COG Header image

Fresno COG Policy Board

June 25, 2026 5:30 pm

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

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 publichearing, after receiving proper notice, the hearing will be continued on a specified date when accommodations are available..

The Fresno COG Policy Board meeting will take place in person at the Fresno COG Sequoia Conference Room. The meetings are accessible to the public in person and are available for listening via Zoom webinar. Public comments will be taken in-person only.

In-person public attendees must state their first and last name and any affiliated agency for the record. Please turn on the microphone before speaking.

Zoom Webinar Listening Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81878123116

Zoom phone call-in number: 1 669 444 9171 

 

Meeting will begin prior to the FCOG Board meeting.

Appoint the Vice Chair of the City Selection Committee, to the seat previously held by Brandon
Pursell, and serve the remainder of the current term, which will expire April 1, 2027

Note: The membership of the City Selection Committee shall consist of the mayors of each city within Fresno
County. The Chair and Vice Chair are selected among the committee’s members. Only mayors are eligible
for the office of Chair and Vice Chair (California Government Code§§ 50270, 50274)

At the time of his appointment to the position of Vice Chair of the City Selection Committee, Brandon Pursell
was Mayor of the City of Kingsburg. The Kingsburg City Council selects a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tern from
its members after each election. Mr. Pursell is now Mayor Pro Tern of the City of Kingsburg, and as only
mayors are eligible to serve as Chair or Vice Chair of the City Selection Committee, the Vice Chair position
has been vacated.

Appoint one (1) Eastside Member to the Transportation Authority, to the seat currently held by
Alma Beltran, whose term will expire June 30, 2026; the new term will be effective June 30, 2026,
and will expire June 30, 2028

Note: The City Selection Committee appoints two members representing cities within the county (other than
the cities of Fresno and Clovis) – one westside member appointed by a committee comprised of the mayors
of each of those cities west of State Highway Route 99 and one eastside member appointed by a committee
comprised of the mayors of each of those cities east of State Highway Route 99 (California Public Utilities
Code § 142051 (d))

 

Appoint one (1) member, to the seat previously held by Rey Remi (Reedley), and serve the
remainder of the current term, which will expire May 3, 2027

Note: The City Selection Committee appoints two members representing the cities in the county. At minimum,
one representative must be appointed from a city contiguous or adjacent to a public use airport (California
Public Utilities Code § 21670(b)(1 ))

One of two members appointed by the City Selection Committee recently resigned from the Fresno County
Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC). That representative was from the City of Reedley. The remaining
representative is Alma Beltran from the City of Parlier.
Statute requires that at least one member appointed by the City Selection Committee must be from a city
contiguous or adjacent to a public use airport. As the City of Parlier is not contiguous or adjacent to a public
use airport, the City Selection Committee must appoint a member from a qualifying city. The following are
the eight (8) public use airports in the county:

• Coalinga Municipal Airport
• Firebaugh Airport
• Fresno-Chandler Executive Airport
• Harris Ranch Airport (Coalinga)
• Reedley Municipal Airport
• Selma Airport
• Sierra Sky Park Airport (Fresno)
• William Robert Johnson Municipal Airport (Mendota)

A person who already holds an elected or appointed public office may be appointed and serve as a member
of the commission during their term of public office (PUC 21670(c)), though appointing an elected official is
not required.

The ALUC meets the first Monday of every other month at the Fresno Council of Governments, at 2:00 P.M.
Their next meeting will be held on August 3.

(This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons desiring to address the City Selection Committee on any matter the committee has jurisdiction over which is not on this agenda)

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 Policy Board 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 Policy Board concerning the item before action is taken.

Action: Approve the May 28, 2026, Policy Board meeting minutes.

Summary: Longstanding member, Matthew Gillian has agreed to another two-year term on the SSTAC as a sitting board member.  Mr. Gillian represents the general public who use public transit,

Appointment Resident of / Geographic Representation Term Expires Ethnic Background
Matthew Gillian Fresno / Fresno County 2-28 Caucasian

There are also three vacancies on the SSTAC.  Staff will be actively outreaching to recruit new members.

Action: Staff and the SSTAC request the TTC/PAC recommend to the Policy Board that Matthew Gillian serve another two-year term.

Summary: The Clovis Consolidated Transportation Services Agency’s (CTSA) Operations Program and Budget (OPB) for fiscal year 2026-27 for the Clovis urban area provides an overview of the services offered over the next fiscal year. The proposed adoption is scheduled for Thurs., June 25 at the Fresno COG Policy Board meeting.

Action: Staff and SSTAC requests that the TTC/PAC recommend to the Policy Board to approve of Resolution 2026-21, adopting the Clovis Consolidated Transportation Service Agency’s Operations Program, and Budget for FY 2026-2027.

Summary: The Consolidated Services Agencies’ (CTSA) Operations, Program and Budget (OPB) for fiscal year 2026-2027 provides an overview of how CTSA will be providing service with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (FEOC) as the subcontractor for these services in both the urban and rural areas over the next fiscal year. The proposed adoption is scheduled for Thurs. June 25, at the Fresno COG Policy Board meeting.

Action: Staff and SSTAC requests that TTC/PAC recommend two actions to the Policy Board to adopt the Urban and Rural Consolidated Transportation Agency’s Operations, Program, and Budget.

  • Fresno COG Policy Board approve Resolution 2026-19 for the urban CTSA (Fresno Area Express), and
  • Fresno COG Policy Board approve Resolution 2026-20 for the rural CTSA (Fresno County Rural Transit Agency).

Summary:  The Fresno County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) consists of seven members per Public Utilities Code Section 21670(b). One of the two members representing cities within the county recently resigned from the Commission. A replacement will be named at the June 25 City Selection Committee meeting, which will be held just prior to the Fresno COG Policy Board meeting.

The newly resigned representative and his proxy represented the City of Reedley. The remaining city representative is Alma Beltran, representing the City of Parlier. Statute requires that the member replacement must be appointed by a selection committee comprising the mayors of all the cities within that county. It states that if there are any cities contiguous or adjacent to a qualifying airport (one of eight public use airports within the county), at least one city representative shall be appointed from there. Consequently, since the City of Parlier is not contiguous or adjacent to a public-use airport, the new member’s city must be.

Fresno County’s eight public use airports include the following:

  • Coalinga Municipal Airport
  • Firebaugh Airport
  • Fresno-Chandler Executive Airport
  • Harris Ranch Airport
  • Reedley Municipal Airport
  • Selma Airport
  • Sierra Sky Park Airport
  • William Robert Johnson Municipal Airport (Mendota)

A person who already holds an elected or appointed public office may be appointed and serve as a member of the commission during their term of public office (PUC Section 21670(c)), though appointing an elected official is not required. Each member of the ALUC shall appoint one proxy to represent him or her in commission affairs and to vote on all matters when the member is not in attendance. The proxy must be appointed in writing and kept on file with the ALUC. Proxies serve at the pleasure of the members who appoint them. A vacant proxy position shall be promptly filled (PUC Section 21670(d).

The ALUC meets at 2 p.m. on the first Monday of every other month at Fresno COG. The next meeting will be held on Aug. 3.

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

Summary: Fresno COG has developed five transportation and land use scenarios for the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). Each scenario was modeled and computed for 2035, consistent with California Air Resource Board (CARB) guidelines. Staff presented the scenarios’ modeling results, along with the performance indicators, to the TTC/PAC and Board in March 2026, and they have approved staff’s recommendation of Scenario C to move forward in the SCS process.

Staff were awaiting release of the updated California Statewide Travel Demand Model (CSTDM) in April to update the interregional travel component of the model. Interregional travel includes the intercounty trips that include either one leg in Fresno County or traffic just passing through the county. However, staff and the consultant discovered technical inconsistencies within multiple years of the updated CSTDM, mainly related to the traffic volumes.

The consultant proposed using a different approach to estimate the interregional trips for all future years, including 2035. The base year 2023 will use the earlier version of CSTDM, and then the growth factors, computed from the Department of Finance’s population growth projection, will be applied for the future years.

A significant portion of the interregional travel is excluded from SCS’ greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis. Also, this component is a static input and therefore reflected equally across the scenarios, making no difference in the model’s comparative analysis. Scenario C is still the best performing scenario across most of the performance indicators, with minimum VMT per capita and maximum GHG reduction. The attached file shows the current performance of the scenarios across the 12 indicators.

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

Summary: A round-up of recent State and Federal grant announcements and deadlines.

USDOT has issued several notices of funding opportunities as detailed below, and more are expected in the coming weeks:

National Culvert Removal, Replacement & Restoration Grants fund culvert or weir replacement, removal and repair that meaningfully improves or restores fish passage for anadromous fish. On June 2, FHWA announced up to $800 million in available funds with applications due July 16.

The Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects (INFRA) program offers $626 million under two tracks: Track 1 is for surface transportation projects of national and regional significance (due July 1) while Track 2 is for commercial motor vehicle parking projects of national or regional significance (due July 15).

The Competitive Type 3 Highway Bridge Program has $25 million available to fund the replacing or rehabilitating county-owned bridges that are classified as Type 3 bridges by the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and cross a water conveyance structure owned by USBR. Applications are due July 16.

Caltrans is expected to issue the largest ever call for projects ($370 million) for the Cycle 13 Highway Safety Improvement Program this month, with an anticipated due date of September 2026.  Agencies late on their construction milestones for existing projects must submit authorizations or risk being ineligible to be awarded funds this cycle.

The Fiscal Year 27-28 Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant applications are expected to be issued this spring/summer with an anticipated due date of Fall 2026.

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

Summary: Owing to Federal air quality policy changes and subsequent effects on State and regional air quality modeling for the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, Federal Transportation Improvement Program and the corresponding air quality conformity documents, Fresno COG’s timeline to deliver these documents has been both confused and frustrated at multiple points during the development process.

Additional scheduling conflicts have necessitated a request from staff to adjust by a single day the regular July 2026 Policy Board meeting, from Thurs., July 30 to Wed., July 29 to help properly ensure a public hearing for all three documents and meet Federal and State deadlines for both draft and final delivery.

Action: Staff requests the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board adjust its regular July 2026 meeting date to July 29.

Summary:  Senate Bill 743 requires that the traffic congestion metric level of service (LOS) within the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process be replaced with a metric that would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), develop a multi-modal transportation system and increase land use diversity. The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) recommended vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as the most appropriate metric to measure the transportation impacts for developments, considering it is more aligned with the state’s goals of reducing GHG emissions through infill development, active transportation and other sustainable land use and transportation projects.

Fresno COG, with the help of the consultant LSA, developed SB 743 regional guidelines for Fresno County and implemented them in July 2020. The guidelines include VMT thresholds, VMT screening maps, project screening criteria, VMT analysis methodology for different land-use types, and basic VMT mitigation measures. The regional guidelines were later updated in 2025. This document has been serving as a guide to local governments and consultants for traffic impact studies, along with CEQA-related studies.

To assist COG with VMT analysis and implement the regional guidelines, LSA has been providing on-call support since 2020. LSA is an established environmental firm with expertise in CEQA and SB 743. LSA is also very familiar with the local land-use and VMT assessment in Fresno County. Attached is the scope of work.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director enter into a new, on-call contract with LSA for an amount not to exceed $15,000 through June 30, 2027.

Summary: Managed lanes provide a strategy for managing congestion, reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and improving safety on urban freeway networks. These lanes are widely used throughout California. “Managed lanes” is an umbrella term for freeway lanes that address congestion by controlling the traffic movement on the highway. These lanes may operate as express lanes, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, or bus-only lanes or truck-only lanes. Managed lanes may be useful, and are sometimes the only option that meets Federal air quality standards for expanding road capacity in non-attainment areas like Fresno.

In March 2025, Kimley-Horn was selected to conduct a study evaluating managed lanes as a potential solution to reduce congestion on highways within the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area (FCMA). The consultant team reviewed existing conditions and planned improvements, developed goals and objectives, evaluated managed lanes strategies, prepared an implementation plan, conducted public outreach, and developed a final report.

The final report is attached to this agenda item, and the consultant team will present the study findings.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board accept the final report for the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area Managed Lanes Study as the project deliverable.

Summary:  Fresno COG released a request for proposals (RFP) in March for consultant services to prepare a Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Plan supported by updated Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture.

The project will update the County’s existing 2015 ITS Strategic Deployment Plan and Regional ITS Architecture to reflect current technologies, operational practices, and regional transportation planning priorities. The updated plan will support regional coordination, emergency response, congestion management, and integration with regional transportation planning and programming efforts. It will also help ensure continued compliance with federal ITS architecture requirements under 23 CFR 940 necessary for Federally funded ITS projects.

Three consultant teams submitted proposals. A selection committee comprising representatives from regional partner agencies reviewed and evaluated the proposals based on criteria identified in the RFP. Following the proposal review, the selection committee conducted consultant interviews with the two highest-ranked firms.

Based on the proposal evaluations, interview discussions, project understanding, technical qualifications, and overall project approach, the committee recommends Kimley-Horn as the preferred consultant.

Action:  Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to enter into a contract with Kimley-Horn for the Fresno COG TSMO and ITS Architecture Update Project for an amount not to exceed $484,452.96.

Summary: Fresno COG staff has been developing the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), environmental impact report (EIR), Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) and the corresponding Air Quality Conformity Analysis since last year.

Each document helps promote a continuous, comprehensive, and cooperative transportation planning process that enables rapid and efficient project development to maintain California’s commitment to public health and environmental quality, as well as a planning process that considers all stakeholders’ views. The outline below includes the upcoming public review periods.  

Fresno COG is Federally mandated to prepare the RTP and State-mandated to prepare for the SCS. The RTP is a long-range transportation plan that is based on the unique needs and characteristics of the Fresno region, helps shape the region’s economy, environment and social future, and communicates the regional transportation vision to the State and Federal governments. The SCS outlines the plan for reducing per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by integrating the transportation network and related strategies with an overall land use pattern that accounts for projected growth, housing needs, changing demographics, and forecasted transportation needs among all modes of travel. Under the Sustainable Communities Act, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) sets regional targets for GHG emissions reductions from passenger vehicle use. 

Draft 2026 RTP/SCS 

  • Public review & comment period: 55 days 
  • Start date: June 23, 2026 
  • End date: August 17, 2026 

The EIR is a required environmental review document for the RTP/SCS. The EIR will inform residents of the Fresno region and decision makers on the impacts from implementing the 2026 RTP/SCS. As a program level EIR, the EIR looks at the potential environmental impacts of the plan as a whole and requires that individual projects comply with CEQA and/or NEPA as applicable. Overall, the EIR will enable funding eligibility, regulatory compliance, and streamline future projects, while also maintaining public transparency for the proposed transportation and housing policies. 

Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the 2026 RTP/SCS 

  • Public review & comment period: 45 days 
  • Start date: July 2, 2026 
  • End date: August 17, 2026 

The Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP): Fresno COG is Federally mandated to prepare and maintain this four-year program of projects, which includes a listing of all transportation-related projects requiring Federal funding or other approval by Federal transportation agencies. The FTIP also lists non-Federal, regionally significant projects for information and air quality modeling purposes. 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 reduced transportation-related air pollution to help attain Federal air quality standards for the region. The corresponding Air Quality Conformity Analysis demonstrates through computer modeling that these projects will help improve air quality for specified pollutants or at least, not worsen air quality in the region. 

Draft 2027 FTIP and Draft Conformity Analysis 

  • Public review & comment period: 30 days 
  • Start date: July 17, 2026 
  • End date: August 17, 2026 

 ACTION: Information only.

Summary: On Wed., May 25, 2026, the draft FY2026-27 Fresno COG Unmet Transit Needs (UTN) Report was released for public review and comment on the Fresno COG website and is available on the following web page:

https://www.fresnocog.org/unmet-transit-needs-assessment/

To date, 73 comments have been received, 12 of which are unmet transit needs, 49 that do not meet the definition of an unmet transit need, and 12 comments that are not applicable to the program.  Of the 12 comments received meeting the definition of an unmet transit need, none of them are determined to be ‘reasonable to meet.’

The public hearing for the FY 2026-27 FCOG unmet transit needs process was held Tues., June 2, in-person and online, at Fresno COG’s offices.

Staff convened a special meeting of the Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee (SSTAC) two days later to approve the final report.

The comments received, transit agency response, and the determination of unmet transit needs are included in the final FY 2026-27 FCOG Unmet Transit Needs Report included with this agenda or at the URL listed after the first paragraph above.

Action: Staff and SSTAC requests that TTC and PAC recommend the Fresno COG Policy Board adopt Resolution 2026-21, approving Fresno COG’s FY 2025-2026 Unmet Transit Needs Assessment Report, and to find that there are 12 unmet transit needs, none of which are “reasonable to meet.”

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 Policy Board 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 Policy Board concerning the item before action is taken.

Summary: Fresno COG’s Circuit Planner and Engineer Program provides technical assistance to small cities in Fresno County for efforts that further the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy’s goals. Such assistance may include but is not limited to: planning studies, project deliveries, grant applications, environmental documents, engineering services (conceptual design or preliminary engineering), permitting needs assessment, and quality reviews as needed.

Rincon Consultants Inc. has completed projects in nearly all rural cities. Projects include zoning code reviews and revisions, assistance with the HCD requirements and objective design standards, updates to general plans, identifying gaps to fulfill projects or plans, and documents for board hearings, or for grant applications.

Over its duration, all 13 rural cities have used the program to some extent. Rincon Consultants is now assisting the City of Mendota with its California Transportation Commission (CTC) application for the 2027 Active Transportation Planning (ATP) Small Infrastructure Project program. If awarded, this will fund up to three signal improvements along State Route (SR) 33 for better safety and access and provide improved pedestrian interconnectivity between schools, parks, and community centers.

The CPE program has been successful in providing resources for planning and engineering projects and filling staffing gaps within jurisdictions on regional efforts.

Action: Staff requests the PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize Fresno COG’s executive director to renew the contract with Rincon Consultants for $120,000 for FY 2026/27.

Summary: In 2025, Fresno COG updated pavement condition data and maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) decision trees for member jurisdictions in Fresno County. Following this effort, Fresno COG maintains a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) license to support regional pavement condition analysis and evaluate budget scenarios. To support these ongoing activities, Fresno COG seeks to execute an on-call contract with NCE to provide technical assistance, prepare technical memoranda, and maintain the MPO license.

NCE is the same consultant that supported the recent regional pavement management system updates and coordinated with member jurisdictions to refine M&R decision trees. Based on its familiarity with the regional database and prior experience, NCE is well positioned to provide on-call services. The proposed scope of work is attached to this agenda item.

Action: Staff requests the PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to enter into a contract with NCE for regional pavement management system on-call services in an amount not to exceed $100,000.

Summary: Following a cooperative agreement with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA), Fresno COG entered into a contract with Mark Thomas to design the Golden State Corridor Project. The project is being delivered in three phases. Phase 1, which includes pavement improvements, is approximately 97% complete. Phase 2, which includes intersection gap improvements that do not affect the railroad right-of-way, is approximately 96% complete. Both Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) are reviewing Phase 3, which includes improvements within the railroad right-of-way.

While Phases 1 and 2 have advanced through construction, CPUC has provided additional comments for the Draper Street and Bethel Avenue crossings. Following multiple meetings with the diagnostic team, additional work is required to address CPUC comments. The additional work request letter and cost details are attached to this agenda item.

An amendment Mark Thomas contract, including an additional $32,488, is necessary to allow work to continue into the next fiscal year and to address the required improvements at the crossings. The cost is associated with design, and actual construction cost will be addressed in the expenditure plan when the CPUC and railroad sign off on the design and Phase 3 is passed on to each respective city.

This action also requires an amendment to the cooperative agreement with FCTA to increase the agreement amount by the same value. FCTA is aware of this request and plans to present the item at an upcoming Board meeting.  Consequently, Fresno COG staff requests two actions:

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to execute Amendment No. 10 to the cooperative agreement with FCTA, increasing the agreement amount by $32,488, for a total of $6,891,293.

Action: Staff requests the PAC authorize the executive director to execute Amendment No. 8 to the Mark Thomas contract, increasing the contract amount by $32,488, for a total of $5,559,777 and extending the contract to June 30, 2027.

Summary: Fresno COG’s activity-based model (ABM) is a cutting-edge, travel-demand forecasting model that has been used to develop the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/ Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), conduct air quality conformity analyses, and analyze traffic and vehicle-miles-traveled impacts. The ABM is an essential planning tool for COG and the Fresno County region.

Since 2019, Fresno COG has maintained an on-call contract with RSG, which built the ABM and has been providing technical assistance to COG modeling staff. The RSG team helps COG staff troubleshoot the model, delivers enhancements, fixes any bugs in the scripts/coding, and addresses changes in ABM inputs/outputs as needed. Last year, Fresno COG completed the 2023 base year update, specifically designed for the 2026 RTP/SCS.

Fresno COG used the new model and modeling files for the 2026 RTP/SCS. RSG will be assisting COG staff on the SCS submittal. As mentioned in the attached scope of work, RSG will also provide the model enhancement documented in the FY2026-27. Fresno COG is conducting the second phase of VMT Mitigation Program, which will require RSG’s guidance in testing multiple VMT-reducing projects. RSG will also look into multiple data sources like Replica, Streetlight, and the State’s model to derive the interregional trips for next model update.

COG staff will be testing out high-capacity commuter rail services like light-rail transit (LRT) and regional rail services during the feasibility studies, which will require RSG’s help on analyzing the impacts across various modules. For this, COG has budgeted $100,000 for on-call services for fiscal year 2026-27. Attached is the scope of work for the FY 2026-27 on-call support contract.

Action: Staff requests that the PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to enter into an on-call support contract with RSG for an amount not to exceed $100,000 through June 30, 2027.

Summary: Staff proposes to extend Fresno COG’s contract with Replica Inc. for continued data support of the agency’s activity-based model (ABM), along with data needs for other safety-related projects. The platform subscription agreement on the renewal contract will remain the same as in the original contract. The contract renewal proposal is attached.

Replica is an online, subscription-based, big-data platform and next-generation urban planning tool that can help a region answer key transportation and land-use questions. It is a synthetically generated representation of the activities and movement of residents, visitors, and commercial vehicle fleets in a region for a particular week during a given season. Replica represents movement by combining data from three primary sources: public-use population Census data; proprietary locational data from telecommunications and other IT infrastructure in the region, and; field observation data from public agencies (ground truth).

Replica will be primarily used for continued improvements to the ABM, and will support model calibration/validation. Replica has robust, up-to-date data on daily travel patterns and distances for all modes of transportation including autos, trucks, and transit. Replica also has a safety element that provides speeding and crash-related information that can be used for safety projects like Safe Routes to Schools and regional safety plan update. In addition, Replica has several in-app purchase tools like Safe Streets Planner, road closure scenarios, transit demand & equity, and AADT & TMC explorers that can be helpful for many planning projects that COG and member agencies execute. These features are optional and can be purchased as needed. The Replica contract will be extended for one year, at $55,600 per year. The total budget for this extension is $55,600.

Action: Staff requests that PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to extend the existing contract with Replica through June 30, 2027 for an amount not to exceed $55,600.

Summary: The Fresno County Extreme Heat Analysis and Shade Adaptation Plan is evaluating the impacts of rising temperatures on Fresno County’s transportation system, public health, and vulnerable populations. This study identifies transportation assets at risk, assesses community exposure to extreme heat events, and develops strategies to improve resilience, safety, sustainability, and equity throughout the Fresno region. The plan also identifies opportunities to expand tree canopy and vegetative cover to reduce heat exposure and support future transportation and capital improvement projects.

Fresno COG is requesting approval of a no-cost amendment to extend the Dudek contract for the Extreme Heat Analysis Study through FY 2026/27. The current contract term extends from Feb. 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. An extension is needed to allow sufficient time to complete the final stages of the study, including plan review, public consultation, and incorporation of stakeholder feedback.

Staff anticipates that an additional three months beyond the current contract term will be needed to complete these activities and finalize the study. No additional funding is requested as part of this amendment.

Action: Staff requests the PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director execute an amendment extending the contract with Dudek through June 30, 2027. No additional funding or budget adjustment is requested at this time.

Contract with GHD for On-Call RTMF Services (Les Beshears)  [ACTION]

Summary:  Fresno COG administers the Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee for the Fresno County Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee Agency and remits the proceeds to the Fresno County Transportation Authority to be used for projects in the Regional Transportation Program Capital Projects program.  From time to time, questions come up regarding fee implementation and FCOG keeps an On-Call contract open with GHD to provide technical advice.

Recommendation:  Staff and the PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to execute a contract with GHD for On-Call RTMF services for FY 2026-27 at a cost not to exceed $50,000.

Summary: Staff is seeking a no-cost extension of its contract with LSA Associates, a consultant firm providing detailed modeling and other technical support for Fresno COG’s 2026 RTP/SCS. The RTP/SCS was originally supposed to be completed within the 2025-26 fiscal year ending on June 30, 2026, but delayed to September 2026 to conform with air quality conformity approvals Valleywide. LSA has been supporting Fresno COG during the multiyear development of the 2026 RTP/SCS, and staff seeks to extend its contract with LSA through the 2026-27 fiscal year to complete this work and any additional follow up with State and Federal partners.

Action: Staff requests that the PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to execute an amendment extending the contract with LSA for 2026 RTP/SCS on-call support through June 30, 2027. No additional funding or budget adjustment is requested at this time.

Summary: Fresno COG has worked with Bodewell (formerly Southwest Services) for promotion and outreach services since 2023. Bodewell rebuilt, manages and maintains the Valleyrides.com website, which contains information regarding several Measure C programs Fresno COG administers, including: the Carpool Incentive Program (also known as CarPerks), the Vanpool Subsidy Program for Commuters and Agricultural Workers (also known as VanPerks), and the Senior Scrip Program for seniors over 70 years of age. Bodewell also provides graphic design support for each program, and assists staff with a variety of outreach activities.

Bodewell’s digital and traditional marketing for the Valleyrides.com and Measure C programs, creates public awareness of the available programs. Due to their work, participation has increased among Fresno County residents. A performance report is attached.

The updated contract provides funding for continued website support, maintenance and accessibility updates. It continues outreach on the Measure C programs, and places a strong emphasis on furthering Valleyrides.com’s presence within the community as the “go-to” resource for commuter transportation information.

Action:  Staff requests the PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to execute a contract with Bodewell for Fiscal Year 2026-27 website and promotion services at a cost not to exceed $99,000.

Summary: Staff is seeking a no-cost extension of its contract with LSA Associates, a consultant firm providing the environmental impact report (EIR) for Fresno COG’s 2026 RTP/SCS. The EIR was originally supposed to be completed within the 2025-26 fiscal year ending on June 30, 2026, but delayed to September 2026 to conform with air quality conformity approvals Valleywide. Staff seeks to extend its contract with LSA through the the 2026-27 fiscal year to complete this work and any additional follow up with our State and Federal partners.

Action: Staff requests the PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director execute an amendment extending the contract with LSA for the 2026 RTP/SCS EIR through June 30, 2027. No additional funding or budget adjustment is requested at this time.

Summary: Staff is seeking a no-cost extension of its contract with Best, Best & Krieger (BBK), a law firm providing legal services support for Fresno COG’s 2026 RTP/SCS. The RTP/SCS was originally supposed to be completed within the 2025-26 fiscal year ending on June 30, 2026, but now delayed to September 2026 to conform with air quality conformity approvals Valleywide. Staff seeks to extend its contract with BBK through the the 2026-27 fiscal year to complete this work and any additional follow up with our State and Federal partners.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the Executive Director to execute an amendment extending the contract with BBK for 2026 RTP/SCS legal services through June 30, 2027. No additional funding or budget adjustment is requested at this time.

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

« »
Secret Link