WCCTAC
West Contra Costa Transportation
Advisory Committee
Minutes
The regular
meeting of the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee was called
to order at 7:30 a.m. by Chair Brown in the City Council Chambers of the City
of San Pablo, 13831 San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo, California. (Cross Street: Church Lane/AC Transit bus
lines #72 & #76).
1. Call to Order and
Self Introductions
PRESENT: Sharon Brown, Chair (San Pablo), Maria
Viramontes, Vice Chair (Richmond), Janet Abelson (El Cerrito), Jerrold Parsons,
(WestCAT), Irma Anderson (Richmond), Ed Balico (Hercules), Bob Franklin (BART),
Maria Alegria (Pinole)
ABSENT: Joe Wallace (AC Transit)
STAFF: Lisa Hammon, WCCTAC Managing Director
Linda Young, WCCTAC
Transportation Project Specialist
John Rudolph,
WCCTAC Management Assistant
Nancy Cuneo,
WCCTAC Administrative Analyst
Hisham
Noeimi, CCTA Staff
Ben Reyes, WCCTAC
General Counsel
2. Public Comment
Peter Loubal stated he supported the Del Norte housing project, however,
he and his constituents feel it should be moved to another location. Mr. Loubal felt the buses serving the BART
station need to be doubled and use the space currently identified for the Del
Norte housing project. Housing should be
relocated.
On motion by Ed Balico, seconded by Maria Viramontes and carried unanimously, the Board approved the Consent Calendar, with the exception of Item 7, as follows:
3. Minutes, Sign-In Sheet, and Meeting Summary
from the May 26, 2006 Meeting and the May 26, 2006 Special Meeting.
4. Employee Staff Reports from the Managing
Director, the Management Assistant and the Transportation Project Specialist
for May.
5. Received information Transportation for
Livable Communities (TLC) Grant entitled
“Richmond Downtown Revitalization and Transit Village Project: Bicycle and
Pedestrian Linkages and Access Improvements.”
6. Received information on the Subregional
Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (STMP) Update.
8. The Board authorized the Chair to sign the Managing Director’s Employment
Agreement.
Regular Calendar
7. Agreement for Professional Consulting
Services with Dowling Associates for Preparation of the Strategic Plan for the
STMP Projects
Maria
Viramontes requested the list of projects to be considered in the Strategic
Plan. The Managing Director will send
copies of the project list to all members.
On motion by Maria Viramontes, seconded by Maria
Alegria and carried unanimously, the Board authorized the Chair to sign the
Agreement in substantially the form presented, following the final negotiations
and review by WCCTAC’s Legal Counsel.
9. WCCTAC
Budget, Dues, and Scope of Work for FY 06-07
The Managing Director reported the Budget was
approved by WCCTAC in March and sent out to the member agencies for
approval. She received very few
comments. The Managing Director stated
minor changes were made to the Regional Studies, Grants, Staff Conferences,
Staff Salaries, Education and Car Allowances, and she reviewed these in detail
with the Board.
On motion by Maria Alegria, seconded by Ed Balico and carried
unanimously, the Board approved the changes to the Budget and directed staff to: (1) have the Resolution executed
by the Chair; and (2) invoice the member agencies for FY 06-07 dues.
10. Preparation of the Measure J Strategic
Plan: Project List and Timeline;
Preparation of Related Documents (Growth Management Program, Action Plans,
Etc.); Relationship to West County’s STMP Strategic Plan
The Managing Director reported the preparation of
the Measure J Strategic Plan and the STMP Strategic Plan are moving forward
simultaneously, and there is some overlap in the projects. She reviewed a draft timeline and discussed
the list of priority projects in Measure J and the STMP. Some projects are in both categories. CCTA has requested a prioritized list by
October 16th. The Managing
Director recommended two TAC meetings be added to accommodate the discussions
necessary to address all Strategic Plan issues and allow staff from the member
agencies to interact with their respective boards and planning/engineering
departments. The final draft list from
the TAC is due September 29th for review by the board.
The Managing Director also recommended the Board
hold a meeting in August to meet the timelines.
The Board agreed to hold a meeting August 25th at 7:30 a.m.
Maria Viramontes requested clarification regarding
the 10% versus the 8.4% as noted on page 8.
Hisham stated there are two issues.
The 8.4% is based on West County’s share for Subregional projects. The dollar amount available to advance for
projects is up to a quarter of the 1st year revenue, but not more
than the 1st year cost of a project.
The Managing Director stated West County has most of the money on the
program side. Some of the programs in
Measure J may have a capital component, which would place those programs in the
hybrid category.
The Managing Director also recommended the Board
consider appointing a standing subcommittee to look at funding issues and to
obtain input from elected officials outside of the Board meetings. It was recommended the CCTA representatives
act as the subcommittee with a final decision on the membership at the July 28th
meeting.
Hisham stated his letter dated June 29th
outlined the changes to the funding targets for capital projects in the Measure
J Strategic Plan. Currently several
projects in West County are beginning work: I-80 and San Pablo Dam Road Interchange,
Hercules Rail Station and the Richmond Parkway.
The Managing Director stated the I-80/San Pablo Dam Road project may not
need to use the Project Development funds, but instead only capital
funding. CCTA is taking the lead on the
interchanges.
11. State Bonds for Transportation Projects – Discussion of: (a) Funding Categories and Potential Projects; and (b) Letter of Support from WCCTAC
The Managing Director stated there is much
discussion needed on the type of projects to be funded through this Bond, and
there is a short timeframe to develop the criteria and the project lists
(assuming the bond passes in the November election). The Managing Director stated she and staff
would be working with CCTA, MTC and other committees in the region on different
projects that will fit the categories in the Bond. She suggested the Board support her attending
the meetings on the Transportation Bond in order to hear the discussions on the
projects to be included in the categories.
The Board felt comfortable Bob McCleary would relay information if the
Managing Director was not allowed to attend the meetings.
Hisham stated there is a very tight timeline for
input on the bond. He stated it would be
very important for Richmond to work with Caltrans on the Richmond Parkway.
Maria Viramontes felt the Transportation Bond is a
great once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for upgrading and maintenance funding of
the Richmond Parkway. She suggested the
region begin to lobby this project be on the list.
On motion by Maria Alegria, seconded by Maria
Viramontes and carried unanimously, the Board directed staff to forward the
letter of support to Senator Perata regarding State Bonds for Transportation
Projects, noting the increased traffic on the alternative route to I-80, San
Pablo Avenue.
12. Richmond Parkway – Request for Advance Funding
from Measure J
The City of Richmond has requested the Authority
take the lead in developing a Project Study Report to identify upgrades
necessary for the State to accept the Richmond Parkway into the State Highway
System. The project has a $16 million
earmark in the Measure J Expenditure Plan and a portion of it could be advanced
with proceeds from the $300 million bond planned for issuance in September
2009. Per the Authority’s Project
Development Advancement Policy, WCCTAC needs to concur that the project is
indeed a candidate to use bond proceeds.
Rich Davidson, Richmond, stated the City has
retained Mr. Loder to assist staff in developing a scope of work and to meet
with the County and Caltrans regarding Caltrans taking over US Highway 93
(Richmond Parkway). Mr. Davidson
proposed hiring Mr. Loder to work with the consultant to be hired to develop
the Project Study Report.
Maria Viramontes suggested a bill will be on the ballot
next year by Senator Torlakson to increase the bridge tolls. She suggested the Board begin work to support
a portion of that increase be dedicated for the approach to the Richmond/San
Rafael Bridge.
On motion by Irma Anderson, seconded by Ed Balico
and carried unanimously, the Board supported Richmond’s desire to get Highway
93 going.
13. Railroad Crossing and Safety Issues for West
County; Follow Up from the Western Regional Grade-Crossing Safety Training
Conference in Vancouver, WA on June 5 to 7
The Managing Director prepared a written staff
report on the conference. She reported
there are a number of options to increase safety of rail crossings. The Bond measure may be a source of funding
for safety improvements at rail crossings.
The Managing Director recommended further discussion on this item for
the November or December meeting.
14. Correspondence/Other Information:
Incoming:
Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Fact Sheet; June
8, 2006.
SWAT meeting summary; June 12, 2006.
El Cerrito’s San Pablo Avenue Streetscape Project
Description; June 2006.
Street Smart newsletter; June 20, 2006.
Outgoing:
Letter to James Corless (MTC) re: TLC grant; May 30, 2006.
Letter to David Murray (CCTA) re: San Pablo Avenue Corridor O & M; May 30,
2006.
Newspaper/Internet
Articles (all articles from West County Times unless stated otherwise):
“Richmond Breaks Ground on Pedestrian Path;”
5.26.06.
“Costs Double as Translink System Idles;” 5.30.06.
“Free Public Transit All Day on Spare the Air Days;”
6.1.06.
“East Bay Voters Approve of New Bonds;” 6.8.06.
“Tri Delta Transit Spot Wins Top Cable Ad Award;”
6.8.06.
“Racial Bias Endures in Bay Area Transit;” 6.9.06.
“City Pursuing Local Ferry Terminal;” 6.10.06.
“Tunnel at Critical Juncture;” 6.10.06.
“Officials Eye Funds for Traffic Relief;” 6.11.06.
“BART sues to recover $80 million;” 6.17.06
“Public transportation in the U.S. by the numbers;”
6.18.06
“Rush hour reaches the driveway;” 6.18.06
“Commute feels like old times;” 6.21.06
Handouts
Available at the Meeting:
Transportation for Livable Communities Grant for “Richmond Downtown Revitalization and Transit Village Project: Bicycle and Pedestrian Linkages and Access Improvements.”
15. Board
Member Comments/Reports
None.
16. Other Business