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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 04221997 - D1 - _ Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa <., FROM: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE County DATE: April 7, 1997 SUBJECT: State Toll Bridge Revenues SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS Adopt a resolution (Exhibit A) in opposition to the diversion of Regional Measure 1 funds for the seismic retrofit of state bridges as requested by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission . FISCAL IMPACT None to County General Funds. Diversion of Regional Measure 1 funds for seismic retrofit would delay implementation of the bridge projects for the Carquinez and Benicia-Martinez Bridges. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS In 1988, voters of the Bay Area approved Regional Measure 1 , which increased the tolls on all state-owned toll bridges in the Bay Area to a uniform one dollar rate. The CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER T SIGNATURE(S): Donna G beo anciamilla ACTION OF BOARD ON: April 22, 1997 A41ROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A g 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 April 22, 1997 Contact: Ernest Vovakis, 335-1243 PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF cc: Public Works Dept. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MTC (via CDD) ' AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Smith & Kempton (via CDD) BY li . , DEPUTY DI State Toll Bridge Revenues April 7, 1997 Page 2 funds generated by the increased toll were assigned to highway, road and bridge improvements, rail transit extensions and other projects that reduce congestion on the bridges, including construction of a new span for the Benicia-Martinez Bridge and reconstruction or replacement of the western span of the Carquinez Bridge. Since the 1989 Loma Prieta and the 1994 Northridge earthquakes, seismic retrofit of state bridges has become a high priority. In 1996, voters approved Proposition 192, a $2 billion bond measure for this purpose. However, it has been determined by Caltrans that those funds will not be sufficient to retrofit all the bridges. Legislators are looking at various other funding sources, including Regional Measure 1 . On March 11 , the Board of Supervisors referred a request from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to consider a resolution in opposition to the diversion of Regional Measure 1 funds for the seismic retrofit of state toll bridges to the Transportation Committee. The MTC resolution included four principles regarding bridge tolls and seismic retrofit funding. The Transportation Committee discussed these principles at its meeting of April 7 and makes the following recommendations to the Board concerning the four principles: 1 . The statewide shortfall needed to fund seismic retrofit of the state's tog bridges should be closed with an equitable combination of non-toff and new tog revenue in order to protect the Regional Measure 7 program. The Committee concurs. 2. Any tog increase on the Bay Bridge should include a higher peak-period tog to reduce traffic congestion. The Committee does not support higher tolls during peak periods of congestion. 3. Recent construction experience on the Bay Bridge reinforces the notion that the funding package should include a traffic mitigation program of additional transit and ridesharing services. The Committee recommends that a traffic mitigation program for the Bay Bridge be limited to measures that directly relieve the impacts of the retrofit project, whether it be reconstruction of the existing span or replacement with a new span. Funds should not be directed to existing transit services, but limited to new or enhanced service which is designed to relieve project-related congestion. 4. To protect bridge tog revenue from any future diversions, all existing tog revenue from Bay Area bridges should be transferred from the California Transportation Commission to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for administration. The Committee supports the transfer of administration of toll revenues to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on April 22, 1997 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Uilkema, Gerber, Canciamilla, and DeSaulnier NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None RESOLUTION NO. 97/ 208 SUBJECT: IN SUPPORT OF PRESERVING ) REGIONAL MEASURE 1 FUNDING ) WHEREAS, in November 1988, Bay Area voters approved Regional Measure 1 and authorized a standard bridge auto toll of one dollar ($1) for the seven state-owned Bay Area toll bridges; and WHEREAS, the additional revenues generated by the toll increase were committed to highway and bridge improvements, public transit rail extensions, and other projects to reduce traffic congestion on the Bay bridges; and WHEREAS, the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 and Northridge earthquake of 1994 increased pressure to fund seismic safety needs statewide; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County of Contra Costa opposes the diversion of existing bridge toll revenues for seismic retrofit funding. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Contra Costa endorses the following principles regarding bridge tolls and seismic retrofit funding: • The statewide shortfall needed to fund seismic retrofit of the state's toll bridges should be closed with an equitable combination of non-toll and new toll revenue in order to protect the Regional Measure 1 program. • The funding package should include a traffic mitigation program that is limited in scope to mitigating those traffic operational impacts that are directly related to the retrofit program. Funds should not be directed to existing transit and ridesharing services, but should be limited to new or enhanced services that are designed to relieve project-related congestion. • Administration of all existing toll revenue from Bay Area toll bridges should be transferred from the California Transportation Commission to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. EV/aw misc:/meal.res Orig. Dept.: Ernie Vovakis, CDD (510/335-1243) cc: Community Development Department Smith &Kempton Public Works Department John Gregory, CAO MTC RESOLUTION 97/ 208