26, 2004

The special meeting of the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by Chair Valstad in the City Council Chambers of the City of San Pablo, 13831 San Pablo Avenue (at Church Lane), San Pablo, California.

1. Call to Order and Self-Introductions

PRESENT: Chair Kris Valstad (Hercules), Janet Abelson (El Cerrito), Sharon Brown (San Pablo), Jerrold Parsons (WestCAT), Joe Wallace (AC Transit), Maria Alegria (Pinole), John Gioia (Contra Costa County), Irma Anderson (Richmond)

ABSENT: Mindell Penn (Richmond), Maria Viramontes (Richmond)

STAFF: Lisa Hammon, WCCTAC Managing Director

Hisham Noeimi, CCTA Staff

2. Measure C Transportation Sales Tax - Current Issues

The Managing Director stated CCTA requested a prioritized list of projects/programs from each RTPC to be funded through the subregional flexible fund. There was significant public comment regarding the subregional fund being too undefined. The Managing Director stated a discussion of the subregional flexible program funds is necessary to provided priorities to CCTA for specific projects/programs that would be funded in West County by this set aside. The Managing Director also stated the EPC is recommending the extended Measure C be a 25 year measure, which will provide $2 billion over the life of the measure. Through this 5-year extension, new funding will be available.

The Managing Director prepared a comparison of the CCTA proposal and the WCCTAC submittal or projects/programs for discussion.

John Gioia stated the Authority increased the funding for I-80 HOV and interchanges from the requested $18M to $40. RM2 will provide $50M for this same category. He

also pointed out that the Authority had increased the Express Bus funding from the requested $10.9M to $42M. John stated the Capitol Corridor needs to be specific in terms of both operating and capital funding.

The Managing Director reminded the members that the WCCTAC submittal was for 20% funding of all projects/programs. Hisham stated the Authority increased the funding because they did not feel funding 20% of the total project/program cost would result in any project/program being completed. Hisham stated WCCTAC should consider funding 80% of the projects/programs and look for funding elsewhere for the remaining 20%.

Jerrold Parsons requested WCCTAC reconsider HOV access for Richmond Parkway and SR4/San Pablo Ave./Hercules interchange for funding which was originally a project. The Managing Director supported the request, and added there needs to be a backup project if other state and/or federal funding comes through and the other listed interchanges are completed. She suggested language be added to include SR4 and the interchanges.

John Gioia stated BART received less funding from CCTA than was requested, and he suggested increasing the BART allocation to $15M using the overage in the Express Bus category. Hisham stated the Express Bus funding is operations only; the funding was increased to reflect the 25-year extension.

David Tucker, BART, stated $15M will not be enough in terms of improving access at the three stations in West County. He stated CCTA had proposed $100M and has provided no understanding of the reduction in funding. Rebecca Kaplan stated the Express Bus allocation by CCTA includes funding for Express Bus and park-n-ride facilities from West County to Fairfield. There is a huge demand for increased Express Bus service, and that is reflected in the CCTA allocation.

Sharon Brown and Maria Alegria agreed 80% needs to be funded in order for any project/program to be completed. The members discussed various funding shifts. AC Transit representatives advocated strongly for no reduction to their allocations in the CCTA proposal. Ferry representatives stated no consideration would be given to a project without a guaranteed source of operating revenue for 25 years. Sustainable funding is key to ferry service. There were concerns regarding the projected 1800/weekday riders on ferry and the requested $87.5M in funding versus bus riders at 20,000/weekday. John Gioia stated the ferries could be viewed as an economic development project for Richmond/West County, and as such, Measure C funding is essential for its success. If enough money is not set aside for ferry service to make it viable, no money should be set aside at all.

John Gioia and Irma Anderson recommended funding the ferry service at $60M by shifting money from bus transit, flexible fund, contingency fund and express bus. Irma stated the funding through Measure C is critical to receive Federal funding for ferry service. Rebecca Kaplan expressed concern WCCTAC is now considering funding ferry service at 80% when bus service will remain at 20%.

On motion by Maria Alegria, seconded by Janet Ableson and carried with John Gioia and Irma Anderson opposed, WCCTAC approved the following allocations to projects and subregional programs in staff’s proposed Alternative D as follows:

Projects

I-80 HOV and interchanges $30M

BART Improvements $10M

Subregional Programs

Ferry Service $50M

Countywide Arterials 0

Additional Capitol Corridor 0

John Gioia stated more funding was given to bus transit in West County than any other part of the County, but changing the bus funding by a few million would not have cut the programs out. However, the motion may cut out ferry service in West County altogether. He stated the discussion will continue at the Authority.

3. Public Comment

None.

4. Next Meeting

With no further business to come before the WCCTAC, Chair Valstad adjourned the meeting at 9:45 a.m. The next meeting of the WCCTAC will be at 7:30 a.m., April 16, 2004, in the City of San Pablo City Council Chambers, 13831 San Pablo Avenue (at Church Lane), San Pablo, California. NOTE DATE AND TIME FOR THIS MEETING ONLY.

Respectfully submitted,

Lori D’Orazi

Stenocaptioner