Fresno COG Policy Board

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 Committee concerning the item before action is taken.

April 30, 2026 Board Minutes

Action: Approve the April 30, 2026 Policy Board meeting minutes.

City of Huron TDA Claim 2025-26

2026-14 City of Huron FY 2025-26 TDA Claim Resolution

Action: Staff and the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Resolution 2026-14 adopting the City of Huron’s 2025-26 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $461,012.

LTF Final FY 26-27

2026-15 LTF Final Estimate 2026-27

Summary: Fresno COG provided preliminary Local Transportation Fund (LTF) estimates in February to inform member agencies’ budget processes for the upcoming year. The final estimates have been adjusted for the Department of Finance 2026 population numbers and are presented for adoption. The County of Fresno Auditor/Controller estimates 2026-27 LTF at $60 million, which is a slight increase over last year’s estimate.

Action:  Staff and the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board adopt Resolution 2026-15 approving the 2026-27 Local Transportation Fund Estimate. 

STA Final FY 26-27

2026-16 STA Final Estimate 2026-27

Summary: Fresno COG provided preliminary State Transit Assistance estimates in February to inform member agencies’ budget processes for the upcoming year. The final estimates have been adjusted for the Department of Finance 2026 population numbers and are presented for adoption.  The State Controller’s Office estimates for the 2026-27 apportionment is $11,104,717, a 9 percent ($1,096,794) decrease from last year.

Action:  Staff and the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board adopt Resolution 2026-16 approving the 2026-27 State Transit Assistance Fund Estimate.

SGR Final FY 26-27

2026-17 SGR State of Good Repair Final Estimate 2026-27

Summary: Fresno COG provided preliminary Senate Bill 1 State of Good Repair (SGR) estimates in February to inform member agencies’ budget processes for the upcoming year. The final estimates have been adjusted for the Department of Finance 2026 population numbers and are presented for adoption.  The State Controller’s Office estimate for the 2026-27 apportionment is $2,176,125, which is a $60,028 (3 percent) increase from last year.

Action: Staff and the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board adopt resolution 2026-17 approving the 2026-27 State of Good Repair Fund Estimate.

3rd quarter report FY 25-26

Action: Staff and the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the FY 2025-26 third quarter report.

FY-25-26-OA-Progress-Report--OCT-APRIL-2026

Obligation Authority Progress Report

Summary: On March 4, Fresno COG submitted its federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025/26 obligation plan to Caltrans’ Division of Local Assistance, which documents the estimated project delivery for the remainder of the year. The obligational authority (OA) target for federal fiscal year 2025/26 was set at $39,649,024.

As of April 30, the region has obligated $12,215,870 in combined Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) improvement funds. This equates to about 31% of the OA target. Attached is the list of obligated and de-obligated projects from October 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026.

The federal fiscal year began anew on October 1, 2025. It is the State of California’s goal to exceed the OA target and, in August, receive additional federal funds redistributed from other states to projects pending authorization. Fresno COG continues to encourage all agencies to continue submitting their requests for authorization. If projects do not receive authorization approval in August, they will be delayed to October 2026, the beginning of the new federal fiscal year 2026/27.

Please keep Fresno COG staff updated on any changes that could impact the region’s project delivery plan. Contact Blake Rincon at 559-233-4148 ext. 203 or brincon@fresnocog.org or Erin Haagenson at 559-233-4148 ext. 205 or ehaagenson@fresnocog.org with any questions regarding fiscal year deadlines or the process of obligating project funds.

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

Summary: California’s Transportation Development Act (TDA) requires the Policy Board to hold a public hearing to take comments regarding unmet public transportation needs that are reasonable to meet within the Fresno County region during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The public hearing is the last step in this process.

Fresno Council of Governments staff will hold a public hearing with a hearing officer for the annual Unmet Transit Needs Process beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Tues., June 2 in its Sequoia Room, 2035 Tulare St., Suite 201 Fresno, CA. or via Zoom.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88229208459

Staff will return to the Board on June 25 with the final Unmet Transit Needs report, following anticipated approval from the Social Services Technical Advisory Committee (SSTAC), TTC and PAC. To date, staff has received 73 comments pertaining to transit service, 12 of which satisfy the definition of an unmet transit needs that is not reasonable to meet.

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

New Technology 2026-27 Application

MAG Member Application 2026

Summary: Fresno COG is seeking proposals from eligible public agencies for advanced transit and transportation projects that have the potential for broad benefits to Fresno County residents and will assist the region in meeting its air quality goals. Fresno COG and the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) are proposing to fund projects of regional significance in the areas of research, development, demonstration, and deployment that will advance public transit and transportation. This cycle of the Measure “C” New Technology Reserve Program will make approximately $7,625,000 available for eligible new technology projects/programs. The 2026 application is attached to this item and is also available on the Fresno COG website.

Timeline:

In February 2016, the Policy Board approved a formal process to solicit and accept members to sit on a Multidisciplinary Advisory Group (MAG). The MAG will review, evaluate, and score the New Tech applications and recommend projects for funding.  Nominees are needed from the following categories:  City of Fresno, City of Clovis, east side city, west side city, County of Fresno, Measure C Citizens Oversight Committee, FCTA, transit, business, education, and two public seats. The MAG application is available and is due June 25. Those interested in serving on the scoring committee or who would like to nominate someone else, please notify Principal Planner Simran Jhutti Sangha.

For more information regarding the Measure C New Technology program please visit http://www.fresnocog.org/measure-c-new-technology-reserve-fund and/or contact Simran Jhutti Sangha at jhutti@fresncog.org.

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

FSTI Revised Funding Request 202604

Background: The Measure C New Technology Reserve program funds projects that will advance transportation and public transit research, development, demonstration & deployment, which includes the Fresno State Transportation Institute (FSTI). The Fresno State Transportation Institute is a collaboration that seeks to address Fresno County’s transportation problems through education, research, technical services, and outreach to the public. In addition to Fresno State’s Lyles College of Engineering, the Craig School of Business and College of Social Sciences also participate.

Building on a diverse set of activities, FSTI is intended to be an innovation enabler for developing and implementing advanced multimodal and transit projects in Fresno County and beyond. FSTI also funds multiple research projects, such as an AI-powered survey tool capable of dialing thousands of residents simultaneously, and a prototype robotic crossing guard for elementary school children, among several others. Furthermore, FSTI sponsors an annual model train competition for school children interested in engineering and other transportation-related professions.

Summary: The Fresno State Transportation Institute (FSTI) was awarded approximately $3 million in funding programmed in 2017 though FY22/23. The contract was later amended in 2022 through FY25/26, with no additional funds due to the lapse in activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. To accommodate additional activities and utilize remaining funds, FSTI had requested a no-cost extension past the original contract deadline of June 30, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2026. The Fresno COG Policy Board approved this March 26, 2026. However, there was a $300,000 charge from Fresno State to cover 30 percent of Dr. Tawfik’s salary from 2022 to 2025, which was withdrawn directly from the Institute’s accounts.

FSTI programs and activities have grown based on requests for additional studies and projects. The program has requested additional funding to continue its workload. (See attached letter). At the April Fresno County Transportation Authority meeting, the Board directed Fresno COG to allocate additional funding to the program. Fresno COG and FCTA staff coordinated with Dr. Aly Tawfik, an assistant professor of civil engineering who leads the Institute, and determined the best course is to allocate $375,000 of Measure C New Technology funding to sustain FSTI’s programs, research, employment of student interns, and activities through the remainder of its contract, Dec. 31, 2026.  FSTI is also expected to compete with the next New Tech call-for-projects opening today.

Action: Staff and TTC/PAC request the Policy Board authorize the Fresno COG executive director to amend the contract with Fresno State Transportation to allocate $375,000 in Measure C New Technology funding through December 2026.

LSA_Fresno COG Regional VMT

Summary: Under SB 743, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) replaced level of service as a metric under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), reducing the significance of congestion as a consideration in traffic engineering generally, while emphasizing infill development and multi-modal transportation systems. It also requires VMT mitigation measures for new developments at either a local or regional level.

After the development of original SB 743 guidelines back in 2020, Fresno COG realized the need for the reduction of VMT impact, faced by residential and commercial developers. As a result, Fresno COG kicked off the first phase of its Regional Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Mitigation Program in 2023, which studied potential VMT mitigation options including a VMT bank, VMT impact fee, and VMT mitigation exchange.

This second phase of the project will build on the findings of first phase and work on developing the regional VMT mitigation program framework. Based on the outcomes of the first phase study, VMT banking was found to be the most appropriate program framework for implementation in the Fresno region.

The project will convene the stakeholder and technical committee to share their experience and insights, and guide the implementation framework. The consultant will work with Fresno COG and the stakeholder committee to identify potential VMT mitigation measures to include in the program. The types of measures included will influence the type of program that should be considered. The consultant will also develop the cost estimates for all projects and programs, estimating the potential VMT reduction associated with each. The regional VMT mitigation program framework will be voluntary to its member agencies.

In February 2026, Fresno COG issued the request for proposals (RFP) seeking consultants for this project. Three consultants submitted the proposals. The scoring committee, comprising representatives from the City of Fresno, Clovis Transit, the City of Reedley, County of Fresno and Fresno COG, scored the proposals, with LSA being the highest scoring contractor.

LSA is a diversified transportation, environmental, and community planning firm with 50 years of experience helping public and private-sector clients. LSA developed the original regional VMT guidelines for Fresno COG and updated the guidelines in 2025. LSA recently developed the VMT mitigation program for the City of Fresno as well, and is very familiar with the Fresno County region. The project is anticipated to be completed by June 2027.

Action: Staff and the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to enter a contract with LSA for the development of the Regional VMT Mitigation Program framework with the budget not to exceed $309,924.

Fresno LRT Study Technical Proposal Revised 05-15-26

Summary: Fresno COG, in partnership with the City of Fresno/Fresno Area Express, received a Caltrans Sustainable Communities Planning Grant in FY 2025-26 to conduct the Fresno Metropolitan Light-Rail Feasibility Study. The study will analyze the potential for a light-rail system in the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area (FCMA), primarily connecting major activity centers and neighborhoods within the FCMA such as the future California High-Speed Rail station, downtown Fresno, colleges, universities and K-12 schools, commercial and retail corridors, offices and industrial districts, and the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. The study will include an analysis of prior studies, existing transit networks, capital and operational cost estimation, as well as a robust public engagement plan. This study is expected to be concluded by early 2028.

In October 2025, Fresno COG issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking consultants for the study, and formed a scoring committee to review and score the proposals. Staff received four proposals. The scoring committee, comprising representatives from the City of Fresno, Fresno Area Express (FAX), and Fresno COG, selected AECOM as the highest scoring proposer. AECOM is a leading global infrastructure consulting firm that provides professional services for planning, design, engineering, and construction management for major transportation projects and programs.

In February, the City of Fresno requested that elements of the original proposal submitted by AECOM be reevaluated and modified based on city’s prior experience with the consultant. After several meetings, Fresno COG and the City of Fresno agreed to split out the public engagement components of the study for the City of Fresno to directly conduct that task of the study. This change to the proposal will reduce the contract amount to AECOM from the original amount of $758,297 to $599,821. Staff is recommending two separate actions for this agenda item to capture these changes.

Action: Staff and the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to enter a contract with AECOM for the Fresno Metropolitan Light Rail Feasibility Study with the budget not to exceed $599,821.

Action: Staff recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to enter an agreement with the City of Fresno for the Fresno Metropolitan Light Rail Feasibility Study’s public engagement task with the budget not to exceed $158,476.

Lease Proposal

Summary: Approve five-year lease agreement with Fresno Park Tower, LP for office space at 2035 Tulare St, Suite 201, Fresno, CA 93721.

Action: Staff recommends the Policy Board authorize the executive director to sign a five-year lease agreement with Fresno Park Tower, LP through May 2031 totaling $1,305,709.01.