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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 09141993 - TC.1 Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Colla .. FROM: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE CpUt / DATE: September 13 , 1993 SUBJECT: Report on use of Measure C (1988) Funds for School Buses in the Lamorinda Area SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION None. FISCAL IMPACT None to County funds. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS The Lamorinda cities are requesting the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to allocate $8 million to operate a school bus system in the Lamorinda area ($500, 000 per year for the remaining 16 years of the Measure C sales tax period) . - This proposal is one of several recommendations made by the Gateway/Lamorinda Traffic Study and has received substantial public support in the Lamorinda area. This request has also generated considerable controversy throughout the County regarding whether school buses are an appropriate use of Measure C funds. The Transportation Authority has determined that this could be an eligible use of ; Measure C funds, pending development of a more detailed proposal. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER 777641� f f f SIGNATURE(S) : Tom/Powers Gayle Bishop ACTION OF BOARD ON September 14 , 1993 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER x SEE ADDENDUM I FOR BOARD ACTION VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT TRUE AND CORRECT. COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Orig Dept: Community Development ATTESTED September 14 , 1993 Contact: Ernest Vovakis, 646-2131 PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF cc: Supervisor McPeak THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Supervisor Torlakson AND OUN ADM ISTRATOR CCTA BY , DEPUTY Lamorinda School Bus Proposal September 13, 1993 Page 2 The following is a review of the issues which should be considered in developing a position on this request: 1. Intent of Measure C The Measure C Expenditure Plan is divided into 16 funding categories under four major headings: Highways and Arterials, Transit, Trails, and Programs. The category from which funds are being sought for the Lamorinda school bus proposal is the "Gateway/Lamorinda Traffic Program", for which $19, 000,000 was allocated in the Measure C Expenditure Plan. The Gateway/Lamorinda Traffic Program is one of 7 categories listed under Highways and Arterials. The other six are all for road improvements (Interstate 680 corridor, Richmond Bypass, Route 4 (east) , Route 4 (west) , Major Arterials - Southwest Region, and Camino Pablo) . The project description in Measure C reads as follows: "To identify action/measures to mitigate the traffic density between Highway 24 and the Town of Moraga including cost benefit analysis. Implementation of preferred project alternative (Lamorinda cities to jointly review and establish criteria for project implementation) . " Legal counsel for the Transportation Authority has determined that the school bus proposal "meets the requirements of the category description. " 2. Lamorinda Traffic Study The Lamorinda Traffic Study was conducted between October 1991 and June 1993 to develop a transportation improvement program for the Lamorinda area that would utilize the Gateway/Lamorinda Traffic Program funds. The study was conducted by Barton-Aschman Associates and was directed by the Lamorinda Project Management Committee, consisting of elected officials of the three cities. Three workshops were held in the community which attracted substantial public involvement. The study reviewed a broad range of possible actions to reduce traffic congestion, including implementation of a school bus system. The study concluded that through a school bus program, 5% of the trips passing through Moraga Way and Moraga Road intersections in the vicinity of Highway 24 could be eliminated resulting in a 5% reduction in delay. The main benefit to level of service would occur in the morning peak period. The school bus proposal was heavily supported by the public attending the workshops and was endorsed by the three city councils. 3. Subregional Needs vs. Countywide Needs Measure C funds are collected from retail sales occuring throughout the County. The Measure represented an effort to balance local priorities with the correction of major regional needs, such as the extension of BART to Pittsburg. Opponents of the school bus proposal have argued that greater needs exist in other parts of the County which could be addressed with these funds. Measure C provides a mechanism for reallocating funds from project categories in which they are not required. If the proposal is approved, the Lamorinda area would be the only area in the County using sales tax monies to support school busing. Yet school buses are needed in many areas of the County. 4. Capital Improvements vs. Operating Costs As noted above, the Gateway/Lamorinda Traffic Program is included under Highways and Arterials, a group of projects that involve capital improvements to roadways. It has been argued that this group of projects should be limited to construction projects that provide a longer term benefit to the citizens of the County than would result from a busing program that is limited in duration to the period the sales tax is being collected. Legal counsel to the Authority also addressed this issue in its legal opinion and concluded that ". . multiple inconsistencies exist in project and program descriptions and placements and that no definitive conclusions can be reached based on the placement in the Expenditure Plan. " J r, ► Lamorinda School Bus Proposal September 13, 1993 Page 3 5. Impact on Existing Bus Service Currently, County Connection provides local bus service in the Lamorinda area. Many of these routes pass by elementary and high schools and can be used by school. children. The Lamorinda school bus proposal would negatively impact County Connection by diverting these passengers. ADDENDUM I TO TC. 1 ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1993 The Board directed its representatives to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority not to vote on the request by the Lamorinda cities for a school busing program until information is provided on the following questions: 1. Which roads are impacted by school traffic? Provide a map with the school locations and school-related traffic volumes. How much of that traffic is directed to the K through 8 grades (which is the target of the busing program) and how much is directed to the high schools? What impact would the school bus program have on these traffic volumes? What are the dismissal times of these schools? 2. How have other school districts dealt with school traffic? If buses are used, what is the funding source used by these districts? 3. Could comparable vehicular trip reductions be achieved through the regional TDM program? How would the costs compare with the school bus program? 4. How would the school bus program impact the existing bus service in the area provided by the CCCTA? How many trips would be lost to CCCTA and how would this affect the fare-box recovery ratio of CCCTA? 5. What mechanism will be established to continue the program once the pilot program is ended and once the Measure C revenues end? DATE: REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM --� (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressin the Boar NAME: PHONE: ADDRESS: CITY: I am speaking formyself OR organization: (NAME OF ORGANIZATION) Ch ec one: I wish to speak on Agenda Item # T Q-/ . My comments will be: general for against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider. DATE: 2 REQUEST Ta SPEAK Fokm (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing eoar _ / NAME: PHONE: ji ADDRESS: �ci `'' CITY: I am speaking formyself OR organization: Check one: NAME OF ORGANI7-NTION) �+ _ I wish to speak on Agenda Item # My comments will be: general for against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the oard to conside . 14 4_ A-- - s f - 1 t_ DATE: REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT I Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. NAME: A - ,R i \KJ PHONE: c,2-`'3 ADDRESS: 02 MQIA..�- /; .� �� .. CITY: I am speaking formyself OR organization: tOCA- t-t1� nn (NAME OF ORGAN It-X1'ION) Check one: 1� �� gZ�u1►J I wish to speak on Agenda Item # 1C, \ . 1-77 My comments will be: general for against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider.