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Chairperson´s Report
Chairperson Sandoval reported that she recently met with PAC Vice Chairperson Kishimoto, VTA Board of Directors Vice Chairperson Pirzynski and VTA Policy and Program Manager, Joanne Benjamin, to discuss PAC Committee issues.
She reported that the June 10, 2004 meeting agenda would include a discussion item regarding the Committee´s workplan to determine what items have been covered, what items are pending, and if there are items to be added to the workplan.
Chairperson Sandoval requested each PAC Member to return to their city grouping and discuss the potential for community-based bus service using smaller buses.
Vice Chairperson Kishimoto noted that a number of communities in the Valley are requesting more community-based shuttle services utilizing smaller vehicles. Vice Chairperson Kishimoto stated community-based shuttle services could be incorporated with global positioning services, be community friendly, and compliment regional links such as Caltrain, bus rapid transit, and High Occupancy Lane (HOV) express buses.
Member Glickman took his seat at 4:12 p.m.
Chairperson Sandoval announced that she would invite a representative from the Palo Alto Stanford Shuttle to a future PAC meeting to provide an overview of community-based shuttle service consisting of small buses that travel between Line 22 and Line 23 serving the community. Chairperson Sandoval requested that city groupings meet, discuss the concept, and put together a timeline to move forward and develop a priority list.
Member Kennedy took his seat at 4:14 p.m.
In response to query from Member Caserta, Chairperson Sandoval explained that discussion with city groupings would ideally take place in the next month or so. She noted that discussion should focus on whether or not any cities would be able to utilize this type of service and if so in what time frame. She noted for example, that Los Gatos might be able to utilize this type of bus service earlier than Cupertino; however, since Campbell is also in the West Valley City Grouping, Campbell would be invited to provide input at the West Valley Cities Group Meeting.
Member Glickman acknowledged the troubling article recently printed in the San Jose Mercury News regarding the future of BART and noted that if community-based shuttle services were in place some of the conclusions reached in that report might have been different.
Member Chu took his seat at 4:19 p.m.
John Ristow, Deputy Director, Programming and Highway Administration, explained that VTA staff is in the process of developing a more informative and accurate Fact Sheet in response to some of the information contained in the San Jose Mercury New article. He reported that VTA would review and accommodate any changes in routes impacted by proposed new stations/alignment that will occur when BART is operational in San Jose.
Member Glickman noted that his impression from reading the newspaper article was that the concern was, would people really use BART taking into consideration the possible existence of a community-based bus shuttle infrastructure that would be in place sooner than the long-term extensions.
Member Kennedy recommended the Committee endorse the Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) 2030 Program Allocations and Project Lists Recommendations included in a letter to the VTA Board of Directors dated April 22, 2004, from the County Board of Supervisors signed by Vice Chairperson Liz Kniss.
Vice Chairperson Kishimoto noted that as discussed at the PAC planning session the intent of the PAC Committee is to be aware beforehand what items will be presented to the Board of Directors to allow for input on a countywide basis. She noted that the 30-year expenditure plan referred to in the letter from the Santa Clara County Supervisors dated April 22, 2004, was a key item coming up for VTA Board consideration in the fall of 2004. Vice Chairperson Kishimoto stated that the purpose of the 30-year expenditure plan is to prioritize all of the Measure A projects to determine what projects can be completed within the 30 years.
Chairperson Sandoval requested a draft of the 30-year expenditure plan prior to VTA Board consideration
Vice Chairperson Kishimoto noted review of the Measure A project list and discussion of priorities by each city and city group would benefit the PAC Committee in making a recommendation to the Board of Directors.
Member Furtado inquired in regard to community-based transit, where funding would come from. Chairperson Sandoval replied that funding has not been identified but that it is included in VTA's master plan and stressed the value of forward thinking. She noted that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) provides community grant funding that may apply and noted that this and other funding sources should be reviewed.
Vice Chairperson Kishimoto noted that the VTA Board of Directors has indicated that they encouraged PAC to take a more proactive role in policy decisions.
Member Perry noted his support of local community-based shuttles and felt that VTA planning and funding should also be community-based.
Member Brodsky noted his support of local city controlled and node defined community-based transit service with the HOV network running high-speed service between nodes to provide local circulation, distribution and regional high-speed, which has the capacity to build an infrastructure before BART is ready. Secondly, he stated his support of the recommendations from the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors included their letter dated April 22, 2004.
Member King took her seat at 4:36 p.m.
Member Brodsky urged that two items be agendized for the June 10, 2004 PAC Meeting as follows: 1) a discussion on the 30-year expenditure plan, and 2) a discussion regarding segmenting the BART project.
Member Kerr expressed his support for the idea of community-based shuttle service using smaller buses.
Member Kerr stated that something must be done on a policy level regarding the controversy over BART, noting that VTA Board of Directors seem hesitant to address the issue right now, perhaps due to the current makeup of the Board. He stated that perhaps the PAC Committee is a good place to get started and suggested forming a cooperative study group to include members from the San Jose Mercury editorial board, PAC, and other community leaders to resolve the issues surrounding BART. Member Kerr described some of the issues: 1) how will BART be funded, 2) how will operating cost be funded, and 3) can the project be funded even if a sales tax increase is passed in 2006. He reported looking into the issue with several other community leaders including some from the congressional delegation, and there is serious concern about the BART project and whether or not it could be operated even with a tax increase. Member Kerr stated that he feels that this is what the San Jose Mercury News, the community, and the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors are concerned about. Member Kerr stated that the BART issue is the big elephant in the room at every meeting and if no one else is willing to solve the issues PAC Members should attempt to engage some of the other constituencies who have an interest.
Member Ojakian expressed his support of the community-based shuttle service using smaller buses. He noted that the Mayors of Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and East Palo Alto meet several times a year as a sub-regional committee. In 2002 they conducted a transit summit meeting and it was suggested that the three city's transportation staff create synergies between each of their local shuttles. Member Ojakian noted two things that may be helpful when studying the concept: 1) getting lessons learned regarding how the synergies have or have not worked, and 2) creating an umbrella organization where linking co-routes can be created.
Chairperson Sandoval requested that each city go to their individual city staff to discuss specific Measure A priority lists and their specific priorities for that list. She requested that each city grouping prioritize those projects in each area to decide what is most important to each city group and requested that a discussion of the results be placed on the June 10, 2004 PAC Meeting Agenda.
Chairperson Sandoval encouraged the idea of a subcommittee approach regarding the BART issue.
Chairperson Sandoval suggested a group of PAC volunteers meet with BART staff to study the issue of segmenting the BART project to understand why it will not work and return to the June 10, 2004 PAC Meeting with their findings.
John Ristow noted that the BART PAB has been taking up all of the issues and suggested a review of some of the items they have gone over and made decisions on would be helpful.
Chairperson Sandoval requested a BART Policy Advisory Board (PAB) Membership Roster.
Member Caserta reported that at their last city council meeting VTA Board Member McLemore clarified that the San Jose Mercury News did not correctly quote him and that the City of Santa Clara does not support segmenting BART.
Member Kennedy stated that the discussion should be about how BART can be funded in such a way as not to jeopardize other projects.
Chairperson Sandoval responded that is part of the 30-year expenditure plan and PAC would like to see the plan before it goes to the Board to have a meaningful discussion and provide input to the Board of Directors.
Member Brodsky stressed his belief that segmenting BART will provide the opportunity not only to fund BART but also to save funding for other projects.
Member Kerr noted that if the subcommittee were limited to research regarding segmenting the BART project he would not be interested in sitting on that subcommittee. Vice Chairperson Kishimoto noted that the focus of the subcommittee would be to frame a motion or suggestion regarding the BART Project and the BART EIR in general.
Member Kerr reported that the entire plan as is being studied for the EIR was presented at the VTA/BART Joint Meeting on May 7, 2004. He noted that he envisions the subcommittee focusing on BART and making a recommendation to forward to the Board of Directors to resolve the BART impasse.
Members Kerr, Perry, Kennedy, Brodsky, and Kishimoto volunteered to serve on a BART Ad-Hoc Committee to review, and make a recommendation for the PAC to forward to the Board of Directors.
Member King requested further clarification from Member Caserta regarding the San Jose Mercury article. Member Caserta explained that Mr. McLemore was misquoted by the San Jose Mercury news his statement was that 71 percent of the voters were not in favor of segmenting the BART project.
Chairperson Sandoval requested a review and comment item regarding the 30-year expenditure plan be placed on the June 10, 2004, Agenda.
Chairperson Sandoval asked the Committee if they would like to meet in July of 2004 to review and provide input on the 30-year expenditure plan scheduled to go before the Board of Directors in August 2004.
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