| Plans and Programs Committee - July 13, 2010 |
|
AGENDA PLANS AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEEMeeting Notice Date: 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 13, 2010
1. Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of the June 15, 2010 Meeting - ACTION* attachment 3. Citizens Advisory Committee Report - INFORMATION* attachment 4. Recommend Appointment of Two Members to the Citizens Advisory Committee - 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 are two vacancies on the CAC requiring Committee action. The vacancies resulted from the term expiration of Brian Larkin and the resignation of Jul Lynn Parsons. We are seeking a recommendation to appoint two members to the CAC. 5. Recommend Appointment of Three Members to the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Citizens Advisory Committee - ACTION* attachment In May 2007, the Authority Board approved the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study (the Feasibility Study), including conceptual design and evaluation of BRT alternatives for Geary Boulevard, and appropriated Prop K funding for the environmental analysis phase of the project. In February 2008, the Authority Board established the structure for the Geary BRT Citizens Advisory Committee (GCAC), which consists of 11 seats representing both corridor and citywide interests. In April 2008, the Authority Board appointed 11 members to the GCAC. Three members of the Committee have recently resigned. In March 2010, we issued a notice seeking applicants to the GCAC. Following outreach and publicity, we received 11 eligible applications for membership on the Committee. We are seeking a recommendation to appoint three members to the GCAC. 6. Recommend Approval of the Adoption of a Baseline Budget, Schedule, and Funding Plan for Phase 1 of the Transbay Transit Center Project - ACTION* attachment In November 2007, the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) Board adopted its initial Baseline Budget for Phase 1 of the Transbay Transit Center Program in the amount of $1,189,000,000. The budget included: right-of-way acquisition; construction of a temporary terminal; demolition of the existing Transbay Terminal and bus ramps; construction of the above-grade bus facilities portion of the new Transit Center and the foundations and other improvements to prepare for future construction of the below-grade train station; construction of bus ramps and bus storage; and design and engineering of the above-listed facilities. The new Phase 1 Baseline Budget is $1,589,000,000 and it includes all of the items in the original budget as well as an additional $400,000,000, for the construction of the below-grade train box, which was previously part of Phase 2. The additional $400,000,000 will be funded from a recently secured American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant. Once adopted, the revised Baseline Budget for Phase 1 will be the benchmark against which cost performance will be measured. Incorporating the train box construction into Phase 1 will extend the schedule for construction from five years to approximately seven years. Bus operations will move to the Temporary Terminal on August 7, 2010, demolition of the existing terminal will commence shortly thereafter in August 2010, and bus operations in the new building will start in August 2017. Although Phase 1 has a full funding plan, both Authority and TJPA staff see some risks in it. Namely, the real estate values used are from 2007, and due to the current market conditions it is unlikely, or at best uncertain, that the $429 million expected from land sales will be fully realized. Another area of risk relates to the $21 million in state Regional Improvement Program (RTIP or RIP) funds that the Authority has committed to the project, but has been unable to program due to the impact of the state budget crisis on RTIP funds. Given the ongoing economic crisis, it is unlikely that additional RTIP funds will be available in the timeframe needed by the project. TJPA continues to diligently seek alternative funding in the event that funds do not materialize as planned. We are seeking a recommendation to approve the adoption of a baseline budget, schedule, and funding plan for Phase 1 of the Transbay Transit Center Project. 7. Recommend the Allocation of $3,480,803 in Prop K Funds, with Conditions, to the Municipal Transportation Agency for Six Requests, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedules - ACTION* attachment enclosure Due to a crowded July Plans and Programs Committee agenda, we have grouped six Prop K allocation requests from the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) into a single memo. MTA has requested a total of $3,480,803 in Prop K funds, which would leverage $16,857,790 in other funding. MTA has proposed to use the requested funds for the Clipper automatic fare collection program (formerly known as TransLink); signal and pavement marking improvements on light rail corridors; and four pedestrian circulation and safety improvement projects. Attachment 1 summarizes the applications for Prop K allocations, including the project phases for which funding is requested and the proposed leveraging of non-Prop K funds compared to Expenditure Plan assumptions. Attachment 2 provides a brief description of each project. Attachment 3 provides a summary of our staff recommendation, highlighting issues of potential interest to the Plans and Programs Committee, such as recommended deliverables and special conditions. We are seeking a recommendation to approve the allocation of $3,480,803 in Prop K funds, with conditions, to MTA for six requests, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedules. 8. Recommend Third Amendment of San Francisco's 2008 Lifeline Transportation Program (LTP) Project Priorities to Include $1,691,391 for the Municipal Transportation Agency's Bus Service Restoration Project - ACTION* attachment The Metropolitan Transportation Commission's (MTC's) Lifeline Transportation Program (LTP) funds projects that improve mobility for low income residents. In November 2008, the Authority Board approved Resolution 09-24, identifying nine projects to receive a total of $9.68 million in 2008 LTP funds. Since its initial adoption, the Authority has revised the LTP project priorities twice through the adoption of Resolution 10-11 in July 2009 and Resolution 10-50 in March 2010, as shown in Attachment 1. In April 2010, MTC notified the Authority that $1,691,391 in new Fiscal Year 2010/11 State Transit Assistance (STA) funds were available for programming to San Francisco LTP projects. Given the relatively small amount of funds available and its desire to expedite project delivery, MTC stipulated that only transit operators (those eligible to directly receive STA funds) could apply for the funds and that it would make the funds available following Authority Board adoption of project priorities. On May 19, 2010, we released a call for projects to establish priorities for the additional LTP funds. By the June 14, 2010 deadline we received one proposal from the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) for $1,691,391 for the Bus Service Restoration Project, summarized in Attachment 2. This project would restore a portion of the bus service reductions MTA made on May 8, 2010 to address its budget deficit. MTA has proposed two alternate scopes of work, depending on whether or not it is able to secure sufficient non-LTP resources to restore service in September 2010 for its highest-priority routes. If non-LTP resources are secured, MTA would use LTP funds to implement the Option A, which would restore service on six MUNI routes: 44 O'Shaughnessy, 19 Polk, 21 Hayes, 27 Bryant, 29 Sunset, and 54 Felton. If MTA is unable to secure non-LTP funds to implement its broader service restoration project, it would use LTP funds for Option B, which would restore service frequency on the 8X/AX/BX Bayshore Express bus route during midday and peak periods and add some additional service on the 8X during the evening. Maps for Options A and B are shown in Attachments 3 and 4 respectively. Under either option, MTA would restore the service on September 4, 2010, with the LTP funds providing operating support for one year. MTA anticipates that with a recovered economy, restoration of state transit funding, and other increases in revenue over the next year it should be able to maintain restoration of all the services included in Options A and B in Fiscal Year 2011/12 without additional LTP funds. We are seeking a motion of support for the third amendment of San Francisco's 2008 LTP project priorities to include $1,691,391 for MTA's Bus Service Restoration Project. 9. Recommend Approval of the San Francisco Safe Routes to School Education and Outreach Program for $500,000 in Cycle 1 Safe Routes to School Funds - ACTION* attachment In December 2009, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) adopted the framework for programming funds anticipated under the yet-to-be-developed six-year federal surface transportation act. The first funding cycle (Cycle 1) covers Fiscal Years 2009/10 - 2011/12 and includes several grant programs, one of which is MTC's new Safe Routes to School Program (SR2S). MTC designated $17 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) funds for Cycle 1 of the SR2S program. The intent of this program is to complement existing state and federal SR2S programs, furthering implementation of SR2S programs region-wide. MTC's program also has an overall goal of significantly reducing vehicle emissions stemming from school-related travel. Of the $17 million, $2 million was made available through a region-wide competitive call for projects, which was released on April 30, and $15 million has been distributed among the nine Bay Area counties based on K-12 school enrollment. San Francisco's share is $1,079,000. We have been working with the San Francisco Safe Routes to School Coalition (Coalition) to develop a two-pronged approach (i.e. education and outreach, and capital projects) to enhance the existing SR2S efforts in San Francisco and best achieve the objectives for SR2S set by MTC. For the education and outreach component, which is the subject of this memorandum, we have collaborated with the Coalition to develop a program that will combine the Coalition's existing education and outreach activities (e.g., pedestrian and bicycle education in elementary schools, technical assistance in organizing Walk and Bike to School Days, and development and distribution of traffic safety outreach materials and walking/biking maps to parents) with a new kindergarten and first-grade SR2S curriculum and an outreach program run by the Department of the Environment that is focused on providing students, parents and teachers statistics on the environmental, economic and health impacts of emissions from idling motor vehicles at schools. The proposed scope of education and outreach work would be funded with $500,000 in SR2S funds and $90,000 in local match from the City's general fund and in-kind contributions from Coalition members, leaving $579,000 for the Fiscal Year 2011/12 capital projects portion of the SR2S program. We are seeking a recommendation for the approval of the San Francisco Safe Routes to School Education and Outreach Program for $500,000 in Cycle 1 Safe Routes to School Funds. 10. Recommend Appropriation of $790,000 in Prop K Funds, With Conditions, for Planning, Conceptual Engineering and Environmental Studies for the Better Market Street Project, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule - ACTION* attachment The planned re-paving of Market Street from Van Ness Avenue to Steuart Street in 2015 brings about a special opportunity to envision improvements to this landmark corridor and key urban thoroughfare. Hence, the City proposes to initiate a Better Market Street Project that will engage both public agencies and community-wide stakeholders, to identify and evaluate potential street re-designs that could be initiated through a first phase in 2015 and through subsequent phases over the long term. The Better Market Street Project is guided by the overarching goal of revitalizing the corridor from Octavia Boulevard to The Embarcadero through a coordinated set of public space improvements and activities. These improvements are intended to encompass sustainable urban design and mobility enhancements that facilitate promenading and an enlivened sidewalk life; reliable and efficient transit service; and a comfortable and appealing bicycle facility along the street's entire length. The intent of the proposed 3-year study is to identify design alternatives for inclusion in the environmental review process, complete environmental studies, and advance design (at least 30%) to support implementation of recommendations in coordination with the planned street repaving project. The Better Market Street Project already has benefitted from, and will continue to involve, significant inter-agency coordination as well as strong outreach to the public to ensure adequate stakeholder involvement. The $790,000 in Prop K funds requested will leverage $200,000 in Safe Routes to Transit funds, $500,000 in General Funds which is proposed in the Mayor's budget for Fiscal Year 10/11, $319,815 in in-kind staff contributions from the Better Market Street design team agencies, and other planned funding sources, including a $249,650 Caltrans Planning Grant. This would cover about $2.06 million of the estimated $3.45 million effort, and carry the study through the first 18 months in order to complete the scoping and screening processes and initial study as part of the environmental review phase. In order to coordinate implementation with the planned re-paving project, the planning and environmental work must begin now. Thus, we are requesting appropriation at this time, while the project team actively seeks to secure the remaining funding, including preparing for an anticipated application for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) II planning funds. We are seeking a recommendation to appropriate $790,000 in Prop K funds, with conditions, for planning, conceptual engineering, and environmental studies for the Better Market Street Project, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule. 11. Recommend Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Vehicle Registration Fee Expenditure Plan; Making Required Findings; Submitting to the Voters at the General Election Scheduled for November 2, 2010, an Ordinance Amending the San Francisco Business and Tax Regulations Code by Adding Article 23 to (1) Adopt a $10 Increase in the Annual Vehicle Registration Fee for Each Motor Vehicle Registered in the City and County of San Francisco, to Fund Congestion and Pollution Mitigation Programs and Projects, (2) Authorize the Authority to Expend Fee Revenue Under the Expenditure Plan, (3) Authorize the Authority to Contract with the California Department of Motor Vehicles for Collection and Distribution of the Fee Revenue, and (4) Authorize the Authority to Take All Steps Necessary to Administer the Expenditure Plan and All Programs and Project Funded by the Fee Revenue; and Appropriating Up to $400,000 in Prop K Funds, With Conditions, to Cover the Costs of Placing the Measure on the Ballot - ACTION* attachment In late October, the Governor signed into law SB 83 (Hancock), which authorizes congestion management agencies (CMAs) to impose an annual fee of up to $10 on motor vehicles registered within their respective counties to fund congestion and pollution mitigation programs and projects. The funds would have to be used for programs and projects having a relationship to or benefiting the people paying the fee, and they would have to be consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). In December 2009, the Authority approved Resolution 10-27, authorizing the Executive Director to initiate the development of an Expenditure Plan for a new vehicle registration fee consistent with the requirements of SB 83 and targeting the November 2010 election. Attachment 2 includes the final draft Expenditure Plan, which was developed and refined based on input from numerous stakeholders over the past six months. The plan has broad support from various stakeholders, with the only outstanding policy consideration being whether or not to include Caltrain operations as an eligible project type. This issue is detailed in the memo below. We have worked with a consultant to complete the required benefit-relationship analysis (Attachment 3), confirmed consistency of the proposed projects and programs with the RTP (Attachment 4) and Countywide Transportation Plan, and sought legal guidance on the potential impact of the "Stop Hidden Taxes" ballot initiative on this measure. Consideration of the item was postponed at the June 15 Plans and Programs Committee meeting until July to allow for further consideration of the SB 83 fee in the context of other potential revenue measures proposed for the November 2010 ballot. We are seeking a recommendation to adopt a resolution approving a vehicle registration fee Expenditure Plan; making required findings; submitting to the voters at the general election scheduled for November 2, 2010, an ordinance amending the San Francisco Business and Tax Regulations Code by adding Article 23 to (1) adopt a $10 increase in the annual vehicle registration fee for each motor vehicle registered in the City and County of San Francisco, to fund congestion and pollution mitigation programs and projects, (2) authorize the Authority to expend fee revenue under the Expenditure Plan, (3) authorize the Authority to contract with the California Department of Motor Vehicles for collection and distribution of the fee revenue, and (4) authorize the Authority to take all steps necessary to administer the Expenditure Plan and all programs and project funded by the fee revenue; and appropriating up to $400,000 in Prop K funds, with conditions, to cover the costs of placing the measure on the ballot. 12. Launch for the San Francisco Transportation Plan - INFORMATION* attachment As the Congestion Management Agency for San Francisco, the Authority is responsible for preparing a long-range transportation plan identifying goals, needs, and investment priorities for the City's transportation sector. The purpose of this plan is to establish local priorities, provide an input to the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) and Regional Transportation Plan, and position San Francisco for new federal legislative opportunities. This summer, we launch the planning process for the San Francisco Transportation Plan (SFTP), an update to the 2004 Countywide Transportation Plan. Throughout the two-year planning process, the Authority will conduct extensive outreach to agencies, stakeholders, and the public, and coordinate with closely related local and regional planning efforts: the City's Climate Action Plan and Capital Improvement Plan, and the regional SCS for meeting statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. The outreach associated with the SFTP launch will document accomplishments since the 2004 Plan, and seek input on the goals for this update: 1) strengthen the city's regional competitiveness; 2) create a more livable city; 3) ensure a healthy environment; and 4) provide and sustain world-class infrastructure. The Authority will convene a Community Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee to help guide the Plan's development. This Plan update will also benefit from several new online and social media site tools including a Facebook page, as well as Twitter account and real-time webinars to help broaden participation. The SFTP will identify investment, policy, and institutional strategies for achieving these goals. We will seek input from a technical advisory committee and stakeholder advisory committee throughout development of the SFTP. We are seeking comments and input from the Committee. 13. Mobility, Access and Pricing Study: Draft Findings - INFORMATION* presentation attachment In 2007, the Authority initiated the Mobility, Access and Pricing Study (MAPS) to evaluate the feasibility of implementing congestion pricing in San Francisco. The Study is based on the analysis of a range of possible congestion pricing program options including an assessment of the potential benefits and impacts to our transportation system, economy, and environment. The Authority's Countywide Transportation Plan and the City's Climate Action Plan call for consideration of road pricing as part of a comprehensive strategy to manage travel demand, improve travel options, and meet our ambitious goals for sustainable growth. The broad set of scenarios considered in the MAPS effort includes geographic options for the priced area, potential pricing and discount policies, and a range of local and regional transportation improvements that would accompany a congestion pricing program. After a detailed evaluation of alternatives, the study confirms that there are technically feasible congestion pricing scenarios for San Francisco that would contribute to local, regional, and state goals for congestion management, economic growth and competitiveness, and reduced climate change impacts. Extensive study outreach has revealed that public opinion regarding the prospect of congestion pricing ranges widely, but there is generally willingness to continue to study the concept. Given the level of public skepticism that exists, the study recommends pursing the development of a pilot program within the next three years which would provide a test-bed for the effectiveness of proposed strategies, proof-of-concept of system technologies and institutional capacities, and ample opportunity to measure and monitor benefits and impacts in a real-world setting. The study team is poised to launch a fourth and final round of outreach events to share these key findings and gather feedback on the idea of a potential demonstration program. The next steps, should there be public and Board support for advancing the concept, would include system engineering and design for a pilot demonstration; legislative action to establish pricing authority and institutional arrangements; and environmental clearance. We are seeking comments and input from the Committee. 14. Introduction of New Items - INFORMATION 15. Public Comment 16. 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 Erika Cheng at 415.522.4800 or via email at at least two business days before the meeting. The nearest accessible BART station is Civic Center (Market/Grove/Hyde Streets). Accessible MUNI Metro lines are the F, 5, 21, 47, 49, 71, 71L, J, K, L, M, N, T (exit at Van Ness Station). MUNI bus lines also serving the area are the 6, 7, and 9 San Bruno. For more information about MUNI accessible services, call (415) 701-4485. There is accessible parking in the vicinity of City Hall at Civic Center Plaza and adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex. Accessible curbside parking is available on Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place and Grove Street. If any materials related to an item on this agenda have been distributed to the Plans & Programs Committee after distribution of the agenda packet, those materials are available for public inspection at the San Francisco County Transportation Authority at 100 Van Ness Avenue, Floor 26, San Francisco, CA 94102, during normal office hours. 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.
|
