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.
This report includes four sections, 1: LOCAL, 2: REGIONAL, 3: STATE, and 4: FEDERAL.
1. LOCAL
Bike Share Ordinance
During 2018-2019 the Committee provided direction to staff to develop and adopt an ordinance to govern how bike and scooter share vendors would operate in the County. Staff was prepared to bring the ordinance to the Board just prior to the COVID related shelter in place. Recently, CCTA began developing a model ordinance for the entire County and agreed to use the County's draft as a starting point.
Staff is recommending that we suspend our adoption effort until CCTA completes their model ordinance development project and then adopt their final version. This consistency may be critical as we work maximize usage of the Iron Horse and other multi-use corridors in the County. CCTA staff has raised concerns about the negative impact on attempts to implement micromobility solutions if individual jurisidictions along a corridor has different rules.
However, TWIC has previously directed staff to move to adoption of the County's ordinance, we are seeking a suspension of that direction for the reasons cited above.
Measure J Revenue Reduction
The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing “Shelter-in-Place” Order will have an impact on Measure J sales tax revenues. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority is implementing a series of actions to ensure financial stability and cash flow over the life of Measure J. The actions are detailed in the attached staff report, some measures include suspension of new appropriations of Measure J funds to start new capital projects, retain projected Measure J savings on completed and/or ongoing capital projects, delay programming of Transportation for Livable Communities and Ped/Bike/Trail Facilities funds, among others.
2. REGIONAL
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission has convened the "Blue Ribbon Task Force to Guide Recovery Of Bay Area Transit Network in Post-Pandemic Future". The Task Force has numerous charges:
- Assist MTC in understanding the scale of the crisis facing all Bay Area transit systems as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,
- Guide MTC in an effort to expedite distribution of CARES Act Phase 2 funds.
- By mid-2021, the Task Force shall submit a Bay Area Public Transit Transformation Action Plan to the Commission for its consideration and possible adoption. The Plan should identify actions needed to re-shape the region’s transit system into a more connected, more efficient, and more user-focused mobility network across the entire Bay Area and beyond.
Discussion: TWIC doesn't typically weigh in on regional transit issues, staff assumes that some of these issues are addressed at the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. This item is being provided for the following reasons:
- To inform the Committee, and potentially the Board of Supervisors if warranted.
- Provide TWIC the opportunity to weigh in if they wish.
- Rick Ramacier (County Connection General Manager) recommended that the Task Force reach out to local elected officials to get their input.
- Discussions include references to consolidating "suburban operators" which staff assumes will include Contra Costa County's three local transit districts.
- A significant amount of comments were related to service to vulnerable populations, see the attached welcome packet. Staff recommends sending a letter on this particular point.
3. STATE
Mr. Watts will attend the June Committee meeting to provide a verbal report. Two written reports are attached, the typical broad legislative report and a second report received just prior to posting of this packet which details actions by the state to shore up transit operations.
4. FEDERAL
On June 3rd, just prior to posting this packet, the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee of the United States House of Representatives released the text for the transportation reauthorization act, the "Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act. A, overall summary, a section by section summary and a fact sheet are attached.
|