In developing transportation related legislative issues and proposals to bring forward for consideration by TWIC, staff receives input from the Board of Supervisors, references the County's adopted Legislative Platforms (please see attached TRANSPORTATION Pages from ADOPTED 2015 STATE - FED Legislative Platform--approved 1.20.15.pdf), 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 references to recommendations are underlined in the report below.
This report includes three sections, 1) LOCAL, 2) STATE, and 3) FEDERAL:
1) LOCAL
A) Contra Costa Transportation Authority's 2014 Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP) Update & Potential New Sales Tax Measure (2016). This is a standing item for the foreseeable future.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is in the process of developing the 2014 Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP) and associated environmental impact report (EIR). Originally, the CTP and EIR were to be adopted and certified in early 2015. However, in order to adequately respond to comments received on both documents, CCTA is delaying adoption. CCTA staff is bringing a revised scope of work for both the CTP and EIR to the CCTA Board in May.
Despite the delay in the finalization of the CTP and EIR, CCTA took the two following actions in March; 1) the Board decided to proceed with the development of a Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP) for inclusion in a possible 2016 ballot measure, and 2) approved the Principles for the Development of the TEP (Principles). The TEP addresses the funding shortfall and transportation system needs as identified in the draft CTP. Specifically, the basis for the decision to move ahead with the TEP is as follows:
•By 2018 approximately 82 percent of the Measure J project funds will have been expended,
•any remaining project revenues will go towards repayment of bonds,
•the lack of new funding for major capital projects at the State and federal level, and
•the need to augment maintenance and operational programs (as evidenced by the draft CTP).The Principles are below, and a detailed discussion is included in the attached CCTA staff report (please see attached CCTA TEP Items.pdf).
1. Vision and Goals. Support the vision and goals of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
2. Public Participation. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority will conduct a comprehensive public outreach program to collect input from stakeholders and the communities throughout Contra Costa about the transportation priorities important for our communities.
3. Accountability. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority will continue its commitment to accountability and transparency.
4. Consensus Based Planning. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority will seek to develop a Transportation Expenditure Plan that reflects consensus between the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, the public, stakeholders, regional transportation planning committees, cities, towns, Contra Costa County and transit agencies.
5. Balanced Approach. Balance the needs and benefits for all people and areas of Contra Costa to provide a healthy environment and strong economy, considering impact on vehicle miles travelled and greenhouse gas emissions, supporting transportation for livable communities’ projects, while accounting for future demographic and technological change and innovation.
6. Public Health. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority recognizes that transportation policy can result in a reduction of transportation impacts on the environment and provide complementary public health benefits.
7. Maintenance of the Existing System. Maintain the existing highway, road, bicycle, pedestrian and transit systems in a safe and operable condition.
8. Use of Local Dollars to Attract Other Funds. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority will continue to identify federal, State and regional funding opportunities that can maximize the amount of overall funds available for transportation projects in Contra Costa.
9. Commitment to Growth Management and Cooperative Planning. New development should comprehensively address infrastructure improvement needs. The Transportation Expenditure Plan will carry forward Contra Costa’s Growth Management Program and adherence to the Urban Limit Line Policy, as adopted.
RECOMMENDATION: Discuss the TEP process, the associated Principles, and direct staff as appropriate including reporting to the Board of Supervisors on the issue.
2) STATE
This Month the State report includes the status of legislation of interest to the County, topics include transportation funding and school safety. Attached to this report are a complete list of tracked legislation (please see attached May 2015 TWIC Tracked Legislation.pdf) and a subset of that list that staff is emphasizing (please see attached Positions on Legislation of Interest-2015.pdf). Mark Watts, the County's legislative advocate, and County staff will be present to report verbally on the initiatives below:
A) Transportation Revenue Discussion:
The Legislature and Governor have elevated transportation funding to the top of the agenda for 2015, as there has been a frenzy of activity on the topic.
Assembly Member Toni Atkins (78th District) announced a five year transportation funding package in February, Senator Jim Beall (15th District) introduced a specific proposal (please see attached SB 16) in mid-April, and additional proposals are anticipated. The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) is organizing a comprehensive outreach and advocacy effort. The CSAC advocacy package is included in this packet (please see attached Transportation Advocacy Packetv2.pdf).
RECOMMENDATION: The Committee should CONSIDER and DISCUSS the CSAC guidance, and take ACTION as appropriate. Assembly Democrat Funding Plan, developed by Speaker Atkins and Assemblymember Frazier.
County Position: Pending formal proposal and discussion/action by TWIC/Board of Supervisors (BOS) Discussion: A detailed proposal is anticipated to be released after the publication of this TWIC report. Staff understands the following components are included in the package:
•$10 billion over 5 years;
•Return Truck Weight fees of $1 billion annual;
•New Road Fee of approximately $50 per vehicle;
•New fees offset weight fee recapture and provide net of $1 billion;
•Weight fees plus net revenue from new road fee = $2 billion annually.
SB 16: (Beall) Transportation funding
County Position: Pending discussion/action
See attached: SB16 (Beall).pdf
B) School Siting & Safety:
SB 632: (Cannella - CoAuthors-Baker/Frazier) Vehicles: prima facie speed limits: schools.
County Position: SUPPORT (please see attached CCC BOS Leg Letters April2015.pdf)
Discussion: This bill was based on a proposal developed by Contra Costa County in 2014/2015 with support from CSAC. The bill has generated a substantial amount of interest and will be a two year bill. Staff is working with legislative staff and advocacy organizations on: a re-write to address concerns, and building a support coalition including private, non-profit, and local/state agencies.
The bill supports the "Vision Zero" concept which is gaining substantial traction in the United States. In summary, it is a focused effort to radically reduce or eliminate injuries and deaths from traffic collisions. Kaiser Permanente announced funding an advocacy effort recently (please see attached Vision Zero Network Launches To Advance Safe Streets.pdf). Staff has reached out requesting support for SB 632 and related school safety efforts.
SB 313: (Galgiani) Local government: zoning ordinances: school districts
County Position: SUPPORT (CCC BOS Leg Letters April2015.pdf)
Discussion: The California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF) has been engaged for some years to reform school siting practices in an effort similar to the County's. Staff was approached by the CFBF legislative advocate asking for County support on SB 313 which is sponsoring the bill. County staff found the bill to be consistent with our adopted platform and observed that their proposed statutory fix is nearly identical to the language the County proposed to AM Joan Buchanan in 2014. Given this, County staff (Conservation and Development and Agriculture) worked with the County Administrator's Office to draft a letter of support (CCC BOS Leg Letters April2015.pdf).
AB 1344: (Jones) County office of education: charter schools
Staff RECOMMENDATION: OPPOSE
Discussion: The bill grants zoning/planning exemptions and rights to charter schools that public schools currently enjoy. It is these exemptions and limits that the County, and many others which now includes the State itself, are actively attempting to limit or modify. From a policy standpoint, this bill is counter to state and local policies.
SB 114: (Liu) Education facilities: Kindergarten Through Grade 12 Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2016
Staff RECOMMENDATION: WATCH
Discussion: This bill would provide funding for the now nearly exhausted school construction and modernization program. As previously discussed at TWIC, the best hope for the implementation of effective policies to improved school siting practices is to link those new policies to the primary funding mechanism. There does seem to be some movement on raising the awareness of the need for school siting reform. In addition to the comments from the State Allocation Board as seen in the attached 3/31/15 letter to Senator's Block & Liu, the CFBF is engaged, and the California State Department of Public Health (CDPH) is getting involved. CDPH staff requested an update on the school siting reform activities from County staff in April.
3) FEDERAL
The current extension for the primary federal surface transportation funding authorization (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century [MAP-21]) expires on May 31, 2015. There continues to be constant speculation and stories on how to address the impending expiration but nothing concrete. As the deadline gets closer, acceptance of the inevitability of a continuing resolution grows despite the widely acknowledged need for a new, comprehensive transportation funding package.
Related: See attached letter (please see attached DF to Inhofe + Boxer re bridge funding 2015 04 22.pdf) from Senator Diane Feinstein to Senators Barbara Boxer and James Inhofe (Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works) regarding funding for local bridges on the Federal Aid Highway System.