MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA

1. Call to Order and Self-Introductions – Chair Sharon Brown

2. Public Comment – Please fill out a speaker card and hand it to the Chair/Staff

At this time, the public is welcome to address the WCCTAC on any item which does not otherwise appear on the agenda. With a full agenda, comments may be limited to three minutes per speaker. Speakers shall follow the rules of common courtesy and decorum.

3. Commendation to WCCTAC Board Member/Pinole City Councilmember Maria Alegria – Chair Brown and Board Members

***** CONSENT CALENDAR *****

4. Minutes, Sign-In Sheet, and Meeting Summary from the January 22 and January 25, 2008 Meetings – ATTACHMENTS

The minutes and sign-in sheet from January 22, 2008 meeting; and the minutes, sign-in sheet, and meeting summary from the January 25, 2008 meeting are attached.

Staff Recommendation: Approve the January 25, 2008 minutes.

5. Staff Reports – ATTACHMENTS

Staff reports from the Executive Director, Program Managers, and Transportation Project Specialist for late January are attached.

Staff Recommendation: Accept the reports.

6. FY 08-09 Transportation Fund for Clean Air, Measure C/Measure J, CMAQ Projects – ATTACHMENTS

The Project Information Sheets for the FY 08-09 Transportation Demand Management Projects (funded with TFCA, Measure C, and CMAQ funds) are attached and were discussed at the WCCTAC-TAC meeting on February 14^th.

The final funding availability will not be known until later this spring, at which time staff will provide an update. The WCCTAC projects – a component of the 511 Contra Costa program that is administered by the Regional Transportation Planning Committee staff – are essentially the same as past projects, with a few notable changes:

· Transit Incentive – (1) the program will coordinate with Contra Costa College to implement a “College Transit Pass Program;” and (2) will explore the process to provide Web-Based Program Registration and Data Gathering.

· The Guaranteed Ride Home Program will explore new ways to promote the countywide program to employers and employees.

· The Employer Outreach Program will coordinate with the regional contractor on Bike to Work Day activities.

Staff Recommendations: (1) Accept the projects as described in the Project Information Sheets; (2) authorize the Executive Director to submit the applications to CCTA and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District; and (3) authorize the Chair to sign the Cooperative Agreement between the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and WCCTAC in approximately June 2008 for the Measure C, TFCA, and CMAQ funds.

7. Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee (STMP) Program – Consultant RFP (and Responses) to Forecast STMP Revenues – ATTACHMENTS

On January 25, 2008, six firms were mailed a Request for Proposals (RFP) to Forecast STMP Revenues (attached). The forecast will be used in connection with the sizing and structuring of bonds by WCCTAC. Four firms responded to the RFP – Seifel Consulting, Keyser Marston Associates, Bay Area Economics, and Economic & Planning Systems.

The proposals are currently being reviewed, evaluated, and ranked by members of the Bond Financing Working Group – Lisa Hammon; Mark Curran and Steven Gortler from Piper Jaffray; John Knox from OHS; WCCTAC’s Counsel (Bryan Otake from Meyers Nave); and Bradley Ward from the City of San Pablo. City of Richmond Finance Director Mr. James Goins has also been invited to participate in the evaluation process.

The proposals are being evaluated and ranked based on the criteria outlined in the attached Scoring Sheet.

Following the February 29^th WCCTAC Board meeting, the Bond Financing Working Group will meet to discuss the proposals and determine the next step in the evaluation and hiring process (eg. interviews, reference checks, fee negotiation, etc.)

Copies of the proposals are available from Nancy Cuneo at 510.215.3035 or by emailing Ms. Cuneo at nancyc@ci.san-pablo.ca.us.

Staff Recommendation: Authorize the Chair to execute a Consulting Services Agreement for the top-ranked candidate for the STMP Revenue Forecast project. Funds for the consultant will be paid by WCCTAC and reimbursed from the STMP revenues.

***** END OF CONSENT ITEMS *****

8. Board Member Comments, Conference/Meeting Reports (AB 1234 Requirement), and Announcements – 2 minutes per Board Member

9. Legal Counsel Comments and Announcements – Up to 5 minutes

10. Train and Truck Issues: (1) State Infrastructure Bond (Proposition 1B) – Trade Corridor Improvement Program (TCIF) Update; and (2) Update on the Truck Parking Study in Alameda County and West Contra Costa – Staff and MTC Staff/ACCMA Staff – SEPARATE ATTACHMENT – 30 minutes

This agenda item will be presented in two separate, but related components:

1. Carolyn Clevenger from MTC will present an update on the Trade Corridor Improvement Fund (TCIF). Specifically, Ms. Clevenger will discuss the Martinez Subdivision Project improvements and the Port of Oakland’s TCIF application. The Martinez Subdivision runs directly through West Contra Costa from the Port of Oakland to Martinez.

2. Beth Walukas from the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency will present an update on the Truck Parking Facility Feasibility and Location Study in Alameda County, which has been expanded to include some areas of West Contra Costa.

The presentations will last a total of 20 minutes and there will be 10 minutes reserved for questions/answers.

Staff Recommendation: No recommendation; Board action as appropriate.

11. Preliminary Draft of the West County Action Plan Update for Review and Comment – Staff, Kimley-Horn Staff, and CCTA Staff – SEPARATE ATTACHMENT – 30 minutes

All of the Regional Transportation Planning Committee Action Plans are being updated at this time. WCCTAC’s last update was in 2000. Kimley-Horn and Associates, under contract with CCTA, is the consulting firm preparing the West County Action Plan Update.

The WCCTAC-TAC has spent two meetings reviewing the new “Multimodal Traffic Service Objectives,” or MTSOs for the regional routes and arterials, and one meeting reviewing the remaining text. The Preliminary Draft is being forwarded to the WCCTAC Board for review, comment, discussion, and for authorization to release the Draft for circulation and broader review/comment.

The 2008 Update includes the change from Traffic Service Objectives to Multimodal Traffic Service Objectives as noted above, and the following additional major changes:

a. A shift in focus for traffic congestion relief on I-80 that considers ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) components such as those included in the I-80 ICM project;

b. The inclusion of both Macdonald Avenue in Richmond and John Muir Parkway in Hercules on the major arterials list (with associated actions);

c. The “Area-Wide MTSOs” section focuses on major issues such as transit satisfaction, pavement quality, drive alone rates, transit and ridership, bicycle and pedestrian mode splits, and transit on-time performance.

After a brief presentation, staff, CCTA staff, and Michael Mowery from Kimley-Horn will be available to answer questions or provide additional information related to the Preliminary Draft Action Plan.

TAC/Staff Recommendation: Authorize Staff to release the Draft Action Plan for circulation to the RTPCs, transportation agencies, transit agencies, and the general public with a six-week review period. Comments would be brought back to the TAC and the WCCTAC Board in April 2008. Depending upon the level of comments received, WCCTAC would have the option to release a second draft for further comments, or prepare a “Proposal for Adoption” to forward to CCTA for incorporation into the 2008 Countywide Transportation Plan.

12. WCCTAC Budget Issues and FY 06-07 Audit Report – Staff and Bradley Ward, WCCTAC Treasurer – ATTACHMENT and SEPARATE ATTACHMENTS – Financial Statements are Included in the Board Member Packets Only (copies will be available at the meeting or may be requested in advance of the meeting by calling Nancy Cuneo at 510.215.3035) – 30 minutes

The following budget and audit issues will be presented and discussed at the meeting:

a. WCCTAC FY 06-07 Financial Statements and Memorandum on Internal Control Structure, including the spreadsheet for special projects; and

b. FY 07-08 Mid-Year Budget Report and Request for Budget Adjustments including the office remodel and painting, consulting fees for Michael Bernick, and contribution towards the preparation of the Traffic Signal Light Program application for the local arterial/transit components of the I-80 ICM project.

Staff Recommendation: Accept the FY 06-07 Financial Statements/Audit and the Mid-Year Budget Adjustment; other Board actions as appropriate.

13. STMP Funding Requests: (a) Request for Proposals (RFP) (including a budget amount) for the 2008 Summer Internship Program; and (b) Bay Trail Gap Closure in the Pinole/Hercules Area – Staff – ATTACHMENTS – 15 minutes

The attached Staff Report contains detailed information regarding two STMP funding requests: (a) The RFP and funding for the 2008 Summer Internship Program ($60,000); and (b) $500,000 for engineering, environmental, and geotechnical studies for the Bay Trail section between Pinole Shores and Bayfront Park in Pinole.

Staff Recommendation: As noted in the Budget presentation in Agenda Item #12, funds for both of these projects are currently available in the STMP. Authorize staff to release the RFP for the Summer Internship Program; and to work with the EBRPD and the City of Pinole to set up accounting and reporting for the $500,000 expenditure for the Bay Trail gap closure, and expend the funds as outlined above; or action to be determined by the WCCTAC Board.

14. Proposed AC Transit Fare Increase; Affect on the Low-Income Student Bus Pass Program and the Interim Bus Pass Program; Expanding the Program Region-Wide; and Next Steps – Staff – ATTACHMENT – 10 minutes

As noted by staff in January, the AC Transit Board is considering a fare increase in order to offset budget shortfalls. Staff attended the AC Transit Board meeting on January 30^th. At that time, due to requests for further information, the Board tabled the item until such time as the further information was made available. Prior to raising fares, a Public Hearing must be held.

In the meantime, staff participated in a meeting of the Youth Transportation Coalition, and a letter was drafted for interested parties to use as a template to respond to the potential increase in fares, particularly the monthly youth pass. A more detailed version of that letter focusing on West County issues is attached for review and approval.

Staff has not convened a meeting of the WCCTAC Subcommittee that was appointed in January (Janet Abelson, John Gioia, and Tony Thurmond), but sent an email to the Subcommittee in early February about the status of the proposed fare increases. Two of the three committee members requested a meeting. Staff will work with the Subcommittee members to set the meeting day and time. At the meeting, two issues will be addressed: (1) The potential AC Transit fare increase; and (2) How to include the Low-Income Student Bus Pass Program in a regional discussion, particularly as it relates to the Regional Transportation Plan. CCTA approved the RTP/STIP projects at the February 20^th meeting.

Staff Recommendation: Discuss and approve the letter to AC Transit; discuss the regional context of the bus pass program; and/or Board action as appropriate.

15. Correspondence/Other Information:

Incoming:

Summary of TRANSPLAN meeting; 1.14.08.

Items approved for circulation by CCTA; 1.17.08.

SWAT meeting summary; 1.22.08.

SWAT letter to CCTA re: CCTA representation; 1.22.08.

CCTA letter re: Second Cycle T-PLUS grants; 2.11.08.

Capitol Corridor and Amtrak Ridership Results; 2.15.08.

TRAC Grants for Bay Trail in Richmond; 2.15.08.

Outgoing:

Letter of Support for NCAPA project; 1.23.08.

Letter to AC Transit Board re: proposed fare increase; 1.23.08.

Letter to Robert McCleary re: STIP/RTP projects; 1.25.08.

Letters of Support (5) for the earmark request for Arterial Operations; 2.13.08.

Newspaper Articles (All from the West County Times Except Where Noted):

AC Transit Halts Raise in Bus Fare; 1.24.08.

BART Installing Electronic Bike Lockers; 1.24.08.

BART Tests Paying Fares by Cell Phone; 1.30.08.

Old Town Traffic, Safety Issues Back for Review; 2.1.08.

Meeting Will Focus on Transit Center’s Future; 2.11.08.

Hercules Disputes ‘Big-Box’ Transit Theory; 2.12.08.

Hercules Residents Speak out on Transit Center; 2.12.08.

State Freight Funds Divide State Along North, South; 2.13.08.

Caltrans Rejects Bikeway Plan for Bridge; 2.14.08.

Conferences/Workshops:

Political Roundtable: Land Use & Climate Change (FOCUS) with Janet Abelson and John Gioia – February 27, 2008 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the El Cerrito Senior Center (6500 Stockton Avenue, El Cerrito).

Road Diet Seminar at MTC on March 19, 2008 from 10 am to 2 pm; MetroCenter Auditorium; 101 Eighth Street, Oakland.

16. Other Business

ADJOURN TO NEXT MEETING:

March 28, 2008