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CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was called to order at 1:35 p.m. by Chairperson Kott in Conference Room B-104, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL

Members Present                       Members Present
Rajeev Batra                                  Michael Murdter
John Curtis                                    Jim Porter, Vice Chairperson
Don Dey                                        Julie Render, Ex-Officio
Robert Kass                                  Marvin Rose
Joseph Kott, Chairperson            Jim Rowe
Mike McNeely                              Ben Tripousis

Members Absent          

Mintze Cheng                           Ralph Qualls, Jr.
John Cherbone                        Gordon Siebert
Cathy Lazarus 

A quorum was present.

Member McNeely left his seat at 1:37 p.m.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentations.

Member McNeely took his seat at 1:38 p.m.

Minutes of April 8, 2004

M/S/C (McNeely/Curtis) to approve the Minutes of April 8, 2004.

Committee Staff Report

There was no Committee Staff Report.

Chairpersons Report

Chairperson Kott apologized for his absence at the March 2004 TAC meeting and he thanked Vice Chairperson Porter for Chairing the meeting.

BUSINESS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/ GENERAL MANAGER

FY 2004/05 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Project Priorities

John Sighamony, Transportation Planner, noted that there is about $2.6 million to program.   He distributed the revised attachment A and highlighted that Milpitas and Monte Sereno will forgo their TDA Article 3 amounts in exchange of Measure B Bicycle projects.  He stated that three Tier 1 Bicycle projects are ready to go in this funding cycle.  Sunnyvale will donate a portion of their TDA guaranteed amount to Mary Avenue for the Bicycle program, thus, Cupertino will have their amount and the Sunnyvale share.

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Committee reviewed and commented on the recommendation of the Board of Directors to approve project priorities for the 2004/05 Countywide TDA Article 3 program. 

2004 Monitoring and Conformance Program Services

Murali Ramanujam, Assistant Transportation Engineer, stated that the consultants will be assisting VTA staff in the collection and analysis of data.   He reported that Requests For Proposals (RFP) were sent to about 38 firms and eight firms attended the pre-proposal meeting.  He added that the consultants proposals will be opened on May 17, 2004. 

Mr. Ramanujam noted that since there will be no advisory committee meetings in June 2004, staff will present the memo to the Congestion Management Program and Planning Committee on May 26, 2004 and subsequently to the Board of Directors on  June 17, 2004.

Mr. Ramanujam noted that the Monitoring and Conformance Program Services contract is a three-year contract with an option to extend two years. The Monitoring and Conformance Report will be completed in Spring of 2005. 

Mr. Ramanujam noted that the exercise was not done last year due to budget constraints. He added that VTA is required by law to do the Monitoring and Conformance Report once every two years.

Member Dey queried about VTAs practice to hire consultants for this type of work.  Chris Augenstein, Principal Transportation Planner, replied that VTA does not have the capacity to do some of the work scope such as aerial photography.

Member Batra inquired whether the eight firms are local firms.                Mr. Ramanujam explained that because of the scope and nature of work, there were only a few local firms.  He added that the data collection for this type of report is very specialized compared to regular engineering work.

Member Kott inquired if the Monitoring and Conformance Report will be done annually from this point.  Mr. Ramanujam noted that it is the intention, but the Board of Directors have to approve it.

Member Dey inquired about the past contract amount.  Mr. Ramanujam replied that it was about $125,000.

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Committee received and filed the 2004 Monitoring and Conformance Program Services. 

Community Design and Transportation (CDT) Program, Planning Grants Program Application Procedures and Evaluation Criteria

Mr. Augenstein stated that the Planning Grants Program is an outgrowth of CDT.   He noted that this is the financial incentive Member Agencies requested to be attached in the CDT Program. 

Mr. Auguenstein referred to Attachment A (Project Application Process and Evaluation Criteria) and noted that this has been reviewed staff, Capital Improvement Program of   TAC, selected city staff, and Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).  Staffs goal is to create a process that is parallel to MTC to make it easier for denied applicants to apply to the CDT Planning grant or MTC Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) grants or vice versa. 

Mr. Augenstein noted that the two pieces to the grant program are the policy planning projects and capital planning projects.   He stated that VTA is taking a lead in this kind of program and highlighted that MTC is trying to pattern the revisions to the TLC program to the CDT Planning Grants Program.   He briefly explained that the policy planning projects include strategic planning studies and pedestrian master planning projects.

Member Dey inquired about the life of the program cycle.   Mr. Augenstein replied that there is enough money for the next three years.  He added that within those three years, staff will look for funding to keep the program running.

Member McNeely inquired about the availability of the grant monies to cities whose projects are already underway.   He noted that cities should not be disqualified simply because the project has already been funded by the city. 

Mr. Augenstein stated that these types of projects will be looked at on a case by case basis.   He added that cities that already funded the project may qualify for the grant if they choose to expand the project.  He noted that staff will look into that issue. 

Upon query of Member Batra, Mr. Augenstein explained that the $75,000 grant for capital planning projects was patterned after MTC.   He further explained that staff researched with cities and noted that there is a wide range of costs for policy planning.  Staff decided to increase the amount to $150,000 for policy planning grants and determine how people would respond.  He emphasized that it is a new program and staff will re-evaluate the program fund amounts after the first cycle. 

Member Tripousis left his seat at 1:50 p.m.

Member Batra expressed concern on the amounts of the grants and suggested more flexibility in the amount and noted that some projects have multiple jurisdictions and might merit a higher amount. 

Member Tripousis took his seat at 1:53 p.m.

Upon query of Member Curtis, Mr. Augenstein clarified that to qualify for the grant, the application should clearly show the project scope and definition.   He noted that the process is patterned after MTC.

M/S/C (Kass/Batra) to recommend equalizing the amounts between policy planning and capital planning grants and further recommended to approve the procedures and Evaluation Criteria for selecting and awarding for the CDT Program Planning Grants.

Program Local Program Reserve Funds to Montague Expressway Widening and  I-680 Soundwall Gap at Jacklin Road

John Ristow, Program and Highway Administration Deputy Director, provided a brief overview and noted that VTA created a Local Program Reserve (LPR) where federal dollars were swapped to create a reserve of funds for specified projects in need of utilizing local monies. 

Mr. Ristow stated that in 2000, $3.2 million in LPR was programmed for the Montague Expressway Widening Project.  Since there was a projected 1996 Measure B funding shortfall in 2003, the $3.2 million was reprogrammed to the Route 87 landscaping project to guarantee sufficient local matching funds for the GARVEE bond funding.

Mr. Ristow explained that currently, the 1996 Measure B is in better financial situation and has sufficient funding for the landscaping of Route 87.   Staff now recommends returning and reprogramming the $3.2 million back to the Montague Expressway Widening project. 

Mr. Ristow noted that the soundwall is associated with the I-680 Widening Project where Caltrans, Alameda Congestion Management Agency, and VTA are partners.  He noted that construction of the soundwalls has begun but a portion in Milpitas was mistakenly not completed.  He stated that staff recommends using landscaping funds for SR-237 that are not currently needed to fill in the gap.  He noted that it is a good opportunity to complete the sound mitigation required by the project instead of waiting for the availability of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds in 2008/09.

Member McNeely thanked VTA for assisting in the resolution of the soundwall gap issue.  He suggested using all the $558,000 available funds.  He stated that Alameda County will administer the gap closure of the soundwall in Milpitas.

Mr. Ristow added that VTA is committed to continue funding the entire I-680 project. 

Manuel Gabriel, interested citizen, showed pictures of his property.  He noted that the soundwall was presented to their neighborhood in 2001.  He noted that earlier this year, their neighborhood found out that the soundwall will not be built.  He stated that the noise level is high.  Mr. Ristow clarified that the original Caltrans soundwall plan included this segment.  The gap was created as a result of modifications in the project.

Member Curtis inquired about Caltrans funding share on the gap closure.  Mr. Ristow clarified that Caltrans is only the delivery agent for this project.  Member McNeely added that Caltrans has no funding available.

Lita Gabriel, interested citizen, noted that the soundwall was introduced, planned and agreed upon in 2001.  She noted their neighborhood was not notified of the change in the soundwall plan.  She stated that the neighborhood became proactive and met with the City of Milpitas and Caltrans to resolve the issue.  She noted that the soundwall should be built the way it was originally agreed upon.   

Ed Blake, interested citizen, urged the Committee to support the closure of the soundwall gap.  He stated that they have been in this kind of situation for about 27 years now and expansion of the freeway has made the noise louder.  He noted that the current community wall structure does not alleviate the noise problem.

Kevin Kim, interested citizen, stated that the soundwall does not stop the vibration but will lessen the noise.  He urged that the soundwall be built now instead of waiting for the 2008/09 STIP funds.

Chairperson Kott expressed appreciation to the public speakers for coming to the meeting.

M/S/C (McNeely/Murdter) to approve the recommendation to the Board of Directors to program $3.2 million in Local Program Reserve funds to the County of Santa Claras Montague Expressway Widening project and amend the amount from $500,000 to $558,000 in local Program Reserve Funds for construction of a soundwall on I-680 at Jacklin Road, and authorize the General Manager to enter into funding agreements with the County of Santa Clara and the Alameda CMA.

Proposed Process and Criteria for Programming Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) Funds to Local Streets and Roads Rehabilitation Projects in 2005/06 and 2006/07

Mr. Ristow noted that this is the first installment of Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21) Reauthorization and stated that MTC is ready to initiate the funding flow.  Mr. Ristow noted there is about $16 million to be programmed and these funds could be used through the categories assigned by MTC and allocations within the Countywide Plan.  He further noted that the cities individual Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is working on how to allocate and establish criteria for how monies will be used on the local cities.

Member Batra queried how the formula was developed.  Mr. Ristow stated that the criteria for allocation were based on the Needs Survey done by each city that was submitted to MTC. 

Member McNeely expressed concern that some of the cities work on the Needs Survey was not used.  Member Tripousis stated that MTC set the criteria.  He noted that this allocation and the next cycle will be for Metropolitan Transportation System (MTS). 

Member Batra referred to the second bullet on Page 2 (Eligible Uses) and inquired about the limited flexibility on non-MTS roads.  Mr. Ristow stated that staff will follow-up on the issue.  He distributed the official call for projects hand out from MTC entitled Local Streets and Roads Shortfall Program Second Cycle TEA-21 Reauthorization and noted that the hand out will be sent to city staff.  With regard to the non-MTS roads,  Mr. Sighamony noted that cities should submit a letter to MTC if they dont have MTS.

Member Tripousis added that allocation is predicated on the MTS mileage.  The flexibility occurs when cities self certify. 

Mr. Ristow reviewed the next steps in the process.  He noted that the call for projects from MTC will be released to each city after approval of VTA Board of Directors.  The cities could submit their applications and staff will process it through MTC.

Member Kass expressed concern regarding cities that are receiving less monies because they have less MTS.

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Committee reviewed and commented on the proposed process and criteria for programming Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds to local streets and roads rehabilitation projects in 2005/06 and 2006/07.

Member Curtis left the meeting at 2:36 p.m.

Member Tripousis left his seat at 2:36 p.m.

Proactive CMP Reviewed and Approved Projects Quarterly Status Report

Samantha Swan, Transportation Planner, noted a minor change on the Santa Clara University Baseball Stadium project (Page 4 of attachment) and stated that the City of Santa Claras   response will be eliminated.  She noted that it will be replaced with the information that there will be two bike racks with capacity for 60 bicycles.

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Committee received and filed the Proactive CMP Reviewed and Approved Projects Quarterly Status Report.

FY 04-05 Congestion Management Program Work Program and Amended Budget

  Member Tripousis took his sat at 2:37 p.m.

  Mr. Ristow distributed a hand out relating to the Recent History of Member Agency Fees.   He noted the Boards concern regarding the fee increase at the time of budget constraints.  He further noted the Boards inquiry about the deferred or deleted items in the work program and referred to the second hand out entitled Impacts of 18 percent reduction of FY 03-04 Member Agency Fees.  He noted that some of the programs that were deferred need to be completed this year comply with the law. 

Member Kass suggested to use the FY 03-04 as baseline to show the percentage increase for FY 04-05.  He noted that all the cities are struggling and it would be difficult to ask for an increase on the fees.

Member Rose commented that the increase was delayed last year.  He expressed concern that there should be a cut on the fees.

Member Murdter stated that VTA should not be penalized for the delay of the increase last year.  He noted that if the reduction was not done, the cities will still be faced with the same increase as it is proposed today. He stated that the fees being collected covers for costs for mandatory and discretionary projects.  He stated that the two issues of increasing fees and reducing the work plan should be reconciled and balanced. 

With regard to the work plan, Member Rose noted that the discretionary items should be reviewed and prioritized in the future. 

  M/S/C (Rose/Murdter) to recommend to the Board of Directors to approve the FY 04-05 Congestion Management Program Work Program and Amended budget with an amendment to keep the rates for FY 02-03 and further recommended not to add an additional seven percent on top of the FY 02-03 rates.  Member Tripousis opposed.

Announcements

There were no announcements.

ADJOURNMENT

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine F. Baltao, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors