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: Subsequent to a cooperative agreement with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA), Fresno COG has a contract with Mark Thomas to design the Golden State Corridor. Mark Thomas has identified additional engineering costs associated with the project as explained in a memo on the April 24 FCTA agenda and below. 

To summarize, Mark Thomas has completed 100 percent of the design phase. The project has been split into three phases to accommodate negotiations with the Union Pacific railroad.  The County of Fresno has bid and is working on phase 1; however, this leaves some gaps in the project to be addressed in phase 2. Phase 3 involves work in the railroad's right-of-way. The County needs to amend its contract with FCTA to complete Phase 2; however, the initial design incorporated phases 2 and 3 as one scope. This amendment separates the railroad work from phase 2 so the County can proceed. This action is necessary regardless of current, ongoing negotiations with the cities and railroad over how many intersections will be improved in phase 3.

Separate actions are required to amend the cooperative agreement with FCTA and the contract with Mark Thomas.

Recommendation: 

Action:  Authorize Fresno COG's executive director to execute amendment No. 8 to the cooperative agreement with FCTA, increasing the contract $347,775 to $6,466,237.

Action: Authorize the Fresno COG's executive director to execute amendment No. 6, increasing the Mark Thomas contract $347,775 to $5,134,721.

Summary: A round-up of current Federal and State grant opportunities open now.

Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program (MPDG)

On March 28, Federal Department of Transportation announced that a ?notice of funding opportunity (NOFO)?for approximately $5.1 billion in funding for projects of regional or national significance for three major discretionary grant programs. The application process for the Mega, INFRA and Rural programs has been streamlined into the single Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program (MPDG). To date, DOT has provided nearly $8 billion in grants to communities through the MPDG program to help rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, create good-paying jobs, increase manufacturing capacity and innovation, and create a clean-energy economy to combat climate change and ensure our communities are resilient. Eligible applicants and eligible project types vary by program. For details on prior year MPDG awards, see 2023-2024 Mega Awards, 2023-2024 INFRA Awards, and 2023-2024 Rural Surface Transportation Grant Awards. Applications are due on May 6, 2024,?on grants.gov.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)

The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary grant program is accepting applications in response to its Fiscal Year 2024 NOFO. The FY 2024 SS4A NOFO has multiple application deadlines depending on the grant type. Implementation Grant applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. ET on Thurs., May 16, 2024. Planning and Demonstration Grant applicants have three deadlines: 5 p.m. ET April 4, May 16, and Aug. 29. Several webinars have been held to provide more information; the presentation slides and webinar recordings are posted on the SS4A Webinar Series page.

Congestion Relief Program

FHWA is accepting applications for its $250 million Congestion Relief Program, which offers competitive grants to advance innovative, multimodal solutions to reduce vehicular traffic in the most congested metropolitan areas of the United States. The Congestion Relief Program is accepting applications for the first round through a NOFO that provides $150 million in grants for fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024. The grants are available to States, metropolitan planning organizations, cities, and municipalities for projects in urban areas with a population of at least one million. Applications are due by April 22, 2024.

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

Summary: In August 2023, Fresno COG was awarded the Caltrans FY 2023-24 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant to develop the Fresno County Mobility Hub Feasibility Study in partnership with the three largest transit agencies in the County; Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA), Clovis Transit, and Fresno Area Express (FAX).

In January 2024, Fresno COG released a request for proposal for consultants to develop the plan for Fresno County with preliminary planning-level design for up to four sites (two rural and two urban).

Fresno COG received five proposals for this project by the Feb. 28 deadline. The scoring committee, with representation from Fresno COG, FCRTA, Clovis Transit, and FAX, conducted interviews and selected Walker Consultants due their experience in mobility hub development, detailed workplan, expertise in the region, and versatile team with emphasis on public outreach and design.

The project is expected to be completed in FY 2025-26. The Caltrans-approved scope of work is attached.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to enter a contract with Walker Consultants for the Fresno County Mobility Hub Feasibility Study for an amount not to exceed $840,000.

Summary: In August 2023, Fresno COG was awarded the Caltrans FY 2023-24 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant to develop the Fresno County Climate Resiliency Plan. In January 2024, Fresno COG released a request for proposal for consultants to develop the plan, which will be a subsequent plan to the Fresno County Regional Transportation Network Vulnerability Assessment completed in 2020. The previous vulnerability assessment identified the transportation assets in the county that are most vulnerable to climate hazards, such as wildfires, extreme heat, and flooding.

The Fresno County Climate Resiliency Plan will build off this previous study and identify short-, medium-, and long-term improvement projects for the next 50 years to address regional climate risks. The plan will also develop planning-level cost estimates for the projects identified and conduct a project-level climate hazard assessment for the top five most vulnerable and critical projects. The project will also include outreach and engagement with community, local stakeholders, and technical experts in climate related fields.

Staff received three proposals for this project. The scoring committee, representing Fresno COG and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, selected Arup.

Arup has experience conducting transportation vulnerability assessments and climate resilience planning throughout the state and specifically within the region for the High-Speed Rail Central Valley station design, and is also conducting the Caltrans Statewide Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment.

The project is expected to be completed within a year. Attached is the scope of work.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Arup for the Fresno County Climate Resiliency Plan and authorize the executive director to enter a contract with Arup for the amount not to exceed $480,000.

Summary:  Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) released a request for proposal (RFP) in February seeking a qualified consultant with substantial experience in designing and conducting opinion surveys whose participants are reflective of the county’s demographics, including the non-English speaking populations, from urban and rural areas of the region. The consultant will be responsible for ranking defined values and transportation funding priorities of the Fresno County community, developing a final findings report, and presenting the final findings report to TTC, PAC, and the RTP Roundtable as well as the Fresno COG Policy Board. A total budget of $65,000 has been allocated to this survey effort.

Three proposals were received in reponse to the RFP. On April 2 staff scored them and selected Rea & Parker's $64,200 proposal due to their extensive experience in survey/market research. Drs. Parker and Rea have extensive experience in public and urban affairs regarding the collection of primary demographic, attitudinal, and market-related data through survey research, focus group analysis and public outreach, particularly regarding transportation. 

The data collected from the survey will inform the Fresno COG Regional Transportation Plan public and decision makers by identifying and ranking Fresno County residents' transportation spending priorities and their community values. The survey is proposed to generate 550 completed telephone surveys and 450 online surveys with a margin of error estimated to be +/- 3.1 percent at most, at a 95 % level of confidence. 

Action:  Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Rea & Parker as the Regional Transportation Plan Public Opinion Survey consultant and authorize the executive director to enter a contract with Rea & Parker for the amount not to exceed $64,200.

Summary: In September 2023 the board awarded $91,916 to Fresno County Rural Transit Agency, (FCRTA) and Clovis Public Transit respectively to go toward buying wheelchair accessible buses for the TNC\WAV program.  We are now ready to execute contracts with FCRTA and Clovis, however since county counsel represents both FCRTA and FCOG, conflict of interest protocol requires the board to adopt a waiver directing county counsel to reassign temporary representation to eliminate any potential conflict.

Action: Adopt the Conflict Waiver Representation of the FCRTA and FCOG regarding contract for administration of funding grant.

Action: Authorize the Interim Executive Director to execute a contract with FCRTA for $91,916.

Action: Authorize the Interim Executive Director to execute a contract with Clovis Public Transit for $91,916.

Summary: The final, fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 Overall Work Program (OWP), totaling $45.5 million is submitted for committee and Board consideration. The proposed budget increased $256,150 from the draft submitted in February to add an operations manager and fleet services coordinator to FCRTA’s’ operation.  A summary memorandum is attached to this annotated report. In short, the proposed budget decreased $12.4 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 $3.7 million decrease reflected a 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 23 percent ($3.6 million), resulting from  the FCRTA drawdown.  

Fresno COG added an accounting position last yearn which is jointly shared 70/30 percent with FCRTA. In addition, FCRTA is adding an operations manager and a fleet services coordinator.  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 the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Fresno COG's final 2024-25 Overall Work Program and budget.

Summary: The State established the Active Transportation Program (ATP) in September 2013. ATP funding is distributed as follows:

• Fifty percent to the State for a statewide competitive program (“Statewide Competitive ATP”);
• Ten percent to the small urban and rural area competitive program, managed by the State; and
• Forty percent to the large urbanized area competitive program, with funding distributed by population and managed by metropolitan planning organizations (“Regional ATP”).

Fresno COG is responsible for developing guidelines for the regional ATP and for recommending projects to the California Transportation Commission. The Regional ATP Guidelines substantially follow those of the CTC but include some differences based on the region’s priorities.

Fresno COG developed the guidelines in consultation with Fresno COG’s ATP Multidisciplinary Advisory Group (MAG), which includes other government agencies, active transportation stakeholder organizations with expertise in public health and pedestrian and bicycle issues, and representation from disadvantaged communities. The California Transportation Commission (CTC) is scheduled to approve the guidelines at its June meeting.

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopted final 2025 ATP Guidelines on March 22. There were relatively minor changes at the statewide level from cycle 6 to cycle 7, consisting of new and revised language in various program categories. Considerable program changes include:

• A new online ATP application portal
• New performance metrics
• Disciplinary consequences for insufficient performance metric data
• Six application types  

A few minor differences remain between the statewide guidelines and Fresno COG’s regional guidelines. These differences include:

• No minimum funding requirement
• Quick Build projects are not eligible
• Eliminate scoring criteria for medium- and large-sized infrastructure projects and score all projects using the small infrastructure criteria
• Allow applicants to submit scalability plans for medium or large infrastructure projects submitted to the state.

Fresno COG will hold a supplemental call-for-projects using the Regional ATP scoring criteria and have a regional scoring committee. Applicants may apply for either the State ATP program or Regional ATP program, or both. Fresno COG encourages all ATP projects to be submitted to the State ATP competitive program, although it is not required. Projects not selected for programming in the statewide competition must be considered in the regional competition.

The statewide competitive call for projects is now open, and applications will be due to Caltrans on June 17. Once CTC approves the Regional ATP Guidelines (June 27-28), the regional call for projects will open, with applications due Nov. 20. Regional ATP documents are included for review and approval and will be posted to fresnocog.org. Enclosures for this item include:

• Resolution 2024-09
• Final Draft Regional ATP Guidelines & Fund Estimate
• Supplemental application

The electronic ATP Cycle 7 applications and other guidance documents can be found at: Active Transportation Program (ATP) | CTC (ca.gov). Please contact Matthew Shimizu via email at mshimizu@fresnocog.org or via phone at 559-233-4148 ext. 240 with any questions.

Action: Staff and the MAG request that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Resolution 2024-09 adopting the Fresno COG Regional Competitive Active Transportation Program Guidelines.

Summary:  In late 2022, Fresno Council of Governments commissioned a countywide study to evaluate potential microtransit service. Many Fresno County residents live and work beyond walking distance of a bus stop and fixed-route transit service. Low densities and car-oriented development patterns pose major challenges for expanding cost-effective and sustainable transit using traditional fixed-route bus service, or paratransit.

Microtransit potentially addresses the "first-mile-last-mile" transit challenge by providing a ridesharing alternative to the closest transit stop for those who might otherwise not have access to a mainline transit service.  Given the COG’s strategic planning and advisory role, it has a strong interest in coordinating efforts among the county’s transit agencies to expand transit services throughout the region with alternative modes.

The Regional Microtransit Feasibility Study explores microtransit throughout the county with four key objectives:

1) Assess the current public transit and demographic landscape in Fresno County to determine new oppurtunies to provide additional transit services.

2) Explore the potential for implementing microtransit in Fresno County, with particular emphasis in areas with potential for expanded transit services.

3) Engage community members to increase understanding of microtransit and gather input on potential solutions.

4) Enable Fresno COG and Fresno County transit agencies to evaluate and consider potential oppurtunites regarding microtransit services.

Via Mobility, (consulting firm) that conducted the Regional Microtransit Feasibility Study, will be providing a brief presentation to the TTC/PAC. The final report is attached in this agenda.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board accept the Fresno COG Regional Microtransit Feasibility Study Final Report.

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.