In developing transportation related legislative 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 and specific recommendations are underlined in the report below. This report includes three sections, 1) LOCAL, 2) STATE, and 3) FEDERAL.
1) LOCAL
Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP)
Background: The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (Authority) is in the process of developing a Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP) to potentially be put to a vote in November 2016. A TEP is a statutorily required component of a transportation sales tax. This is a standing TWIC item for the foreseeable future.
TEP Update
There is no written report on the TEP this month. At the time of the TWIC meeting, the BOS will have had a report and discussion on the matter at their March 8th meeting. Any new information will be brought to TWIC verbally.
2) STATE
Legislative Report
The legislative report from the County's legislative advocate, Mark Watts, is attached (March_2016 TWIC Report).
Mr. Watts will be present at the March meeting to discuss the state budget, Special Session/Conference Committee, the status of state transportation revenues and other items of interest to the Committee.
Information related to state transportation funding was provided by the California State Association of Counties just prior to packet distribution. The information is attached (CSAC Information Regarding Transportation Funding) and will be discussed at the March TWIC meeting.
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County Sponsored Legislation
Senate Bill 632 (Cannella) Prima facie speed limits: schools: In 2015 Anthony Cannella sponsored this bill which is related to school zones. The original language was developed by the County. The bill was an outgrowth of the County's school siting and safety efforts. SB 632 allows local jurisdictions to expand school zones based on an engineering and traffic survey and modifies statutes related to "when children are present" signage. SB 632 is a two year bill and has returned in 2016.
Due to numerous technical issues raised in the legislation, it was referred to the California Traffic Control Devices Committee. The Committee took the issue up in December 2015 and formed a School Zone Subcommittee to address the issue. The subcommittee has had two conference calls and one meeting in which County staff participated. The Committee requested data and evidence supporting the need for the legislation. County staff's latest response to these requests are attached, as is the text of SB 632.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that TWIC consider recommending a position of "support" to the Board of Supervisors on SB 632.
3) FEDERAL
No written report in March.
RECOMMENDATION: DISCUSS any federal issues of note and ACTION as appropriate.
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