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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 3:15 p.m. by Chairperson Gonzales at the City Council Chambers, Milpitas City Hall,
455 East Calaveras Boulevard, Milpitas, California.

ROLL CALL

Members Present                                          Members Absent
Jim Beall                                                            Dominic Caserta
Tom Blalock                                                       James Fang
Cindy Chavez                                                    Scott Haggerty
Ron Gonzales                                                    Zoyd Luce
Bob Livengood       
Bob Wasserman     

Alternates Present                                        Alternates Absent
None                                                                 Armando Gomez
                                                                         Joel Keller              

*Alternates do not serve unless participating as a Member.

A quorum was present.

Public Presentations           

Chairperson Gonzales welcomed Bob Wasserman representing the City of Fremont to the Committee.

Minutes March 23, 2005

M/S/C (Beall/Blalock) to approve the Minutes of March 23, 2005.

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

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Guidance to New Starts Evaluation Criteria

Ann Jamison, Congestion Management Program Deputy Director, provided a brief narrative, and update of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Guidance on New Starts Evaluation Criteria.   In 2004, the FTA rated the 16.3 mile SVRTC Extension “Not Recommended” for New Starts funding.   The key reasons given for this decision were related to the “Cost Effectiveness” and “Operating Efficiencies” criteria.  The FTA is in a continuous mode to modify the New Starts process.  The FTA, outlining the final disposition of the proposed changes, issued a new guidance criterion earlier this year.  Additionally VTA staff attended the FTA sponsored 2005 New Starts Roundtable, which focused on clarification on several key evaluation issues. 

Ms. Jamison advised the Committee that on April 29,2005, FTA Administrator Jennifer Dorn published a “Dear Colleague” letter outlining the proposed changes to the “underlying data and calculation of measures used to rate New Starts Projects.   These new changes could potentially have an effect on the rating of the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Corridor Project (SVRTC).

Ms. Jamison explained that the FTA is differentiating between projects that are recommended based on the New Starts criteria as well as projects recommended for funding in   the New Starts process.   While a project may achieve an overall recommended rating, it may not be recommended for funding as a result of the project readiness issues.  A medium cost effectiveness rating must be achieved to receive funding.  A medium rating previously required a Transportation System User Benefit (TSUB) cost effectiveness rating of between $19.99 and $13.00.  Using the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Price Index the FTA has now adjusted the break point.  The rating has now been adjusted to $21.99 and $14.00. 

The American Public Transit Association (APTA) is concerned with the changes and new criteria with FTA.   VTA staff will continue to monitor new changes to the criteria process and will continue to work with APTA to ensure VTA interests are addressed. 

Board Member Beall queried if there was any Congressional authorization of the New Starts Guidance Criteria.   Member Beall requests any proposals from APTA or other sources that would be submitted to Congress sent to the SVRTC members for clarification.

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

Planning Activities Update

Ms. Jamison, directed attention to the powerpoint presentation and provided a progress report on the Planning Update Report.   The report provides a planning update on the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Corridor (SVRTC) Project.   The following key topics are:  1) FTA New Starts Program, 2) Environmental Process, 3) Public Outreach and Involvement, 4) Land use, 5) Budget status and funding, Project schedule. 

Ms. Jamison reported that in the spring of 2005, VTA and FTA jointly agreed to
re-evaluate the New Starts funding for the segment of Warm Springs to Berryessa.   This portion was selected rather the 16.3 mile total extension project.   The objective has been drafted with the assumption that the Federally Funded Segment (FFS) shall be evaluated as a shorter extension with lower costs in operations, capital and maintenance.  This will better position the SVRTC in the New Starts process.

VTA is proposing to construct the entire 16.3 mile project in one phase; state and local dollars would fund the extension from Berryessa to Santa Clara.   The portion of the project from Warm Springs to Berryessa would be supported by federal funds. 

Two scenarios will be submitted to the FTA.   The goal of the scenarios is the improvement of the project rating.   The New Starts Ridership Model is due
June 30, 2005, and the New Starts Annual Update Report is due August 2005. 

In the fall of 2004 FTA expressed concern that the SVRTC project was not making adequate progress with the New Starts process to maintain the project’s current preliminary Engineering (PE) status.   FTA and VTA agreed upon two conditions to maintain a current PE status.   An outline and timeline of the process involved in the adoption of the 2000 Measure A Transit Expenditure Plan, and the local sales tax referendum on the November 2006 ballot were selected.  The second scenario calls for a full and acceptable ridership estimate that will be submitted to FTA June 30, 2005. 

VTA decided for the purpose of moving the SVRTC project forward, to separate the federal and state environmental process and advance the Environmental Impact
Report (EIR).   VTA will prepare a revised Draft EIS, Final EIS and Supplemental EIR.

Design changes are currently being addressed on the project in coordination with the revised environmental documents. 

Public outreach from April to June 2005 has focused on the Value Engineering Proposal to consolidate the Civic Center/San Jose State University and Market Street Stations into a single downtown station, the proposal to change the cut alignment at the Montague/Capitol BART Station aerial and station campus options, and the Santa Clara Pedestrian Overcrossing and Station Campus options.   Public Outreach informed and updated the public concerning significant changes to the project design or sensitive issues to the community.

A joint development strategy to support long-term efforts maximizing land use and system ridership at the proposed station sites is proposed.   Final design, Right-of-Way Acquisition, Construction and Commissioning remain consistent with expectations.
Preliminary Engineering plans are proceeding as scheduled.   In conclusion, Ms. Jamison reported that the FTA has responded to our ridership model very favorably.

Member Wasserman left his seat at 3:45 p.m. and a Committee of the Whole was declared.

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

Preliminary Engineering Progress Report-June 2005

Jack Collins, Chief Construction Officer, directed the PAB’s attention to the powerpoint presentation and highlights of the Preliminary Engineering Progress Report-June 2005. The geotechnical sampling along the tunnel and line segments are complete, the lab testing of samples has started.   Twenty-four of fifty-nine Value Engineering recommendations are ready for approval.   A total of 43 percent completion of the Preliminary Engineering has been completed.

Three community meetings have been held: 1) March 2005- Dixon Landing Road,
2) April 2005-Montague/Capital Alignment, 3) May 2005- Santa Clara Station parking.   A fire, life, and safety subcommittee has been formed with San Jose Fire Department. Meetings with local Fire Marshals, and Fire Chiefs has been held to develop solutions to emergency scenarios that may arise.   The subcommittee will meet monthly solving fire and safety issues relating to SVRTC-BART. 

An objective of the Preliminary Engineering is to advance the project to a state of readiness for FTA approval of the final design phase of the project.   The capital Cost Estimate, the Construction Schedule, and the Contract Implementation Plan are required documents that must be completed during this Preliminary Engineering phase. 

The SVRTC Project has an authorized budget of $334.2 million.   This includes the Conceptual, Environmental, and Preliminary Engineering phases of the project.   As of April 2005, approximately 61 percent of the budget has been incurred.

On order of Chairperson Gonzales, there being no objection, the Committee of the Whole received the Preliminary Engineering Progress Report-June 2005.

Value Engineering Proposals-June 2005

Mr. Collins directed the PAB’s attention to the powerpoint presentation and highlights of the Value Engineering refinements to the locally Preferred Alternative.   Proposals will be developed and forwarded on to the PAB for approval.   The approved proposals will be included in a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report and Final Environmental Impact Study.  

Per the FTA, grantees seeking New Rail Starts funding must conduct formal Value Engineering studies at the preliminary engineering (30 percent design) and conceptual engineering (10 percent design) phases of the project.   The firm of Value Management Systems (VMS) was selected to conduct the studies on the conceptual engineering submittals of the tunnel and line segments, stations, yards, and shops.   VTA staff will submit recommended implementation of the most feasible VE proposals.  As approval of the VE proposals progresses Community Working Group Meetings as well as public
outreach meetings will be scheduled

A total of five Value Engineering proposals have been approved by the PAB.   The following Value Engineering recommendations are: 1) Montague/Capitol Station Entrance and Pedestrian Bridge, 2) Raise Track Profile between Hotstetter Road and Sierra/Lundy Intersection, and 3) Modify Diridon Station Alignment.

Continuing review and design development may alter the estimate as a result of current Value Engineering Proposals.   Additional Value Engineering proposals will be submitted to the PAB at future meetings. Updated FEIR/FEIS documents shall be updated to reflect changes as they occur.

On order of Chairperson Gonzales, there being no objection, the Committee of the Whole received the Value Engineering Proposals-June 2005.

Cost Trend Report   

Mr. Collins updated the PAB regarding the preparation of the Conceptual Engineering (10 percent) documents.   BART and VTA have been validating design assumptions and standards as components of the Preliminary Engineering effort.   VTA and BART staff has encountered significant challenges for the project budget and design team and the project’s cost estimate.

In summary the current cost trend has been reduced by $37 million since the last report March 2005.

Announcements

There were no Announcements.

On order of Chairperson Gonzales, there being no objections, the meeting adjourned at 4:00p.m. 

 Respectfully submitted,

Jacqueline F. Golzio, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors