San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Moving the City

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AGENDA

PLANS AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

Meeting Notice

Date: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Location: Room 263, City Hall
Commissioners: Dufty (Chair), Peskin (Vice-Chair), Daly, Maxwell, Sandoval, and McGoldrick (Ex-Officio)
CLERK: Pooja Jhunjhunwala

1. Roll Call

2. Approval of Minutes of the March 15 and March 22, 2005 Meetings -ACTION* (attachment 1) (attachment 2)

3. Citizens Advisory Committee Report – INFORMATION* (attachment 3) (attachment 4)

4. Recommend the Allocation of $43,000 in Prop K funds to DPT to Install Bicycle Lanes on Market Street from 8th Street to Van Ness Avenue – ACTION* (attachment 5)

The Market Street Action Plan identified improvements that advance the study goals and can be implemented within one to five years, provided that funding is secured. The improvements are phased to allow for the majority of benefits to accrue early on and with a minimum of impacts to other modes or users, thereby inspiring confidence and building momentum for other improvements. Among the early improvements identified was the installation of bicycle lanes between Octavia and 8th Streets. The first bicycle improvements that are ready for construction are striping and signing bicycle lanes between 8th Street and Van Ness Ave. Final design will be complete in April 2005, so the lanes can be installed before Bike-to-Work Day on May 19, 2005. We are seeking a recommendation to allocate $43,000 in Prop K funds to DPT to install bike lanes on Market Street from 8th Street to Van Ness Avenue.

5. Recommend Approval of the FY 2005/06 Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) Program of Projects for Submission to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) – ACTION* (attachment 6)

The TFCA Program was established to fund the most effective transportation projects that achieve emission reductions from motor vehicles in accordance with the Air District's Clean Air Plan. Funds are generated from a $4 surcharge on the vehicle registration fee collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles. As the San Francisco TFCA Program Manager, the Authority annually develops the program of projects for the TFCA Local Program Manager funds. In January, we initiated the call for FY 2005/06 TFCA applications to San Francisco public agencies. In March, we received 14 applications from project sponsors, requesting nearly $1 million in TFCA funds. For FY 2005/06, we have $850,710 in TFCA funds available for projects. Following the Board's adopted process for developing the TFCA program of projects, we evaluated projects against the Air District's eligibility requirements and cost effectiveness ratio, and our local expenditure criteria. Based on this review, we are recommending funding the 12 projects shown in Attachment 3, including eight bicycle projects, one shuttle project, one clean air vehicle replacement projects, and two ridesharing projects. We are seeking a recommendation of approval of the FY 2005/06 TFCA Program of Projects for submission to the Air District, as presented.

6. Recommend Approval of the Draft Final Report for the Multimodal Transportation Study: Onboard Transit Survey Results – ACTION* (attachment 7) (report)

In August 2003 the Authority, working with MUNI, initiated the Multimodal Transportation Study: Onboard Transit Survey which, for the first time in almost 30 years, collected passenger trip and demographic information for all MUNI routes. The goals were to develop a rich data set describing the trip-making patterns of transit riders within the city, and to integrate previously collected household survey data in order to recalibrate the San Francisco Travel Demand Forecasting Model. In addition to collecting information on trip locations, the survey queried passengers on demographics, transfers, and fare payment. The final survey database comprises more than 15,000 completed passenger surveys, representing a response rate of 28 percent. The survey dataset is now ready to be used to update the San Francisco Travel Demand Forecasting Model, and also to support transportation planning studies. For example, projects as wide-ranging as the Geary Bus Rapid Transit Study, MUNI's Central Subway project, and the Folsom Street Strategic Analysis Report, are already benefiting from this data. The study was funded by multiple sources including Proposition K and funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. We are seeking a recommendation for approval of the Draft Final Report for the Multimodal Transportation Study: Onboard Transit Survey.

7. 5-Year Prioritization Programs Update – INFORMATION* (attachment 8)

The Expenditure Plan includes a number of requirements, including the development of 5-Year Prioritization Programs (5YPP) as a condition for receiving allocations in each programmatic (i.e., not project-specific) category in the Expenditure Plan. This requirement applies to about 20 programs such as street resurfacing, new signals and signs, traffic calming, and transit enhancements. The 5YPPs are intended to focus project selection on performance and to support on-time, on-budget project delivery, and timely and competitive use of state and federal matching funds. The 2005 Prop K Strategic Plan, which provides the 30-year road map for Prop K allocations, will inform the funding plan for each 5YPP. Our schedule calls for the Final Draft 5YPPs to be presented to the Citizens Advisory Committee in April and to the Plans and Programs Committee and Board in May for approval. We are conducting 5YPP workshops for Board staff on April 7 and 8 to gather detailed input on projects and studies to be funded in each district. This is an information item.

8. Status Report on the Third Street Light Rail Project – INFORMATION* (attachment 9)

This is a status report on the Third Street Light Rail Project. Construction activities are currently ongoing throughout the entire corridor. As of January 31, 2005 the project has spent approximately 63% of the total budget, including soft costs. With construction 58% complete, various contracts are approaching completion. All contracts are currently within budget and most of them are scheduled to complete in time to support the opening to revenue service. MUNI is now tentatively projecting revenue service in June 2006, due to issues with Segment A. Segment A, the 4 th Street Bridge, has been plagued with delays caused by unforeseen site conditions, quality control problems, and the contractor's inability to prosecute the work efficiently. DPW, which is managing the contract, proposed a global agreement to the contractor in an effort to mitigate the issues and deliver the site to MUNI in time for testing and startup. Unfortunately, the negotiations have broken down and, as a result, in accordance with the contract, at the rate of $25,000 per day. On March 3, MUNI re-advertised for bids the Metro East Maintenance facility (MME) and bids are expected by mid-April. Efforts continue to address environmental concerns along Third Street, and MUNI continues to publish its air monitoring results. During February 2005, 80% of the tests were below the action threshold. Completion of the rail line is now scheduled for late 2005, followed by six months of operational and simulated revenue testing leading to the start of revenue service in June 2006. The Metro East Facility is expected to be ready for move-in in April ‘08. This is an information item.

9. Central Subway Light Rail Project Update – INFORMATION* (attachment 10)

The Central Subway is the second phase of the Third Street Light Rail project. Work has been progressing on additional studies for a proposed Fourth St. alignment alternative. This proposed alternative will require supplemental environmental work, and MUNI is in the process of issuing a Contract Modification to the design team to perform the additional work. The project team continues with its public outreach and information program. Conceptual and Preliminary Engineering is underway and is scheduled to complete in December 2006, with Final Design scheduled to be completed in Early 2009. Construction is expected to last four years and is scheduled to complete in 2012. The project recently received a “Recommended” New Rail Starts Rating from the Federal Transit Administration for the second consecutive year. This is an information item. There will be a presentation by the MUNI Project Manager at the meeting.

10. Introduction of New Items – INFORMATION

11. Public Comment

12. Adjournment

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