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.

Recommend approving Resolution 2020-26, adopting the City of Fowler's 2020-21 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $584,546.

Recommend approving Resolution 2020-27, adopting the City of Huron's 2020-21 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $344,829.

Summary:  Measure C funds totaling $1,762,598 are available in 2020-21 for programs Fresno COG administers. In accordance with Fresno County Transportation Authority procedures, Resolution 2020-25 adopts claims for ADA/seniors/paratransit ($568,348), farmworker vanpools ($417,268), ride sharing ($417,268) and administration/planning ($359,714).

Action:  Recommend adopting Resolution 2020-25, approving Measure C claims for ADA/seniors/paratransit, farmworker vanpools, ride-sharing and administration/planning.

Summary: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has up to $22 million available to fund planning, clean transportation, and supporting projects for multiple grantees across the state. The Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) is a new pilot that takes a community-based approach to overcoming barriers to clean transportation. STEP aims to increase transportation equity in disadvantaged and low-income communities throughout California via two types of grants: planning and capacity-building grants and implementation grants.

STEP works to address community residents’ transportation needs, increase residents’ access to key destinations (e.g., schools, grocery stores, workplaces, community centers, medical facilities), and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This solicitation is open to community-based organizations, federally recognized tribes, and local governments interested in implementing community-driven clean transportation projects.

Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. (Pacific Time), Monday, August 31, 2020. Please note that these funding amounts and are subject to change. The final funding amount will be determined through a public workgroup meeting during the solicitation period and the resulting determination will be posted on CARB’s website. For future information about the public work group meeting, see: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/low-carbon-transportation-investmentsand-air-quality-improvement-program/low-0

CARB will hold four grant applicant teleconferences, at which time staff will be available to answer questions potential applicants’ questions regarding eligibility thresholds, proposal components, solicitation processes, and anything else related to the current STEP solicitation.

First applicant teleconference: 3 p.m. June 30, 2020 - Webinar registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3438438249644849933

Mid-solicitation planning and capacity-building grant applicant teleconference: 10 a.m. July 22, 2020 - Webinar registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6139653545578850573

Mid-solicitation implementation grant applicant teleconference: 2 p.m. July 22, 2020 - Webinar registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5244172793011062285

Final applicant teleconference: 3 p.m. Aug. 13, 2020 - Webinar registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1793756870980326669

Additional information and the full grant solicitation is available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aqip/solicitations.htm

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

Fresno COG received a Caltrans Planning Grant for an electric vehicle readiness plan (EVRP) to support electric vehicle implementation within Fresno County. Using stakeholder engagement and data-driven analysis of electric vehicle forecasting as the foundation, the plan will include information about permitting, funding, and potential siting locations. The project update below provides a status of the project tasks to date.

Project Status:

-          Completed performance metrics technical section

-          Completed baseline conditions assessment technical section

-          Completed funding sources technical section

-          Remaining stakeholder engagement (one focus group & two public workshops) have been delayed due to COVID-19. The stakeholder engagement technical memorandum will be completed following the remaining engagements

-          Held additional engagement with Inspiration Transportation to discuss vulnerable population criteria for siting

-          Siting criteria priorities nearly complete; to be presented at the next working group.

The performance metrics, baseline conditions assessment, and funding sources sections are attached for review and comment. Highlights from each section are provided below.

Baseline conditions memo:

-          Fresno County is below the state average for electric vehicle adoption

-          Many residents within Fresno County face greater obstacles to PEV adoption

-          The number of publicly available electric vehicle charging stations within Fresno County is lower than the state average

-          Identified emission ‘hot spots’ would benefit from increased electric vehicle adoption and the associated emissions reduction in emissions

Performance metrics memo:

-          Comprehensive metrics can be used to monitor strategies and progress on critical areas and contribute to a charging network's success

-          Presented effective key performance indicator and key result indicator characteristics

-          Identified primary performance indicators and result indicators for identified objectives

Funding sources memo:

-          Identified funding sources and relevant incentives to serve as baseline resources for the EVRP

-          Identified different funding sources available and their target recipients

-          Organized funding resources into three categories based on the role that FCOG would serve to maximize impact

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

1.

2022 RTP/SCS Schedule and Milestones (Kristine Cai) [INFORMATION]

2.

Introduction to Futures Planning (Seth Scott) [INFORMATION]

Summary: In April, Fresno COG's Policy Board approved the 2021 Regional Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 5 Guidelines. Those guidelines were submitted to the California Transportation Commission (CTC), with approval originally scheduled for the May meeting. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the CTC approved an amendment to the 2021 ATP schedule on April 29, 2020, and the program was delayed by approximately three months.

On May 14, 2020, Fresno COG held a virtual workshop to discuss and finalize a revised schedule to align with the amended 2021 ATP. Following the revised schedule, CTC staff reviewed Fresno COG's regional guidelines and recommended changes to maintain the regional scoring committee. To get feedback from the regional Multidisciplinary Advisory Group (MAG), CTC staff delayed the regional guidelines to the August CTC meeting. Based on the discussion at a June 23 workshop, the MAG and staff’s proposed changes to the 2021 Regional ATP Guidelines include:

• Point distribution changes to the small infrastructure application scoring criteria in the following categories:
• Benefit to disadvantaged communities
• Need
• Scope and plan layout consistency
• Leveraging
• New category added – consistency with Fresno COG's adopted 2018 RTP or an adopted Active Transportation Plan
• Added clarifying language in funding set-aside, project application and submittal requirements, and scoring criteria categories
• Supplemental Application required for Regional ATP Call-for-Projects (Appendix B in Guidelines)

The proposed changes are identified in the guidelines, shown in red. These changes are consistent with the statewide guidelines.  Regional ATP documents are all included for review and approval and are posted to fresnocog.org. Enclosures for this item include:

• Amending Resolution 2020-28
• Amended FCOG 2021 Regional ATP Guidelines (Tracked Changes Shown)
• Amended FCOG 2021 Regional ATP Guidelines (Tracked Changes Accepted)

This delay does not significantly impact the 2021 Regional Active Transportation Program. The revised schedule is outlined below.

*Exact dates will coincide with the CTC’s adopted 2020/2021 calendars.

**Date subject to change

Action: Staff and the MAG request that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve amending Resolution 2020-28 and the amended 2021 Regional Active Transportation Program Guidelines.

Summary: Senate Bill 743 (SB 743) was passed by the State legislature in 2013, and incorporated in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines in 2018.  The actual implementation of SB 743 began on July 1, 2020. SB 473 requires level of service (LOS) be replaced with vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as the metric for transportation impact analyses in the CEQA process. SB 743 is going to have profound changes to how local land use development projects and transportation capacity projects are approved. It serves the State's overall climate change goals by encouraging infill development and discouraging greenfield development; supporting green projects, such as transit and active transportation projects and minimizing capacity increasing projects. The intended transportation and land use changes through SB 743 will help people drive less, promote a diversity of land use mixes and encourage alternative transportation such as transit, walking and biking.

Fresno COG has been working closely with the local governments and a consultant team on developing regional guidance and recommendations for SB 743 implementation in the Fresno region. The regional guidelines are intended to provide local agencies with technical tools to navigate through implementation. 

Fresno COG's process has resulted in a series of screening criteria to help local jurisdictions screen out projects that have less-than-significant VMT impacts. The regional guidelines provide recommendations for thresholds and methodologies for VMT analysis. The guidelines also provide substantial evidence for a threshold alternative of 13 percent VMT reduction, as opposed to the State's 15 percent for residential and office projects. Fresno COG staff and its consultant team are developing a VMT tool to estimate VMT/person & VMT/employee for individual projects. This is expected to be available by the end of July. A list of mitigation measures will be included with the tool.

In order to help our member agencies understand and adapt to the new requirements of SB 743, Fresno COG staff will offer a training workshop to local agencies and stakeholders on methodologies and tools recommended. 

Fresno COG is not a lead agency for any land use or transportation projects. The recommendations in the regional guidelines are advisory, and may be used by member agencies at their discretion, based on their individual growth policies and economic development goals. 

Draft final document for the SB 743 Implementation Regional Guidelines.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board accept the SB 743 Implementation Regional Guidelines.

Summary:  Measure C's Regional Transportation Program includes major highway infrastructure projects approved by the voters in 2007. Total anticipated revenues across all sources increased $12.5 million from the 2017 adopted plan. Actual project costs declined $1.27 million; however, total outlays increased $36 million, reflecting increased internal borrowing costs from Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee projects that Measure C finances.

Revenues

Sales tax expectations for 2020-21 were adjusted downward 8.6 percent to reflect the COVID-19 recession, lowering sales tax projections by $22.2 million. 

Currently, $45.3 million in future State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds are dedicated to the North\Cedar phase of the South Fresno Interchange. The recession may affect future STIP revenues.

The state's three-year SB 1 Local Partnership Program (LPP) formula cycle (2020-21-2022- 23) includes $1.9 million in additional funding for the final phase of Veterans Boulevard.  Staff has submitted an application to the LPP competitive pot of $7 million for the Golden State Corridor Project and holds $3.8 million in formula funding reserved, pending award of the competitive program.

The California High-Speed Rail Commission increased the City of Fresno's award to build structures spanning the railroad right-of-way at Veterans Boulevard $5.8 million to $33.84 million. The City of Fresno was also awarded a $10.54 million federal BUILD grant for Veterans Boulevard. That project is now fully funded.

During the 2020 update to the Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee (RTMF), the nexus was expanded and the fee increased to provide funding for the North\Cedar phase of the South Fresno Interchange, increasing anticipated RTMF revenues by $32 million.

Non-RTMF local development fees decreased $16.18 million as the City of Fresno secured additional grant funding sources described above to perfect funding for Veterans Boulevard.

Interest earnings increased $2.1 million.

The Urban Program

The urban program has an estimated $752.87 million in revenues, $797.92 million in expenses and a net deficit of $45 million. Net project costs increased $1.7 million.

Veterans Boulevard costs are anticipated to be $5.8 million less than in the previous plan. The project is being built in five phases, with the Bullard Extension completed and the UPRR grade separation under construction.  The Shaw-to-Barstow connection will be completed in 2020, while the full interchange and Herndon Avenue connection will finish in 2021.

The North/Cedar interchange is the next major project on the urban tier 1 list. Planning, acquisition and design on North/Cedar will proceed concurrently with the rural program, including American Avenue as a single two-phased project with construction anticipated in 2023-24.  Cost estimates for North/Cedar are $9,1 million less than in the previous plan.

The SR 180 landscaping project – from Brawley to Hughes West – is programmed for 2020-21 in the 2020 STIP.

Shaw Avenue – Dewolf to McCall – increased by $5.37 million to $24.5 million. The measure will fund 80 percent of the construction cost, with local Clovis development fees providing a 20 percent match.

Herndon – Polk to Milburn – increased by $9.68 million to $24 million. The Measure will fund 80 percent of the construction cost, with local Fresno development fess providing a 20 percent match. Due to the reduction in sales tax estimates, construction must be delayed one year to 2022-23.

The Rural Program

The rural program has an estimated $481.41 million in revenues, $727.52 million in expenses and a net deficit of $245.11 million. Net project costs decreased $2.4 million.

Design continues on Golden State Boulevard, with construction anticipated in 2020-21. After performing preliminary engineering studies, the Union Pacific Railroad determined the class A trail planned along the project would require significant enhancements to various intersections, resulting in a prohibitive cost increase. After conferring with participating member agencies, Fresno COG removed the trail and will work with members to develop an equivalent improvement in each jurisdiction.

The rural program includes $61.9 million to environmentally clear, design, acquire right-of-way, and construct the American Avenue phase of South Fresno Interchange in sync with the North/Cedar Interchange.

FCTA has approved conducting preliminary studies to explore improvements along the SR 180 West connection to I-5, with the intent of developing a financeable improvement during the life of the current measure that could extend into a proposed third measure.  

Action:  Staff request the TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board approve the Measure C Regional Transportation Program Update for Fiscal Year 2020-21.

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 three minutes.