San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Moving the City

agenda pdf

AGENDA

PLANS AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

Meeting Notice

Date: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Location: Room 263, City Hall
Commissioners: Dufty (Chair), Peskin (Vice-Chair), Alioto-Pier, Daly, Maxwell, and McGoldrick (Ex-Officio)
CLERK: Pooja Jhunjhunwala

1. Roll Call

2. Approval of Minutes of the May 9, 2006, Meeting – ACTION* (attachment)

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

4. Recommend Appointment of One Member to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) – ACTION* (attachment)

The Authority has an eleven-member Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). CAC members serve two-year terms. Per the Authority's Administrative Code, the Plans and Programs Committee recommends and the Authority Board appoints individuals to fill any CAC vacancies. Neither Authority staff nor the CAC make any recommendations on CAC appointments, but we maintain an up-to-date database of applications for CAC membership. A chart with information about current CAC members is attached, showing ethnicity, gender, neighborhood of residence, and affiliation. There is one vacancy on the CAC requiring Committee action, resulting from the term expiration of Carlos Borromeo. Mr. Borromeo has not requested reappointment. The recommendation is to appoint one member to the Citizens Advisory Committee.

5. Recommend Allocation of $29,730,472 in Prop K Funds for 16 Annual Requests, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedules, and Associated 5-Year Prioritization Program Amendments – ACTION* (attachment)

Each spring the Authority issues an annual call for Prop K projects with the intent of bringing as many of the programmatic and other individual capital project allocations to the Authority Board for approval in June. This allows project sponsors to incorporate the level of Prop K funding in their annual budget processes, and to put into place the staff and other resources necessary to deliver Prop K projects and programs. P roject sponsors that can demonstrate need and project readiness can also receive allocations for individual projects and programs during the year. Last month we presented 16 applications requesting over $34.3 million in Prop K funds to the Plans and Programs Committee as an information item. This month we are bringing back the 16 applications with a staff recommendation to support allocation of about $29.7 million in Prop K funds as shown in Attachment 1. Our recommendation differs from the amount requested by the sponsor for only two projects. The first is the Department of Public Works (DPW) public sidewalk repair project. Our recommendation on DPW's request to reprogram funds currently programmed for bicycle facility maintenance to sidewalk repair is pending further information from MTA bicycle program staff that was due to us in late May. We intend to bring a recommendation on these additional funds to the Plans and Programs Committee in July. With respect to DPW's street resurfacing program, we are recommending allocation of about $8.3 million instead of the $12.87 million requested, which is a reduction that is slightly less than the anticipated Prop 42 funds. However, we are proposing keeping the remaining $4.5 million in Fiscal Year 2006/07 for the time being as an incentive should DPW be able to complete design on enough of the proposed Fiscal Year 2006/07 projects that it is ready to move forward with advertising construction contracts this year and has exhausted all the other available fund sources which don't have financing costs associated them as does Prop K. DPW is in agreement with the proposed recommendation. We are seeking a recommendation to allocate $29,730,472 in Prop K funds for 16 annual requests, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedules, and associated 5YPP amendments.

6. Recommend Allocation of $200,000 in Prop K Funds to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) for Construction of the 19 th Avenue Signal Upgrade Project Phase I, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule– ACTION* (attachment)

The 19 th Avenue Signal Upgrade project involves signal upgrades to 34 intersections including installation of mast arm-mounted traffic signals, pedestrian indications with countdown features, new signal indications, conduits, poles, wiring, controller equipment, and ADA-compliant curb ramps. In addition to providing needed replacement of signal infrastructure that is over 50-years old, the upgrades are expected to help significantly improve pedestrian and vehicular safety. Since 19 th Avenue is a state highway, the signal upgrade project is governed by a Cooperative Agreement between Caltrans and the City and County of San Francisco which requires an equal funding split over the life of the project. Caltrans first advertised Phase I of the project for bid in September 2005. Bids came in $1,000,000 over the Caltrans engineer's estimate. It appears that escalation of steel and concrete costs is the primary explanation for the high bids. Caltrans subsequently revised the scope including postponing two of the 12 intersections to Phase II, and making other minor modifications. Caltrans is now ready to advertise the project for bid again, but has requested that the City secure $200,000 in additional funds in anticipation of unforeseen construction costs and utility conflict related costs. This is in direct response to the experience of Caltrans and the City on the recently completed Lombard Street Signal Upgrade where significant cost increases for utility relocation were encountered. MTA has requested that the additional funds come from the amount currently programmed to Phase II. We are recommending approval of this request in order to avoid further delays to Phase I given the anticipated safety improvements, and to avoid losing the 50% state match to the overall signal upgrade project. The additional funds will be counted toward the City and County of San Francisco share of the total project cost. We are seeking a recommendation to allocate $200,000 in Prop K funds to the MTA for construction of the 19 th Avenue Signal Upgrade Project Phase I, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule.

7. Prop K Fiscal Year 2006/07 Annual Allocations, Part 2 – INFORMATION* (attachment)

The Authority's annual call for Prop K projects allows project sponsors to incorporate the level of Prop K funding in their annual budget processes, and to put into place the staff and other resources necessary to deliver Prop K projects and programs. This is the second round of annual applications for Fiscal Year 2006/07, including 9 applications submitted by April 25. The applications are from the traffic calming, pedestrian circulation and safety, and bicycle circulation and safety categories. Subject to funding availability, project sponsors that can demonstrate need and project readiness can also receive allocations for individual projects and programs during the year, after the annual call for applications. Attachment 1 summarizes the applications received, which have a combined request of $1.9 million in Prop K funds. Attachment 2 provides highlights from our initial review, including progress or lack thereof on prior year allocations, cost increases, need for 5YPP amendments, and other information that may impact scope, schedule or budget. We have invited project sponsors to attend the meeting to answer any questions that the Plans and Program Committee may have. We are continuing to work with sponsors to evaluate and revise applications and expect to bring these applications back to the Committee for approval in July. We are seeking guidance and input from the Plans and Programs Committee. This is an information item.

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

This is a status report on the Third Street Light Rail Project. The focus of construction activities continues on segments A, C, and J, as well as on the Metro East Maintenance Facility (MME). As of April 30, 2006, the project has spent approximately 75.14% of the total budget, including soft costs. As of the end of the reporting period, overall construction was 71.38% complete. With segment A (Fourth St. Bridge) achieving substantial completion in late May, most segments are complete or substantially complete with the exception of segment C (Central Waterfront) and segment J (Station Finishes and Project-wide Systems). Work continues in the startup testing and certification process, where slow speed testing is taking place along the whole corridor. In parallel, work is also progressing with the operator signup and training processes. MTA has rescheduled the start of revenue service to sometime between January 1, 2007 and March 1, 2007, depending on the outcome of startup testing. MTA has selected a new Project Manager, Mr. Ashish Patel, who took over the project on May 22. The MTA is planning to start the CER for the Southern Terminal on June 1, 2006 and the final CER on August 1, 2007. This is an information item

9. Introduction of New Items – INFORMATION

10. Public Comment

11. Adjournment

Please note that the meeting proceedings can be viewed live at http://www.sfgov.org/sfgtv or that evening at 6:00 pm on Cable Channel 26 in San Francisco, with a repeat on the weekend (either Saturday or Sunday evening). To know the exact cablecast times for weekend viewing, please call SFGTV at (415) 557-4293 on Friday when the cablecast times have been determined.

In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at all public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.

To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact Pooja Jhunjhunwala at 415.522.4800 at least two business days before the meeting.

Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements: Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code, Sec. 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the S.F. Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Ave., Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone (415) 581-2300; or website www.sfgov.org/ethics.

Please Note: that the meeting proceedings can be viewed live at http://www.sfgov.org/sfgtv or that evening at 6:00 pm on Cable Channel 26 in San Francisco, with a repeat on the weekend (either Saturday or Sunday evening). To know the exact cablecast times for weekend viewing, please call SFGTV at (415) 557-4293 on Friday when the cablecast times have been determined.

In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at all public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.

To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact Pooja Jhunjhunwala at 415.522.4800 at least two business days before the meeting.

Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements: Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code, Sec. 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the S.F. Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Ave., Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone (415) 581-2300; or website www.sfgov.org/ethics.