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: Preliminary Local Transportation Fund (LTF) estimates are released each February to provide member agencies information to facilitate their budget process for the upcoming year. The final estimates will be adjusted for the Department of Finance’s 2024 population numbers and presented to the Board for adoption in May.  The Fresno County Auditor/Controller estimates 2024-25 LTF at $59 million, which is a $2 million (4 percent) increase from last year's estimate. 

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

Summary: Preliminary State Transit Assistance (STA) estimates are released each February to provide member agencies information to facilitate their budget process for the upcoming year. The final estimates will be adjusted for the Department of Finance’s 2024 population numbers and presented to the Board for adoption in May.  The State Controller’s Office has estimated the fiscal year 2024-25 State Transit Assistance (STA) apportionment at $14,273,034, a slight ($20,035) increase from last year's estimate. 

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

Summary: Preliminary State of Good Repair (SGR) estimates are released each February to provide member agencies information to facilitate their budget process for the upcoming year. The final estimates will be adjusted for the Department of Finance 2024 population numbers and presented to the Board for adoption in May.  The State Controller’s Office has estimated the fiscal year 2024-25 State of Good Repair (SGR) apportionment at $1,982,980, which is a $68,341 (4 percent) increase from last year's estimate. 

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

Summary:  Direct Pay is a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) that allows local governments and other tax exempt and governmental entities to receive a payment equal to the value of new and expanded tax credits authorized by the law for a variety of clean energy projects. Eligible incentives organized by project area and outlined in a fact sheet provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) include the following:

• Section 45 Production Tax Credit for Electricity from Renewables
• Section 45Y Clean Electricity Production Tax Credit
• Section 48 Investment Tax Credit for Energy Property
• Section 48E Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit
• Section 48(e) Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit (separate application required)
• Section 45Q Credit for Carbon Oxide Sequestration
• Section 45U Zero-Emission Nuclear Power Production Credit
• Section 48C Advanced Energy Project Credit (separate application required)
• Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit
• Section 45W Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles
• Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit
• Section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit
• Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit

Direct Pay is available for projects and facilities placed in service in 2023. Pre-filing registration for those 2023 projects is now available through an online tool developed by IRS. The pre-filing registration process is required for eligible taxpayers to receive elective payments.  IRS released a User Guide and instructional video to assist taxpayers in completing the process. The registration tool will generate a registration number that must be included on the taxpayer’s annual return and filed by the appropriate due date before elective payments can be received. 

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

Summary: In December, Caltrans released the FY 22/23 Fresno County region's obligation authority (OA) funds delivery report. The 22/23 OA delivery target was $22.2 million, and the region was able to obligate $31.1 million, or 140.1% of Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) and Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds. The remaining $3.4 million will carry over to the FY 23/24 delivery target.

The FY 23/24 OA delivery target is $19.5 Million. Based on member agency discussions, Fresno COG is projecting to obligate $31.4 million and exceed the 23/24 target, as shown in the quarterly report. Staff will be scheduling obligation plan meetings in late February with all member agencies to discuss programmed projects and finalize the OA plan to submit to Caltrans by March 15.

Please keep Fresno COG staff updated on any changes to programmed projects that could possibly impact the region’s project delivery plan. Contact Matthew Shimizu at 559-233-4148 ext. 240 or mshimizu@fresnocog.org with any questions regarding fiscal year deadlines or the process of obligating project funds.

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

Summary: At the beginning of each fiscal year, Fresno COG determines the Local Transportation Fund amounts (LTF) available to local agencies within Fresno County from Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds. Allocations are provided in four categories: bicycle and pedestrian facilities, social services transportation, regional transportation planning, and public transportation. Prior to allocating LTF funds for local streets and roads in individual jurisdictions, Fresno COG must identify any unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet in that jurisdiction. The annual Unmet Transit Needs Assessment is conducted for that purpose and to make any related findings. 

The FY 2024-25 Unmet Transit Needs Assessment kicked off at the Fresno COG Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee (SSTAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

Public outreach is an essential component of the Unmet Transit Needs Assessment. This year, the public outreach component will consist of an online survey, six in-person events, a virtual event, and a public hearing.  The online survey is available in English and Spanish until Friday, March 29, 2024, at:

English – https://publicinput.com/2024utn

Spanish – https://publicinput.com/2024spanishutn

The dates, times, and locations of each public outreach meeting are as follows:

Meeting #1: Rural Westside Fresno County
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27
Granada Commons Apartments
14570 West California Ave.,
Kerman, CA 93630

Meeting #2: City of Fresno
5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28
Mosqueda Community Center
4670 E. Butler Ave.,
Fresno, CA 93702

Meeting #3: City of Fresno
10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2
Maxie L. Parks Community Center
1802 E. California Ave.,
Fresno CA 93706

Meeting #4 – Online
1:30 p.m. Monday, March 4
Register in advance at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EkE-RiT7QlOdJRyomUOfEg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Meeting #5: City of Fresno
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5
Pinedale Community Center
7170 N. San Pablo Ave.,
Pinedale, CA 93650

Meeting #6: City of Clovis
5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6
Armstrong Transit Center-at Landmark Square Transit Training Room
785 Third Street
Clovis, CA 93612

Meeting # 7: Rural Eastside Fresno County
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12
Paseo 55
1764 12^th Street,
Reedley, CA 93654

Public outreach events for the FY 2024-25 Unmet Transit Needs Assessment concludes with a public hearing at the Fresno COG Policy Board meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2024. 

Transit riders and stakeholders can submit comments via email that are aggregated with the survey, in English or Spanish, at 2024utn@publicinput.com. They can also submit comments via voicemail (855) 925-2801, entering project code: “1470”, when prompted or text "unmet needs" to 73224. See the attached flyers for all details.

Marketing activities for the FY 2024-25 Unmet Transit Needs assessment include flyers to the FAX unmet transit needs mailing list, articles published in the Fresno COG and FAX newsletters, flyers and postcards distributed to Fresno County Department of Social Services offices and social media posts through Fresno COG and FAX social media channels. A community hub is also available at https://publicinput.com/unmet.transit.needs

More information about the FY 2024-25 unmet transit needs process -- including outreach activities, meeting times, addresses, and call-in information for the virtual events -- can be found at www.fresnocog.org/unmet-transit-needs-assessment/ and the Public Input Community Hub at https://publicinput.com/unmet.transit.needs.

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

Summary:  A member appointment to Fresno COG's Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee (SSTAC) is lapsing.  Staff requests reappointment for:

• Matthew Gilliam, a Fresno resident, representing the general public in Fresno County

Action:  Staff SSTAC request the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board reappoint SSTAC member Matthew Gilliam to another two-year term.

Summary:  The Regional Microtransit Feasibility Study is exploring how shared, flexible, and on-demand public transportation known as "microtransit' can improve access to jobs, healthcare, shopping, and other community destinations. With the public's help, staff and consultants have identified limited "zones" or sets of destinations where service could be available. A new community survey opened February 2nd requesting the public's input on the zone locations and interest in using Microtransit service. 

English and Spanish survey flyers are attached. Staff requests committee members share the survey request with their contacts and communities. 

Direct links to the survey: 

English:  Fresno County Regional Microtransit Feasibility Study, Phase 2 Survey - PublicInput

Spanish:  Estudio de viabilidad del microtransporte regional del condado de Fresno, encuesta de la fase 2 - PublicInput

Community members may also submit their thoughts via voicemail at (855) 925-2801, code 3313 or via email:

English:  microtransitsurvey@publicinput.com

Spanish:  microtransitsurveyespanol@publicinput.com

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

Summary: Caltrans' System Investment Strategy is intended to implement the California Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure's (CAPTI) vision and goals. Sinara Pheng and Hunter Owens with Caltrans will provide a presentation on CSIS, which includes an updated Project Initiation Document (PID) flowchart for compliance going forward.

CSIS is envisioned to be an investment framework that will guide how Caltrans should invest billions of dollars of highly competitive funding programs to address transportation deficiencies. Through continuous collaboration between districts and their partner agencies, districts will submit nominations of their priority conceptual projects for development with a State-sponsored PID for program eligibility. The basis for scope, cost, and schedule shall be documented in a PID for all major projects on the State Highway System (SHS). The ultimate objective of CSIS is to prioritize infrastructure investments with projects that include multimodal transportation options to expand mode choices and reduce transportation-related emissions.

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

Summary: Fresno COG developed a Regional Active Transportation Plan (R-ATP) to provide a comprehensive document outlining the future of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in Fresno County. The R-ATP was developed in coordination with Fresno COG’s member agencies, the general public and stakeholder groups, such as local bicycling groups, walking advocates, educational institutions and disadvantaged communities. 

The R-ATP is intended to help Fresno COG’s member agencies better compete for funding sources that support ATPs and to satisfy California Transportation Commission (CTC) requirements. The cities of Clovis, Fresno, Selma and Reedley have recently prepared or will soon complete their own ATPs; conclusions from those plans are incorporated into this R-ATP. The participating agencies for this update are: Firebaugh, Fowler, Huron, Mendota, Orange Cove, Coalinga, Kerman, Kingsburg, Parlier, Sanger, San Joaquin, and the County of Fresno, each of which can rely on the R-ATP to satisfy CTC requirements. 

One of the project's main goals is to detail a potential network of safe and attractive trails, sidewalks and bikeways that connect Fresno County residents to key destinations -- especially local schools, parks and transit. The networks include: shared-use paths, bike lanes and routes, sidewalks and crosswalk improvements. Other goals are to create a network of regional bikeways that allow bicyclists to safely ride between cities and other regional destinations, and to increase regional walking and bicycling trips by creating user-friendly facilities. The draft Regional ATP is now available for public comments, which will be incorporated into the final plan to be adopted in April 2024. 

Due to the file size, a link to the Draft Fresno County R-ATP Update can be found here: https://www.fresnocog.org/project/active-transportation/

The first four chapters contain:

1. Introduction
2. Existing conditions
3. Planned networks and program
4. Implementation

Chapters 5–16 are devoted to each jurisdiction's status and future plans. Chapter 17 includes community connections that describe the conditions and future plans for walking and biking connections among incorporated and unincorporated communities in Fresno County and with other counties.

The Appendix contains:

(A)  Plan conformance with the CTC's ATP guidelines

(B)  Public participation

(C)  Relationship to other plans and policies

(D)  Projects, priorities, and cost estimates

(E)  Funding sources

(F)   Fact sheets **

(G)  Safe routes to school inventory

(H)  Jurisdictional resolutions *

* Jurisdiction resolutions are one of the ATP components the CTC requires. Fresno COG staff will follow up with city and county staff on this matter.

** Fact sheets will be included in the final draft

The initial study/negative declaration, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) along with the final Regional Active Transportation Plan will be presented to TTC/PAC and Policy Board in April 2024. The presentation from the Fehr & Peers team will outline the framework of the Fresno County Regional Active Transportation Plan.

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

Summary: Fresno COG developed a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP), which is the first component of the Regional Climate Action Plan required under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. The PCAP includes: a regional greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, a public outreach process, priority GHG emissions reduction measure identification and quantification, a benefit analysis for low-income and disadvantaged communities, and identification of implementation authorities.    

Fresno COG staff used a three-pronged approach to developing the PCAP. First, a public outreach process with a multi-media platform, especially targeting low-income and disadvantaged communities. As a parallel process, a Stakeholder Steering Committee provided input and guidance on the overall process. The third and final step was to present the PCAP to Fresno COG’s three standing committees, including the Transportation Technical Committee, the Policy Advisory Committee and the Policy Board, for final approval.   

The PCAP was the first regional climate action planning effort addressing multiple economic sectors in Fresno County, and provided valuable educational experience to the region's communities and municipal staff on climate action planning. However, due to its constrained timeline (five months), the process for many components was shortened or simplified. The next step is to develop a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) that will build on the PCAP. Significantly, $4.6 billion in federal funding is available to implement GHG mitigation measures, and only regions with an established PCAP are eligible.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) for submission to EPA through Resolution 2024-07. 

Summary: The fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 Overall Work Program (OWP), totaling $45.2 million is submitted for Board and public review. A summary memorandum is attached to this annotated report. In short, the proposed budget decreased $12.6 million from last year. Operational revenues remain intact and reserves are adequate.

The largest part of the decrease is attributed to $9.6 million in one-time anticipated funding from the Regional Early Action Plan (REAP) 2.0 funds provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, California Air Resources Board, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and the Strategic Growth Council. Another $3,734,971 decrease reflected draw down of cash match from Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) as it constructed its Selma maintenance facility. These were one time grants that are largely spent down and have no effect on normal operating expenses.

Federal revenues increased a net of 7 percent  or $938,161; however the largest increase of $1.7 million resulting from another round of bus procurements through the FTA 5310 program offset several decreases from revenue sources that were drawn down from one time projects.

State revenues decreased 34 percent, ($9.7 million) primarily due to the REAP 2 grant.   

Local revenues decreased 25 percent ($3.8 million), resulting from  the FCRTA drawdown.  

Fresno COG added an accounting position in 2024, which is jointly shared 70/30% with FCRTA; however, high employee turnover resulted in lower salary and benefit rates. Contingencies are carried for merit-based salary increases, as well as for anticipated health insurance increases. The overall proposed budget for salaries increased by 2 percent and benefits by 1 percent.

The overall consulting budget is $22.1 million, which decreased $5.7 million.

The OWP and budget will return for final approval in April.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board release Fresno COG's draft 2024-25 Overall Work Program and budget for public review, with final approval scheduled for the April Board meeting.

Summary: The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CSIS) Emergency Communications Division manages multiple programs to ensure public safety, emergency preparedness and communications communities have access to priority telecommunications and restoration services.  These services are free of charge and only require enrollment from eligible public agencies to ensure priority placement for landline, cellular and Internet service in the event of an emergency.

Former Kingsburg Councilmember and Mayor John Wright will offer a short presentation on these services and how local jurisdictions can best access them.

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

Summary:  SB 743 requires that level-of-service (LOS), used in measuring transportation impacts in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), be replaced with vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

Fresno COG developed its SB 743 Implementation Regional Guidelines in 2020, which provided tools for local governments to implement SB 743, should they decide to institute the recommendations. However, due to a lack of clear guidance, VMT mitigation remains an outstanding issue within SB 743 implementation. Projects with significant VMT impacts can’t move forward due to a lack of defined, quantifiable and feasible mitigation measures.

It is believed that a regional-level VMT mitigation program will be most effective in providing the pathways for VMT reduction. In 2023, Fresno COG finalized the Regional VMT Mitigation Program Feasibility Study that explored options such as VMT mitigation bank, VMT mitigation exchange, regional VMT impact fees, etc., and identified pros and cons for the various techniques. The study outlined a framework for potential implementation of such a regional VMT mitigation program.

The study evaluated potential regional VMT mitigation programs to meet the CEQA transportation mitigation needs for the 16 jurisdictions comprising Fresno COG. Existing VMT mitigations that often rely heavily on existing transportation demand management (TDM) options are inadequate to fully mitigate many of the planned land use and transportation projects. As such, the study considered whether a programmatic approach, primarily through fee assessments to pay for VMT-reducing projects, is a feasible solution to address transportation-related CEQA mitigation needs within the Fresno region.

Several programmatic approaches to VMT mitigation, including VMT banking, VMT exchanges, and VMT mitigation impact fee programs were considered and analyzed. After completing the project analyses, outreach, framework evaluations, and reviewing all considerations, the study determined that a fee-based VMT mitigation program is a feasible option for the Fresno COG region, and that VMT banking would be the most appropriate initial program framework.

Implementing a fee-based VMT mitigation program adds a new fee that may further increase the cost of housing and other development, as well as increase the cost of any capacity-enhancing projects. However, in the absence of more VMT mitigation solutions, significant uncertainty will remain for many projects, including those that might align with other plans and programs, continuing to impede their ability to progress. This regional program will be adopted by individual jurisdictions at their discretion and does not exclude them from doing their own VMT mitigation program.

As a follow up to the feasibility study, staff are recommending a Regional VMT Mitigation Program Implementation Plan which seeks to establish a regional VMT mitigation program in Fresno County.

The overall efforts of this program are consistent with the RTP/SCS goals of VMT/GHG reduction and will further the state’s climate goals and the other overarching goals in the California Transportation Plan.  When clarity is provided to developers and stakeholders regarding VMT mitigation, a path for projects to move forward is made possible. The plan seeks to develop and establish a VMT mitigation program to provide certainty for developers and project sponsors on their CEQA mitigation plans during the environmental clearance process of their projects.  

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

Summary: The Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 grant program was included in the 2021 State budget and seeks to accelerate infill development, reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and increase housing supplies at all affordability levels.

Fresno COG was originally awarded $13.5 million in REAP 2.0 funds; however, Gov. Newsom's most recent budget proposal in January anticipates cutting the program in half, leaving the region with $6.5 million to award through a competitive application process.

REAP 2.0 is primarily administered through the California Department of Housing and Community Development, working in conjunction with the California Air Resources Board, the Governor's Office of Planning and Outreach and the Strategic Growth Council.

On Dec. 1, 2023, Fresno COG received eight project applications from member jurisdictions seeking a collective $21 million. On Jan. 17, 2024 a scoring committee comprising 11 representatives from various agencies, including three of the State agencies administering REAP 2.0, met to discuss and rank the projects.

Committee members scored the projects based on Fresno COG's guidelines as approved by the State's administering agencies. Of the eight applications, the City of Firebaugh's Downtown Infill Initative and the City of Fresno’s Blackstone Betterment project received the highest scores. Based on the anticipated cuts, staff recommends the City of Firebaugh receive its full $1.5 million request, while Blackstone Betterment receive the remaining $5 million against a $10.6 million request.

Importantly, should REAP 2.0 funding be restored, Blackstone Betterment could be funded at its full request and the City of San Joaquin could also be awarded $1 million for its proposed new trail system and public park --  components of an already-approved housing development on three parcels in the City.

The attached spreadsheet displays the project rankings and two possible funding scenarios.

ACTION: Staff and the REAP 2.0 scoring committee request that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the funding recommendations for the 2023-24 Regional Early Action Planning (REAP 2.0) grant program

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.