In developing transportation related issues and proposals to bring forward for consideration by TWIC, staff receives input from the Board of Supervisors (BOS), references the County's adopted Legislative Platforms, coordinates with our legislative advocates, partner agencies and organizations, and consults with the Committee itself.
Recommendations are summarized in the Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s) section at the end of this report. Specific recommendations, if provided, are underlined in the report below. This report includes four sections, 1: LOCAL, 2: REGIONAL, 3: STATE, and 4: FEDERAL.
1. LOCAL
1.1: Update - Caltrans SB1 Grant: Accessible Transportation Strategic (ATS) Plan:
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority submitted this grant at the end of October 2017 with assistance from County staff. The staff report going to the California Transportation Commission for their December 4/5 meeting did not recommend CCTA's grant for funding.
As the Committee is aware, the County has an interest in making progress on this issue. County staff will consult with interested/affected parties regarding other options to move ahead.
1.2: Update - Contra Costa Office of Emergency Services (OES) - 11/30/17 Emergency Incident Tabletop Exercise - Disability/Access and Functional Needs (D/AFN) Population:
Transportation Planning Staff from Conservation and Development was requested by the Sheriff's Office to participate in November's exercise. During the exercise it was observed that 1) additional information from the County's five transit districts was necessary in order to facilitate an adequate response in the event of an emergency, and 2) improvements in mapping the location of the D/AFN population are also necessary for the same reasons.
County staff distributed the attached email (Office of Emergency Services: Transit Information.pdf) to AC Transit/BART, County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, and WestCAT. As of the printing of this report we have received information from AC Transit (who also responded for BART/East Bay Paratransit) and Tri Delta Transit.
County staff also initiated an effort to establish a mapping protocol for the D/AFN population in collaboration with staff from OES, Contra Costa Health Services, the advocate community, and others.
1.3 Update on County Obligations Relative to Administration of Taxicabs
The County does not have an ordinance to require a taxicab driver to obtain a permit to operate in unincorporated areas. This is a requirement under California Government Code (CA GC) Section 53075.5.
This omission was originally brought to the Committee at their November 13, 2012 meeting. At that meeting the specific activity, "Establishment of a Taxicab Driver Permit in the Unincorporated Areas of Contra Costa County" was referred to the Public Protection Committee. However, that referral has subsequently been retired. The broad topic of taxi services continues to be a referral to the Transportation, Water, and Infrastructure Committee (TWIC).
The County Administrator's Office made substantial progress in establishing a regional approach to complying with the applicable statute. In 2016 the City of Walnut Creek, representing the regional partners, approached the Public Managers Association (PMA) with a proposal. The PMA was not prepared to support the proposal as presented and staff continued to refine the approach. Subsequently, staff from the City of Walnut Creek (who was providing leadership on the effort) turned over and progress stalled.
However, just as this report was being posted Walnut Creek staff contacted the County and the process appears to be re-initiated.
RECOMMENDATION: DISCUSS any local issues of note, REFER the administration of taxicabs to the Public Protection Committee, and take other ACTION as appropriate.
2. REGIONAL
2.1 The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has circulated the 2017 draft of their "Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan". (Plan) The plan addresses the mobility needs of seniors, people with disabilities, people on low-incomes, and veterans and identifies strategies to guide MTC’s efforts over the next four years. The Executive Summary and Introduction to the Plan are attached to this staff report.
Staff prepared the attached draft comment letter to MTC on the Plan and is recommending it be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for consideration.
RECOMMENDATION: CONSIDER recommending the Board of Supervisors AUTHORIZE a letter to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission regarding the Draft 2017 Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan, and take other ACTION as appropriate.
3. STATE
3.1: Legislative Report
The December State legislative reports from the County's advocate, Mark Watts, is attached. The report covers the following issues:
- Senate Bill 1 Repeal Efforts
- Regional Measure 3 (RM3) Bridge Tolls
- Iron Horse Trail
3.2: Public Works Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Project Update: The Committee asked that staff return with reports as SB1 projects are implemented. Attached are updates from the Morgan Territory Road Slide Repair Project and the Alhambra Valley Road Washout Repair Project. Also attached are fact sheets regarding SB 1.
3.3 Request from the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) regarding the revised Rule 20 A General Conditions Agreement Program Background: Utilities annually allocate funds under Rule 20 to communities, either cities or unincorporated areas of counties, to convert overhead electric and telecommunication facilities to underground electric facilities. The recipient communities may either bank (accumulate) their allotments, or borrow (mortgage) future undergrounding allocations for five years at most.
Update: CSAC negotiated a new general conditions agreement with PG&E. The stated intent of the modification are to, "...to provide more cost certainty for project proponents and add efficiencies in project timing.". CSAC is requesting letters of support from localities the the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in support of the modification.
CSAC materials on this issue are attached to this staff report.
RECOMMENDATION: DIRECT staff to bring the Public Works SB1 report to the full Board of Supervisors, DIRECT staff to draft a letter to the PUC in support of modification of the Rule 20a General Conditions, DISCUSS any other state issues of note, and take other ACTION as appropriate.
4. FEDERAL
No written report in December. However, Item 12: RECEIVE Communication, News...on this agenda includes information relative to transportation and infrastructure at the federal level.
RECOMMENDATION: DISCUSS any federal issues of note and take ACTION as appropriate.
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