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Transportation Technical Committee

Date:
Time:
Place:

Friday, July 13, 2018
8:30 AM

COG Sequoia Conference Room
2035 Tulare St., Suite 201, Fresno, CA



Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations
The Fresno COG offices and restrooms are ADA accessible. Representatives or individuals with disabilities should contact Fresno COG at (559) 233-4148, at least 3 days in advance, to request auxiliary aids and/or translation services necessary to participate in the public meeting / public hearing. If Fresno COG is unable to accommodate an auxiliary aid or translation request for a public hearing, after receiving proper notice, the hearing will be continued on a specified date when accommodations are available.

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TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

The Transportation Technical Committee will consider all items on the agenda.  The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.

TTC agenda and annotated agenda in PDF format - ALL EXHIBITS ARE AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE

I.TRANSPORTATION CONSENT ITEMS

About Consent Items:

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.

A.
Executive Minutes of June 8, 2018 [APPROVE]

Exhibits:

B.
2018-19 Measure C Claims (Les Beshears) [APPROVE]

Summary:  In accordance with Fresno County Transportation Authority procedures, resolution 2018-21 adopts claims for ADA/seniors/paratransit ($601,127), farmworker vanpools ($441,334), ridesharing/vanpools ($441,334) and administrative/planning ($380,460) from the $1,864,255 in Measure C funds available in 2018-19 for programs Fresno COG administers.

Action:  Adopt resolution 2018-21 approving Measure C Claims for ADA/seniors/paratransit, farmworker vanpools, ridesharing/vanpools and administrative/planning.

C.
Resolution 2018-22 Transportation Development Act 2018-19 Final Apportionment (Les Beshears) [APPROVE]

Summary:  The preliminary 2018-19 Transportation Development Act apportionment was released in February using January 1, 2017, Department of Finance (DOF) population estimates, allowing member agencies to incorporate those numbers into their budgets. DOF released the January 1, 2018 population estimates in May. The final apportionment is unchanged in total from the preliminary estimate; however, it includes the January 1, 2018 population revision. The estimate increased by $1 million.

Action:  Adopt resolution 2018-22 for the Transportation Development Act 2018-19 final apportionment of $36,000,000.

D.
Resolution 2018-23 State Transit Assistance Apportionment 2018-19 (Les Beshears) [APPROVE]

Summary:  The preliminary 2018-19 State Transit Assistance apportionment was released in February using January 1, 2017, Department of Finance (DOF) population estimates, allowing member agencies to incorporate those numbers into their budget. DOF released the January 1, 2018 population estimates in May. The final apportionment is unchanged in total; however, it includes the January 1, 2018 population revision.  The estimate is up $3,871,732, attributable to Senate Bill 1. The State Controller will revise its numbers after the Governor adopts the state budget.

Action:  Adopt resolution 2018-23 for the State Transit Assistance 2018-19 final apportionment of $8,008,013.

E.
City of Reedley 2018-19 Transportation Development Act Claim (Les Beshears) [APPROVE]

Action:  Approve resolution 2018-21 adopting 2018-19 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $1,122,156 for the City of Reedley.

F.
Fresno County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Public Hearing and Comment Period (Brenda Veenendaal) [INFORMATION]

Summary:  A 30-day public review and comment period for the Fresno County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) commences on Friday, July 13, 2018 and concludes on Monday, August 13, 2018. Documents related to these items are available for review during regular office hours at the Fresno Council of Governments office, 2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201, in downtown Fresno. The documents may also be downloaded directly at http://fresnocounty.airportstudy.com/.

The Fresno County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) will also hold a public hearing on the ALUCP update and the Initial Study/Negative Declaration during its regularly scheduled meeting on at 2 p.m. August 6, 2018.  Public comments are welcomed at the hearing or may be submitted in writing by 5 p.m. August 6, 2018 to Brenda Veenendaal, Administrative Services Manager, (559) 233-4148 or brendav@fresnocog.org, 2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201, Fresno, CA 93721.  After considering the comments, the ALUC will consider adopting the documents by resolution at a special meeting on September 10, 2018 or as near as possible thereafter.

The ALUCP provides policies for evaluating compatibility between proposals for land-use development near public use airports in Fresno County (Coalinga Municipal, Firebaugh, Fresno-Chandler Executive, Fresno Yosemite International, Harris Ranch, Reedley Municipal, Selma, Sierra Sky Park, and William Robert Johnston Municipal). Additionally, this plan incorporates recommendations from the Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) Report for Naval Air Station (NAS), Lemoore, that apply within Fresno County. The local agencies that have jurisdiction over land uses within the areas covered by this plan include Fresno County and the Cities of Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fresno, Mendota, Reedley and Selma. The plan is prepared in accordance with the California State Aeronautics Act.  

Individuals with disabilities may call Fresno COG (with three-working-day advance notice) to request auxiliary aids necessary to participate in the public hearing. Translation services are also available (with three-working-day advanced notice) to participants speaking any language, by available professional translation services.

Action:  Information item. The Committee may provide further direction at its discretion.

G.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Grant Program NOFA (Trai Her) [INFORMATION]

Summary: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Fiscal Year 2018 Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Grant Program. FTA will award approximately $336.3 million in total program funding. There is a set-aside of at least 10 percent for rural projects.

The program provides support for capital projects that replace, rehabilitate, purchase, or lease buses and related equipment, as well as capital projects to rehabilitate, purchase, construct, or lease bus-related facilities. FTA will prioritize projects based on how they address significant repair or maintenance needs, improve the safety of transit systems, and deploy connective projects, including advanced technologies to connect bus systems with other networks.

Please see the attached memo, FTA Program Website, Full NOFO, Press Release, or Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information. The application deadline is Monday, August 6, 2018.

Action: Information only. The Committee may provide further direction at its discretion.

H.
End of Federal Fiscal Year E-76 and Federal Transit Administration Transfer Deadlines and Obligational Authority Updates (Jennifer Soliz) [INFORMATION]

Summary: The 2017-18 federal fiscal year (FFY) ends on September 30, 2018. All funds programmed in FFY 2017-18 in the 2017 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) should be obligated prior to October 1, 2018. This requires that requests for authorizations be submitted to Caltrans Local Assistance no later than Friday, July 27, 2018, to allow time for processing and to submit to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). District staff will continue to work on requests submitted after this date on a first-come-first-served basis, but authorization approval before October 1, 2017, will no longer be guaranteed.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) transfer requests must be submitted to Caltrans Local Assistance by Friday, July 22, 2018. Agency staff unable to submit FTA transfer requests by the deadline should contact the Local Assistance engineer directly.

As previously reported at the April 2018 Committee meetings, the region's overall Obligational Authority (OA) target for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) federal funding sources in FFY 2017-18 is $20,422,143. As of May 31, 2018, $2,888,078 has been obligated, reducing the region's 2017-18 OA target balance to $17,534,065, only 14.1 percent of the estimated OA target for last FFY. The region should deliver the complete $20,422,143 to comply with the “use it or lose it” provisions of Assembly Bill 1012 and to avoid having OA redistributed to other regions.

It is imperative that projects programmed within FFY 2017-18 be obligated to avoid redistribution. Agencies with projects scheduled in later years can take advantage of the Expedited Project Selection Procedures (EPSP) to deliver their projects early. Obligating funds programmed in later years can help the Fresno County region get closer to its target. Project delivery beyond the OA target makes the region eligible to capture any available funds during the statewide open obligation period. Keep in mind that toll credits may be applicable for project phases that have not been obligated at 100 percent federal reimbursement if residual federal funds are available. Furthermore, if funds need to be reprogrammed and financial capacity is not available, projects can become substantially delayed if moved to the FTIP's outer years. Fresno COG will continue working with each of its member agencies to ensure that projects in 2017-18 are obligated on time.

Contact Jennifer Soliz at 559-233-4148 ext. 223 or your District 6 Local Assistance Engineer with any questions regarding the FFY deadlines or process of obligating project funds. 

Action: Information only. The Committee may provide additional direction at its discretion.

II.TRANSPORTATION ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.
Golden State Project/Mark Thomas Contract Amendment (Peggy Arnest) [APPROVE]

Summary:  The original Golden State Boulevard Project design called for shifting Golden State over to 8th Street in Fowler’s main business district, from approximately Adams Avenue to South Avenue – 1.5 miles. During a series of public meetings in Fowler during April and May, several public comments expressed concern about this shift.  Many businesses on 8th Street were adamantly against this original design. At its June 5 meeting, the Fowler City Council voted to remove the shift and keep Golden State on its current alignment. Because of this change, construction costs will decrease by close to $4 million. FCOG staff recommends holding these funds in the City of Fowler’s contingency to be used for the improvements the California Public Utilities Commission and Union-Pacific Railroad are requesting. In addition, the contract with design engineering consultant Mark Thomas will need to increase by approximately $200,000 to cover the redesign engineering costs.  The Mark Thomas extra work request is attached to this item.

Approve:  Staff recommends the TTC/PAC approve the $197,128 increase to the Mark Thomas and Company contract for redesign engineering of the Golden State Blvd alignment from South to Bonita Avenue.

B.
Measure C Taxi Scrip Pilot Program Agreement with GoGo Grandparent (Donna Blocker) [APPROVE]

Exhibits:

Summary: For the last three years, COG staff has researched options to move the Measure C Senior Taxi Scrip Program from paper scrip to a digital currency while also incorporating transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft.  GoGoGrandparent provides a phone service that connects older adults without smartphones to Uber or Lyft rides. By calling a central hotline number, users can request and pay for rides without using a ride app or needing a smart phone.  GoGoGrandparent has been in business for three years with service everywhere there are Lyft and or Uber drivers. (A company brochure is attached.) In a recent comparison of trip prices, staff found that Uber and Lyft's prices are one-half to one-third of the cost of current taxicab fares in Fresno, providing an additional incentive to coordinate services for senior participants.

After monitoring GoGoGrandparent's services and progress, staff approached the company regarding a partnership opportunity with the Measure C Senior Taxi Scrip program. GoGoGrandparent agreed to allow Taxi Scrip participants to use their monthly scrip value to access rides with Uber and Lyft using the GoGoGrandparent service, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In an effort to assess the viability of this partnership, COG staff is asking for approval to launch a GoGoGrandparent/Senior Scrip pilot program beginning September 1, 2018 and concluding March 1, 2018. The pilot program would include up to 80 Taxi Scrip seniors, providing them $50 of scrip per month to utilize the service and report their experiences back to Fresno COG staff. The total cost for this pilot program would not exceed $26,500.

Action: Staff requests the PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the Executive Director to enter into an agreement with GoGoGrandparent to conduct a six-month pilot program beginning September 1, 2018 and not to exceed $26,500.

C.
Sustainable Infrastructure Planning Grant Program Cycle 1 Contract Award (Jennifer Soliz) [APPROVE]

Summary:  In June, the Policy Board approved the Sustainable Infrastructure Planning Grant Program project and funding recommendations. Cycle 1 was awarded to the City of Fowler for a Community Landscape Plan for $150,000. Tree Fresno was the named partner/consultant for the awarded project.  Tree Fresno will prepare community landscape plans in disadvantaged communities to optimize the tree canopy and research the mitigation of near-road air pollution with trees on State Route 99.  The Community Landscape Plan meets the grant-specific objectives that include sustainability to reduce GHG emissions, preservation, mobility and safety.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board authorize Fresno COG’s Executive Director to enter into a contract for $150,000 with Tree Fresno for the City of Fowler’s Community Landscape Plan as approved and awarded in the Sustainable Infrastructure Planning Grant Program.

D.
2018 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (Kristine Cai) [APPROVE]

Summary: Fresno COG is required to update its Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) every four years. The 2018 RTP/SCS development process began in fall 2016. An RTP Roundtable Committee comprising representatives from local governments, Caltrans, transit operators, the Air District and other sectors such as water, education, farming, social justice, cycling, building industry, environment/air quality, etc. was formed to help guide the process. Staff developed a robust and extensive outreach program to engage the public that included 15 community workshops, 20 informational booths at community events and 11 presentations to organizations to determine a preference of SCS scenarios. All outreach information was made available online and in both English and Spanish.

In November 2017, after careful consideration of the public's input and recommendations from the Roundtable and the TTC/PAC, the Fresno COG Policy Board selected Scenario D as the preferred SCS scenario. Scenario D is:

  • An ambitious sustainability plan with significant advancements over the status quo (i.e. the projected growth pattern before the 2014 SCS)

• A growth plan that acknowledges current planning assumptions and local land use authority

• On track to meet the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint’s goals

• Meets SB 375 requirements

• A realistic and feasible growth scenario that allows the Fresno County region to grow at its own pace and retain its own character

Fresno COG released the draft RTP/SCS, draft EIR, draft FTIP document and the draft corresponding Air Quality Conformity Analysis for public comment on April 5, 2018. A revised conformity analysis was recirculated for 30 days on May 18. All the final documents are available on Fresno COG's website.

Staff received eight comment letters during the 55-day public review period. The responses are included in the final documents.

Staff requests that action be taken separately on each item listed below:

1) FTIP: The FTIP is a four-year program that includes a listing of transportation projects requiring federal funding and approval by federal transportation agencies. Projects included in the FTIP are consistent with Fresno COG's Regional Transportation Plan and are part of the area's overall strategy for providing mobility, congestion relief and reduction of transportation-related air pollution and greenhouse gas emission in support of efforts to attain federal air quality standards and to meet the State's climate change requirement. One comment was received from Caltrans about the 2019 FTIP, and responses are included in the final document.

Action: Staff recommends approval of the 2019 Federal Transportation Improvement Program

2) The Air Quality Conformity Analysis: A transportation conformity analysis is required by section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, in non-attainment areas to ensure that transportation plans, programs and projects will not produce new air quality violations, worsen existing violations or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air quality standards. No comments were received about the conformity analysis for the 2018 RTP and the 2019 FTIP during the public comment period.

Action: Staff recommends approval of the conformity analysis for the 2018 Regional Transportation Plan and the 2019 Federal Transportation Improvement Program.

3) EIR: Fresno COG prepared a Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for the 2018 RTP/SCS project assessing environmental effects related to the development of the 2018 RTP/SCS.

The 2018 RTP/SCS identifies the region’s transportation needs and issues, sets forth an action plan of projects and programs to address the needs consistent with the adopted policies and documents the financial resources needed to implement the plan. Projects are identified at a conceptual level for purposes of the RTP, and the program EIR is programmatic in nature – meaning it does not specifically analyze individual projects. The PEIR finds that the implementation of the 2018 RTP/SCS could result in potentially significant and unavoidable direct and cumulative environmental impacts in the following areas: aesthetics, agricultural & forestry resources, air quality, biotic resources, climate change/greenhouse gases, cultural resources & tribal cultural resources, energy and energy conservation, geology/soils/minerals, hazardous materials, hydrology & water resources, land use and planning, noise, population, housing and employment, public utilities, other utilities and services, and transportation/traffic. Included in the final PEIR are responses to comments received on the draft PEIR document, changes made/addressed within the document in response to those comments, findings of potential impacts and a statement of overriding considerations, and a mitigation monitoring program to address such findings.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend certification of the Program Environmental Impact Report for the 2018 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy to the Policy Board by the adoption of resolution 2018-25 as attached.

4) RTP/SCS: The 2018 RTP/SCS identifies the region’s transportation needs and issues, sets forth an action plan of projects and programs to address the needs consistent with the adopted policies, and documents the financial resources needed to implement the plan. Fresno COG has included all the required elements in the plan, has engaged in extensive public outreach, prepared the required Program Environmental Impact Report and completed the associated Federal Transportation Improvement Program and Air Quality Conformity documents. Responses to the comments about the Draft RTP/SCC are included in the document.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend approval of the 2018 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy to the Policy Board by the adoption of Resolution 2018-26 as attached, which also includes the aforementioned FTIP and Air Quality Conformity Analysis.

III.OTHER ITEMS

A.
Items from Staff

B.
Items from Members

IV.PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

A.
Public Presentations

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Committee on items within its jurisdiction but not on this agenda.  Note:  Prior to action by the Committee on any item on this agenda, the public may comment on that item.  Unscheduled comments may be limited to 3 minutes.

JOINT Transportation Technical/Policy Advisory Committee

A.
PRESENTATIONS

1.
Caltrans Report (CALTRANS) [INFORMATION]