Policy Advisory Committee

All items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial by COG staff and will be approved by one motion if no member of the Committee or public wishes to comment or ask questions. If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered in the listed sequence with an opportunity for any member of the public to address the Committee concerning the item before action is taken.

March 13 2026 Minutes PAC

ACTION: Approve the March 13, 2026 Policy Advisory Committee meeting minutes.

2026 Fresno COG Regional Transit Targets

Summary: The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21, 2012) established new requirements for metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to coordinate with transit providers, set performance targets, and integrate those performance targets and performance plans into their planning documents by specified dates. The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Federal Transportation Improvement Plan (FTIP) are the two regional planning documents to be updated.

Along with other performance measures from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) established performance measures and reporting requirements for transit asset management (TAM) and transit safety. Performance metrics for TAM focus on regional transit system maintenance in a state of good repair. Transit safety performance monitoring is focused on the number of transit incidents resulting in fatalities or serious injuries, and transit system reliability.

FTA issued the TAM final rule (49 CFR §625 et seq.), effective Oct. 1, 2016, to implement MAP-21 transit asset management provisions. This final rule mandates a National TAM System, defines ‘state of good repair’ (SGR), and requires transit providers to develop TAM plans. The Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Final Rule (49 CFR §673) from FTA specifically requires transit agencies receiving federal funds to develop a safety plan and annually self-certify compliance with that plan. Each transit agency must make its TAM and PTASP plans available to MPOs to assist in the planning process and to coordinate, to the maximum extent practicable, with the MPO in selecting regional transit safety targets.

The attached regional TAM and PTASP targets are produced collaboratively with Fresno Area Express (FAX), Clovis Transit, and Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) based on their individual TAM plans and PTASPs. While COG considered all three transit agencies for setting the regional TAM targets, only FAX and Clovis Transit were included in the regional PTASP targets. FCRTA is exempted from setting its own PTASP.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board approve the regional TAM and PTASP targets for Fresno County to be included in the 2026 RTP and 2027 FTIP.

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

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reopened the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program this week for applications. The agency expects to award $1 billion in funding to support hazard mitigation projects that lower future disaster costs while reducing risks associated with natural weather disasters. Total funding will be divided between program categories, including:

• $112 million for the State/Territory Allocation;
• $50 million for the Tribal Set-Aside;
• $56 million for the State/Territory Building Code Plus-Up;
• $25 million for the Tribal Building Code Plus-Up; and
• $757 million for the National Competition.

FEMA highlighted the following changes to the program in the new round: Prioritize infrastructure resilience by funding construction projects that are ready to implement and incentivizing the adoption of the latest hazard-resistant building codes. This is a proven strategy to protect communities and reduce future disaster losses.

Move money faster by eliminating phased projects, simplifying the National Competition scoring system, and removing subapplication scoring by the National Review Panel. 

Shift responsibility and authority to states, territories and Tribal Nations by removing funding for hazard mitigation planning and non-financial direct technical assistance provisions. The program now maximizes state and local responsibility for resilience and risk reduction rather than federal investing in a wide range of activities.

Eligibility is limited to state and Tribal governments, but units of local government are eligible to apply as subapplicants. The application deadline for eligible applicants is July 23, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). We encourage prospective subapplicants to coordinate with their state partners as soon as possible as states may establish earlier deadlines for sub-applicants to apply. See our grant memorandum on the program for more information.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, which supports planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational efforts to prevent fatalities and serious injuries on roads and streets. DOT expects to award approximately $993.5 million in program funding. This will include approximately $305.7 million for 400 to 700 planning and demonstration grants ranging from $100,000 to $5 million each, as well as $687.8 million for 40 to 70 implementation grants ranging from $2.5 million to $25 million each.

The FY 26 NOFO places a priority on public safety infrastructure strategies. Examples include: physical and digital hardware, software, systems, technologies, equipment, protocols, facilities, and coordination models used by public safety agencies such as 9-1-1, emergency medical services (EMS), fire services, law enforcement, and trauma system partners to either prevent, respond to, or reduce the severity of roadway crashes. Public safety infrastructure may be permanent, modular, configurable, or interoperable, and may include temporary, pilot, or limited-scale deployments.  In addition, letters of support from public safety agencies and labor unions representing first responders are specifically encouraged.

To apply for implementation funding, jurisdictions (or a higher level jurisdiction) must have an adopted action plan on or before the grant due date.

There is generally a 20 percent non-federal cost share requirement under the program. The application deadline is 5 p.m. (EDT) May 26, 2026 . DOT will accept pre-application requests to review Implementation grant eligibility by 5 p.m. (EDT) April 24, 2026.

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

Summary: The Measure C Transit-Oriented Infrastructure for Infill Development (TOD) Program was created as part of the 2006 Measure C Extension Plan. It was designed to boost transit ridership through transit-supportive land uses and infrastructure improvement as well as planning activities. It serves as seed money to promote walkable, bikeable and transit-friendly communities that are healthy, livable and vibrant. It is estimated to accrue nearly $850,000 annually with $17 million for its 20-year lifespan. The 14th funding cycle, with roll-over money from previous cycles, has approximately $2.1 million available for programming.

Fresno COG issued the call-for-projects on Jan. 9, with applications due on March 3. Staff received four applications from three jurisdictions, including the City of Firebaugh, City of Fresno, and County of Fresno. The scoring committee met on March 19 and is issuing the following funding recommendations:

1. City of Firebaugh: Implementation of the Community Connectivity and Downtown Revitalization Study – Code Updates

The City of Firebaugh requested $29,000 to fund zoning code updates and associated environmental clearance to implement the Community Connectivity and Downtown Revitalization Study. The project includes amendments to allow increased densities, reduced parking requirements, shared parking strategies, and a Downtown Overlay Zone to support mixed-use and pedestrian-oriented development. These updates are intended to improve connectivity, enhance walkability, and support transit-oriented development within the downtown area. Overall, the project demonstrates strong alignment with TOD program goals by promoting higher-density, mixed-use development and improving pedestrian connectivity in the downtown area. The scoring committee recommends funding $29,000.

2. City of Firebaugh: Del Rio Bus Stop and Sidewalk Project

The City of Firebaugh requested $120,000 to fund design and environmental clearance for the Del Rio Bus Stop and Sidewalk Project. The project includes five-foot concrete sidewalks, ADA curb ramps, and a new regional transit bus stop within a medium-density residential neighborhood that lacks pedestrian infrastructure. These improvements are intended to remove existing barriers to transit access, improve connectivity to regional transit services, and enhance overall pedestrian safety and mobility in the area. Completion of this phase will position the project to pursue additional funding for construction and advance it toward implementation. Overall, the project supports TOD program goals by improving first- and last-mile connectivity, enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, and increasing access to regional transit services. The scoring committee recommends funding $120,000.

3. City of Fresno: Broadway Street Grid Reconnection Project

The City of Fresno requested $918,500 to fund the Broadway Street Grid Reconnection Project, which will reestablish a missing segment of Broadway Street between Merced Street and Tuolumne Street, restoring connectivity within the downtown street grid. Improvements will include a complete-streets design with enhanced pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access, as well as roadway reconstruction, intersection improvements, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and lighting. The project is intended to improve safety, circulation, and accessibility while supporting infill development, economic activity, and transit-oriented development in the downtown area. Overall, the project supports TOD program goals by restoring critical network connectivity, enhancing multimodal access, and improving safety within the downtown area. The scoring committee recommends funding $918,500.

4. County of Fresno: Pedestrian/Bike Improvements on Chestnut Avenue (Shields Ave to Clinton Ave)

County of Fresno requested $990,530 to fund the Pedestrian/Bike Improvements on Chestnut Avenue (Shields Avenue to Clinton Avenue) Project. The project will construct new sidewalks, Class II bike lanes, and ADA-compliant curb ramps along a half-mile, County-maintained segment of Chestnut Avenue that lacks pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, creating a gap between adjacent City-maintained sections that already include these facilities. Improvements will also include upgrades to six existing transit stops to improve accessibility and safety for transit riders. The project is intended to enhance safety and connectivity for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users, particularly for nearby schools, residential areas, and local businesses, while supporting multi-modal access and transit use in the corridor. Overall, the project supports TOD program goals by closing critical infrastructure gaps, enhancing multimodal connectivity, and improving safe access to transit. The scoring committee recommends funding $990,530.

Action: Staff and the TOD scoring committee request that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the Scoring Committee’s recommendations for the Measure C TOD Program’s 14th funding cycle.

Summary: Fresno Council of Governments was awarded $12.8 million in Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 funding to suballocate to local jurisdictions for projects that accelerate infill housing development, affirmatively further fair housing, and reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). The original allocation of funds is shown below:

The City of Fresno has recently confirmed that it will not use its full $10.3 million allocation and instead anticipates expending $8,152,666.58. This results in a remaining balance of $2,147,333.42 in available REAP 2.0 funds.

With the REAP 2.0 expenditure deadline extended to Dec. 31, 2026, Fresno COG staff recommends reallocating the remaining funds to support the other two ongoing projects within the region. Specifically, it is recommended that an additional $1 million be allocated to the City of San Joaquin and $1,147,333.42 be allocated to the City of Firebaugh to further advance their projects with additional funding.

The City of Firebaugh intends to use the additional funding to purchase downtown properties for future infill development, while the City of San Joaquin will extend and connect water infrastructure to complete a critical water system loop serving the original project area, improving system connectivity, reliability, and service capacity. Both jurisdictions have committed to spending the funds before the Dec. 31 deadline.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board authorize reallocating remaining REAP 2.0 funds to the City of San Joaquin and the City of Firebaugh to support additional funding for their projects.

Final Guidelines FCOG 2027 Regional ATP Cycle 8

Final - APPENDIX A

Resolution_2026-12_Regional_ATP_Guidelines_Cycle_8

Summary: The Active Transportation Program (ATP), established by the State in 2013, provides funding to support projects that increase safe and accessible walking, biking, and other non-motorized transportation options. The program aims to improve public health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance mobility for all Californians, especially underserved communities. Eligible projects include infrastructure improvements, education and encouragement programs, and plans that promote active transportation networks and connectivity. The program encourages projects that demonstrate safety, accessibility, and the potential to reduce vehicle miles traveled. ATP funding is distributed as follows:

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

Fresno COG develops Regional ATP Guidelines and recommends projects to the California Transportation Commission (CTC). Guidelines align with statewide rules with some regional adjustments, reflecting local priorities. Development included input from Fresno COG’s ATP Multidisciplinary Advisory Group (MAG), which represents government agencies, public health and active transportation stakeholders, and disadvantaged communities. The CTC adopted final 2027 Statewide ATP Cycle 8 Guidelines on March 19. There were relatively minor changes at the statewide level from cycle 7 to cycle 8, consisting of new and revised language in various program categories. Considerable program changes include:

• All projects must first apply to the statewide component; projects not selected may submit a down-scaled application to the regional component.
• Removed Justice 40, Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, and USDOT Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer.

ATP will not fund:

• Class III bikeways (except per Streets & Highways Code §2384(b))
• A project that proposes installing new sharrows on a roadway that has a posted speed limit greater than 30 MPH
• Projects proposing to use ATP funds to supplant other committed funds
• Ongoing or existing non-infrastructure projects and related operations.
• Cost increases, UNLESS, the agency is able to cover the overruns w/o additional ATP funding and only cost increases for Caltrans-nominated on-system projects.

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

• No minimum funding requirement
• Quick-build projects are eligible (MPO component only)
• Leveraging points available
• All projects scored using the small infrastructure criteria

Fresno COG will conduct a supplemental regional call-for-projects using the Regional ATP scoring criteria and a designated regional scoring committee. To be eligible for the regional competition, all projects must first be submitted to the Statewide ATP competitive program. Only projects that applied at the statewide level but were not selected for funding will be considered in the regional call for projects.

The statewide call for projects is open, with applications due to Caltrans on June 22. Following the California Transportation Commission’s approval of the Regional ATP Guidelines (June 27–28, 2026), the regional call for projects will open, with applications due Nov. 18. Regional ATP documents are included for review and approval and will be posted to fresnocog.org. Enclosures for this item include:

• Resolution 2026-12
• Final draft regional ATP guidelines
• Fund estimate

The electronic ATP Cycle 8 applications and other guidance documents can be found at: Active Transportation Program (ATP) | CTC (ca.gov). Please contact Matthew Shimizu via email at mshimizu@fresnocog.org or via phone at 559-233-4148 ext. 240 with any questions.

Action: Staff and the MAG request that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Resolution 2026-12 adopting the Fresno COG Regional Competitive Active Transportation Program Cycle 8 Guidelines.

2026-27 OWP FINAL

2026-12 OWP FY 2026-27 Resolution

Summary: The final, fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 Overall Work Program (OWP), totaling $17,899,508 is submitted for committee and Board consideration. The proposed budget decreased $20,592,948 from last year’s budget. The decrease is mainly attributable to completion of large, one-time grants. Operational revenues remain intact, reserves are adequate, and the agency continues to operate within the bounds of prudent management.

The largest part of the decrease, $13,210,406, is attributed to anticipated project completion from the Regional Early Action Planning Grants Program of 2021 (REAP 2.0) funds provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. A $2,059,638 decrease in Federal Highway Administration Planning revenues reflects progress completed on the regional pavement management system. Other significant decreases were a $1,422,678 decrease for vehicle purchases under the FTA 5310 program, and a $1,152,086 decrease for work completed under the FHWA RIA Grant.

Federal revenues decreased a net of 30 percent or $3,155,147, reflective of the above-mentioned progress on the regional pavement management system, vehicle procurements, and progress on the FHWA RIA Grant.

State revenues decreased 81 percent, $13,500,310, primarily due to the above-mentioned REAP 2.0 grant.

Local revenues decreased 35 percent, $3,937,491, resulting from the cash match from transit vehicle procurement.

Staff salaries and benefits decreased 4% and 1% respectively as staffing levels remain unchanged from last year. Contingencies are carried for merit-based salary increases as well as for anticipated health insurance increases.

The final 2026-27 OWP and Resolution 2026-12 are attached to this report.

Action: Staff requests the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Resolution 2026-12, adopting Fresno COG’s final 2026-27 Overall Work Program and budget.

PublicInput Agreement for Fresno COG

Summary:  Fresno COG uses PublicInput.com — a government-focused community engagement platform — to create customized project engagement websites, conduct surveys in multiple languages, track participation, identify gaps in reach, and build a complete engagement history with accurate, searchable data.

COGs play a critical role in regional planning, but managing engagement across multiple communities and agencies can quickly become fragmented. PublicInput.com simplifies coordination with a single platform that centralizes outreach, unifies feedback, and transforms raw data into clear, defensible insights. It enables seamless collaboration across consultant and partner governments while maintaining a regional view.

It also equips local partners with tools tailored to their needs and shares insights across agencies to build long-term engagement capacity. AI-powered analysis and GIS-based tools visualize participation through real-time dashboards and story maps. PublicInput also streamlines compliance by logging engagement activity, tracking demographics, and generating export-ready reports to meet Title VI, NEPA, and funding requirements.

In the last fiscal year alone, Fresno COG hosted nine project-focused community engagement hubs (websites) using PublicInput.com and conducted 11 surveys using the PublicInput engagement platform. Examples include the following:

Comprehensive Climate Action Plan

Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area Managed Lanes Study

Fresno County Regional Rail Feasibility Study Survey

Unmet Transit Needs 2026 Survey (English)

Unmet Transit Needs 2026 Survey (Spanish)

Fresno COG updates its service agreement with PublicInput every three years. The three-year agreement saves the agency approximately 21 percent in fees (3% vs. 10% annually) over the full term.

Fresno COG’s new proposed three-year pricing (paid annually) is as follows:

• Year 1: $14,162.50
• Year 2: $14,587.38
• Year 3: $15,025.00

The service agreement is attached for review.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board authorize the executive director to sign a three-year service agreement with PublicInput.com totaling $43,774.88.

Summary: The California Department of Insurance (CDI) has been actively engaged in legislative efforts that intersect with local governance, including consumer protection initiatives, disaster preparedness and recovery, as well as emerging issues, such as the evolving homeowners’ insurance market. Familiarity with these efforts may provide valuable context for Fresno COG member agencies on how state-level insurance policies impact local communities, land use planning, and regional resilience.

Richie M. Sayavong, associate governmental program analyst, will offer a short presentation on the CDI’s legislative efforts related to issues affecting local governance.

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