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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. by Chairperson Gonzales at the City Council Chambers, Milpitas City Hall, 455 East Calaveras Boulevard, Milpitas, California.

ROLL CALL

*Alternates do not serve unless participating as a Member.

A quorum was not present and a Committee of the Whole was declared.

Mr. Robert Allen, interested citizen, provided a brief summary regarding his proposal of extending the BART Extension at grade to the Alum Rock Station with a gauntlet track over US 101 on the existing Union Pacific/Western Pacific stretch with a track connection south of the Tamien Station.

Minutes January 26, 2005

On order of Chairperson Gonzales, there being no objection, the Committee of the Whole deferred the Regular Meeting Minutes of January 26, 2005.

Planning Updates

Ann Jamison, Congestion Management Program Deputy Director, provided a brief narrative, and update of the coordination efforts between VTA staff, the community, and the Preliminary Engineering Team (PE) of the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Corridor (SVRTC) project.   Implemented project description refinements through PE are the foundation for the revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR).   Issues raised by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are being addressed though the New Starts Program.

Ms. Jamison advised the Committee in the fall of 2004 that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) expressed concern the SVRTC project was not progressing sufficiently in the New Starts process to sustain maintaining the PE status.   Two key milestones were outlined as a condition to maintain their current status: 1) VTA must submit a schedule to document the process and timelines involved with the 2000
Measure A Transit Expenditure Plan including the local sales tax referendum on the
November 2006 ballot.   Ms. Jamison reported VTA submitted the schedule documentation to FTA in November 2004 and FTA has accepted the proposal, 2) VTA must submit an estimate of ridership and user benefits to FTA by
June 30, 2005.  Ms. Jamison referred to the Memorandum titled: FTA Modeling Milestone Update dated March 22, 2005, providing an update on the discussions between FTA and VTA on the travel demand forecast modeling.  VTA submitted technical documentation resolving model calibration issues to FTA.  The key calibration concerns were the results of undercounting on transit trips in Santa Clara and Alameda Counties compared to actual ridership numbers.  Ms. Jamison commented that VTA is submitting a preliminary model run for FTA review in late spring 2005.  The submittal will include: 1) ridership, 2) boarding totals, 3) new transit trips, 4) transit system user benefits, and 5) “Likelihood Analysis,” FTA’s request allowing them to evaluate the potential that the ridership estimate reasonably reflects corridor potential.  VTA clarified that future ridership estimates shall reflect the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) 2003 land use projections and the 525-bus fleet included in VTP 2030.  FTA will submit their comments and review to VTA prior to the June 30, 2005 final submission date.

Mr. Thomas E. Margro BART General Manager noted the EIR is released and  published.   Mr. Margro advised the PAB that BART is in agreement with FTA on the model and is coordinating with VTA staff on any changes that may occur.

On order of Chairperson Gonzales, there being no objection, the Committee of the Whole received an Update on Planning Activities.

SVRT Project Preliminary Engineering Program Report-March 2005

Jack Collins, Chief Construction Officer, directed attention to the powerpoint presentation and provided a progress report on the Project Preliminary Engineering Program Report. The overall Preliminary Engineering (PE) is 31 percent complete and on budget.   The 30-day challenge period for the State Environmental Impact Report terminated January 2005.   A single lawsuit was filed by the Great Mall of Milpitas, and negotiations are ongoing for resolution of the issue.  Grade Separation. proposals on tunnel, line segments and stations are ongoing.  Mr. Collins noted the $14 million in new Value Engineering recommendations are: 1) the East Tunnel Portal in San Jose and 2) Dixon Landing Grade Separation. 

Mr. Collins noted preparation for the Community Outreach Plan for 2005 is underway.   Geotechnical sampling along the tunnel and line segment continues and will be completed in March 2005. 

Mr. Collins noted the service agreement between Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (PCJPB) has been accepted and signed.   Mr. Collins commented that one-on-one meetings with various fire departments have been held in order to develop solutions to emergency scenarios as well as attendance and participation at fire, life, and safety meetings with the Oakland Fire Department.   Invitations have been extended to the individual fire departments to participate in the Fire, Life, and Safety Meeting established by BART.

Mr. Collins noted property titles have been ordered for 379 parcels. The PCJPB Service Agreement for work on the Caltrain right-of-way was accepted by PCJPB and reverted to VTA for final signing and approval. 

Mr. Collins added that the authorized budget for the SVRTC Project is $334.2 million   inclusive of the Conceptual, Environmental, and Preliminary Engineering phases of the project development.   Fifty seven percent of the approved budget has been incurred to date.

On order of Chairperson Gonzales, there being no objection, the Committee of the Whole received the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Project Preliminary Engineering Progress Report-March 2005.

Recommendations for Value Engineering Proposals

Mr. Collins directed the PAB’s attention to the powerpoint presentation and highlights of the Value Engineering refinements to the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Corridor evaluated during Preliminary Engineering.   The Value Engineering recommendations for adoption by the PAB are: 1) Extend the bored tunnels at East Portal in San Jose, replacing 50 feet of cut and cover structure. The Value Engineering (VE) Concept has a potential of $7 million in savings eliminating the need to acquire private property and reducing construction disruption on Marburg Way and 2) Depress Dixon Landing Road passing beneath an at- grade BART alignment and existing Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) tracks eliminating level crossing of UPRR with a potential savings of $7 million.   Temporary closing of Dixon Landing Road will occur during construction with a limited amount of disruption to local business and adjacent properties.

On order of Chairperson Gonzales, there being no objection, the Committee of the Whole received the Recommendations for Value Engineering Proposals.

Cost Trend Report

Mr. Collins   updated the PAB regarding design assumptions and standards as components of the Preliminary Engineering (PE) effort.   VTA and BART staff have encountered significant challenges for the project budget and design team.   Value Engineering has submitted proposal recommendations to the project team resulting in offsetting the estimated potential scope changes.

The current Value Engineering savings of $77 million minus the current Value Engineering Proposals (VE) of $90 million results in a current net cost trend of
minus $13 million.

On order of Chairperson Gonzales, there being no objection, the Committee of the Whole received the Cost Trend Report.

Announcements

There were no Announcements.