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1.  The Regular Meeting of the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Corridor BART Extension to Milpitas, San Jose, and Santa Clara Policy Advisory Board (PAB) was called to order at 3:05 p.m. Chairperson Gonzales, at the City Council Chambers, Milpitas City Hall, 455 East Calaveras Boulevard, Milpitas, California.

ROLL CALL

A quorum was present.

There were no Public Presentations.

M/S/C (Snyder/Blalock) to approve the Minutes of October 27, 2004.

Ann Jamison, Congestion Management Program Deputy Director, provided a powerpoint Presentation, brief narrative, background, and overview of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR).   In 1994 the MTC Fremont/South Bay Corridor Report named BART as community preference, ten years later that project is still moving forward.   A brief summary was given of the key milestones achieved on the project.  In subsequent years BART has remained the preferred alternative.  BART was selected as the preferred project in November 2001, and the locally preferred alternative was selected in May 2002.  In February 2003, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) appropriates New Starts Funding for Preliminary Engineering (PE).  The alternative project was detailed further and the conceptual engineering of that alternative proceeded through December 2003.  The Final EIR was released by VTA in November 2004.

Ms. Jamison reported VTA has facilitated extensive community and public outreach coordination.   Over one hundred fifty formal meetings have been held concerning the project.   Public information for this project was available on the web, in multiple languages, and newsletters.  Summarizing, the project purpose is to: improve public transit services, enhance regional connectivity, alleviate severe traffic congestion, improve regional air quality, improve access to regional activity centers, maximize transit usage and ridership, and to support local economic and land use goals.  The Policy Advisory Board in previous actions has recommended: the 16.3 mile extension of the existing BART System serving Silicon Valley, Fremont, Milpitas, San Jose, and Santa Clara, fully grade separated, 4.8 miles of Subway, 7 stations (plus 1 future), intermodal connections, 6-minute headways, and a new maintenance facility.

Tom Fitzwater, Environmental Planning Manager, directed attention to the powerpoint presentation and provided a brief summary of comments that were received on the Draft EIR.   The Notice of Availability/Public Hearing was sent to over 55,000 individuals.   A sixty-day review period ensued. Four public hearings were held with approximately 700 total individual comments, 90 written, and 33 public hearing speakers.  A 1900 page document was complied addressing the comments on the Draft EIR.  A Compact Disc of the document is available.  Comments were received addressing construction, transportation, cultural resources, environmental justice, financial, land use, noise and vibration, and visual.  He also provided a report on the Environmental Findings, Environmental Justice, Sensitive Locations Requiring Continued Coordination, and Environmental Process. 

Chairperson Gonzales inquired about the residences located north of Berryessa Road   mentioned in the EIR, effected by vibration impact.   He queried that as an option on a voluntary basis, does the VTA have the ability to purchase those properties?  Mr. Fitzwater answered that after the Certification of the EIR that property acquisition could be considered.

Chairperson Gonzales noted the direct route of this project will serve Santa Clara University and San Jose State University, and is crucial to the accessibility of those institutions of higher learning.   These routes provide direct access to the Universities without the inconvenience of transfers and will be the only of its kind in the entire BART system.

Member Blalcok noted on page 8 of the powerpoint presentation handout referencing Dixon Landing Road. He stated a direct benefit of the Policy Advisory Board, made up of VTA Board Members and BART Board Members results in a conclusion that incorporates both views.   Member Blalock stated this is a win/win situation and thanked Member Dixon for her diligence and the VTA Staff for recognizing the needed continued coordination at East Warren Avenue and Dixon Landing Road. 

Chairperson Gonzales thanked Member Snyder for his years of service to the BART Board.

There were no Announcements.

On order of Chairperson Gonzales, there being no objections, the meeting adjourned at 3:27 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jacqueline F. Golzio, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors

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