HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05221990 - TC.1 TO- BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Contra
Committee
Costa
DATE: May. 2 2 1990 County
SUBJECT:
Recommended Positions on Proposed Transportation' Legislation
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION•
That the Board adopt positions as, specified on the following trans-
portation-related bills currently before the State Legislature:
BILL SUBJECT POSITION
AB 35 (Eastin) Transportation Planning Support
AB 3436 (Isenberg) Railroad Consolidation Support
SB 1307 (Garamendi) High-Speed. Rail Support
SB 2100 (Kopp) Bridge Tolls Support
AB 3499 (Bates) Bridge Tolls Amend
AB 4042 (Campbell) Bridge. Tolls Amend
SB 1332 (Presley),, Subregional Planning Monitor
AB 2933 (Eastin) Transportation Planning Monitor
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS/BACKGROUND:
The Transportation Committee has been monitoring a number of bills in '
the Legislature related to transportation issues,, including bridge
tolls, rail transportation and transportation ' planning. The
Committee' s recommendations are based on the following analysis:
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: --YxYES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY. ADMINISTRATOR OMMENDATI RD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER -
SIGNATURE s : Tom Torlakson Chair t oder
ACTION OF BOARD ON May 22, 1990 AP ROVED A RECOMMENDED
�_ OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN,
CC: Community Development Department ATTESTED May 22 , 1990
Public Works Department PHIL BATCHELOR. CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
D. J. Smith Associates (Via C,D, ) SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
By
M382/7-83 ' ,DEPUTY
i
TRANSPORTATION FINANCING: BRIDGE TOLLS
AB 3499 (Bates)
This bill would increase vehiclar tolls on bridges under the juris-
diction of MTC (including. the Carquinez, Benicia-Martinez, Richmond-
San Rafael, and Antioch bridges) to $2.00 and apply ,the revenues from
the increased tolls to bus, rail and ferry services in order to
maintain those services at levels established after the October 17
earthquake. Carpools of three or more persons would be exempt from
tolls.
It is not clear that the level of emergency services instituted
following the earthquake are cost-effective in the long term. Further,
employment centers in Contra Costa County are lnot sufficiently
concentrated to support the formation of 3-person carpools. Reducing
this requirement to two persons should result in significantly more
carpools.
This bill should be amended as follows: ( 1) use toll pricing policies
to encourage carpooling; ( 2) define carpool as 2 or more for Contra
Costa County bridges; ( 3 ) use some bridge toll funds for HOV, bicycle
and transit facilities; ( 4) allocate funds based on cost effectiveness
criteria.
AB 4042 (Campbell)
This bill would require MTC to adopt and CTC to approve a reduced rate
toll schedule for Class I vehicles occupied by 1 or more persons
crossing the Carquinez and Martinez-Benicia bridges.
This bill should be amended to reduce carpool requirement to 2 or more
persons, as discussed above. Alternatively, the author may consider
merging the bill with AB 3499.
SB 2100 (Kopp)
This bill authorizes MTC to increase the toll on the Bay Bridge by up
to $1.00, provided MTC first develops a pricing policy to reduce bridge
traffic and increase transit use; revenues derived would be allocated
to implement an automated toll collection system, to expand the traffic
operation system, and to specified transit programs.'
While this bill applies only to the Bay Bridge, the proposed automated
toll collection system and other measures should yield valuable lessons
for Contra Costa bridges as well.
RAIL TRANSPORTATION
AB 3436 (Isenberg)
This bill would require Caltrans to study the feasibility of
consolidating rail freight traffic between Sacramento, Stockton, and
the Bay area and to prepare a report by January 19,,92. The benefits
from consolidation of rail freight traffic would include: ( 1) elim-
ination of many grade crossings, which may pose safety problems and
create congestion; ( 2) making surplus railroad rights-of-way in urban
areas available for rail transit projects; and ( 3 ) more efficient use
of the existing rail infrastructure.
SB 1307 (Garamendi)
This bill would require Caltrans, when funds are available, to contract
for a study on the feasiblity of developing an integrated high-speed
rail transportation system. This study would coordinate work pre-
viously authorized for the Los Angeles-Fresno-Bay Area/Sacramento and
Auburn-Sacramento-Oakland-San Jose corridors and would add other inter-
city and commuter rail corridors.
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
AB 35 (Eastin, et. al. )
. This .bill would require the preparation of Transportation Elements as
part of city and county general plans .in place of Circulation elements.
The transportation elements would identify the transportation facil-
ities which are required to meet needs of land use'; plans, and would
include implementation methods. ak
AB 2933 (Eastin)
This bill would authorize cities or counties, which receive a specified
apportionment of funds pursuant to county minimum formula, to use up
to 4% of its annual apportionment to support transportation planning
and programming. This would provide a funding source to meet the
increasing demands for county transportation planning activities.
SB 1332 (Presley)
This bill would require preparation of subregional (county) plans that
integrate air quality, congestion management, development standards for
parks, sewerage, and flood control facilities, openIspace and capital
improvement plans.
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