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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03241992 - TC.3 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra Costa FROM: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE - DATE: March 16, 1992 ia. s� County SUBJECT: Report on Transportation-related Legislation SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS , 1. Adopt the following positions on transportation-related Measures and advise the County's Legislative delegation of these positions: ACA 1 Local Sales Tax Measures WATCH AB 3093 Congestion Management Programs SUPPORT/AMEND SB 1141 Bicycle Lane Account Funding OPPOSE/AMEND SB 1700 Intercity Rail Commission WATCH 2 . Direct the Director of Public Works to work with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (Authority) to develop a joint position on the implementation the Federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act . (ISTEA) of 1991. FISCAL IMPACT None directly. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS On March 3 , the Board referred ACA 1 to the Transportation Committee. The Committee reviewed this proposed amendment and several other bills and recommends that the Board adopt positions as indicated. The Committee may propose additional positions on transportation-related bills in the future.. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X. YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNT ADMINISTRATOR X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER Ap SIGNATURE(S) : Robert I. Schroder Tom Torlakson ACTION OF BOARD ON Murch 24, 1992 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A XXUNANIMOUS (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 March 24, 1992 cc: Public Works PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF CAO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Smith and Ackler (via CDD) AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR R. McCleary, CCTA (via CDD) BY. .� , DEPUTY Transportation Related Legislation March 16, 1992 Page 2 Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1 WATCH In the recent case of Rider v. San Diego County, the California Supreme Court ruled that as a result of Proposition 13 , a proposed countywide sales tax for criminal justice facilities required a 2/3 vote of the electorate. Although the Rider decision did not invalidate local transportation sales tax measures, it created ambiguity concerning the validity of Measure C, which was approved by a majority of the County electorate in November 1988, and has hampered the efforts of some local authorities to sell bonds backed by local sales taxes. ACA 1 was prepared in response to that decision and would affirm the right of the voters to approve local transaction and use taxes upon approval by a simple majority vote. However, it is not certain that the voters would approve this constitutional amendment since it would make it easier to impose new taxes. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority is exploring other legislative remedies to address the impact of the Rider decision. A position by the Board on this issue should be deferred until these measures are introduced and evaluated. AB 3093 (KATZ) SUPPORT and AMEND This bill changes the requirement for preparation of congestion management programs (CMP) from annual to biennial. This schedule would be consistent with the schedule for both the regional and state transportation improvement programs, which include projects identified in the CMPs. The present requirement for an annual update of the CMP is considered onerous, expensive and unnecessary given the biennial nature of other transportation programming documents. This bill is supported by a statewide task force of CMP agencies established by Californians for Better Transportation. An additional concern with current CMP legislation is the requirement that CMPs are subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) , increasing the cost and time required to complete these programs. Since each individual project proposed in the CMP capital improvement program is subject to environmental review, it is recommended that AB 3093 be amended to exempt CMPs from the requirements of CEQA. SB 1141 (KILLER) OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED The Board adopted a position of support of this bill in April 1991. As written at that time, the bill would have increased the annual funding for non-motorized transportation in the State Bicycle Lane Account from $360, 000 to $5, 000, 000, using state gas tax funds. As presently amended, the bill would increase the allocation of gas tax revenues to the Bicycle Lane Account to $2,400, 000 annually, by transferring gas tax funds from cities and counties to the Account. In return, the cities and counties would have the opportunity to annually compete for $2 . 4 million in funds for bicycle projects (less any amount needed by Caltrans to administer the grant program) . The Transportation Committee recommends the County oppose this legislation unless amended. Although the amount of money transferred from the County's Road Fund to the State Bicycle Lane Account would be small, the likelihood of receiving funds from this account is probably smaller. The bill does not identify a new revenue source for bicycle projects, but uses existing funds from cities and counties for a few bikeway projects that meet certain state criteria. An alternative approach would be to allow local jurisdictions to use up to 1% of their local. gas tax monies for off-road bicycle/pedestrian facilities. If the bill is amended to provide this approach, a support position is recommended. Transportation Legislation March 16, 1992 Page 3 SB 1700 (KOPP, KILLEA, et. al. ) WATCH This bill would create the Intercity Rail Commission, a state entity to plan and implement intercity rail service. The bill also encourages private investment in high speed intercity rail, facilitates the integration of intercity rail with urban and commuter transit services, and assures that all passenger rail services are built and operated safely. It is recommended that this bill be monitored to ensure that it would not adversely affect local rail planning. FEDERAL INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT (ISTEA) In December, 1991, President Bush signed the 6 year federal surface transportation authorization act commonly known as the ISTEA. This new act completely overhauls the federal highway and mass transit programs. The ISTEA requires that each state adopt a biannual State Transportation Plan, something that California has not done for over 25 years. It allows a great degree of flexibility in the use of the funds and for the first time, provides urban areas with direct grant funds. Ever since the passage of the ISTEA, the state legislature, Caltrans, regional transportation planning commissions, county congestion management agencies, and recently, California State Association of Counties and the League of Cities have been working on legislation(s) to implement the ISTEA in California. Since this new act will be the blueprint for federal transportation program for the next several decades, it is important that Contra Costa develop a unified position on the implementation of the Act. Some of the issues that need to be resolved are listed below: 0 The State Transportation Plan process and its relationship with local and regional plans. 0 The use of the 2 percent set aside for planning purposes; would the cost of developing the County Transportation Plan and the Congestion Management Plan be an eligible use of these funds? 0 How much money should be set aside to replace the FAU and FAS program? 0 Should there be a guarantee for rural counties and rural regions in a suburban county? 0 What will be the process to develop the National Highway System? 0 How should the bridge replacement funds, the safety funds, and environmental enhancement funds be allocated? 0 What kind of modification on the county minimum formula will be necessary to meet federal intent? 0 How will the funds allocated to the region be programmed? Drafters of the state implementing legislation are moving rapidly. The Transportation Committee recommends that the Board direct the County staff to work with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to develop a county-wide position on how this legislation should address Contra Costa's future transportation needs.