HomeMy Public PortalAbout11 November 17, 2008 Technical Advisory Committee85875
Records
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TIME:
DATE:
LOCATION:
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA*
10:00 A.M.
November 17, 2008
Riverside County Transportation Commission
Riverside County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street, Riverside, CA
Conference Room A, 3rd Floor
*By request, agenda and minutes may be available in alternative format; i.e. large print, tape.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Dave Barakian, City of Palm Springs
Bill Bayne, City of Cathedral City
Tom Boyd, City of Riverside
Duane Burk, City of Banning
Ron Carr; City of Perris
Mike Gow, City of Hemet
Mark Greenwood, City of Palm Desert
Patrick Nally, Ca!trans District 8
Bruce Harry, City of Rancho Mirage
Jonathan Hoy, City of Desert Hot Springs
Bill Hughes, City of Temecula
Tim Jonasson, City of La Quinta
Eunice Lovi, SunLine Transit
Habib Motlagh, Cities of Canyon Lake & San Jacinto
Les Nelson, PVVTA
Juan Perez, County of Riverside
Amad Qattan, City of Corona
Tom Rafferty, City of Indio
Jim Rodkey, City of Blythe
Anne Schneider, City of Calimesa
Ken Seumalo, City of Lake Elsinore
Mark Stanley, Riverside Transit Agency
Ruthanne Taylor Berger, WRCOG
Patrick Thomas, City of Murrieta
Bill Thompson, City of Norco
Paul Toor, City of Coachella
Chris Vogt, City of Moreno Valley
Allyn Waggle, CVAG
Tim Wassil, City of Indian Wells
John Wilder, City of Beaumont
Commission Staff
Anne Mayer, Executive Director
Shirley Medina, Programming and Planning Manager
11.36.02
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R I V E R S I D E C O U N T Y T R A N S P O R T A T I O N
C O M M I S S I O N
T E C H N I C A L A D V I S O R Y C O M M I T T E E M E E T I N G A G E N D A *
* A c t i o n s m a y b e t a k e n o n a n y i t e m l i s t e d o n t h e a g e n d a .
T I M E : 1 0 : 0 0 A . M .
D A T E : N o v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 0 8
L O C A T I O N : R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n
R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y A d m i n i s t r a t i v e C e n t e r
4 0 8 0 L e m o n S t r e e t , R i v e r s i d e , C A
C o n f e r e n c e R o o m A , 3 r d F l o o r
I n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s A c t a n d g o v e r n m e n t C o d e S e c t i o n 5 4 9 5 4 . 2 , i f y o u
n e e d s p e c i a l a s s i s t a n c e t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a C o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g , p l e a s e c o n t a c t R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n a t ( 9 5 1 ) 7 8 7 - 7 1 4 1 . N o t i f i c a t i o n o f a t l e a s t 4 8 h o u r s p r i o r t o m e e t i n g t i m e w i l l
a s s i s t s t a f f i n a s s u r i n g t h a t r e a s o n a b l e a r r a n g e m e n t s c a n b e m a d e t o p r o v i d e a c c e s s i b i l i t y a t t h e m e e t i n g .
1 . C A L L T O O R D E R
2 . S E L F - I N T R O D U C T I O N S
3 . A P P R O V A L O F M I N U T E S
4 . P U B L I C C O M M E N T S ( T h i s i s f o r c o m m e n t s o n i t e m s n o t l i s t e d o n a g e n d a .
C o m m e n t s r e l a t i n g t o a n i t e m o n t h e a g e n d a w i l l b e t a k e n w h e n t h e i t e m i s
b e f o r e t h e C o m m i t t e e . )
5 . P R O P 1 A H I G H S P E E D R A I L U P D A T E ( V e r b a l P r e s e n t a t i o n )
6 . G R A D E S E P A R A T I O N F U N D I N G P L A N ( A t t a c h m e n t )
7 . S U N L I N E / C V A G A U D I T R E S O L U T I O N ( V e r b a l P r e s e n t a t i o n )
8 . P R O G R A M M I N G U P D A T E ( S T I P , R T I P , E T C . ) ( V e r b a l P r e s e n t a t i o n )
9 . O T H E R B U S I N E S S
Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
November 17, 2008
Page 2
10. ADJOURNMENT (The next meeting will be January 12, 2009, 10:00 A.M., in
Riverside.)
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" M I N U T E S
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T E C H N I C A L A D V I S O R Y C O M M I T T E E M E E T I N G
M I N U T E S
M o n d a y , O c t o b e r 2 0 , 2 0 0 8
1 . C a l l t o O r d e r
T h e m e e t i n g o f t h e R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n ( R C T C )
T e c h n i c a l A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e ( T A C ) w a s c a l l e d t o o r d e r a t 1 0 : 0 5 A . M . a t
B a n n i n g C i t y H a l l C i v i c C e n t e r , 9 9 E a s t R a m s e y S t r e e t , B a n n i n g , C A .
2 . S e l f - I n t r o d u c t i o n s
M e m b e r s P r e s e n t : D a v e B a r a k i a n , C i t y o f P a l m S p r i n g s
B i l l B a y n e , C i t y o f C a t h e d r a l C i t y
T o m B o y d , C i t y o f R i v e r s i d e
G r e g B u t l e r , C i t y o f T e m e c u l a
M i k e G o w , C i t y o f H e m e t
M a r k G r e e n w o o d , C i t y o f P a l m D e s e r t
P a t r i c k F l a t l y , C a l t r a n s D i s t r i c t 8
B r u c e H a r r y , C i t y o f R a n c h o M i r a g e
J o n a t h a n H o y , C i t y o f D e s e r t H o t S p r i n g s
T i m J o n a s s o n , C i t y o f L a Q u i n t a
P r e m K u m a r , C i t y o f M o r e n o V a l l e y
A m a d Q a t t a n , C i t y o f C o r o n a
T o m R a f f e r t y , C i t y o f I n d i o
J i m R o d k e y , C i t y o f B l y t h e
P a t t y R o m o , C o u n t y o f R i v e r s i d e
A n n e S c h n e i d e r , C i t y o f C a l i m e s a
K e n S e u m a l o , C i t y o f L a k e E l s i n o r e
E r i c S k a u g s e t , C i t i e s o f C a n y o n L a k e , P e r r i s & S a n J a c i n t o
B r e t T e e b k e n , R T A
P a t r i c k T h o m a s , C i t y o f M u r r i e t a
P a u l T o o r , C i t y o f C o a c h e l l a
T i m W a s s i l , C i t y o f I n d i a n W e l l s
J o h n W i l d e r , C i t y o f B e a u m o n t
O t h e r s P r e s e n t :
G r a c e A l v a r e z , R C T C
C a t h y B e c h t e l , R C T C
S h i r l e y G o o d i n g , R C T C
B r i a n G u i l l o t , C i t y o f B a n n i n g
Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
October 20, 2008
Page 2
Eric Lewis, City of Moreno Valley
Shirley Medina, RCTC
Sheldon Peterson, RCTC
Mike Romo, Caltrans
Alex Serena, WRCOG
Andrea Zureick, RCTC
3. Approval of Minutes
September 15, 2008 Minutes were approved as submitted.
4. Public Comments
There were no public comments.
5. MCP UPDATE
Cathy Bechtel, ROTC, provided Volume 6, October 2008 Mid County Parkway
Question and Answer newsletter. She reminded the TAC about the efforts to
create a new east/west transportation corridor, which is a project level
environmental document to construct a 32 mile facility between SR-79 and I-15.
She outlined the environmental streamlining project.
On a map, she pointed out the alternatives that are evaluated in the
environmental document, which is available for viewing on the internet at
www.midcountyparkway.orq. She indicated that the back of the newsletter
provides locations where the draft EIR/EIS may be reviewed, e.g., at RCTC,
Caltrans District 8, etc.
She further indicated that the pamphlet was mailed to every property owner and
renter within 300 feet of any of the alternatives. Notices were also sent to
approximately 1,500 people who had been to MCP meetings or otherwise
expressed interest. Half page notifications have been placed in the Press
Enterprise, the Valley Chronicle and other newspapers of three public information
meetings that will be held next week as well as two public hearings.
Ms. Bechtel said that alternative 9 is the least environmentally damaging
alternative, the southern most alignment, affects about 200 homeowners in the
City of Perris. She explained the alternatives, their impacts on the environment
and the number of freeway lanes involved. Once the alternative has been
environmentally cleared, funding will be secured. She encouraged attendance at
public hearings or writing comment letters.
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T e c h n i c a l A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e M e e t i n g
O c t o b e r 2 0 , 2 0 0 8
P a g e 3
6 . R C T C R E Q U E S T T O A M E N D T E A P P L I C A T I O N F O R P V L G R E E N W A Y
C O R R I D O R P R O J E C T
S h i r l e y M e d i n a , R C T C , i n t r o d u c e d S h e l d o n P e t e r s o n , R C T C . M r . P e t e r s o n s t a t e d
t h a t t h e T E g r a n t f o r t h e P e r r i s G r e e n w a y P r o j e c t o r i g i n a l l y w a s b r o u g h t t o t h e
T A C a s t h r e e s e p a r a t e r i g h t o f w a y o r s c e n i c l a n d s c a p i n g i m p r o v e m e n t s a l o n g
t h e P e r r i s V a l l e y L i n e . T h e l o c a t i o n s a r e U C R W a t k i n s D r i v e , M o r e n o
V a l l e y / M a r c h F i e l d , a n d d o w n t o w n P e r r i s .
H e p r o p o s e d t r a n s f e r r i n g t h e T E g r a n t f u n d s a w a y f r o m t h e r i g h t o f w a y
i m p r o v e m e n t s a t t w o o f t h e l o c a t i o n s a n d h a v e t h e f u n d s u s e d a s s t a t i o n
i m p r o v e m e n t s a t a l l t h e s t a t i o n s . T h e l a n d s c a p i n g w o u l d c o n t i n u e a l o n g W a t k i n s
D r i v e .
M / S / C ( Q a t t a n / T o u r ) t o a m e n d t h e T E g r a n t a p p l i c a t i o n a s
r e q u e s t e d .
7 . C T C S T A T E A N D L O C A L P A R T N E R S H I P G U I D E L I N E S
S h i r l e y M e d i n a s t a t e d t h a t P r o p o s i t i o n 1 B i n c l u d e s t h e s t a t e a n d l o c a l p a r t n e r s h i p
p r o g r a m ( S L P P ) a n d p r o v i d e s f u n d i n g s o i t c a n b e m a t c h e d w i t h o t h e r p r o j e c t s
t h a t a r e t y p i c a l l y n o m i n a t e d t h r o u g h t h e S T I P p r o c e s s . T h e p r o g r a m f u n d i n g i s
$ 1 b i l l i o n a n d i t w i l l b e s p r e a d o u t o v e r s e v e r a l y e a r s . T h e C T C w i l l r e v i e w t h e
g u i d e l i n e s a n d a p p r o v e p r o j e c t s a n d f u n d i n g f o r F Y 2 0 0 8 / 0 9 b y A p r i l 2 0 0 9 . T h e
f u n d s a r e d e s i g n e d t o h e l p a g e n c i e s w h i c h a r e g e n e r a t i n g f u n d s f o r
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t h r o u g h v o t e r - a p p r o v e d d e d i c a t e d s a l e s t a x m e a s u r e s o r u n i f o r m
d e v e l o p e r f e e s . T h e d r a f t S t a t e - L o c a l P a r t n e r s h i p P r o g r a m g u i d e l i n e s i n c l u d e d i n
t h e a g e n d a p a c k a g e e x p l a i n s h o w t h e f o r m u l a w a s d e r i v e d t o g e n e r a t e t h e
f u n d i n g s h a r e s .
S h e f u r t h e r d e s c r i b e d t h e d i s c r e t i o n a r y g r a n t p r o g r a m a s i n d i c a t e d i n t h e
g u i d e l i n e s . F o r t h e F Y 2 0 0 8 / 0 9 i t w i l l b e a b o u t $ 1 0 m i l l i o n . G r a n t s w i l l b e
s u b m i t t e d b y t h e R e g i o n a l T r a n s p o r t a t i o n P l a n n i n g A g e n c i e s w i t h $ 1 m i l l i o n
m a x i m u m p e r g r a n t . T h e T A C s u b c o m m i t t e e w i l l b e c o n v e n e d t o l o o k a t t h e
t y p e s o f p r o j e c t s t h a t w i l l c o m p e t e w e l l .
T h e d r a f t S L P P g u i d e l i n e s w i l l b e d i s c u s s e d a t t h e C a l i f o r n i a T r a n s p o r t a t i o n
C o m m i s s i o n ( C T C ) m e e t i n g O c t o b e r 2 9 , s t a r t i n g a t 1 : 0 0 a n d O c t o b e r 3 0 , s t a r t i n g
a t 9 : 0 0 , a t t h e C o u n t y B o a r d o f S u p e r v i s o r s B o a r d R o o m i n R i v e r s i d e . S h e w i l l
s e n d a n a g e n d a t o t h e T A C a s a r e m i n d e r .
C a t h y B e c h t e l e n c o u r a g e d a t t e n d a n c e t o s e e t h e C T C i n a c t i o n .
Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
October 20, 2008
Page 4
8. RTP/RTIP UPDATE
• MODEL YEARS AND AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY ISSUES
Andrea Zureick, RCTC, said that the first amendment to the RTP and the
corresponding amendment to the RTIP are out for public comment until
November 7 and that on Thursday, October 23rd, SCAG will hold a public hearing
on the amendments. Attendance is available by videoconference at the Riverside
office. Projects may be reviewed on SCAG's website www.scag.ca.gov.
Grace Alvarez, RCTC, stated that the 2008 RTIP Amendment 2 has approximately
100 projects, a combination of local and state highway and transit projects. The
amendment is due at SCAG on Wednesday, October 22, 2008. SCAG anticipates
approval by Federal Highways by the beginning of February 2009. She
requested that any last minute changes be forwarded to her today.
Shirley Medina said that as time nears to the federal action, whether it is an
environmental document sign -off or an obligation of funding, each agency should
look at the project schedules, the funding and what's programmed in the current
TIP. Regarding the completion date years, the requirement of SAFETEA-LU is to
make sure that the completion year is consistent with the environmental
document.
She indicated that she asked SCAG to put together a fact sheet to explain to city
managers or elected officials why it is necessary to amend a model year. When
she receives the fact sheet, she will forward it to the TAC.
9. FY 2008/09 OBLIGATION DELIVERY PLAN
Andrea Zureick drew attention to her staff report in the agenda that pertains only
to STP, CMAQ and TE funds. The plan was brought together based on the
milestone reports that were submitted last month. Caltrans requires the
information annually to know how much the region intends to obligate. The
plan gives general schedules of when the RFA is expected to be submitted to
Caltrans. Last year Caltrans had a deadline of June 1 to submit RFA's for
obligation in FY 2007/08. This year the deadline has been moved to May 1.
After that, funds will be up for grabs around the state. While we don't actually
lose money, we may lose access to our federal funds. The sooner you get your
RFA's to Caltrans, the better guarantee of having funds obligated this fiscal year.
For STP, there is about $20 million planned for obligation next fiscal year. We're
allotted only about $15-17 million per year and we will request more than our
first allotment. If projects are obligated prior to May 1st, we can get more than
our initial share of those funds.
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T e c h n i c a l A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e M e e t i n g
O c t o b e r 2 0 , 2 0 0 8
P a g e 5
M s . Z u r e i c k r e q u e s t e d t h a t s t a f f b e n o t i f i e d i f a n y p r o j e c t s c h e d u l e s s l i p , t o a l l o w
t i m e f o r a l t e r n a t e p l a n s f o r t h o s e f u n d s s o t h a t a s a c o u n t y w e w i l l n o t l o s e
f u n d s .
M s . M e d i n a i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e p r o j e c t m i l e s t o n e r e p o r t s a r e u p d a t e d q u a r t e r l y .
A s s o o n a s t h e a g e n c i e s r e a l i z e t h a t t h e y w i l l n o t b e a b l e t o d e l i v e r i n t h e y e a r
p r o g r a m m e d o r t h e q u a r t e r , l e t s t a f f k n o w .
1 0 . L O C A L A S S I S T A N C E R E P O R T
P a t r i c k N a l l y , C a l t r a n s D i s t r i c t 8 , p r o v i d e d a l e t t e r f r o m F H W A a s a d v a n c e n o t i c e
t h a t u n e x p e n d e d a n d e x p e n d e d f u n d s c a n a n d w i l l b e p u l l e d f r o m t h e p r o j e c t .
H e s t a t e d t h a t r e g a r d i n g t h e c o o p e r a t i v e w o r k a g r e e m e n t ( C W A ) o n e x t e n s i o n s ,
e v e r y o n e w a s n o t i f i e d a n d t h a t t h e C W A n e e d t o b e r e t u r n e d t o C a l t r a n s L o c a l
A s s i s t a n c e b y D e c e m b e r 1 0 , 2 0 0 8 o r b e f o r e .
T h e r e i s a l s o a c a l l f o r p r o j e c t s o n t h e v a l u e p r i c i n g p i l o t p r o g r a m . T h e
a p p l i c a t i o n s a r e r e q u i r e d t o b e s u b m i t t e d b y N o v e m b e r 7 .
H e f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t h e w i l l s e n d o u t a D B E r e m i n d e r .
M r . N a l l y s e n t o u t t h e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n F u n d i n g O p p o r t u n i t i e s G u i d e b o o k t o
r e v i e w . I t m a y b e v i e w e d a t h t t p : / / w w w . d o t . c a . q o v / h q / L o c a l P r o g r a m s / d i a e . h t m .
M s . M e d i n a c o m m e n t e d t h a t i f y o u d o n o t h a v e a F Y 2 0 0 8 / 0 9 D B E p l a n a p p r o v e d
b y C a l t r a n s , y o u c a n n o t g e t y o u r f u n d s o b l i g a t e d . S h e r e q u e s t e d t h a t M r . N a l l y
s e n d h e r a L i s t o f a l l t h e a g e n c i e s t h a t h a v e a n a p p r o v e d F Y 2 0 0 8 / 0 9 p l a n
s u b m i t t e d b u t n o t a p p r o v e d y e t . T h e D B E c o o r d i n a t o r i s D a n n e t t e S i l v a .
1 1 . O C T O B E R 8 C O M M I S S I O N I T E M S
S h i r l e y M e d i n a r e p o r t e d o n R C T C ' s i n t e r e s t r a t e s w a p w i t h L e h m a n n B r o t h e r s .
R C T C ' s C F O r e v i e w e d t h e o p t i o n s a n d R C T C t e r m i n a t e d t h a t a g r e e m e n t . R C T C
h a d t o p a y a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 3 m i l l i o n i n p e n a l t i e s . R C T C t h e n e n t e r e d i n t o
a n o t h e r a g r e e m e n t w i t h a l o w e r i n t e r e s t r a t e w h i c h w i l l s a v e a b o u t $ 3 m i l l i o n .
T h a t a c t i o n w a s a p p r o v e d o n R C T C ' s c o m m i t t e e d a y .
T h e 2 0 0 8 f u n d i n g s t r a t e g y w a s a l s o d i s c u s s e d , a b l u e p r i n t f o r a d v a n c i n g
p r o j e c t s . I t w a s a d r a f t p l a n t h a t w a s s h a r e d w i t h t h e b o a r d . S o m e o f t h e
c o m m e n t s w e r e t o r e l o o k g r a d e s e p a r a t i o n p r o j e c t s w i t h c o s t s o v e r $ 1 0 0 m i l l i o n .
D i f f e r e n t f u n d i n g r e v e n u e s w e r e d i s c u s s e d i n o r d e r t o f u n d a s m a n y p r o j e c t s a s
Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
October 20, 2008
Page 6
possible. The subject will be brought to the Commission and it is hoped that •
next month there will be an update for the TAC.
12. OTHER BUSINESS
Ms. Medina said the Measure A Regional Arterial program was put on hold earlier
in the year when it was realized that the housing market decline was affecting
the TUMF revenues and that Measure A revenues at that time were decreasing.
Updates were done to the project schedules and funding over the summer. The
state budget was adopted and Proposition 42 was kept in tact; however, there
was a hit on the transit side and the state budget continues to have problems
which the legislature is still grappling with. This subject will be brought to the
RCTC board retreat in early January.
In response to Dave Barakian's question concerning Headquarters Right of Way,
Ms. Medina indicated that it is still an outstanding issue. She further indicated
that a year and a half ago the county started raising issues about utility
relocation and the state having a master agreement that superseded the local
agency agreement with utilities on local right of way. Staff has been working
with Ca!trans and Headquarters to resolve this. She will arrange a sub
committee meeting as soon as she receives an update from Ca!trans.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business for consideration by the Technical Advisory
Committee, the meeting adjourned at approximately 10:50 A.M. The next
meeting is scheduled for November 17, 2008, 10:00 A.M., Riverside County
Transportation Commission, 4080 Lemon Street, Riverside, CA.
Respectfully subm
Shirley Medina
Program Manager
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A G E N D A I T E M 5
A p r e s e n t a t i o n w i l l b e m a d e b u t
t h e r e i s n o a t t a c h m e n t t o t h e
a g e n d a f o r i t e m 5 .
" A G E N D A I T E M 6
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R I V E R S I D E C O U N T Y T R A N S P O R T A T I O N C O M M I S S I O N
D A T E :
N o v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 0 8
T O :
T e c h n i c a l A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e
F R O M :
T a n y a L o v e , G o o d s M o v e m e n t M a n a g e r
S U B J E C T :
2 0 0 8 F u n d i n g S t r a t e g y : A B l u e p r i n t f o r A d v a n c i n g P r o j e c t s
S T A F F R E C O M M E N D A T I O N :
T h i s i t e m i s f o r t h e T A C t o r e c e i v e a n d f i l e t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o n t h e 2 0 0 8 F u n d i n g
S t r a t e g y : A B l u e p r i n t f o r A d v a n c i n g P r o j e c t s .
B A C K G R O U N D I N F O R M A T I O N :
T h e i m p a c t o f d e l a y s c a u s e d b y f r e i g h t t r a i n s t r a v e l i n g t h r o u g h R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y i s o n e
o f t h e a r e a ' s m o s t p r e s s i n g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o n c e r n s . A l m o s t a l l f r e i g h t r a i l t r a f f i c i n
R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y i s f r o m t r a i n s p a s s i n g t h r o u g h . I n 2 0 0 3 , t h r e e m i l l i o n t o n s o f r a i l
f r e i g h t m o v e d t o o r f r o m d e s t i n a t i o n s i n R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y . B y c o n t r a s t , 6 8 m i l l i o n t o n s
o f r a i l f r e i g h t - a l m o s t 2 3 t i m e s t h e l o c a l a m o u n t p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e c o u n t y . B y 2 0 3 0 ,
i t i s e s t i m a t e d t h a t a l m o s t $ 4 0 0 b i l l i o n w o r t h o f g o o d s w i l l f l o w t h r o u g h t h e P o r t s o f L o n g
B e a c h a n d L o s A n g e l e s . T h e c u m u l a t i v e i m p a c t o f f r e i g h t r a i l g r o w t h m a k e s q u a l i t y o f
l i f e i s s u e s a t o p p r i o r i t y f o r c o m m u n i t i e s t h a t a r e f a c e d w i t h t r a f f i c d e l a y s , d i s r u p t i o n s t o
p u b l i c s a f e t y a n d e m e r g e n c y r e s p o n s e s a s w e l l a s a n i n c r e a s e i n h a r m f u l e m i s s i o n s ,
i m p a c t i n g p u b l i c h e a l t h .
T h e r e a r e 6 1 a t - g r a d e A l a m e d a C o r r i d o r E a s t ( A C E ) c r o s s i n g s i n R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y .
T h e s e c r o s s i n g s p r e s e n t c o n f l i c t s b e t w e e n r a i l a n d h i g h w a y t r a f f i c a n d a r e l o c a t e d o n
t h e m a i n l i n e s o f e i t h e r t h e U n i o n P a c i f i c ( U P ) o r B u r l i n g t o n N o r t h e r n S a n t a F e ( B N S F )
r a i l r o a d s . I n O c t o b e r 2 0 0 5 , t h e C o m m i s s i o n r e q u e s t e d t h a t s t a f f d e v e l o p a f u n d i n g
s t r a t e g y t o c o n s t r u c t r a i l r o a d g r a d e s e p a r a t i o n s . D u r i n g i t s A p r i l 2 0 0 6 C o m m i s s i o n
m e e t i n g , R C T C r a n k e d t h e 6 1 r a i l r o a d c r o s s i n g s i n t o f i v e p r i o r i t y t i e r s b a s e d u p o n a s e t
o f c r i t e r i a t h a t i n c l u d e d t r a f f i c c o n g e s t i o n , s a f e t y , a i r q u a l i t y , n o i s e a n d l o c a l c o m m u n i t y
p r e f e r e n c e s . A t t h a t t i m e , t h e C o m m i s s i o n i d e n t i f i e d 2 8 c r o s s i n g s t h a t w e r e r a n k e d i n
t h e t o p t w o t i e r s a s t h e h i g h e s t p r i o r i t y f o r g r a d e s e p a r a t i o n s . B a s e d o n f u n d i n g
a v a i l a b i l i t y a s w e l l a s p r o j e c t d e l i v e r a b i l i t y , t h e 2 0 0 8 f u n d i n g s t r a t e g y u p - d a t e ( a t t a c h e d )
i d e n t i f i e s t h r e e a d d i t i o n a l p r o j e c t s f o r a d d i t i o n t o t h e p r i o r i t y l i s t : A v e n u e 5 2 , A v e n u e
5 6 / A i r p o r t B l v d , a n d A v e n u e 6 6 .
T h e c o s t o f c o n s t r u c t i n g g r a d e s e p a r a t i o n s a t t h e 3 1 p r i o r i t y l o c a t i o n s i s c u r r e n t l y
e s t i m a t e d a t $ 1 . 7 b i l l i o n , y e t o n l y a s m a l l p o r t i o n o f t h o s e f u n d s a r e c u r r e n t l y c o m m i t t e d
t h r o u g h f e d e r a l , s t a t e a n d l o c a l f u n d i n g s o u r c e s . A s a r e s u l t , C o m m i s s i o n s t a f f w o r k i n g
w i t h a g e n c y s t a f f s f r o m t h e c i t i e s o f B a n n i n g , C o r o n a , R i v e r s i d e , t h e C o u n t y o f
R i v e r s i d e a n d t h e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y A s s o c i a t i o n o f G o v e r n m e n t s , i d e n t i f i e d 2 0 o f t h e 3 1
projects as the top priority for the 2008 funding strategy. All 20 of the projects have
identified some level of funding and are in various stages of project development.
Since the 2006 funding strategy was developed, much progress has been made. Two
projects — Avenue 48/Dillon Road and Jurupa Avenue — will be completed in late 2008
or early 2009. In addition, $152.7 million in Proposition 1B funding for 12 railroad grade
separations in Riverside County was secured; while significant, much work remains to
be done in securing additional funding.
The 20 priority crossings in the 2008 strategy have an estimated project cost of $980.5
million. While the revised strategy identifies the use of Transportation Uniform
Mitigation Fees, it also includes the Proposition 1B funding as well as the $31.2 million
of the SAFETEA-LU funding for Projects of National and Regional Significance. A total
of $414.8 million of the $980.5 million is planned or programmed through the use of
federal, state and local funding sources. The funding balance of $565.6 million consists
of unsecured sources, including railroad contributions, the California Public Utilities
Commission, voluntary container premiums or have an unidentified funding source.
The purpose of the 2008 funding blueprint is to develop a strategy and funding plan that
leverages existing funding commitments of local jurisdictions to close the funding gap by
2019. In doing so, the plan develops a strategy for funding 20 of the 31 crossings for a •
total project cost of $980.5 million. The following are critical factors for success:
• Lead agency commitment to develop shelf -ready projects in order to compete
effectively on a national, state, and local level for discretionary funds;
• Project completion of the Proposition 1B funded projects to demonstrate the
region's ability to deliver projects in a timely manner;
• Legislative action required to streamline the delivery of projects as well as
increase the eligibility of grade separation projects for funding;
• New sources of revenue supported by user fees such as voluntary container
premiums or customs fees; and
• Increased role of the railroads to contribute to all grade separations beyond those
in the California Public Utilities Section 190 program.
Attachment: 2008 Grade Separation Funding Strategy
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•
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2
DRAFT
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
DATE: November 24, 2008
TO: Budget and Implementation Committee
FROM: Shirley Medina, Programming and Planning Manager
THROUGH: Cathy Bechtel, Project Development Director
SUBJECT: Coachella Valley Association of Governments/Sunline Audit Resolution
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for the Committee to:
1) Approve the Coachella Valley Association of Government's (CVAG) request to
deprogram three projects previously approved for Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality (CMAQ) funds in the amount of $2,636,997;
2) Reduce the Salton Sea Air Basin (SSAB) CMAQ funding by $2,552,971 in the
next federal transportation authorization;
3) Authorize the Executive Director to enter into Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) No. 09-66-51-00 with Caltrans regarding payment of disallowable CMAQ
funds, pursuant to legal counsel review; and
4) Forward to the Commission for final action.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
CVAG and Sunline have proposed a payment option to address the disallowable costs
that were identified in the February 2008 Caltrans Incurred Cost Audit Report. The
report disallows $5,189,968 of claimed costs on two federally funded CMAQ projects
because the claimed costs were not adequately supported nor in compliance with
agreement provisions and State and federal regulations.
Caltrans, as the administrator of federal funds, is required to pay back disallowable
costs to the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) and deobligate federal funds
associated with the ineligible project(s). Rather than seek direct pay back from CVAG;
Caltrans proposed that it retains the deobligated funds and apply them to State Highway
System projects.
In order to pay back the Riverside County CMAQ program, CVAG and Sunline are
proposing the deletion or deprogramming of CMAQ funds for three projects totaling
$2,636,997. These projects were the lowest scoring projects in the recent CVAG
CMAQ call for projects and are as follows:
Agenda Item
DRAFT
Project Description
Amount
CNG Bus Purchase (2) for the Fred
Waring Bus Service
$ 734,799
CNG Bus Purchase (3) for Routes
Recommended from the Comprehensive
Operation Analysis
$1,102,198
Palm Desert — Mid -Valley Bike Path
$ 800,000
Total
$ 2,636,997
CVAG and Sunline are proposing that the balance of the payment, $2,552,971, be
taken out of the next federal transportation authorization act. Therefore, future CMAQ
funding for the SSAB will be reduced by the balance amount. The payback to the
Riverside CMAQ program is summarized as follows:
Fund Source
Amount
Deobligated projects
$2,636,997
Future SSAB funds
$2,552,971
Total
$5.,189,968
Status of Deleted. Projects —
• The Sunline projects that are being deleted from CVAG's CMAQ program have
been proposed for Prop 1 B Transit funds. The Commission's role in the; Prop 1B
Transit program is to collect the nominated transit projects, review for eligibility
and concurrence, and submit them to Caltrans by November 30, 2008. The
transit funds are scheduled to be allocated by .the State Controller's Office in
January 2009.
• The city of Palm Desert will seek other funds to implement the Mid Valley Bike'
Path project.
Commission staff concurs with the. CMAQ payment option recommended by CVAG and
will work with Caltrans on finalizing an MOU regarding the payment recommendation.
Resolution of this issue has been a collaborative effort :involving :Sunline;: CVAG;
Caltrans, and Commission staff and has minimal impacts on current planning and
programming processes.
Attachment: October 1, 2008 Letter from CVAG
Agenda Item
AGENDA ITEM 8
A presentation will be made but
there is no attachment to the
agenda for item 8.
Required Emissions Modeling for Transportation Conformity
Conformity is a process mandated in the federal Clean Air Act to insure that federal actions do not
impede attainment of the federal health standards. General conformity sets out a process that requires
federal agencies to demonstrate that their actions are air quality neutral or beneficial. Transportation
conformity sets out a process for transportation projects included in the Regional Transportation Plan
(RTP) (long range planning document) and Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP)
(short range programming document) that receive federal funding, approvals or permits to demonstrate
that their actions are air quality neutral or beneficial.
Conformity Links Air Quality and Transportation Planning
A conformity determination consists of:
• regional emissions analyses (comparison of emissions generated to air quality goals)
• financial constraint test
• timely implementation of Transportation Control Measures (TCMs)
• use of the latest planning assumptions
• appropriate documentation of findings
• interagency consultation
• and public involvement.
The results of the RTP/RTIP regional emissions analyses are compared with the emissions budgets
included in each air quality plan also referred to as State Implementation Plans (SIPs). Each non -
attainment area in the SCAG region has emissions budgets for certain milestone, attainment, and
planning horizon years.
Riverside County consists of the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) and Salton Sea Air Basin (SSAB).
The following pollutants are analyzed for conformity: 8-hour Ozone, Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5),
Particulate Matter 10 (PM10), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx).
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A G E N D A I T E M 9
A p r e s e n t a t i o n w i l l b e m a d e b u t
t h e r e i s n o a t t a c h m e n t t o t h e
a g e n d a f o r i t e m 9 .
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