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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 Vice Chairperson Yoshino in Conference Room B-104, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL

A quorum was present.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentations.

Minutes of March 10, 2005

M/S/C (Rowe/Collen) to approve the Minutes of March 10, 2005. 

Committee Staff Report

John Sighamony, Transportation Planner II, provided a status report on the Freeway Litter Control and Replacement Landscaping Program Study.   He noted that VTA executed a contract with the consultant, TY Lin, during the month of March 2005.   Mr. Sighamony reported that VTA will converse with Caltrans on how they handle litter and indicated that VTA and the consultant would be preparing an initial report and that the report would be provided to TAC at their May 12, 2005 Meeting.

Member Likens took her seat at 1:36 p.m.

Carolyn M. Gonot, Chief Development Officer, noted that the Board of Directors’ Workshop Meeting would be held on Friday, April 22, 2005 at 8:30 a.m.   She noted that the Draft Long-Term Transit Capital Investment Program would be discussed at the Workshop and indicated that VTA would be sending out information on April 20, 2005, containing formal positions taken by the cities.   Ms. Gonot noted that the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) will develop a position and will provide a recommendation to the Board of Directors and that the Downtown East Valley Policy Advisory Board will provide a recommendation to the Board of Directors regarding their alignment option.

Member Cherbone took his seat at 1:40 p.m.

Ms. Gonot reported that VTA sent the Board of Directors a memorandum regarding general comments VTA received on the Draft Long-Term Transit Capital Investment Program and provided a brief report on the general comments received.   She noted that the memorandum would be included in the April 22, 2005 Board of Directors’ Workshop Agenda packet. 

Member Tripousis took his seat at 1:41 p.m.

Ms. Gonot noted that staff would provide a report to TAC at their May 12, 2005 Meeting regarding the direction the Board of Directors would like to take on the Draft Long-Term Transit Capital Investment Program.

On order of Vice Chairperson Yoshino, there being no objection, the Committee Staff Report was received.

Chairperson’s Report

There was no Chairperson’s Report.

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

FY 2005-06 Transportation Fund for Clean Air Program Manager Fund Program

Jane Shinn, Management Analyst, distributed a revised version of Attachment A,  Santa Clara County FY 2005 Transportation Fund for Clean Air Program Manager (TFCA 40%) Program, and provided an overview.  She directed attention to the three competitive projects listed in Attachment A and noted that approximately $890,000 in TFCA funds has been identified for the projects.  The Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) Project funds would be swapped with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds.  

Ms. Shinn noted that after the Call of Projects was closed, the City of Milpitas requested a cancellation of a project, and the extra money was programmed into one of City of Milpitas’ existing projects. 

M/S/C (Rose/Tripousis) to review and recommend that VTA Board of Directors approve the programming of FY 2005-06 Transportation Fund for Clean Air Program Manager (TFCA 40%) funds to projects, and further approve a fund exchange with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) whereby VTA would exchange TFCA 40% funds for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to be used to fund the Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) projects. 

Proposed Process and Criteria for Programming Additional Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) Funds to Local Streets and Roads Rehabilitation Projects in Fiscal Year 2005-06

Marcella Rensi, Transportation Planning Manager, referred to the federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds to local streets and roads rehabilitation projects in Fiscal Year 2005-06 and noted that MTC found additional dollars in the amount of $105 million.   As of the week of April 11, 2005, MTC found another $12.5 million, which was a set-aside barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Ms. Rensi noted that the original $105 million was divided around the region, and the majority of the funds were actually going to backfill projects in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).   Five Million Dollars went towards air quality projects, and the remainder of the funds were split between the long-term transit capital and long-term local streets and roads shortfalls. Ms. Rensi indicated that staff is recommending that TAC approve the proposed process and criteria for distributing the STP funds and noted that MTC has requested that VTA submit final programming for the STP funds to MTC by July 1, 2005.

M/S/C (Tripousis/Rose) to review and recommend that VTA Board of Directors adopt the proposed process and criteria for programming federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds to local streets and roads rehabilitation projects in FY 2005-06. 

Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report from January through March 2005

Mr. Sighamony directed attention to the chart entitled Progress Summary Sheet, Funds Expiring in 2005, and noted the projects listed in the Yellow Category – Projects that may need extra attention or will risk running into difficulties. 

Ex-Officio Member Cowell referred to the projects listed in the Yellow Category that need their authorization by June 2005 and queried if a field review had been completed.    Mr. Sighamony noted that the Page Mill Road Rehabilitation (County) Project had a field review completed during the month of March 2005.  Ex-Officio Member Cowell referred to the obligation deadline of June 30, 2005, and expressed concern regarding projects that have not had a field review or just received a field review.  Ex-Officio Member Cowell encouraged the project sponsors to contact the Caltrans Local Assistance Program if assistance is needed to help get the projects completed earlier.

Member Collen noted that the County of Santa Clara asked that the Page Mill Road Rehabilitation (County) Project be accelerated in 2005, but did not recall making the request for the Montague Expressway Rehabilitation Phase I & II Project.  Mr. Sighamony noted that MTC’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) had the project listed at June 30, 2005.   He noted if it is a mistake on MTC’s part, it could be corrected.

On order of Vice Chairperson Yoshino, there being no objection, the Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report from January through March 2005 was received and filed. 

Service Management Plan, Fiscal Years 2006/2007

Bill Capps, Service Planning Manager, reported that the Board of Directors approved the initial Service Management Plan in December 2003. He noted that the Service Management Plan was designed to establish a mechanism for categorizing and evaluating routes, and setting performance measures and standards for each type of service being provided.   The Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007 Service Management Plan basically puts current data to the same criteria that was in the original Board approved Service Management Plan. 

Mr. Capps noted VTA’s heavy decline in bus ridership, which has affected fares, recovery, and total ridership.   This has put VTA in a position of having to go back and look at the types of services being provided.  

Mr. Capps referred to the Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007 Service Management Plan and provided a report, highlighting: 1) Community Bus, 2) Routes identified for service adjustments or corrective action, 3) the planned Comprehensive Operations Analysis, 4) Paratransit Service, and 5) Enhanced Bus Line 522.

Member Dey noted the City of Gilroy’s interest in the Community Bus Program and queried about the length of time it would take VTA to conduct an analysis if analysis began in Fall 2005.   Mr. Capps noted it would take a minimum of six months.   Ms. Gonot  noted that the City of Gilroy will have a study.  She noted that MTC currently has community-based planning studies in progress for various low-income areas, the City of Gilroy and East San Jose.  The Congestion Management Program staff will be conducting the study for the City of Gilroy in about a month or so and the study would take about six to nine months.

Member Lortz complimented VTA on the Community Bus Program, noting that the Town of Los Gatos was part of the Community Bus pilot program.

On order of Vice Chairperson Yoshino, there being no objection, the Service Management Plan, Fiscal Years 2006/2007 was received and filed. 

OTHER

Announcements

Member Tripousis queried about the status of the High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes and Freeway Litter Control and Replacement Landscaping Studies.   Ms. Gonot noted that the Freeway Litter Control and Replacement Landscaping Study would be brought to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) at their May 12, 2005 Meeting and indicated that staff could bring the HOT Lanes Feasibility Study to TAC.

Ex-Officio Member Cowell announced the December 2004 retirement of Rich Monroe, District 4 Local Assistance Engineer, and noted that the new District 4 Local Assistance Engineer is Muhaned Aljabiry.

ADJOURNMENT

On order of Vice Chairperson Yoshino, there being no objection, the Meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tracene Y. Crenshaw, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors

NOTE:    M/S/C MEANS MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.