HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03051991 - 1.3 ��/sem
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: J. MICHAEL WALFORD, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: March 5, 1991
SUBJECT: Approve SCS Consulting Services Agreement-Rail Feasibility Study
Project No.: 0676-6P1050
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) &BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I. Recommended Action:
1!
Approve and Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute the Consulting Services
Agreement with SCS (Schiermeyer Consulting Services) to assist the County in identifying the
type and variety of fixed guideway transit choices available in order to enable the County to
develop a comprehensive congestion management program. The pay limit for this service is
$25,000 which cannot be exceeded without prior written authorization from the Public Works
Director.
11. Financial Impact:
There will be no impact to the County General Fund. The $25,000 fee will come from the Navy
mitigation funds as a result of the Port Chicago Highway closure.
III. Reasons for Recommendations and Background:
Transportation continues to be the number one concern of the residents in the Bay Area and
11
more prominently for residents in Contra Costa County. According to the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission, by the year 2010, there will be a 25% increase in vehicle trips and
traffic delays will increase by 43%
Attachment: x SIGNATURE:
_ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
_ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON MAP, 5 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER_
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
t/ UNANIMOUS (ABSENT
AYES: NOES:
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: I hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
RVF:fp/dmw Board of Supervisors cn Me data tf0wn.
c:B05.t3 ATTESTED: MAP. 5 1991
PHIL BATCHELOR,Cis*of the Board
Orig. Div: Public Works (MP) atsupemismandAdministrator
cc: Supervisor Powers 7, •
R. McCleary, CCTA By - °t"'ti
D.J. Smith
J.M.Walford, Public Works Director
y
SCS CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
March 5, 1991
Page Two
III. Reasons for Recommendations and Background: (Cont.)
The proposed study is consistent with the transportation and circulation element policies of the
recently adopted County General Plan. The Plan identifies limitations to the ability of the
County's roadway system to serve planned development and calls for the improvement of transit
service to help accommodate future growth. It includes a Transit Network Plan identifying transit
corridors throughout i the county to provide a high speed alternative to driving alone on
congested freeways. Implementation Measure 5-r declares the County's intent to cooperate with
interested local jurisdictions, regional agencies, and transit operators to conduct a study of the
feasibility of implementing services such as commuter rail and urban rail with these Transit
Corridors. The proposed feasibility study represents an initial step in this effort.
The 1987 California Clean Air Act requires areas that have severe air quality problems to achieve
a vehicle occupancy rate of 1.5 persons per vehicle by 1997. Whereas the Bay Area has not
been determined to be a severely impacted area, it is imperative to start mapping a strategy to
attain this requirement. It is obvious that a major component of this strategy is a system of
relatively low cost rail transit using existing or abandoned railroad corridors.
The Congestion Management Program (CMP) required by the State requires, among other
things, a seven year capital improvement program to show how congestion will be managed for
routes in the CMP network. Federal and State flexible congestion relief funds will only go to
projects in this capital, improvement program. Decisions on, the type of projects and project
priorities will have to be made soon.
Last year, the County obtained legislative approval of $750,000 from the Petroleum Violation
Escrow Account (PVEA) to study the rail program in Contra Costa County. The study will
commence as soon as administrative approval from the U. S. Department of Energy is obtained.
Because many transportation policies and funding decisions will be impacted by the outcome
of the rail study, we recommend proceeding with the review of the different corridors and
refining the scope of work for the rail study.
IV. Consequences of Negative Action:
Should the Board reject this request, the possibility of developing an early transit alternative
scoping study, and identifying possible actions would be delayed. A$750,000 PEVA (Petroleum
Escrow Violation Account) grant study could be delayed and possibly lost if a workscope and
feasibility study information are not made available.