Fresno COG Policy Board

09282026 City Selection Committee (002)

09282026 Joint Minutes

Approve Minutes of Meeting for June 25, 2026, and Minutes of Joint Meeting with Fresno Council of Governments for July 29, 2026

AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION

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))

On June 25, 2026 the City Selection Committee appointed Sean Bautista (Reedley) to the Fresno County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) to the position previously held by Rey Remi. However, Mr. Bautista was unable to assume his appointment, and the ALUC is seeking a new appointment to the position.

Mr. Remi of the City of Reedley resigned from the ALUC as one of two members appointed by the City Selection Committee. 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 holds an elected or appointed public office may serve as a member of the ALUC 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 is scheduled for October 5, 2026.

RTMF April 30, 2026 Minutes

Action: Approve minutes of meeting for April 30, 2026.

Summary: Staff proposes the Board consider amending Resolution 2009-01 to extend the Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee (RTMF) program to Dec. 31, 2027, coinciding with the current term of the RTMF joint powers authority (JPA), direct staff to begin soliciting the cities and County to amend the JPA, and authorize an RFP for a consultant firm to begin updating the required nexus study.

The proposed actions are for discussion purposes to allow the Board to fully comprehend this complex interaction between the Transportation Authority and the RTMF Board. Staff will duplicate this presentation to the Transportation Authority and share the RTMF Board comments. Staff will then bring the direction provided by the Transportation Authority back to the RTMF Board for action.

Background: California Government Code Section 66000 et.seq., the Mitigation Fee Act, allows governmental agencies to impose a development fee on housing and commercial development to mitigate future development costs based on a nexus study.  The nexus must identify the anticipated cost of candidate projects, designate funding sources available, and prorate a percentage of the project cost between existing need and future need, based on an assessment of a general plan’s build-out. The fee can only pay to mitigate the cost of future development. Any existing need must be funded with other revenues.

In 2007, Measure C extended the 1986 sales tax measure, mandating each agency in Fresno County to enact an RTMF fee and remit the proceeds to the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) to supplement the Regional Transportation Program. The fee’s inclusion was intended to make up for reductions in the Regional program from 75% of the total sales tax collected per the 1986 Measure to 30%. The ballot measure contained enforcement provisions to ensure all agencies participated. The ballot also directed Fresno COG to hire a consultant to prepare the nexus and guide program implementation.

Fresno COG hired an engineering firm and convened a committee of public officials and administrators to develop the Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee (RTMF) program. The process collectively resulted in a recommendation to form a joint powers authority to implement one uniform fee structure rather than have 16 separate fees enacted by the individual agencies. This resulted in the Fresno County RTMF Agency. The board of directors comprises city and County elected representatives to the Fresno COG Board and has identical quorum and voting requirements. The JPA’s term is effective through Dec. 31, 2027. Extension of that term requires an amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement requiring action by each individual city council and the County’s Board of Supervisors.

Implementation:  The FCRTMFA approved Resolution 2009-01, effective Jan. 1, 2010, adopting the nexus and implementing the fee program. The adopting resolution provided the fee’s term to coincide with the Measure C extension, which expires June 30, 2027.  Subsequently the nexus has been updated and revised per State law in five-year intervals, including 2015 and 2020. To identify future development, the 2020 nexus was required to look beyond the potential sunset date of the Measure and provides justification to continue the program beyond June 30, 2027 as a stand-alone fee apart from the Measure.

The nexus initially evaluated the Measure C Regional Program Tiers 1 and 2 lists and a list of freeway deficiency projects that appeared on the 2006 ballot. However, rapid project cost-inflation occurring between the November 2006 election and the final NEXUS required the eligible candidate list to be pared down to State highway projects on the Tier 1 list to keep the fee at a reasonable level. This satisfied Caltrans, which, prior to the ballot, had imposed a state fee during the CEQA process on city and County developments to mitigate the State highway system.

RTMF programs around the state generally require some sort of debt financing mechanism because future development often takes years to happen. Nevertheless, transportation projects often must be built in advance to help facilitate development, meaning costs are incurred far in advance of the fee collection.

Rather than hire an underwriting team to sell bonds and incur millions in interest expense, Fresno COG and FCTA staff worked with County Counsel and the County Auditor-Controller to develop an internal loan program wherein Measure C loaned the RTMF Fund cash to build the projects. As the mitigation fees come in, they are used to pay back the Measure. This way, interest and principal can be rolled back into the program, adding millions to the project list over time.

Fee collection

The city or county advises the developer of the fee at issuance of a building permit and provides a record-of-payment form. The fee must be paid prior to final inspection. The fee is paid at the Fresno COG office.  Fresno COG staff deducts a handling fee and remits to the Auditor Controller which deposits it in the Authority’s RTMF fund.

How the loan works

A major project is typically be funded through a variety of sources, including Measure, STIP, RTMF or others. The nexus determines the amount of RTMF the project is eligible to receive; however, the project is scheduled for construction based on a combination of its priority and funding source availability. When the project is listed for construction, typically the RTMF fund does not have a significant cash balance. However, the RTMF expense must be recognized to continue collecting the fee.  As construction costs are incurred, the Auditor Controller recognizes RTMF expenses and transfers Measure cash to the RTMF fund to cover the expenses. This represents the loan and it is completely internal to the Transportation Authority. There is no loan between the RTMF agency or Fresno COG.  The authority is loaning money to itself in order to recognize the RTMF expense necessary to justify collecting the fee.

The Auditor Controller prepares an annual statement of RTMF that Fresno COG collected and remitted, recognizing the debt service and interest on the loan and transfers a commensurate amount of  RTMF cash back to the Measure account from which the loan originated.

It was anticipated the loans may not be completely paid off by the Measure’s sunset, in which case the loan balance would simply be written off and recognized as an expense of the Measure rather than RTMF. The journal entry is entirely cash-flow neutral and nets out completely. There is no gain or loss associated with the transfer. However, there is an option to extend the RTMF program beyond the Measure and roll the debt service back into a capital projects fund. The estimated status of the Loan program at the sunset of Measure C follows.

RTMF Expended

($ in Thousands)

Urban Program                                                

Veterans Boulevard                                          $59,342

SR 180 West                                                      $2,728

SR 99 North Cedar Interchange                       $31,800

SR 168, 41, 180 Braided Ramps                        $8,764

Total Urban                                                     $102,634

Balance of Loan                                               $70,506                               $70,506

Rural Program

SR 180 East                                                     $71,581

Balance of Loan                                               $35,680                                $35,680

$106,186

Staff estimates that $80 million in RTMF will be collected during the measure, of which $12 million is returned to the program as interest on the loan and $68 million is applied to the projects. The $106,186 unpaid loan balance represents a potential future source of cash flow to the capital projects program if the RTMF is extended beyond the measure.

RTMF beyond June 30, 2027

The proposed Measure S on the November 2026 ballot carries similar provisions regarding the RTMF that appeared in the 2007 Measure C ballot, mandating the fee’s adoption and providing enforcement provisions to ensure all agencies participate. Measure S provides that the JPA shall be extended by June 30, 2028; however, by then both the fee and the RTMF JPA will have expired unless action is taken to extend the program beyond the current expiration dates.  It is noted that Measure S is a voter initiative and not a technical continuation of the 2007 Measure, which was formulated pursuant to Section 142000 et. seq. of the California Government Code.  Consequently, the June 30, 2027 sunset date on Measure C provides a hard termination date for RTMF fee collection, unless Resolution 2009-01 is extended and the JPA is amended to extend the agency’s lifespan beyond December 2027.

As mentioned above, the fee program’s term expires on June 30, 2027; however the JPA’s term extends through Dec. 31, 2027.  Staff proposes Resolution 2009-01 be amended to extend the fee program to Dec. 31, 2027 to coincide with the current term of the JPA and direct to  staff to start the process of going to the cities and County to amend the JPA.  Once the JPA is amended, the fee program can be extended commensurately. The term will be determined in large part by the success/failure of the proposed ballot initiative. If the initiative passes, it would make sense to set the term to coincide with the new program. If the initiative fails, the program by default becomes a stand-alone program and it makes sense to remove the term and make the RTMF Agency a going concern. Since the loan program was created and is internal to the Transportation Authority, it is appropriate that it makes the initial decision to request the RTMF Agency to extend collections beyond the sunset date of Measure C to continue the debt service.

2028 Nexus Update

State law requires the nexus study to be updated by Jan. 1, 2028. To meet this schedule, staff will bring forward a consultant proposal to start the process early in 2027.  The Board will need to determine whether to add projects to the list or simply update the existing project list and continue the debt service.

Staff recommends the nexus be updated using only the existing project list to continue the debt service so that the $106.6 million in debt service will provide cash to add projects to the Regional Program beyond the Measure. Secondarily, while the current proposed ballot measure mandates continuation of the RTMF, the details of that continuation will have be adopted as part of a Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) for Measure S. The proposed ballot also sets aside 4% to be used in a Regional Program that will also have to be further detailed in the SIP.

The Board will have to work all this out when and if the proposed ballot passes, and there is potential for project selection to be controversial.  New projects added to the RTMF list will increase the fee, so there will be a trade-off between how much the fee is increased and how much it is deemed reasonable to add to the cost of family residences and commercial construction.

This could take time to sort out. By simply updating the NEXUS with the existing projects, the Board buys time to deal with these issues while keeping the program in place. The NEXUS must be updated every eight years at a minimum; however it can be updated at any time in between.

Schedule of Events

 Proposed Actions to Consider

1. Direct staff to approach the Transportation Authority to request the RTMF Agency amend Resolution 2009-01 to extend the term of the RTMF program to December 31, 2027 coinciding with the existing term of the RTMF JPA.
2. Recommend the Board direct staff to begin, as soon as practicable, the process of approaching the cities and county to amend the JPA to extend the term of the agency beyond 12/31/27.
3. Recommend the Board direct staff to start the process of hiring a consultant to perform the 2028 NEXUS update considering only the existing project list with the provision that additional projects can be added during a future nexus update scheduled at the discretion of the board.

The proposed actions are for discussion purposes to allow the Board to fully comprehend this complex interaction between the Transportation Authority and the RTMF Board. Staff will duplicate this presentation to the Transportation Authority and share the RTMF Board comments. Staff will then bring the direction provided by the Transportation Authority back to the RTMF Board for action.

Action: Information and discussion. The Board may provide additional information at its discretion.  This item will return for additional consideration in October.

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.

July 29, 2026 Board Minutes

Action: Approve the July 29, 2026, Policy Board meeting minutes.

4th qtr report 25-26

Action: Accept the Fourth Quarter FY 25-26 Work Element and Financial Report

City of Clovis FY 2026-27 TDA Claim

2026-28 City of Clovis FY 2026-27 TDA Claim Resolution

Action: Staff and TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Resolution 2026-28 adopting the City of Clovis’ 2026-27 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $17,768,150.

City of Huron FY 2026-27 TDA Claim

2026-30 City of Huron FY 2026-27 TDA Claim Resolution

Action: Staff and TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Resolution 2026-30 adopting the City of Huron’s 2026-27 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $458,077.

City of Mendota FY 2026-27 TDA Claim

2026-31 City of Mendota FY 2026-27 TDA Claim Resolution

Action: Staff  and TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Resolution 2026-31 adopting the City of Mendota’s 2026-27 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $851,078.

City of Firebaugh FY 2026-27 TDA Claim

2026-32 City of Firebaugh FY 2026-27 TDA Claim Resolutions

Action: Staff and TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Resolution 2026-32 adopting the City of Mendota’s 2026-27 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $589,222.

24-25 5310 Recommended Funding

Summary: Fresno COG is the designated recipient of FTA Section 5310 program funds for Fresno County, which provides capital and operating assistance grants for projects that meet the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The funds may be used for projects where public mass transportation services are otherwise unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate; that exceed the requirements of the ADA; that improve access to fixed-route service; and that provide alternatives to public transportation.

In fall 2025, Fresno COG issued a formal call-for-projects totaling $1,741,617 in Fresno County Large Urban Area FTA Section 5310 funding. Staff received six applications requesting a total of $3,188,081 to support vehicle purchases and operating expenses. Of the six applications received, three were recommended for full funding and two were recommended for partial funding, as approved by the Policy Board in February 2026.

Staff has prepared FTA Section 5310 contract agreements with the subgrantees to formalize the approved funding awards. The agreements establish the terms and conditions for the use of Section 5310 funds, including eligible project activities, reimbursement requirements, reporting requirements, and compliance with applicable federal and state requirements.

The proposed contracts will provide a total of $1,741,617 in Section 5310 funding to the following projects: FAX Paratransit Cutaway Replacement Project ($783,727), FAX Travel Training Project ($174,000), Clovis Transit Vehicle Purchase Project ($544,000), WestCare California FTA Section 5310 Program for Elderly & Disabled Specialized Transit ($135,395), and UCP+ Central California Vehicle Expansion Project ($104,495).

Action: Fresno COG staff and TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the FTA Section 5310 contract agreements with the subgrantees and authorize the executive director to execute the agreements.

Summary: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) created the transportation network company (TNC) Access for All (AFA) Program following Senate Bill (SB) 1376 (Hill: 2018), which directed CPUC to address TNC accessibility services for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users who need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV). A $.10 fee collected from every TNC trip is redistributed to each MPO region to develop programs that incentivize on-demand transportation services for people with disabilities, including wheelchair accessible vehicles/rides.

In June 2021, Fresno COG became a local access fund administrator for the Fresno County AFA program. For this current funding cycle, Fresno COG has received $274,879 to allocate to projects supporting Access Providers. Of that, $263,884 was allocated during this current funding cycle. Access Providers are entities that directly provide, or contract with a separate organization or entity to provide on-demand WAV transportation to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

Fresno COG released a request for proposals early this summer and received two applications from Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) and Clovis Transit. After reviewing both applications, the scoring committee recommends splitting Access for All funds between FCRTA and Clovis Transit. FCRTA will receive $90,351.98 and Clovis Transit will receive $173,532.02.

FCRTA will use funding to purchase one wheelchair-accessible vehicle. The additional vehicle will allow for FCRTA to expand Rural Transit Dial-a-Ride services to serve the general public disabled population and provide transportation beyond approved lifeline services in unincorporated communities.

Clovis Transit will use funding to purchase one wheelchair-accessible vehicle with associated operational technology to expand and modernize its paratransit service. This project will strengthen Clovis Transit’s accessible transportation network through the purchase of a new wheelchair-accessible Promaster vehicle while modernizing onboard technology that supports daily operations.

Action: Staff, the Access for All scoring committee and TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve awarding FCRTA $90,351.98, and Clovis Transit $173,532.02 from the current cycle of “Access for All” funding, and authorize the executive director to execute the agreements.

SURPLUS 2026-27

Summary: The Transportation Act (TDA) Trust received sales tax deposits of $60,252,402 during 2025-26, exceeding the original estimate of $59,000,000. Combined with interest, this resulted in a surplus of $2,966,688. The State Transit Assistance (STA) fund received $11,653,714 during the year and was distributed to transit operators. The State of Good Repair (SGR) fund received $2,124,528 and was distributed to transit operators.

The 2025-26 TDA surplus will be distributed to claimants based on their 2025-26 adopted TDA claims and conditional on completion of the required 2024-25 TDA audit.

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

2026-33 OWP FY 26-27 Amendment No 1 Resolution

Summary: The 2026-27 Overall Work Program Amendment No. 1 reconciles grant balances from projects carried over from 2025-26 and recognizes other sundry adjustments.  The amendment increases the budget $10,417,494 to $28,317,002.

WE 111– Regional Transportation Modeling – There is no increase in the total cost or scope of this work element; carryover PL and FTA 5303 amounts are changed to align with the reconciled balances from FY 2025-26.

 WE 149 SB743 Impact Update SB1-F – The work element replaces local funds with available State Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Act (RMRA) 2024-25 carryover.  The total cost does not change

WE 155 FCRR Feasibility Study SB1-C – The work element increases $42,023 to adjust the carryover of the contract with DB E.C.O. to reflect activity in 2025-26 and reconcile State RMRA Competitive 2024-25 carryover balances.

WE 164 Airport Access Survey SB1-F – The work element increases $13,744 to reflect activity in 2025-26 and reconcile State RMRA 2025-26 carryover balances.

WE 170 Regional Transportation Plan – Various net adjustments were made to reconcile carryover grant balances from the prior year; however, the scope and total cost of this work element remain unchanged.

WE 173 Regional VMT Mitigation Program Implementation Plan SB1-F – The work element increases $7,394 to reflect activity in 2025-26 and reconcile State RMRA 2024-25 carryover balances.

WE 175 TradePort California – RIA – The work element increases $288,638 to reflect activity in 2025-26 and reconcile Regional Infrastructures Accelerator (RIA) carryover balances.

WE 179 Complete Streets Planning – The work element increases $1,316 to adjust the 2025-26 carryover balance.

WE 180 Air Quality Transportation Planning – This work element increases $9,363 in local funds for additional Valleywide air quality conformity work by Trinity Consultants, the air quality liaison contracted with San Joaquin Council of Governments.

WE 181 Climate Action Plan – The work element increases $20,491 to reflect activity in 2025-26 and reconciles the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant’s (CPRG) carryover balances.

WE 182 Fresno County Extreme Heat Analysis SHA-CAPG –  The work element increases $16,182 to adjust carryover of the contract with Dudek to reflect activity in 2025-26 and reconcile SHA-CAPG 2025-26 carryover balances.

WE 422 Regional Early Action Planning Grants of 2021 (REAP 2.0) – The work element increases $10,018,343 to reflect activity in 2025-26 and reconcile REAP 2.0 funds.

Action: Staff and the TTC/PAC recommend the Board adopt Resolution 2026-33 approving 2026-27 Overall Work Program Amendment No. 1.

Summary:  Gov. Newsom signed Senate Bill 922 (Laird), Chapter 148, Statutes of 2026, on Aug. 27, 2026. The legislation clarifies local agency authority to recover street maintenance and repair costs associated with the use of local roads to provide public services, including solid-waste collection. SB 922 does not require local agencies to impose a fee or establish a specific methodology for calculating such costs. Local agencies remain subject to applicable legal requirements for fees and charges.  The legislation expressly rejects the interpretation in Rogers v. City of Redlands (2025), which had created uncertainty regarding the ability to include roadway repair costs attributable to heavy solid-waste vehicles in solid-waste rates.

Fresno COG staff would like to determine how member agencies are currently addressing these costs and whether there is interest in a regional approach to a roadway-impact and cost-recovery study. Staff plans to distribute a short survey to member agencies to determine:

• Whether the agency currently recovers roadway maintenance or repair costs through solid-waste rates, franchise fees, or other charges;
• If so, what study or methodology was used to establish and support the cost recovery;
• Whether the agency has considered such cost recovery but has not implemented it;
• Whether the agency would consider pursuing cost recovery following SB 922; and
• Whether the agency would support FCOG developing a regional study or methodology that could be used by individual agencies.

The survey results would help Fresno COG identify existing local practices, avoid duplicating work already completed by member agencies, and determine whether there is sufficient regional interest to pursue a coordinated study.  After completion, staff will return to the committees with a summary of the results and recommendations for any potential regional follow-up.

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

Summary: Fresno COG is both federally and State-mandated to prepare and maintain the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), the accompanying environmental impact report (EIR), Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP), and the corresponding Air Quality Conformity Analysis.

The RTP/SCS is a 23-year blueprint for the Fresno County region’s transportation network that addresses all proposed modes and projects that may require Federal funding over a long-term period.

The FTIP is a shorter-term, four-year program of projects that 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 RTP and are part of the area’s overall strategy for providing mobility, congestion relief, and reduction of transportation-related air pollution to attain federal air quality standards set for the region.

Fresno COG is federally required to update the FTIP every two years.  The most recent update was the 2025 FTIP, which was adopted by the Fresno COG Policy Board on July 25, 2024.  Fresno COG is due to update the FTIP again and is proposing approval of the final draft 2027 FTIP, alongside the Final 2026 RTP/SCS), EIR, and the corresponding final draft Air Quality Conformity Analysis.  A resolution is enclosed and the most recent FTIP documents are available for review on the Fresno COG website at:  https://www.fresnocog.org/project/federal-transportation-improvement-program-ftip/

The Final 2026 RTP/SCS and EIR are available for review on the Fresno COG website at: https://www.fresnocog.org/project/regional-transportation-plan/ 

Fresno COG staff held a 30-day public review and comment period for the Draft 2027 FTIP and corresponding draft Air Quality Conformity Analysis; a 45-day public review period for the draft environmental impact report (EIR), and a 55-day public review comment period for the draft 2026 RTP/SCS. All review periods for each of the draft documents closed concurrently on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.  Staff also held a public hearing to receive in-person comments on the draft 2027 FTIP, draft 2026 RTP/SCS, and accompanying documents on July 29, 2026, at  Fresno COG’s office.

Additionally, on Aug. 5, 2026, Fresno COG hosted a virtual public workshop to receive comments from those who could not attend the first hearing.  Verbal comments from the public hearing and other comments received during the 30-day public review period are summarized and responded to in Appendix J (Formal Comments and Responses) of the final draft 2027 FTIP.  Any changes made to the Draft 2027 FTIP based on comments received are noted within the responses to such comments. Comments received on the Draft Conformity Analysis and the 2026 RTP/SCS and EIR have also been addressed and are included in each of the final draft submittals.

The final 2027 FTIP, final 2026 RTP/SCS, EIR, and corresponding Air Quality Conformity Analysis meet all applicable transportation planning requirements per 23 CFR Part 450, 40 CFR Part 93, and conform to the applicable State Implementation Plans.

Fresno COG staff have been in regular communication with our State and Federal partners, including: Caltrans, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about pending Federal action regarding the San Joaquin Valley air quality budget. To avoid any potential issues regarding compliance with an upcoming Federal action by the EPA, which is scheduled to occur Oct. 14, 2026, staff will request the Policy Board’s adoption by resolution of these final documents at the Board’s next meeting which is scheduled for Oct. 29, 2026.

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

Scoring Committee Recommendations

Summary: Fresno COG staff released the Measure C 2026 application for New Technology funding on May 8, 2026. The Measure C New Technology Program includes $9.5 million available for the fiscal year 26/27 award cycle. Fresno COG releases an application for New Technology projects/proposals on a biennial basis.

The New Technology Reserve subprogram sets aside Measure “C” funding to finance new transit technologies that may be developed in the future. To further its Measure C New Technology Program goals, Fresno COG is focusing on technological advances in public systems, safety features, fuel efficiencies and alternatives, intelligent transportation system (ITS) applications, and information dissemination. These are priority focus areas that help promote passenger safety and satisfaction, attract customers, improve capital and operating efficiencies, reduce environmental pollution, and ease dependence on fossil fuels.  

This cycle, Fresno COG received eight applications requesting approximately $12.6 million against an available $9.5 million, per the accruals through June 30.  The scoring committee comprised a representative from each: the County of Fresno, City of Fresno, City of Clovis, east side city, west side city, Measure C Citizen Oversight Committee, transit agency, Fresno COG, and Fresno County Transportation Authority. On Aug. 18, the scoring committee met to interview the applicants and discuss the applications. The scoring committee emphasized projects that provided continuity in the New Technology reserve program and elevated technological advances.

The scoring committee unanimously recommended six of the eight applications, with two of the six for partial funding.  They are:

Clovis Transit Dispatch Optimization Project (City of Clovis): Clovis Transit will implement artificial intelligence in addition to existing dispatch to manage real-time service coordination, after-hour calls, and other operational challenges. The cloud-based deployment can be replicated by other transit providers. Performance data will document AI handling, time savings, and no-show outcomes for future regional decisions. 

New Tech Recommended Funds: $466,142 

Aviation Fuel Farm Replacement Project (City of Reedley): The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently accepted unleaded fuel for use in planes, an important step in cleaning the Valley’s air. The City of Reedley is building on its clean aviation all-electric plane program in 2016, and this project installs three 12,000-gallon aboveground fuel tanks by July 2028, leading into a fully operational, unleaded, aviation-fuel facility.  

New Tech Recommended Funds: $1,496,476 

Firebaugh Off-Grid EV Charging Hub (Fresno County Rural Transit Agency): The project includes a 50 kW solar carport, 407 kWh battery system, and a 150 kW DC fast charger to enable off-grid fast charging for Fresno County Rural Transit Agency’s EV fleet. The off-grid solar-powered EV charging hub includes transitioning to a 100% electric fleet and using resilient, grid-independent charging technology. 

New Tech Recommended Funds: $1,361,006 

Next Generation ITS Adaptive System Development & Deployment for City Traffic Signals at Freeway Crossings (City of Fresno): This project includes a new software module and construction at two pilot locations (Friant Road/SR41 and Shaw Avenue/SR168). It will expand the City’s Cubic ITS Inc. SynchroGreen Adaptive System by developing a new adaptive module that integrates City’s and Caltrans’ Traffic Management Center-to-Center (C2C) data (Traffic Management Data Directory) and ITERIS Connected Vehicles (V2X) Detection Systems to optimize the City’s adaptively synchronized corridors with Caltrans’ signalized intersections.  

New Tech Recommended Funds: $4,000,000  

Requested: $5,000,000 

School Route ITS Safety Enhancement Project (City of Firebaugh): The agency will deploy Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) safety technologies at approximately six Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) locations and six  radar feedback sign locations throughout the community. Improvements may include up to 16 RRFB installations and 12 radar feedback signs, with final quantities and locations refined during project design. The project will improve pedestrian safety, increase driver awareness, and support safer routes to school. 

New Tech Recommended Funds: $598,136 

2027–2029: Sustaining and Expanding Fresno County’s Advanced Transportation Think Tank and Innovation Hub (Fresno State/Fresno County Transportation Authority): The Fresno State Transportation Institute (FSTI) provides a countywide advanced transit and multimodal transportation program covering research, workforce development, technical assistance, technology demonstration, and public outreach. This continues and expands the eight-year-old Institute (est. 2018) across its four established mission areas: Professional Development & Education, Research & Innovation, Technical & Community Service, K-12 & Public Outreach. It continues the focus on advanced transit and multimodal transportation, new advanced-technology research capacity, and expanded community-input tools.  

New Tech Recommended Funds: $1,578,240 

Requested: $2,433,536 

For more information please click here: Measure C New Technology Reserve Fund – Fresno Council of Governments 

Action: Staff and TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the New Technology scoring committee recommendations for funding and forward to the Fresno County Transportation Authority to enter into contracts with the applicants in the amounts recommended.

FresnoCoG_Extreme Heat Final

Summary: Fresno COG has been working with planning consultant Dudek to develop the Fresno County Extreme Heat Analysis and Shade Adaptation Plan. The Plan identifies transportation corridors and areas throughout Fresno County that are vulnerable to extreme heat and provides strategies to increase shade and vegetative cover to improve comfort, safety, and resiliency for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users.

The Plan includes an analysis of heat vulnerability, an evaluation of potential shade projects, planning-level cost estimates, and recommendations for implementing shade and heat adaptation strategies. Five priority template projects have been identified for further consideration across Fresno County.

Dudek will provide an overview of the Fresno County Extreme Heat Analysis and Shade Adaptation Plan, including key findings, recommended strategies, and the five priority template projects. Staff will also provide an update on the next steps toward completion and public review of the Plan and accompanying Shade Adaptation Guidebook.

Action: Staff and TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board accept the Fresno County Extreme Heat and Shade Adaptation Plan.

Summary: Staff is seeking an amendment of its $66,737 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 was delayed to September 2026 to conform with air quality conformity approvals Valleywide. Staff seeks to add $56,000 to the original $66,737 contract with BBK through the the 2026-27 fiscal year to complete this work and any additional follow-up with State and Federal partners.

Action: Staff and TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to execute a contract amendment adding $56,000 to the contract with BBK for 2026 RTP/SCS legal services through June 30, 2027 for a not-to-exceed total of $122,737.

Summary:   Fresno COG staff are seeking the committee’s input on the future of the agency’s One Voice D.C. advocacy effort. For the last 21+ years, One Voice annually brought together multiple local agencies, jurisdictions and transportation stakeholders to rally around an approved list of policy issues and/or funding requests. One Voice D.C.’s public-private delegation visits Congressional and Federal agency representatives in Washington, D.C. to pursue funding, grant opportunities and policy changes. The 2026 trip focused on an approved list of submitted projects seeking funding, and on advocating for continued Federal partnership and investment along a range of funding programs.

With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) expiring in September 2026, late 2026 outcomes could include:

• A new 5‑year bill (BUILD America 250 Act) if Congress reaches agreement.  The main bill currently being developed is the BUILD America 250 Act (BA250) that would provide about $580 billion in transportation funding for 5 years (FY2027–2031)
• A short-term extension of the IIJA
• A funding drop-off if no action is taken

Each option ensures the need for considerable Federal advocacy.

Additional items regarding which staff seek direction relating to a 2027 One Voice effort:

Earmark requests:  Most congressional offices receive earmark requests. As previously mentioned, In 2026 the key time to advocate for earmark requests is mid-February through early March.

Future priority focus:  Historically, local partnering agencies, including the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission, Workforce Development Board, The Fresno Chamber of Commerce, and Westlands Water District, have also expressed an interest in participating in the One Voice effort. However, in 2016 the Policy Board directed staff to narrow all One Voice priorities to items with a transportation nexus. Prior to that time, the Fresno COG One Voice delegation intentionally formed a platform representing a variety of regional interests, with participation from wide list public and private partners. The Policy Advisory Committee recommended that the focus be widened again to allow for non-transportation, regional priorities that serve Fresno County as a whole, along with transportation items. This encourages participation from our member agencies whose priorities would benefit from regional support, and could form a larger, more diverse delegation.

Limitation on the number of priorities:  Priority numbers have ranged from 14 (2016) to seven (2017).

Trip Date: Based upon the 2026 earmark timeline, the key time to advocate for earmark requests is mid-February through early March. Several conferences and events are typically scheduled during this time, as well as Congress’ spring recess. This affects the availability of COG’s advocacy consultant, Policy Board members and D.C. hotel room numbers and rates. All must be considered and a date selected by fall 2026.

Delegation numbers have ranged from 37 (2011) to 11 (2026) over the years.

The 2026 One Voice D.C. trip materials are available for review here:  Fresno COG’s One Voice Webpage.

Action: Information Item. Staff seeks insight and recommendations from the Policy Board.