MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA

 

WEST CONTRA COSTA

 

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2007

 

NOTE DATE CHANGE –

THIS IS A COMBINED NOV/DEC MEETING

 

7:30 AM to 9:30 AM (approximately)

 

HOLIDAY REFRESHMENTS WILL BE

AVAILABLE AT 7:15 AM

 

LOCATION:   City of San Pablo, Council Chambers

13831 San Pablo Avenue (at Church Lane) - San Pablo, California

(Accessible by AC Transit lines #72 and #72R)

Additional Parking is available in the City lot two blocks

south of City Hall at 13685 San Pablo Avenue

 

·   In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, if you need special assistance to participate in the WCCTAC Board meeting, or if you need a copy of the agenda and/or agenda packet materials in an alternative format, please contact Nancy Cuneo at 510.215.3035 or Lisa Hammon at 510.215.3044 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting so that your request can be handled.

·   If you have special transportation requirements and would like to attend the meeting, please call WCCTAC (see phone numbers above) at least 48 hours in advance to make arrangements.

·   Please refrain from wearing scented products to the meeting as there may be attendees susceptible to environmental illnesses.

·   Please turn off all cellular phones and pagers during the meeting.

·  A meeting sign-in sheet will be circulated at the meeting.  Sign-in is optional.

 

 

 

Call to Order and Self-Introductions – Chair Sharon Brown

 

 

 

1.      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.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

2.            Minutes, Sign-In Sheet, and Meeting Summary from the October 19, 2007

         Meeting – ATTACHMENTS

 

         The minutes, sign-in sheet, and meeting summary from the October 2007 meeting are attached.

 

         Staff Recommendation:   Approve the October 2007 minutes.

 

 

3.      Staff Reports – ATTACHMENTS

 

Staff reports from the Executive Director, Program Manager, and Transportation Project Specialist for October are attached. 

     

         Staff Recommendation:  Accept the reports.

 

 

4.      UC Davis Extension Transportation Management Certificate Program – ATTACHMENT

        

         Linda Young, WCCTAC’s Transportation Project Specialist and 511 Contra Costa Program Manager, recently completed the UC Davis Extension Transportation Management Certificate Program (within the Land Use and Natural Resources Program).  Completion of the certificate program included attendance in approximately thirteen classes (see the attached list) and the required homework/coursework.

 

         Congratulations Linda!!

        

Staff Recommendation:  For information only.

 

 

5.      2009 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Development and Schedule – ATTACHMENTS

 

         The attached email from Amin AbuAmara (CCTA Staff) and Memorandum from MTC, outline the 2009 TIP development process and the input required from the Project Managers/Staff.  Information is due to CCTA no later than December 14, 2007.  This will be discussed at the WCCTAC-TAC meeting on December 13, 2007 and information will be forwarded directly to CCTA.

 

Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation, for information only.  Board action as appropriate.

 

 

6.            2008 Bike to Work Day (BTWD) Update – ATTACHMENT

 

After discussion at several 511 Contra Costa Program Managers’ meetings, it has been decided that 511 Contra Costa staff will no longer be participating in BTWD as the Contra Costa organizer.  This will now be the responsibility of the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition or their designee.  The attached Memorandum outlines the background and additional information that informed the decision.

 

Staff Recommendation:     No recommendation; for information only.  Board action as appropriate.

 

 

7.            Status of the I-80 Eastbound HOV Lane Extension from Route 4 to the Carquinez Bridge –  ATTACHMENT

 

Following up on a questions raised at the October Board meeting, CCTA Staff forwarded the Project Fact Sheet for the I-80 Eastbound HOV Lane Extension.  Construction will start on the project in approximately November 2009.

 

Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; for information only.  Board action as appropriate.

 

 

8.            Cost for Construction of New Office and Office Painting

 

In order to accommodate WCCTAC’s new staff person, the lunchroom in Building 2 will be subdivided into an office and lunchroom.  In addition, the WCCTAC offices will be painted and dual-pane windows will be added to the offices on the San Pablo Avenue side of the building.  The work will be done by three contractors and the cost of the work is approximately $8,800.  This cost was not in the WCCTAC FY 07-08 budget, but funds are available due to the fact that the new staff person was budgeted for the entire fiscal year, but will only be employed for one-half of the year.

 

Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; for information only.  Board action as appropriate.

 

 

9.            Contra Costa County’s Transportation, Water, and Infrastructure Committee Discussion Regarding the Port of Oakland’s Martinez Subdivision Rail Expansion Project and Subsequent Letter to the Port of Oakland – ATTACHMENTS

 

A major expansion of freight railroad capacity is planned between the Port of Oakland and Richmond.  The WCCTAC Board has discussed the item generally in the past, but recently, the Board of Supervisors discussed it in committee and subsequently the Board sent a letter to the Port of Oakland.  Attachments are included in the packet.  This item will be agendized for WCCTAC Board discussion/action at the January 25, 2008 meeting.

 

Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; for information only.  Board action as appropriate.

 

 

 

*****  END OF CONSENT ITEMS  *****

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

12.        Introduction of New WCCTAC Employee – Joanna Pallock, Project Manager  – Staff – 10 minutes

 

Ms. Pallock will be WCCTAC’s second Project Manager (John Rudolph is the other Project Manager) and will start work on Monday, January 7, 2008.  Ms. Pallock interviewed for the Senior Transportation Project Administrator position, and after interviews and further discussion, accepted the Project Manager position working 2/3 time.

 

Staff Recommendation:  Welcome Ms. Pallock and action as appropriate.

13.    Travel Funds for San Pablo Avenue Youth Interns and Adults to Attend the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in January 2008 in Washington, DC to Present a Paper on the Summer Internship Program – Staff – ATTACHMENTS – 10 minutes

 

WCCTAC staff wrote a paper on the San Pablo Avenue summer internship program entitled: “Incubating an Informed Youth Perspective on Multi-Modal Transportation Planning Projects” for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting.   TRB is “an information-packed program that will attract more than 10,000 transporta-tion professionals from around the world to Washington, DC from January 13 to 17, 2008... TRB covers all transportation modes, with more than 3,000 presentations in 600 sessions addressing topics of interest to all attendees...  This year’s spotlight theme is ‘Partnerships for Progress in Transportation’.”  The paper was accepted as part of a panel discussion on “How to Encourage and Sustain Transportation Careers: Informing, Recruiting, and Training Transportation Professionals of Tomorrow.”

 

The panel discussion is on Monday, January 14, 2008 from 10:15 am to noon.

 

Lisa Hammon will be attending TRB for this presentation and for the remainder of the conference.  Staff is requesting that the WCCTAC Board consider using a portion of the travel budget for some or all of the five interns, and the appropriate number of adult chaperones and speakers, to attend the Annual Meeting.  The attached summary of the costs and various scenarios are outlined in the attachment. 

 

Additionally, staff will provide further verbal information at the meeting following a meeting with West Contra Costa Unified School District staff which will take place on Tuesday, December 11th (after distribution of this agenda packet).

 

         Staff Recommendation:   Discuss options; Board action as appropriate.

 

 

14.    Measure J Strategic Plan Including Full Funding for eBART and $138 M Bond Issuance – Staff  and CCTA Staff – ATTACHMENT – 25 minutes  

 

The attached Contra Costa Transportation Authority Board Letter and related information discuss the Measure J Strategic Plan including full funding for eBART via a third bond issue ($138 M).

 

CCTA is seeking support from all of the Regional Transportation Planning Committees on the Measure J Strategic Plan.  CCTA staff will summarize the issues and answer questions.  Of concern for West County are the West County projects that are currently in the Measure J Strategic Plan AFTER 2015 when funding capacity will be constrained due to the third bond issuance.

 

The primary projects are:  the I-80/Central Avenue Interchange ($6.672 M); the Richmond Parkway Upgrade ($20.888 M); and the BART Parking and Access Improvements ($9.228 M).

 

Other West County concerns may arise for programs in the Measure J Strategic Plan that may, in the future, request a capital component (examples are the West County Ferry Service and Bus Transit Enhancements).

 

Staff Recommendation:   Discuss; Board action as appropriate.

 

 

15.    Twenty-Five Year Program for Contra Costa’s State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Funds and Relationship to the 2009 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) – Staff and CCTA Staff – ATTACHMENT – 25 minutes

 

Currently, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is updating the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).  Part of that effort includes determining which projects – a financially constrained list – will be included in the 2009 RTP.  If MTC determines the list of projects based upon a certain set of criteria, it may affect Contra Costa’s discretion over the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds. 

 

Rather than have MTC determine the performance criteria for project inclusion, CCTA is requesting that the Regional Transportation Planning Committees (RTPCs) – and potentially other County Congestion Management Agencies - instead develop a 25-year STIP project list based upon potential project criteria that is outlined on page 2 of the attached CCTA Board Letter.

 

MTC’s project performance criteria will be discussed at the Partnership Board TAC meeting on December 17th; a Call for Projects will be issued in January; and projects will be due to MTC in mid-February.

 

MTC’s criteria will be based upon the five “targets” outlined in the attached Transportation 2035 Fact Sheet which include: Reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels; reducing emissions of finer particulates by 10 percent and coarser particulates by 45 percent; reducing daily per-capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 10 percent; reducing per-capita delay by 20 percent; and decreasing by 10 percent the share of low-income and lower middle-income residents’ household income consumed by transportation and housing.

 

This issue is also on the WCCTAC-TAC agenda for the December 13th meeting and verbal information on discussion/action from the TAC will be provided at the Board meeting.

 

Further discussions with MTC and CCTA staff may take place this week and any additional information will be provided at the meeting, as well as further changes/additions to the draft 25-year STIP list prepared by CCTA staff.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Discuss; direction to staff on projects to be included in the 25-year STIP list and/or Board action as appropriate.

 

 

16.    Updates:  (1) Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Financing; and (2) I-80 Integrated Corridor Mobility (ICM) Project – Staff – ATTACHMENTS – 15 minutes

 

Staff will provide verbal reports in addition to the attachments.

 

Please mark your calendar:  The STMP Financing Workshop has been planned for Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 5 pm at Maple Hall, City of San Pablo.  A “Save the Date” postcard has been mailed and is attached.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Discuss; Board action as appropriate.

 

 

17.    Correspondence/Other Information: 

 

         Incoming:

         TRAC Autumn Report, October 8, 2007.

         SWAT meeting summary, October 9, 2007.

         CCTA Board meeting summary, October 18, 2007.

         TRANSPAC meeting summary, October 30, 2007.

Letter from Ann Flemer, MTC to Cyrus Minoofar, Alameda CMA re: I-80 ICM Project, November 13, 2007.

Letter from WTA Community Advisory Committee to Governor Schwarzenegger re: SB 976 Clean-Up, November 16, 2007.

SWAT meeting summary, November 19, 2007.

Safe Communities eForum, November 27, 2007.

Capitol Corridor News (note article on Richmond Station), December 6, 2007.

FOCUS NEWS, December 7, 2007.

Capital Corridor stats, November 2007.

 

Outgoing:

Letter to Greg Stewart, Clear Channel re: Bus Shelter program, 9.25.07.

Letter to LaShonda Wilson re: Veolia Grant for Ma’at Youth Academy, 9.27.07.

Letter to Alan Wolken re: Richmond Station Grand Opening, 10.19.07.

Letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger re: Appointment to WETA, 10.19.07.

 

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

Mass Transit Magazine, “Transit Ridership Jumps but so do Fares.”

Mass Transit Magazine, “Cutting Car Emissions Saves Lives: T.O Report.”

“Use Walk and Roll to School Day...,” 9.28.07.

“City Renaissance on the Fast Track,” 10.19.07.

“Open House Forum will Cover I-80 Central Traffic Troubles,” 10.19.07.

 “Ferry Plan Irrational on Many Levels,” 10.20.07.

“South Bay Favored in State Rail Plans,” 10.25.07.

“Options to Alleviate I-80 Traffic Unveiled,” 10.26.07.

“El Sobrante Panel to Discuss Corridor Plan for Two Roads,” 10.27.07.

“Plan to Fight Warming may Start With Solo Drivers,” 10.27.07.

“Security Grant will Bolster BART Safety,” 10.30.07.

“Highway 4 Bypass Won’t Eliminate Traffic,” 10.30.07.

“Public Comment for Environmental Study Sought,” 11.2.07.

“BART Work to Quiet Tracks Done,” 11.2.07.

“Proposal to Repair City Streets Before Council,” 11.3.07.

“Land Use Workshop Planned,” 11.6.07.

“U.S. Mayors Find It’s Not Easy to be Green,” 11.7.07.

 “City Split on Shoreline Development,” 11.8.07.

“Casino San Pablo Expansion Blocked,” 11.9.07 (Oakland Tribune).

“El Cerrito Proposes Tax to Help Maintain Streets,” 11.9.07.

“Richmond Catching Up on Road Work,” 11.23.07.

“Bay Area Could Get $640M to Ease Truck Traffic,” 11.28.07 (Chronicle).

“Areas Near Tracks Fear Congestion,” 12.6.07.

“Diesel Fumes Putting Dock Truckers at Greater Cancer Risk,” no date (Oakland Tribune).

 

         Conferences/Workshops:

          Ohlone Greenway Public Workshops.

         FOCUS PDA Speaker Series – December 14th in San Francisco.

         AC Transit Directors’ Issues Briefing and Breakfast – January 29, 2008, San Pablo.

         WCCTAC STMP Financing Workshop – January 30, 2008, San Pablo.

         7th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth – February 7 to 9, 2008 in Washington, DC.

         The Annual Ahwahnee Conference (“Building Livable Communities”) – March 14 to 16 at Yosemite.

 

 

18.        Other Business

 

 

 

 

 

ADJOURN TO NEXT MEETING:

January, 25, 2008

 

Today’s meeting is adjourned in memory of Ms. Ire B. Vaughn, Board member Joe Wallace’s mother.