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Modified VTA Quarter Cent Sales Tax Scenario Recommendation
Carolyn Gonot, Chief Development Officer, noted at the December 1, 2005 VTA Board of Directors Meeting the Board considered the Modified VTA Quarter Cent Sales Tax Scenario Recommendation and the City of San Jose’s Position on the Expenditure Plan. VTA staff has not had the opportunity to evaluate the impact of the City of San Jose’s Position on the Expenditure Plan. The Modified Scenario Recommendation and VTA analysis of the City of San Jose Position will be agendized for the Advisory Committees January 2006. Formal Board action is anticipated in February 2006.
Jack Collins, Chief Construction Officer, presented an overview of the Modified VTA Quarter Cent Sales Tax Scenario Recommendation. Mr. Collins noted that the scenario has been modified to include the Airport People Mover in the Initial Program while significantly preserving all other projects in the VTA Scenario. Mr. Collins noted the Modified Scenario presents a financially restrained plan with projects divided into Initial and Completion Programs. He noted the Initial Program represents an acknowledgement of projects that could be funded and a Completion Program for projects where additional funding sources would be sought. The Completion Program balance was significantly reduced from $1.9 million to $1.3 million in the Modified VTA Scenario to include the Airport People Mover in the Initial Program. The Pavement Management Program remains in the Initial Program with the utilization of proposed additional bond financing from the City of San Jose. The City of San Jose would arrange the bond financing for VTA of $250 million by 2014. VTA would make interest payments until 2018. The remaining principal and interest would be paid back to the City of San Jose in three installments from the years 2019 to 2021. With this alternative there is no need for interim premium bus service.
Mr. Collins reported that a preferred transit mode alternative has not been selected for the Santa Clara/Alum Rock Transit Corridor. When the preferred transit mode alternative is selected, the corridor project will move from the Completion Program into the Initial Program. The Modified Scenario allocates $103 million in expenditure funding in the Initial Program. To maintain this corridor project in the Initial Program the ending balance of the Initial Program must be reduced to $94 million.
Mr. Collins advised PAC that the VTA Modified Scenario retains the Pavement Management Management/County Roads/Bicycle/Pedestrian Program, the Sunnyvale/Cupertino Bus Rapid Transit Corridor, an increase to the senior/disabled programs, and overall service from 12.4 percent to 24 percent. Phasing the increase in service component from 2020 to 2023 will result in reduction of the overall estimated cost of the program.
Mr. Collins noted VTA is in the preliminary engineering stage for both the Eastridge and Nieman extensions. The Initial Program slates Eastridge Light Rail by late 2018, as annual updates are made to the Revenue and Expenditure Plan and as funding permits, the completion dates of these projects will escalate. Mr. Collins noted bus service would be increased between Eastridge and Neiman as warranted. A detailed analysis of expenditures and revenues for the Modified 2000 Measure A Capital Investment Program is noted on Attachment 1, VTA 2000 Measure A Transit Program Modified VTA Scenario-November 2005.
Chairperson Kishimoto requested staff summarize the San Jose Position Letter.
Mr. Collins informed PAC that VTA staff has not had the opportunity to analyze the impact of the San Jose Position Letter. Ms. Gonot noted the letter was presented at the Board of Directors Meeting December 1, 2005, and no action was taken. The Modified VTA Scenario and the San Jose Position will go before the Board in February 2006. Member LeZotte noted that the San Jose Position Letter contains recommendations of the San Jose City Council Members on the proposed VTA Expenditure Plan distributed October 6, 2005.
Chairperson Kishimoto informed PAC that the Modified VTA Scenario will be agendized for the January 12, 2006 PAC Meeting. Member Sandoval queried if the VTA staff analysis will be completed for review by the January 2006 PAC Meeting, and suggested that PAC focus this portion of the meeting on the Modified VTA Scenario reserving discussion of the San Jose Position Letter for the January 12, 2006 meeting.
Member Sandoval noted on Page 3 of 4 Item #2 of the VTA 2000 Measure A Transit Program Modified VTA Scenario-November 2005, referencing the statement public support of the Airport People Mover Project is high and queried where the data substantiating that statement originated. Mr. Collins answered that input from VTA Advisory Committees indicated positive re-enforcement regarding the Airport People Mover concept. Member Sandoval noted that she is not committed to a particular mode of transit for the People Mover and the cost of the various recommended modes will be influential in her choice. Member Sandoval requested an approximate date of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) indicating the preferred transit alternatives for the Santa Clara/Alum Rock Transit Corridor. Ms. Gonot indicated FTA will review the draft EIR and does not expect adoption of the document until April 2007.
Vice Chairperson Glickman suggested PAC review the Modified VTA Scenario,
San Jose Position Letter, and the Morgan Hill/Gilroy/Milpitas Letters at the PAC meeting of January 2006 and advise the Board of PAC considerations to these scenarios at their February 2006 Board Meeting. Vice Chairperson Glickman additionally suggested members review the aforementioned data and scenarios, returning to PAC in January 2006 ready for review and comment on the issues.
Member Brodsky suggested the Airport People Mover should quickly and efficiently transport passengers from Mineta International Airport to the Diridon Station.
Member Brodsky expressed concern the EIR reflect economical strategic choices as the preferred alternatives for the Airport People Mover.
Member Perry advised PAC the combined populations of Milpitas, San Jose, and Santa Clara could fund BART with the pro rata share for those cities of the quarter cent sales tax. Member Perry suggested allowing the remaining cities select their particular transit needs utilizing their pro rata share of the quarter cent sales tax.
Chairperson Kishimoto expressed her support of the City of San Jose working with VTA to secure additional bonding capacity for the Airport People Mover. Chairperson Kishimoto queried regarding the BART premium and requested PAC review the data, additionally noting commuter rail is constructed as the need is warranted versus BART, which is constructed simultaneously with higher bonding costs and operating deficits.
Chairperson Kishimoto suggested forming a subcommittee to consider potential motions depicting the range of thoughts of PAC concerning the Modified VTA Scenario and San Jose Position. Alternate Member Kennedy concurred with forming a subcommittee and suggested the cities that benefit from the high cost transit alternatives should bear the cost.
Margaret Okuzumi, Executive Director BayRail Alliance, expressed concern that BART extensions in other counties have resulted in large cost overruns and prioritizing BART in the primary position will create funding shortages. She noted articles in the San Jose Business Journal, Mountain View Voice authored by Sherman Lewis, and The Palo Alto Weekly.
Member Kline expressed concern regarding the cities proportionality issue.
Member Kline supports the Modified VTA Scenario as best for the region and stated that for many years the region has supported and vested in Caltrain for the benefit of a small portion of the County. He noted the Caltrain system returns a small percentage of transit ridership and if Caltrain service is discontinued the impact would minimally affect the 101 Corridor in comparison to a BART closure significantly affecting the City of San Francisco, Highway 880 Corridor, and 280 Highway Corridor. Member Kline agreed certain factions of Caltrain are in need of updating, but is intensely dedicated and committed to providing mass transit to the community where none has previously been available. Member Kline advised that counting ridership is the key in justifying service and noted electrification is a case in point due to lack of ridership, and prefers investing in double tracking to South County along Caltrain or other sensible choices focusing on potential ridership numbers.
Member Kline informed PAC that ridership numbers, farebox recovery, and cost of transportation should continue to be the primary focus involved in the decision-making process with the Modified VTA Scenario.
Member LeZotte added there is not sufficient time to constructively submit additional scenarios to the Board and clarified the City of San Jose has not advocated the least cost effective mode to get BART to Santa Clara. Member LeZotte drew the Committee’s attention that BART through San Jose to Santa Clara has perennially remained an underground mode due to practicality issues. Member LeZotte noted BART to Santa Clara is without exception a regional transit concept.
Alternate Member Ojakian, referencing a Town Hall Meeting, noted California State Senator from the 11th Senate District Joe Simitian, addressed the BART issue and he related ridership and potential ridership information.
M/S/F (Kennedy/Perry) on a vote of 7 Ayes to 4 Noes, to 0 Abstentions to appoint a subcommittee from each of the five city groupings to work with VTA staff to review the existing Modified VTA Scenario, and The San Jose Position developing alternative compromise scenario recommendations to the VTA Board of Directors. Members Caserta, Glickman, Kline, and Sandoval opposed the motion.
Member Sandoval suggested PAC extend the length of the January 12, 2006 meeting to address the Modified VTA Scenario and San Jose Position and implored the chair and vice chair to formulate a strategic plan to structure the discussion. Ms. Gonot advised PAC the January 12, 2006 agenda will agendize the Modified VTA Scenario, Litter Removal and Landscape Maintenance Program-Update, and the Paratransit Eligibility Certification Process.
Vice Chairperson Glickman suggested PAC Members prepare comments and recommendations regarding the Modified VTA Scenario and the San Jose Position Letter to contribute at the January 12, 2006 PAC Meeting.
Member Perry expressed his concern that a path to agreement on the Modified VTA Scenario and San Jose Position will be a difficult task for PAC to achieve.
On order of Chairperson Kishimoto, there being no objection, the Committee discussed the recommended VTA Scenario.
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