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Agenda Item # 7

BOARD MEMORANDUM

BACKGROUND: 

VTA, as the Congestion Management Agency (CMA) for Santa Clara County, is responsible for the countys long-range transportation planning and for prioritizing and programming discretionary Federal, State and certain local funds for transportation projects in Santa Clara County.  In December 2000, the VTA Board of Directors adopted its first countywide long-range transportation plan, Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) 2020. It provides policies and programs for Roadways, Transit, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities and Land Use, and provides a framework for the Board to establish priorities and a financial strategy for delivering a program of projects spanning 30 years. 

VTA is currently updating the VTP 2020 Plan, now called VTP 2030. Final adoption of VTP 2030 is scheduled for Spring 2004 in order to provide VTAs transportation project recommendations to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for inclusion in the update of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), now called Transportation Plan 2030.

DISCUSSION:

With the update of the long-range countywide transportation plan, VTA must work with a highly constrained budget reflecting the downturn in the economy, and must critically examine the Agencys priorities with respect to its long-term financial outlook.  A critical first step in developing VTP 2030 is the compilation of project lists by Program Area.  The initial project lists consist of project descriptions and cost estimates. VTA has worked with the Member Agencies, Caltrans, other agencies, and the bicycle community to develop project lists for consideration.  Board workshops and public outreach meetings in March will provide the forum for discussion and action on these project lists.

Attachments A through F present the VTP 2030 projects lists by program area. Board-adopted Project Evaluation Criteria have been developed for Transit, Freeways/Highways, Expressways, Local Streets & County Roads, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and Bicycle Program Areas, and will be used in the prioritization process. A brief description of each VTP 2030 Program Area is provided below:

Transit Program (Attachment A)

The Transit Program addresses transit capital, operations, and maintenance needs for the existing and future bus and rail transit system.  It identifies specific projects to be implemented during the timeframe of the plan.  The current list of transit projects totals about $7.9 billon dollars, including $4.1 billion dollars for BART.

Freeway/Highways Program (Attachment B)

The Highways Program addresses infrastructure needs of the countys freeway and highway system.  Since the adoption of VTP 2020, VTA has conducted several corridor and gateway studies to identify and evaluate highway projects for inclusion in VTP 2030 and the RTP.  These studies have been conducted in partnerships with Member Agencies as well as local and State government agencies.  The current list of freeway and highway projects totals $3.03 billion.

Expressways Program (Attachment C)

The Comprehensive County Expressway Planning Study, conducted by the County of Santa Clara, addressed infrastructure needs of the county operated expressway system.  Santa Clara County is the only county in the Bay Area with a comprehensive expressway system.  This recently completed study identified $151 million dollars in Tier 1A improvements and $270 million in Tier 1B project improvements. 

Local Streets and County Roads (LSCR) Program (Attachment D)

The LSCR Fund Program is a new program created with the adoption of VTP 2020.  Its primary emphasis is on funding for local streets and on increasing the connectivity of arterial and collector streets.  The LSCR Program specifically addresses the difficulties Member Agencies have with raising revenues for transportation projects not connected to new development projects.  VTA staff, working through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) subcommittee of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has recently completed the scoring and ranking of LSCR projects. The ranked list of projects will be discussed at the Congestion Management Planning and Programming Committee and submitted to the VTA Board for approval.  The LSCR Program list of projects totals $451 million dollars, and about $300 million in grant fund requests.

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) (Attachment E)

The ITS Program uses new technologies, electronics, communications infrastructure and computers to manage and operate local, county, and regional roadway systems more efficiently and effectively.  Included in this program area are projects involving traffic signal systems, ramp metering, surveillance and monitoring systems, and variable message signs.  The list of ITS Projects totals about $136.8 million in capital projects and about $4.7 million in annual operating costs.

Bicycle Program (Attachment F)

The adoption of the Santa Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan and the associated 10-year Bicycle Expenditure Program in 2000 established a countywide commitment to improving bicycle facilities.  This commitment was reinforced in VTP 2020 and continues with the VTP 2030 update.  A Tier 1 list of bicycle projects has been developed and adopted by the VTA Board, representing about $60 million in projects, and about $32 million in grant fund requests. A Tier 2 list of bicycle projects will be completed by late Spring 2004.

Sound Mitigation Program

The Sound Mitigation Program identifies funds for sound mitigation on existing freeways and expressways.  Since sound mitigation costs for new roadway projects are included in the project costs, new facilities are not eligible for funds from the Sound Mitigation Program.  Member Agencies and VTA are developing a list of sound mitigation projects.  VTP 2030 will include a lump sum amount to be allocated to a future prioritized project list.

Landscape and Graffiti Removal Program

This program identifies funds to augment Caltrans efforts to restore freeway landscaping and remove graffiti within the freeway rights-of-way.  VTP 2030 will include a lump sum amount to be allocated to a future prioritized project list.

Pavement Management Program

VTP 2020 identified funds to continue the pavement management program established under the 1996 Measure B Program.  Pavement management projects are intended to repair or replace existing roadway pavement from outside edge of curb and gutter to the opposite edge of curb and gutter.  Program funds are currently distributed using a population and lane-mile based formula.  The cities and County are responsible for implementation consistent with VTAs policies and procedures.  VTP 2030 will include a lump sum amount for pavement management to be allocated to a future prioritized project list. 

Livable Communities and Pedestrian Program

In November 2002, the VTA Board of Directors adopted the CDT Program as its primary program for integrating transportation and land use. The Livable Communities and Pedestrian Program, created as part of VTP 2020, supports the goals of the CDT Program by providing capital funds for transportation-related projects that improve access to transit, provide multimodal transportation facilities, and enhance the pedestrian environment along transportation corridors, in core areas, and around transit stations.  MTCs policies for funding regional programs will identify the funding levels to be used for this program.  VTP 2030 will include a lump sum amount to be allocated to a future prioritized list of projects.  This allocation will be based on the amount MTC requires for dedication to the county share of MTCs Transportation for Livable Communities program.  It is expected to be approximately $50 million over the 25 years of the plan, or $2 million per year.

NEXT STEPS/SCHEDULE

Not all of the VTP 2030 projects can be funded with the projected funds.  As a result, VTA must develop a plan that can best accomplish its goals within realistic revenue projections.  The Board will discuss project priorities with respect to funding estimates at the Board workshops in February and March 2004.

The VTP 2030 Project Lists will be presented to the public at meetings scheduled for March, and will be posted on the VTP 2030 Web Site.  A survey will also be available on the web site in February to gather input on projects in each program area.

Attachments:

A-    Transit Program
B-    Freeway/Highway Program
C-    Expressway Program
D-    Local Streets & County Roads Program
E-     Intelligent Transportation Systems Program
F-     Bicycle Program

CONTACT THE BOARD SECRETARY'S OFFICE FOR ATTACHMENT.

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