1.

Caltrans Report (CALTRANS)

All items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial by COG staff and will be approved by one motion if no member of the Committee or public wishes to comment or ask questions.  If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered in the listed sequence with an opportunity for any member of the public to address the Committee concerning the item before action is taken.

Summary: Funded by the Regional Public Transit Program, the Measure C Senior Taxi Scrip Program is a transportation cost-reduction program that can be used by senior citizens who are 70 years of age or older and are residents of Fresno County. Senior citizens, who are Fresno County residents, are eligible to receive a 75 percent discount on taxi fares by purchasing taxi scrip for 25 cents on the dollar. Approved Senior Taxi Scrip Users may purchase Taxi Scrip through US mail or at various locations including the Fresno COG office. Fresno COG previously entered into sale contract agreements with the City of Fresno, the City of Clovis and the City of Reedley.  The Agreements with the City of Fresno and the City of Clovis have expired and are being considered for renewal and adoption.  In addition, the City of Sanger has expressed interest in providing scrip sales to their residents and, therefore, the initial agreement with the City of Sanger is also being considered for adoption.  All proposed agreements contain a sunset date provision of June 30, 2027.

Action: Fresno COG staff recommends the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the following items:

1. Renew the sales contract agreement with the City of Fresno and the City of Clovis with a sunset date of June 30, 2027.
2. Add the City of Sanger as a new Senior Taxi Scrip Vendor by entering into an agreement with a sunset date of June 30, 2027

Summary: Below is an update on each of the on-going circuit planning and engineering projects.  Please note that only the three projects that are currently active are on the list.  Completed activities, as well as projects that have been placed on hold by their respective agency or are considered inactive, are not included below.

Current planning-related projects resulting from that process include:

1. Fowler Project 1 - Golden State Property - Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Design Study, Purpose & Need Statement, Funding Source Review, and Assistance with the Funding Application.  City staff and the circuit planning team have completed the required documentation, and are awaiting Council direction.

2. Selma Project 1 – Assistance with Planning and Design Issues - Dinuba Avenue Overcrossing/Interchange @ SR 99.  The circuit planning team has met with City staff and Caltrans representatives and is now preparing a memo addressing the needed traffic analysis to progress the project.  Approval for such work is on the January 2017 Fresno COG agendas.

3. Fowler Project 3 - Preparation of a Bike System Route Map.  City staff and the circuit planning team are currently organizing kick-off activities, which are slated to take place in January 2017.

Current engineering-related projects include the following:

1. Selma Project 1 – Assistance with Planning and Design Issues - Dinuba Avenue Overcrossing/Interchange @ SR 99.  The circuit engineering team has met with City staff and Caltrans representatives and is assisting the circuit planning team in completing the traffic analysis, anticipated to begin in late January/early February, following approval for such activities.

2. Orange Cove Project 1 - Bridge Preventative Maintenance funding.  Circuit engineering staff is currently preparing the necessary documents to ensure key bridges are on the eligible funding lists of the Highway Bridge Program.

3. Parlier Project 1 – Intersection analysis for Newmark Ave., Parlier Ave. and Fresno Street.  Circuit engineering staff has recently met with key Parlier staff to review the proposed scope of work.  Efforts are expected to begin in January, following official feedback to proceed from Parlier’s City Manager.

Staff can provide details on the status of individual projects, as requested.  If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the tasks associated with either the circuit planning or circuit engineering programs, please contact Rob Terry at (559) 233-4148 Ext. 222 or via email at rterry@fresnocog.org.

Action: Information.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Committee.

Summary: In June of 2016, Fresno COG was notified by Caltrans that it had been selected to receive two Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants.  One of the two awards was submitted in partnership with Fresno State and the University of Colorado at Denver (UC Denver), titled “Minimizing Negative Environmental Impacts, Time, and Cost of Business Commuters,” with a total project cost of $363,725 (including $322,006 of grant funds, and $41,719 of local match).  In July of 2016, the Fresno COG Policy Board approved FFY 2016/17 Overall Work Program (OWP) Amendment #1 incorporating this project into the budget and into the OWP.  In-line with Caltrans grant award acceptance requirements, Fresno COG staff has been working on required amendments to the final scope of work, and organizing kick-off activities.  Now that such items have taken place, it is time for Fresno COG to enter into contractual agreements with each entity to allow for invoicing/billing of project activities, and reimbursement of such funds.  Following is the amount of each contract (including match commitments):

• Fresno State: $142,737
• UC Denver: $209,858

Action: Staff recommends the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve entering into contracts with both Fresno State and UC Denver, at the amounts listed above, in-line with the budget amounts previously approved and currently in the OWP.

Summary: Fresno COG is the Designated Recipient of FTA Section 5310 Program funds for the Fresno Metropolitan Area (formerly administered by Caltrans).  Section 5310 funding provides capital and operating assistance grants for projects that meet the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities: where public mass transportation services are otherwise unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate; that exceed the requirements of the ADA; that improve access to fixed-route service; that provide alternatives to public transportation.

As the Designated Recipient, Fresno COG released an application for Section 5310 funding in the Fresno/Clovis urbanized area on January 9, 2017.  Deadline for applications is March 1, 2017.  Approximately $921,555 will be available for Traditional Capital projects and approximately $102,395 for Other Capital and Operating projects for a total of $1,023,950.  For more information, see http://www.fresnocog.org/fresno-cog-administered-grant-programs or contact Peggy Arnest at parnest@fresnocog.org or 559-724-9218.

Action:  Information.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the committee.

Summary: Caltrans is the Designated Recipient of Section 5310 Program funds for the Small Urban and Rural Areas of California and released a Call for Projects on January 9, 2017.  Deadline for applications is March 1, 2017.  Approximately $20 million is available for funding statewide.  If you have any questions, please contact Caltrans at (888) 472-6816 or visit their website at http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/MassTrans/5310.html or contact Peggy Arnest at parnest@fresnocog.org or 559-724-9218.

Action:  Information.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the committee.

Summary: The Federal FAST Act requires the Federal Highway Administration to establish a National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) to strategically direct federal resources and policies toward improving the performance of this network. The NHFN is the focus of funding under the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) and a funding target under the FASTLANE program. The FAST Act asks states and    its regional partners to collaborate on the designation of Critical Urban Freight Corridors and Critical Rural Freight Corridors (CUFCs/CRFCs), two major subsystems of the NHFN. Additional details can be found at: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/crfc/sec_1116_gdnce.htm.

On October 12, 2016, Caltrans Division of Transportation Planning, Office of Freight Planning, hosted a kick-off meeting to discuss the coordination process for the designation of CUFCs and CRFCs throughout the State.  The focus of the kickoff meeting was to discuss forming a team that will be tasked with developing a process to designate the limited miles allocated to California (maximum of 623.54 miles for CRFCs, and 311.77miles for CUFCs). The team is tasked with representing the diversity of our State and our respective agencies and best position the State to compete for funding. During the kick-off meeting, the group agreed upon:

Forming one statewide technical working group (TWG) with two subcommittees, one for urban and one for rural (See TWG details below).  The TWG includes 25 representatives, who are expected to serve as liaisons for their respective organizations.  A roster is attached for reference.

The first meeting of the TWG took place on December 19, 2016 in Sacramento.  The Fresno COG representative serving on the TWG was in attendance.  Attached for your reference and review are the final agenda and the presentation given by Caltrans staff. The group largely supported taking a regional allocation approach to the designation of miles, as opposed to a statewide process. In brief, the draft process and timeline discussed during the first meeting included:

1. Regions will nominate eligible freight projects to be designated with mileage

2. Project screening criteria:

• Align with National Highway Freight Program Eligibility Criteria
• Align with National Multimodal Freight Network factors
• Shovel ready within a five-year timeframe in line with the FAST Act timeline

• Previous FASTLANE applications and/or STIP reductions
• Outside the Primary Highway Freight System (see:  http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/infrastructure/ismt/state_maps/states/california.htm)
• Meet CUFC and CRFC criteria and map-able in GIS

3. Caltrans will map projects statewide and estimate number of Urban/Rural miles required

4. Discuss the project list and Urban/Rural miles at the January 17th TWG Meeting, and develop/refine the technical criteria (both qualitative and quantitative) to screen the corridors further, and/or prioritize the corridors

5. TWG to develop a mechanism to trade/share mileage allocation across jurisdictions

6. Designate the corridors

7. Conduct annual reviews to determine need to reprioritize/modify/add corridors

It is important to note that this TWG process must move very quickly (potentially completing in three months), as the funding activities required next must take place in the early summer months of 2017. As such, staff will be working diligently on this process to ensure the region is as well represented as possible. The next TWG meeting is scheduled for January 17th, with January 30th as a tentative following date. For any questions regarding Critical Urban Freight Corridors and Critical Rural Freight Corridors, please contact Rob Terry at (559) 233-4148 Ext. 222 or via email at rterry@fresnocog.org.

Action: Information.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Committee.

Summary: New effort will help drivers find alternative fuels and vehicle charging stations nationwide. In July 2016, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx called on states to nominate national fueling corridors along major highways for plug-in electric vehicle (EV) charging, hydrogen, propane and natural gas-powered vehicles.  The specific fuels were designated by Congress in the “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation” (FAST) Act.

Fresno COG submitted maps and comments to the State’s Office of Planning and Research that were incorporated into the comments provided to FHWA proposing 32 corridors. The corridors declared either “ready” or “pending” in Fresno County are Interstate 5 and State Route 99.

Corridors designated as “sign-ready” – meaning routes where alternative fuel stations are already in operation – will be eligible to feature new signs alerting drivers where they refill their alternative fuel vehicles. These signs are similar to existing signage that alerts drivers to gas stations, food, and lodging.

In 2015, the United States pledged to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 percent or more by 2050. By supporting lower-emission vehicles, alternative fuel corridors will help to reduce transportation emissions, the leading source of GHG emissions. According to FHWA data, U.S. drivers consumed nearly 72 billion gallons of gasoline in the first half of 2016 – a 3 percent increase over the same period a year earlier and the largest percentage increase in nearly two decades – and drove more than 3.15 trillion miles last year.

The new alternative fuel corridor signs were designed to be easily recognizable. The new signs, and a list of the new sign-ready corridors, can be found on the FHWA website at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/alternative_fuel_corridors.

Action: Information. Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Committee.

Summary: As required under Government Code Section 14535 and Section 9795, the California Transportation Commission’s (Commission) 2016 Annual Report was presented to the Legislature in December. This report summarizes the Commission’s accomplishments in the past year and offers specific recommendations for the Legislature to consider. These recommendations include highlighting the transportation funding shortfall, promoting efficiency and innovation, as well as guaranteeing institutional accountability and transparency in the planning, funding, and delivery of California’s transportation programs.  The report indicates that during fiscal year (FY) 2015-16, the Commission allocated $4.5 billion in state and federal transportation funding helping to generate more than 72,000 private and public sector jobs and contributing to a construction program in excess of $8.8 billion in state-administered construction contracts. In addition to adoption of the 2016 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and 2016 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP), the Commission adopted the 2015 Active Transportation Program (ATP) committing $359 million to 208 projects valued at approximately $500 million. However, the lack of sufficient funding available to address the state’s transportation needs for a growing population and economy has been of great concern to the Commission for several years now. This past year the Commission faced the impacts of declining revenues and was forced to adopt a five-year STIP fund estimate that cut $754 million and delayed an additional $755 million in previously committed highway, rail, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian project spending – totaling a $1.5 billion shortfall. This was the largest reduction of financial support for California’s transportation system since the current funding structure was adopted 20 years ago. The report also discusses the concerns of revenue decreases and its expected impacts on job-creation, economic support, and environmental benefits that transportation investment provides and provides recommendations on how the State can utilize mainstream and innovative mechanisms and reforms to address some of these transportation issues. Enclosed is the California Transportation Commissions 2016 Annual Report Summary. An electronic copy of the entire 2016 Annual Report can also be found on the Commission’s website at  www.catc.ca.gov.

Action: Information. Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Committee.

1.

Environmental Justice Subcommittee Application Release (Brenda Veenendaal) [INFORMATION]

Summary: The Active Transportation Program (ATP) was created by Senate Bill 99 (Chapter 359, Statutes of 2013) and Assembly Bill 101 (Chapter 354, Statutes of 2013) to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking. The ATP consolidates various federal and state transportation programs, including the Transportation Alternatives Program, Bicycle Transportation Account, and State Safe Routes to School, into a single program with a focus on active transportation.

ATP funds are separated into three main components: the statewide competitive program (managed by the state), the small urban and rural area competitive program (also managed by the state), and the large urbanized area competitive program (managed by the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) - also known as the Regional Competitive ATP).  Eligible entities, such as Fresno COG's member agencies, can apply for projects through both the statewide and regional competitive solicitations. The Cycle 3 Statewide Call for Projects was issued from April 15, 2016 through June 15, 2016.  Applications submitted through the Statewide Call for Projects were evaluated, scored, and ranked from August through October. Out of the 14 applications submitted by Fresno County agencies, two of the City of Fresno's applications were recommended and approved for funding at the December 7, 2016 California Transportation Commission (CTC) meeting in Riverside for about $2.8 million of combined funds. 

In regards to the Cycle 3 Regional Competitive ATP, Fresno COG's Regional Call for Projects took place from July 1, 2016 through September 15, 2016.  Six applications were submitted directly to the Regional Call for Projects for a total funding request of $1.51 million.  However, per program guidelines, the Fresno County applications not selected through the Statewide Call for Projects were also considered and evaluated as part of the Regional Call for Projects. For Cycle 3, Fresno COG will receive $1,338,000 for each fiscal year (2019/20 and 2020/21) to award to local projects. Per the ATP legislation, at least 25% of the program funds must benefit projects in disadvantaged communities.

The scoring committee, consisting of ATP Multidisciplinary Advisory Group (MAG) members, convened on November 2, 2016 to score and deliberate on the project applications submitted. The recommended program of projects is attached to this item and can also be found on Fresno COG’s ATP website: http://www.fresnocog.org/active-transportation-program. 

To summarize the proposed recommendations:

• The scoring committee recommended that a total of $2,676,000 in ATP funds be programmed for five projects in Fresno County valued at $3,901,000. 
• All five of the recommended projects are located within and directly benefit disadvantaged communities, well exceeding the 25% minimum.
• There are three bike and pedestrian projects proposed, totaling $2,154,000, and the two remaining projects are Safe Routes to School projects, totaling $522,000.

Below is the proposed schedule for adoption of the Cycle 3 Program of Projects:

• Draft project list to TTC/PAC for recommended approval: January 13, 2017
• Draft project list to Fresno COG Policy Board for recommended adoption: January 26, 2017
• Deadline to submit the program of projects to CTC staff: January 27, 2017 
• CTC adoption of the various MPO program of projects: March 15-16, 2017 meeting
• Fresno COG 2017 FTIP amendment to incorporate the approved Cycle 3 ATP projects: summer 2017

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Suzanne Martinez (SMartinez@fresnocog.org).

Action: Staff requests that TTC and PAC recommend to the Policy Board to adopt the Cycle 3 Fresno COG Regional Competitive Active Transportation Program of Projects as recommended by the ATP Scoring Committee.

Summary:  In conjunction with Fresno COG’s Circuit Planning and Engineering efforts, the City of Selma, Fresno COG and Caltrans have engaged in discussions regarding a potential interchange at SR 99 and Dinuba Avenue.  To determine the viability of the project, a traffic feasibility analysis is required.  Caltrans has agreed to prepare a preliminary design concept following the completion of the feasibility analysis.  VRPA Technologies Inc., as the current Circuit Planning contract firm, has prepared a Methodology and Scope Memo (attached) addressing the bounds of the analysis.  The level of analysis and funding required to complete the process goes beyond the scope of the current circuit planning contract and will require an amendment to VRPA’s current contract.  In order to facilitate the completion of the feasibility analysis, The City of Selma and Fresno COG are seeking to enter into an MOU (attached) to split the financial responsibility of the analysis activities, which totals $38,560.  In the MOU, each agency would agree to pay 50% of the total cost (or $19,280 each). 

Action: Fresno COG staff recommends the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the following items:

• Enter into an MOU with the City of Selma, wherein each agency commits to 50% of the financial responsibility of the $38,560 total project cost; and
• To amend the current Circuit Planning contract with VRPA Technologies Inc. to include the Feasibility Analysis tasks and budget outlined within the Methodology and Scope Memo; and
• Amend the 2016/17 Budget by $38,560 to allow for invoicing of the Feasibility Analysis activities by the Circuit Planning team.

Summary: Fresno COG's Activity-Based Model (ABM) was initially developed as a pilot project as part of the first phase of the valley-wide Model Improvement Plan (MIP1) in 2012. The MIP1 was funded   with $2.5 million from the Strategic Growth Council as part of a state-wide effort to upgrade the Metropolitan Planning Organizations' (MPOs) traffic models so that they are more sensitive to the smart growth policies and strategies needed to achieve the greenhouse gas emission reductions mandated under SB375. The Activity-based model is able to keep track of the characteristics of individuals at household level, and is a much more disaggregated model than the 4-step model currently operated by Fresno COG and other valley MPOs. It is better positioned to estimate benefits from transportation strategies such as transit and active transportation. It is also more sensitive to smart growth land use policies such as compact development and mixed uses. Due to its characteristics of being more fine-grained than the current 4-step model, ABM has the potential of being able to measure the impact of transportation investment on residents of different social and economic status. Currently, only 3 MPOs (Sacramento Area Council of Governments, San Diego Association of Governments and Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the Bay Area) in California have developed operational activity-based models and uses the AMBs for their Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) development.

The ABM update will bring the base year from 2008 to 2014, using the latest survey data such as the 2010-2012 California Household Travel Survey. It will add a component for bike and walk trip assignment, which is the first effort in the entire San Joaquin Valley to try to estimate the results and benefits of the planned investment in active transportation. Several sensitivity tests will be conducted and COG staff will be provided with training so that the model can be operated in-house.

The Request for Proposal for the ABM update was issued in October 2016. The total amount for the project is $200,000. Three proposals were received. A Scoring Committee was formed that consisted of COG staff and representatives from member agencies and other MPOs in the Valley. After interviewing the three submitted proposals, the Scoring Committee unanimously recommended that RSG be selected to conduct the update because of their extensive nation-wide experience in ABM    development, the new tools they are bringing to the project and the expertise and caliber of the project staff, some of whom enjoy nation-wide reputation in the area of ABM research and development.

Attached with the agenda is the scope of work for the ABM update.

Action: Staff recommends that TTC/PAC approves the Scoring Committee's recommendation that RSG be selected to conduct the ABM update for Fresno COG.

Summary:  Fresno COG is in receipt of a letter from the City of Fresno (attached) requesting that the Measure “C” Expenditure Plan be amended to allow the City of Fresno to access a portion ($500,000) of the $25 million in funding that has been previously set aside by the Fresno Council of Governments and the Fresno County Transportation Authority Boards for the High Speed Rail Heavy Maintenance Facility (HMF). The Measure “C” Plan amendment is required because utilization of those funds as established by Measure ”C” Amendment # 1 (which formally set aside the $25 million for the HMF) is conditioned upon Fresno County being awarded the Heavy Maintenance Facility site “prior”  to expenditure of any of the $25 million in funding.  The requested amendment (Measure “C” Plan Amendment #3) would allow for the expenditure of up to $250,000 in calendar year 2017, and another $250,000 in calendar year 2018.  The purpose of the funding request is to pay for non-refundable deposits on 190 acres (site map attached) that have been identified as the preferred location of the HMF in Fresno County.

As has been discussed previously, Fresno County is in spirited competition with other San Joaquin Valley communities to serve as the future home of the California High Speed Rail HMF, which is estimated to create 1,500 new permanent jobs and $245 million in annual earnings.  With that in mind, the City of Fresno hired Continental Field Service to negotiate conditional purchase and sales agreements with property owners in order to control the proposed site during the time that the California High Speed  Authority is deliberating where the HMF will be located.  These conditional purchase and sales agreements, which are assignable, include two twelve month non-refundable deposits of no more than $250,000 per twelve month period and would secure these properties for up to two years.  The actual purchase and sales provisions contained in these agreements can be exercised at any time during the term of the agreements.

Approval of any amendment to the Measure “C” Expenditure Plan approved by the voters in 2006 requires a two- step approval process: 1.) the Fresno Council of Governments Policy must approve;  and 2.) the Fresno County Transportation Authority Board must approve. In the event that both the Fresno COG and FCTA Board approve the proposed amendment, the City of Fresno would enter into agreements to access and expend the allocated funding with the FCTA.  Fresno COG Resolution 2017-01 is attached for approval should the Fresno COG Policy Board choose to approve the proposed Measure “C” Plan Amendment #3.  

Action:  Information/Action:    Direction to be provided at the discretion of the Policy Board.  Approval of the proposed Measure “C” Amendment #3 requires Board approval of Fresno COG Resolution 2017-01.

All items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial by COG staff and will be approved by one motion if no member of the Committee or public wishes to comment or ask questions.  If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered in the listed sequence with an opportunity for any member of the public to address the Committee concerning the item before action is taken.

To locate current and past year state bill information go to the Official California Legislative Information webpage at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/

To locate current and past year federal bill information go to THOMAS, The Library of Congress’s bill information website (in the spirit of Thomas Jefferson) at: http://thomas.loc.gov/

Please contact staff person, Melissa Garza, if you have any questions or comments.

Summary:  Your agenda package includes this month’s Clearinghouse Calendar containing “Project Notification and Review Reports” for grant proposal.

1. Federal - $10,160,000, Total - $10,160,000.

Action:  Per Board procedure, unless an item is pulled from the Consent Calendar, tacit authorization is given for staff to forward any comment(s) received, or any Committee/Board comment(s) generated as a result of this informational item, to the appropriate agency. It is understood that if in the event this item should be pulled from the consent calendar, discussion and comment by the Committee members and the public will be taken.

Summary: The Legislative Platform is a document that includes the advocacy priorities of the Fresno COG in state and federal legislative matters.  It represents a unified voice when communicating legislative priorities to our state and federal lawmakers as well as to relevant state and federal agencies.  It also provides guidance to the Fresno COG staff and the lobbying partners when advocating on behalf of the Policy Board. Attached is the 2016 Legislative Platform that was approved on February 25, 2016.  Staff is requesting review and comment of the current platform to assist in the update process of the 2017 legislative platform.  The attached legislative platform reflects the priorities for advocacy during the 2015/2016 state and federal legislative session.   However, the priorities must now be updated to reflect the 2017/2018 legislative priorities.  Staff welcomes input for the development of the Fresno COG 2017 legislative platform. 

Action: Information.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Committee.

Summary: The Annual Fresno COG One Voice trip to Washington D.C. for elected officials, business leaders and staff is scheduled for April 29-May 4. This trip provides an opportunity for a delegation of local public and private representatives to expand upon the relationships with Congressional representatives and federal staff members, while advocating for legislative relief for priorities of regional significance.  Delegates focus their efforts on bringing prosperity to Fresno County, and seeking potential short-term and long-term relief on items that impact the region such as transportation policy, economic development, education and public safety. Individuals interested in participating must complete and submit a participant form that will soon be available online or by request. 

Staff will host a One Voice kick-off meeting on Wednesday, January 12^th at 3PM with the One Voice steering committee. The  steering committee is typically made up of previous One Voice participants and member agency staff. We will discuss the Call for Regional Priorities.  Lastly, Fresno COG is seeking financial support for the 2017 One Voice advocacy effort.  Sponsorship information is available by contacting Brenda Veenendaal at brendav@fresnocog.org, and is available online at this link: http://www.fresnocog.org/one-voice.

All participants attending the One Voice trip must complete a registration form. It has been attached for your convenience or you can access it from the One Voice section on our website.

Action: Information.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Committee.

Summary: The San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council, hosts a yearly conference that provides a forum for our Valley to communicate on various issues that impact the entire region. Issues such as transportation, air quality and state and federal advocacy for community priorities are all main topics at these events. The 17 member Policy Council represents eight counties within the San Joaquin Valley from Kern County to San Joaquin County. The Council consists of two elected officials from each county with one representative from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

Fresno COG is excited to host the 2017 San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council with a full program of speakers, engaging panelists, and site visits. Please mark your calendars so that you can join us in this opportunity network, share best practices and collaborate and engage in different ways that will move the region forward.  There are typically over 200 attendees at this event ranging from Federal and State elected officials and staff, San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials and staff, Metropolitan Planning Organization and Regional Transportation Planning Agency Directors and staff, Federal and State Agency Directors and staff, Representatives from the private sector, business leaders, community organizations and the general public.

Registration for the event is expected to open by mid-January.  This event relies heavily on financial partnerships and we want to thank those who have already shared an interest in becoming a partner.  Below is a link to our sponsorship package and attached is the save the date flier for your reference. We look forward to your participation and support.    http://www.fresnocog.org/sites/default/files/publications/Partnerships/2017_Fresno_COG_Annual_Partnership_Packet_2.pdf

Action: Information. Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Committee.

Summary: In the Fall of 2016, Caltrans began informing stakeholders that legislation providing the limited waiver of sovereign immunity for the NEPA Assignment program would be expiring on January 1, 2017.  California has had NEPA delegation since 2007.  Caltrans also notified stakeholders of the potential impacts to the State if the limited waiver of sovereign immunity was allowed to expire. These impacts included but were not limited to:

• Significant time delays and increased costs for many projects when the benefits of the existing program cease to exist and federal agencies have to realign workload and processes to absorb the responsibilities that they have not managed in ten years.
• Additional Caltrans staff time resulting in increased associated costs to revert state processes back to reflect pre-NEPA Assignment requirements and to revise interagency memorandums of understanding.
• Loss of national leadership related to the NEPA Assignment program as Caltrans currently provides guidance to states that have recently assumed or are thinking of assuming NEPA responsibilities.

Several options were identified to address this matter such as:

1. Passage of the funding proposals that were introduced in the First Extraordinary Session (Senate Bill x1 1 and Assembly Bill x1 26) which would have eliminated the sunset of the limited waiver
2. The Legislature could have passed an urgency measure to address this concern, but it needed to have taken place by December 5th when it met to convene the 2017-18 Regular Session.
3. Explore non-legislative options for providing the necessary limited waiver of sovereign immunity.

Outcome: The limited waiver of sovereign immunity that allowed the State of California to implement the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for federally-funded transportation projects ended up expiring on January 1, 2017.  The Legislature failed to pass a standalone bill to extend the waiver, and instead incorporated these provisions into a broader transportation funding and reform legislative packaged that was not enacted in the special session. As a result, the MOU between Caltrans and the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) has now been suspended for up to 90 days. However, if California approves legislation extending the waiver during this timeframe, then the NEPA Assignment program will resume immediately.   

On December 5, 2016, the Chairman of the California Transportation Committee, Assemblyman Jim Frazier (D-Oakley)  introduced AB28, legislation allowing the Caltrans to continue as the decision maker for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Fresno COG, in accordance with the 2016 Legislative Platform has taken a support position for AB 28 which would extend the waiver indefinitely. We are urging the Legislature to take this bill up as soon as possible, to ensure environmental protection while also moving crucial projects forward in a safe, expedited process and in order to continue experiencing substantial time and cost savings. We are hopeful that the legislature will take action well before the 90-day suspension expires to avoid delays in project delivery. Please note: AB 28 requires a two-thirds vote due to an urgency clause that would put the bill into effect immediately. Attached is the letter of support.

The bill is available online here: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB28  

Action: Information. Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Committee.