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Committee Staff Report
- Quarterly Report from the General Manager
Mr. Burns reported that he is attending all of the Advisory Committees during the month of May 2006, and providing an update on VTA’s current activities. He noted his commitment to providing an update to the Advisory Committees about every four months.
Mr. Burns introduced the following new VTA Employees: Bill Lopez, Chief Administrative Officer; Michael Hursh, Deputy Director of Operations Maintenance; and Dan Smith, Deputy Director of Operations for Planning, Training, and Accessible Services.
Mr. Burns thanked the Members who attended the VTA Facility Tours and noted that VTA received a lot of positive feedback regarding the tours. Mr. Burns noted that persons interested in a tour can contact the Staff Liaison, Jim Lawson. The tour provided people with a good understanding and a look behind the scenes of what happens at VTA.
Mr. Burns noted the positive news in ridership trends on VTA transit. He reported that as of March 2006, bus system ridership is up 6 percent, light rail ridership is up 31 percent, and paratransit ridership is up 6 percent. Mr. Burns noted that VTA is seeing the benefit of a recovering economy and that ridership has also increased due to the high cost of gasoline.
Mr. Burns referred to the Management Performance Audit and noted that the Requests for Proposals (RFP) have been issued and VTA expects to receive proposals by the end of May 2006. He noted that he had extended an invitation to all Advisory Committee Chairpersons to sit on the selection panel to select a consultant. VTA anticipates forwarding a consultant contract award to the Board of Directors for approval during the August-September 2006 timeframe.
Mr. Burns provided a report on VTA’s Expenditure Plan for 2000 Measure A. VTA is continuing to work with the Board of Directors to develop a consensus on an Expenditure Plan. He noted that the Chairperson of the Board of Directors created a Project Advisory Committee, consisting of five Board Members, and is meeting independently. The Project Advisory Committee is meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. and the Committee will be discussing the Expenditure Plan. Mr. Burns indicated that Project Advisory Committee Meetings have also been scheduled for May 25, 2006 and June 8, 2006, in anticipation of a recommendation being forwarded to the Board of Directors at their June 15, 2006 Special Board of Directors Meeting.
Mr. Burns referred to VTA’s Budget and noted that VTA is in its ninth month of a two-year Operating and Capital Budget. VTA went back to the Board of Directors in April 2006 for a budget adjustment, and the budget adjustment was required to deal with the increase in fuel costs. VTA is also paying a higher interest rate on its debt than was budgeted as a result of increasing interest rates. Fortunately, those increases were more than covered by increased revenue from sales tax revenues over what was projected. VTA is seeing positive trends on the revenue side. With regards to the budget, VTA is in good shape and is not looking at any significant changes. The Board of Directors has mandated a level of Reserves of about 15 percent and VTA is just under that amount.
Mr. Burns noted that the June 8, 2006 TAC Meeting will be held at San Jose City Hall Rotunda. He noted VTA Board Chairperson Cindy Chavez’ interest in talking to TAC about ways to improve the Committee structure.
Kurt Evans, Governmental Affairs Manager, reported that on Friday, May 5, 2006, the Legislature approved an infrastructure bond package in the amount of $37 billion to be placed on the November 2006 ballot. The package focused on the following four areas: 1) $20 billion for transportation; 2) $4 billion for levees and flood control; 3) $10.5 billion for education and higher education facilities; and 4) $3 billion for affordable housing. The four areas will appear as four separate measures on the November 2006 ballot.
Mr. Evans referred to the $20 billion transportation piece and noted that the amount is divided up amongst 13 separate programs. Some of the programs are existing programs that have been severely under-funded, so the bond money is intended to reinvigorate those programs. Some of the bond proceeds would go for new programs that the Legislature believes would help to start addressing some of the emerging needs in transportation.
Mr. Evans referred to the existing programs and noted the bond proceeds will be allocated as follows: 1) $2 billion for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP); 2) $750 million for the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP); 3) $1 billion to reinvigorate the State Local Partnership Program; and 4) $400 million for capital improvements to intercity rail.
Mr. Evans referred to new programs and noted the bond proceeds will be allocated as follows: 1) $4.5 billion for corridor mobility program; 2) $3.1 billion for goods movements; 3) $3.6 billion for transit capital; and 4) $1 billion for transit security.
Mr. Evans noted that the voters would have to approve the bond measures, which will take a majority vote in order for the money to become available.
Mr. Evans distributed the following charts entitled “General Obligation Infrastructure Bonds: November 2006 Ballot” and Senate Bill 1266 (Perata): Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006” and provided an overview.
Mr. Burns reported that the Legislature’s work would result in the further delay of any potential high-speed rail project.
Mr. Burns noted the VTA opening ceremonies of the River Oaks Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Project scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at 12:00 p.m. and the Route 85/U.S. 101 North Interchange Project scheduled for Wednesday, May 24, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.
Member Murdter asked which transportation programs funded through infrastructure bonds require appropriation by the Legislature. Mr. Evans noted that he would provide a report back.
Ex-Officio Member Coss-Fitzwater and Alternate Member Tripousis queried about the total figure of all the bonds to be placed on the November 2006 ballot. Mr. Burns noted that staff would provide a report back.
Chairperson Yoshino thanked VTA staff for the report and welcomed the new VTA staff.
Mr. Lawson reiterated that the next TAC Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 8, 2006, at the San Jose City Hall Rotunda. VTA staff anticipates providing presentations on the Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Demonstration Program and on Caltrain Capital Projects. Also, a discussion will be held on the Committee structure.
Mr. Lawson provided a report, highlighting: 1) May 5, 2006 VTA Cinco de Mayo Celebration; 2) invitations to the Wednesday, May 17, 2006 River Oaks Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Project and Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Route 85/U.S. 101 North Interchange Project Opening Ceremonies; 3) VTA’s “Do The Math” Marketing Campaign; and 4) Downtown Platform Retrofit Project.
Mr. Lawson reported that the Project Advisory Committee held its last meeting in the City of Milpitas. The Project Advisory Committee received presentations on the BART Project and received presentations from the Cities of Milpitas, San Jose, and Santa Clara about their efforts around the BART Station areas. The next meeting is scheduled on May 11, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. at the VTA River Oaks Site in the Auditorium. The topics to be discussed will be light rail, Bus Rapid Transit, and Airport People Mover. The following two meetings will be held on May 25, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. in the City of Santa Clara and on June 8, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. in the City of Mountain View.
Mr. Lawson reported that at the May 11, 2006, Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, the Members will receive a presentation from the City of Palo Alto on their transportation plans and needs. He noted that PAC has also formed and began meetings of their Caltrain Capital Needs Subcommittee.
John Sighamony, Transportation Planner III, distributed an informational document entitled “Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) FY 2005-06 State Transportation Program/Congestion Management and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) Obligations Status, April 30, 2006” and noted that the projects have an obligation deadline of June 30, 2006. The information was also sent, via e-mail, to the Member Agencies. Mr. Sighamony informed TAC to contact him if they need assistance.
Mr. Sighamony announced that VTA and MTC will be holding a Community Design for Transportation (CDT)/MTC Capital Grants Joint Workshop on May 18, 2006, at 1:30 p.m. in the VTA Auditorium. MTC released their Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) applications during the month of April 2006, and the applications are due June 23, 2006. VTA will be releasing the CDT applications at the May 18, 2006 Meeting, and the applications are due July 21, 2006.
Upon query of Member Likens, Mr. Sighamony noted that TAC will be sent information on the May 18, 2006 CDT/MTC Capital Grants Joint Workshop, via e-mail, no later than Friday, May 12, 2006.
On order of Chairperson Yoshino, there being no objection, the Committee Staff Report was received.
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