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Members Absent

Blanca Alvarado

A quorum was present

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentations.

Minutes of September 1, 2005

M/S/C (McHugh/Campos) to approve the Minutes of September 1, 2005.

Status Report on Relinquishment of Capitol Expressway

Ben Tripousis, City of San Jose Transportation Planner, gave a brief overview and background regarding the Relinquishment of Capitol Expressway.
Mr. Tripousis noted that during negotiations to reconcile the impact of relinquishment, the City of San Jose staff noted a timing conflict with the initial phase.   Mr. Tripousis noted that larger construction projects in the VTA Expenditure Plan, combined with bringing additional projects on line under the current scenario, escalated the date of the light rail park to 2019.   Mr. Tripousis noted if relinquishment of Capitol Expressway commenced before 2019 it could create an enormous fiscal impact to maintenance costs.  Mr. Tripousis noted that both the City of San Jose and the County of Santa Clara are continuing negotiations about when the transfer may occur, including near-term maintenance costs.  

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

Mr. Tripousis concluded the first phase of relinquishment is dependent upon beginning light rail construction and the latter phase is dependent upon beginning development of the Evergreen Development Programs.

VTA staff explained that the design of the project is contingent upon the City of San Jose accepting the relinquishment of the right–of-way for the light rail portion.  

Chairperson Chavez requested periodic updates on the Relinquishment of Capitol Expressway and suggested that staff continue to agendize the item.

Member Cortese took his seat at 3:15 p.m.

On order of Chairperson Chavez, there being no objection, the Status Report on Relinquishment of Capitol Expressway was received and filed.

Capitol Expressway Preliminary Engineering Status Report

Ken Ronsse, Design and Construction Manager, reported that an extensive community outreach effort has been implemented.   Miriam Ayllon, VTA Community Outreach Supervisor, provided the PAB with an overview of community outreach efforts. These efforts entail on going meetings with Strong Neighborhoods Initiatives (SNI’s), and neighborhood associations in the Downtown East Valley (DTEV) corridor are scheduled.   The Downtown East Valley Transit Improvement Plan Newsletter has been circulated to DTEV residents. These residences received project information and background by mail, residents on neighborhood corridor lists have been e-mailed project information, and two open houses are scheduled for outreach to the community.  Ms. Ayllon noted this information is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

On order of Chairperson Chavez, there being no objection, the Capitol Expressway Preliminary Engineering Status Report was received and filed.

Enhanced Community Outreach for Santa Clara/Alum Rock Corridor

 Kevin Connolly, Transportation Planning Manager and Staff Liaison, referred to a memorandum dated October 6, 2005 addressed to the DTEV PAB Members that   proposed a budget augmentation for the Santa Clara/Alum Rock Corridor.  This augmentation figure is $283,000 in Measure A Funds that are designated for DTEV projects.  The estimated completion date of the project has been extended to an additional 6-to-12 month duration. 

Mr. Connolly provided the Committee with two components to the budget augmentation.   The components are: 1) updating of EIR traffic and air quality information requested by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) at an estimated cost of $155,000,
and 2) implementation of enhanced outreach efforts for Santa Clara/Alum Rock Corridor.

At the September 1, 2005 DTEV PAB Meeting three strategies were discussed to enhance the Community Outreach for Santa Clara/Alum Rock Corridor.   The three strategies discussed: 1) debate format, 2) computerized simulation and graphics, and 3) consulting services of a non-VTA staff facilitator proficient in Apex strategies to facilitate the meetings at a cost of $128,000.      

Chairperson Chavez thanked VTA staff for incorporating issues, concerns, and requests addressed by the PAB in the memo.   Chairperson Chavez suggested the use of a different kind of graphic showing the implications of each mode for each segment along the alignment would be informative and beneficial to the PAB.

Chairperson Chavez noted the importance of providing the information in three different languages and suggested that the information should be distributed in the Portuguese language as well, for that segment of the alignment impacting the Portuguese Community.

M/S/C (Cortese/Campos) to approve Enhanced Community Outreach for Santa Clara/Alum Rock Corridor.

Countywide Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Initiatives

Mr. Connolly provided the PAB an overview of VTA’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Initiatives.   Mr. Connolly noted that BRT is defined as a
rubber–tired rapid transit mode combining vehicles, services, stations, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) elements in an integrated system with a positive identity that evokes a unique image. Several worldwide metropolitan cities currently retain BRT systems.   Mr. Connolly noted the key benefit features of BRT include: 1) travel timesavings, 2) flexibility with the ability to operate on streets and roadways,
3) increased ridership, 4) positive influence on land use, and 5) incremental development process.

Mr. Connolly noted that in the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, BRT ridership has experienced a 38 percent gain.   Positive feedback, increased ridership, and the positive influence of land use are key benefits of BRT.   Chairperson Chavez requested staff provide background information to the DTEV related to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania BRT Development Strategy.

VTA has identified three BRT Corridors: 1) Stevens Creek/San Carlos, 2) El Camino Real/Santa Clara/Alum Rock (Line 522), and 3) Monterey Highway.   BRT planning is incorporated in the three major planning documents Community Design & Transportation Manual (2003), Short Range Transit Plan (FY 2004-2013), and Valley Transportation Plan 2030 (VTP 2030) with funding identified for BRT in VTP 2030 and the 2000 Measure A.

VTA Rapid Line 522 has experienced a 17 percent increase on the El Camino service.   Rapid Line 522 is the seventh busiest bus line in Santa Clara County with average boarding’s of 4,600 a day with limited stops, bus signal priority, jump lanes, distinctive vehicles, and frequent headways.   On-board surveys are in progress the month of November 2005 to confirm ridership numbers.

The Monterey Highway Corridor is a 9.6-mile corridor running from Santa Teresa Light Rail Station (LRT) to the downtown San Jose Diridon Station, and high-speed arterial utilizing 6 lanes from Capitol Expressway to Keyes Street, and 4 lanes into downtown San Jose.   The Monterey Highway Corridor serves 27,000 low-to-middle-income households.   Land use on the corridor will include small businesses with medium density residential housing and in the southern end of the corridor, industrial properties.

The Transit Expansion Policy (TEP) establishes new guidelines for transit expansion for all modes of transit, developing a foundation to evaluate new corridors and service improvements.   The TEP will establish a policy framework linking decision making for bus and rail transit expansion, taking into consideration land use policies, operational integration, ridership and revenue expectation. 

The Enhanced Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) processes data collection such as: the On-Board Survey, Customer Preference Survey, operations and service data, and pilot services evaluation.   The data is analyzed in market segmentation studies, transit expansion policies, and service design guidelines.   The data collection and analysis will merge to form the COA, culminating in marketing strategies, transit corridor expansion plans, Line 522 conceptual engineering, a service operating plan, and passenger facility improvements.  The COA objective increases ridership, increases the transit mode split, improving farebox recovery, travel time, and operational efficiency.  The COA On Board Survey is offered in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese languages, and queries riders for demographic information.  The Customer Preference Survey targets non-riders and provides information to increase transit ridership. 

Member Cortese requested that staff review the work of the Ad-Hoc Financial Stability Committee and the many suggestions made to help increase service efficiency. 
Member Cortese queried if the COA contributes additional information and criteria that was not established in the Ad-Hoc Financial Stability Committee and how the TEP guidelines criteria differs from established policies.   Mr. Connolly noted the COA criteria evolve into a formal policy and gives VTA the ability to maintain an objective measurement based on policy of transit expansion.

During discussion of the COA, Chairperson Chavez expressed concern about how the method farebox recovery is assessed. She recommended that in order to make strategic decisions to customize service there needs to be recognition of cost per rider for individual routes which would allow the break down of data, allowing better strategic assessment when service is realigned.   Mr. Connolly responded that service design guidelines are utilized in establishing service criteria for the present as well as emerging future services.  Chairperson Chavez noted the criteria and information would enable the PAB to provide prudent strategic decisions for emerging transit needs.

Mr. Connolly reported that regular updates to the VTA Board of Directors, Policy Advisory Committee, and Downtown East Valley PAB regarding the COA, TEP, and the Market Segmentation which begins this month, the Service Design Guidelines Study, and the Transit Corridor Investment Study commencing February 2006, and project identification and implementation will occur at the conclusion of the COA and TEP process.

Member McHugh queried as to the cost estimate of the COA project.   Mr. Connolly responded that the cost estimate is at approximately $2.5 million.   The VTA Board of Directors, he added, has approved the COA study contracts in several Board actions.

On order of Chairperson Chavez, there being no objection, the presentation on Countywide Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Initiatives was received and filed.

2006 Downtown East Valley Policy Advisory Board Meeting Schedule

M/S/C (Cortese/Campos) to approve the Downtown East Valley Policy Advisory Board Meeting Schedule.

ADJOURNMENT

On order of Chairperson Chavez, there being no objection, the meeting adjourned  at 3:59 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jacqueline F. Golzio, Board Assistant

VTA Board of Directors