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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10221991 - TC.2 Tc . 2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ` f ;. CbntCCa . FROM: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Costa vvu "7 DATE: October 14, 1991 SUBJECT: REVISIONS TO THE FEDERAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE ACT SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS AUTHORIZE the Chair to send the attached letter (Exhibit A) to the Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and our Federal legislative delegation on suggested revisions of the Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) . ' FISCAL IMPACT None. When enacted, the STAA will determine who federal aid the county may receive local transportation improvements. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS Discussions in Congress on continuing on revisions to the. Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act. Contra Costa city and County staff have been reviewing the impact of the proposed revisions on the Federal Aid Urban (FAU) and Federal Aid Secondary (FAS) programs which currently are the primary source of federal aid for local transportation improvements (off the state highway and interstate systems) . Staff , has recommended to the Transportation Committee that the Board urge MTC and our legislative delegation to recognize the needs of the old FAU and FAS program in the new act. The attached letter does this. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE (S).: Schroder Tom Torlakson ACTION OF BOARD ON OCT 2 2 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER` VOTE 'OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A 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: Community Development Department ATTESTED OCT 22 1991 cc: Public Works PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF County Administrator THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MTC (Via CDD) AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Federal Leglislative Delegation (Via' CDD) o 1 jwc1/cm/staa.bos BY y? ,yt/ AA 41V14- , DEPUTY The Board of Supervisors Contra '� CPhk tthe h olard and County/administration Building c� County Administrator 65C1 Pine St., Room 106 O v 111a (415)646-2371 Martinez, California 94553 County Tom Powers,1st District Nancy C.Fanden,2nd District Robert I.Schroder,3rd District Sunne Wright McPeak 4th District o.. Tom Torlakson,5th District OST'9 COUN'n ` October 22, 1991 Mr. Steve Weir, Chair Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 8th Street Oakland, CA 94607-4700 Dear Mr. Weir: Contra Costa County is very appreciative of the effort by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in shaping the 1991 Surface Transportation Assistance Act. Attached is a letter from the Conference of Mayors to the California Congressional delegation reiterating our support for flexibility as the Conference Committee considers the outcome of the Bill. Although the congress is still working on the Bill, we believe that it is not too early to start looking at how the surface transportation, or "urban" program will be administered by MTC. An open process which comprises members from the Regional Technical Advisory Committee and the Transit Operator Coordinating Council should be the vehicle to draft the implementation guidelines for the Commission's consideration. Issues that concern the County include use of the.MTS as a funding tool and a successor to the FAU/FAS program. When the Commission adopted the Metropolitan Transportation System (MTS) earlier this year, the intended purpose of the MTS was to demonstrate to Congress the utility of a urban program. If the MTS is to be used as a funding tool, an in depth review of the MTS for this purpose.will be necessary. This would also be consistent with commitments made by the Commission when the MTS was, developed. It appears that the urban/flexible program will be large, and it should be used to address the region's intra-regional as well as local mobility needs. It also appears that neither of the competing legislative proposals include continuation of the old FAU program. We are concerned that, in prioritizing projects, local needs may become secondary to intra- regional needs. We,therefore, suggest that MTC consider setting aside a percentage of the urban program funds to each county to be programmed at the county's discretion. Of course, the programming would follow the guidelines set by MTC and the intent of the federal legislation. In this manner, local needs-will continue to .be addressed and the .burden on MTC to prioritize, oversee and program many small projects will be reduced. EXHIBIT A Mr. Steve Weir October 22, 1991 Page 2 We are . excited about :this unparalleled opportunity and are looking forward to working with you to implement this pending legislation. Very TrulyYours C Tom Powers, Chair Board of Supervisors c.SWeirAS cc: The Honorable Alan Cranston The Honorable John Seymour The Honorable Ron Dellums The Honorable George Miller The Honorable Pete Stark Larry Dahms, Executive Director MTC.