San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Moving the City

AGENDA

PLANS AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

Meeting Notice

Date: 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Location: Room 263, City Hall
Commissioners: Dufty (Chair), Peskin (Vice-Chair), Alioto-Pier, Daly, Maxwell, and McGoldrick (Ex-Officio)
CLERK: Pooja Jhunjhunwala

1. Roll Call

2. Approval of Minutes of the November 14, 2006, Meeting – ACTION* (attachment)

3. Citizens Advisory Committee Report – INFORMATION* (attachment)

4. Recommend Appointment of Two Members to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) – ACTION* (attachment)

The Authority has an eleven-member Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). CAC members serve two-year terms. Per the Authority's Administrative Code, the Plans and Programs Committee recommends and the Authority Board appoints individuals to fill any CAC vacancies. Neither Authority staff nor the CAC make any recommendations on CAC appointments, but we maintain an up-to-date database of applications for CAC membership. A chart with information about current CAC members is attached, showing ethnicity, gender, neighborhood of residence, and affiliation. There are two vacancies on the CAC requiring Committee action. The first vacancy was created by the resignation of Ruth Grabowski (District 11). The second vacancy was created when Fran Martin's (District 10) membership lapsed after the October 25CAC meeting, as she had missed the requisite meeting attendance requirements specified in the CAC By-Laws. The recommendation is to appoint two members to the Citizens Advisory Committee.

5. Recommend Approval of the Restructuring of the Geary Citizens Advisory Committee to Reduce its Size to 17 Members - ACTION* (attachment)

In September 2003, the Authority Board appointed the Geary Citizens Advisory Committee (GCAC) to provide oversight and public participation for the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study (Resolution 04-18). In several subsequent resolutions, the Board appointed new members and revised the Committee structure to meet the changing needs of the Study. Presently, the GCAC structure includes 20 corridor and citywide members. The GCAC has met 21 times since February 2004 and provided feedback on all key study work. For the most part, attendance at GCAC meetings has been very good; however in recent months the group has struggled to meet its quorum requirements, in part because of the July 2006 resignation of 2 members. The Geary Corridor BRT Study is in its final stages, with three GCAC meetings scheduled between now and the Study's completion. Given the recent difficulties the Committee has had in meeting quorum requirements, coupled with the challenges involved with bringing new members up to speed at the end of a study, we propose to leave the two vacant seats unfilled and to reduce the size of the GCAC from 20 to 17 members. We are seeking a recommendation to approve the restructuring of the GCAC to reduce its size to 17 members.

6. Recommend Approval of the Final Report on the Van Ness BRT Feasibility Study – ACTION* (attachment) (Report Section 1) (Report Section 2) (Report Section 3) (Report Section 4) (Report Section 5)

The Authority, in coordination with Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), has completed the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study, including conceptual design and evaluation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) alternatives . Through a technical and community analysis process, the study developed and evaluated a set of BRT alternatives for Van Ness Avenue . The Feasibility Study drew upon citywide BRT goals established by an interagency project team, and upon an intensive assessment of existing conditions and transportation needs on Van Ness, to develop and evaluate a 2010 No-Project scenario as well as four BRT alternatives: a curb-lane BRT design and three center-lane BRT designs. Evaluations are based on a three-step travel demand modeling process, analysis of the engineering designs of each alternative, and design charrettes focused on key station platforms. Based on the analysis, several BRT design configurations provide significant transit performance benefits with limited cost, traffic, and construction impacts. The Study Report documents the results of the needs analysis, alternative designs, and findings from the alternatives evaluation, and recommends next steps and a funding and implementation plan. The study recommends that several BRT alternatives be carried forward to the Environmental Analysis and Preliminary Engineering phase of work, to begin immediately and conclude in early 2008. We are seeking a recommendation for approval of the Final Report of the Van Ness BRT Feasibility Study.

7. Recommend Appropriation of $1,950,000 in Prop K funds for the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Environmental Analysis and Preliminary Engineering Project, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and Amendment of the Relevant 5-Year Prioritization Program – ACTION* (attachment)

The Authority, in coordination with the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), has completed the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study, including conceptual design and evaluation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) alternatives. The study recommends that several BRT alternatives be carried forward to the Environmental Analysis and Preliminary Engineering phase of work, to begin immediately and conclude in early 2008. Following approval of the Feasibility Study's Final Report, to be considered as a separate agenda item at the December 12 Plans and Programs Committee meeting, the Authority, in close cooperation with the MTA, would like to initiate the Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for implementation of BRT on Van Ness, intended to clear the project environmentally under state and federal rules respectively, and to comply with the Alternatives Analysis requirements under Federal Transit Administration rules. We have already agreed with MTA management to put in place a memorandum of agreement for this purpose, and we will complete that agreement in the next few weeks. Final design and construction will be the responsibility of the MTA, with the goal of opening the Van Ness BRT project to service in 2010. The proposed appropriation would keep this significant Prop K project moving forward, helping to satisfy the Prop K mandate for a network of BRT routes, and would position the Van Ness BRT project to compete very well for Federal Small Starts funds. We are seeking a recommendation for the appropriation of $1,950,000 in Prop K funds for the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Environmental Analysis and Preliminary Engineering Project, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and amendment of the relevant 5-Year Prioritization Program.

8. Recommend Allocation of $132,000 in Prop K funds, with Conditions, to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) and Appropriation of $108,000 in Prop K Funds to the Authority for the Pedestrian Transportation Master Plan, Subject to the Attached Cash Flow Distribution Schedule – ACTION* (attachment)

Through two separate actions, the Authority previous approved a total of $160,000 in Prop K funds for the first year of Prop K funding for development and environmental clearance of the Municipal Transportation Agency's (MTA's) Pedestrian Transportation Master Plan (PMP). The Board action included a commitment to allocate an additional $160,000 for year two of plan development. Over the past year, the MTA has worked with other city agencies to fully integrate the PMP into the newer and more comprehensive Better Streets Plan (BSP), which features the PMP and the Streetscape Master Plan (SMP) as its two primary components, and to transform the initial PMP community involvement effort into a larger effort that encompasses the entire BSP. The MTA indicates that the PMP is currently about 35% complete. The MTA has submitted a request for a total of $240,000 for the second year of the PMP development effort, which includes an $80,000 increase over the budget provided when the Authority Board approved the March 2006 allocation for the PMP ($615K compared to $535K). MTA attributes the increased costs primarily to the need to cover MTA staff efforts past and future related to integration of the PMP into the BSP; however, the MTA fully expects that the extra coordination will pay off in a higher quality, more comprehensive PMP, SMP, and BSP. Of $240,000 requested, the MTA has asked that $108,000 be appropriated to the Authority to cover MTA's Prop K contributions to two PMP-related technical contracts, which the Authority has procured on behalf of MTA and the City (i.e., PMP technical services and BSP community involvement services). We are seeking a recommendation for the allocation of $132,000 in Prop K funds, with conditions, to the MTA and appropriation of $108,000 in Prop K funds to the Authority for the PMP.

9. Recommend Appropriation of $12,000 in Prop K Funds for the Columbus Avenue Revitalization Master Plan, Subject to the Attached Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and Amendment of the Relevant 5-Year Prioritization Program – ACTION*(attachment)

In July 2006, the Authority acting as the fiscal agent for RENEW SF, a neighborhood organization located in the North Beach area of the City, was awarded a $144,000 Caltrans Community Based Transportation Planning grant for the Columbus Avenue Revitalization Master Plan (Plan). The Plan focuses on Columbus Avenue from the Transamerica Pyramid to Fisherman's Wharf, and is intended to support economic revitalization and pedestrian activity on Columbus Avenue , and build transportation planning capacity among neighborhood organizations. RENEW SF will be responsible for day-to-day project management and development of the Plan with the assistance of a technical consultant, the Authority, and the Department of Public Works (DPW). The Authority will administer the grant, procure the consultant, review and approve all deliverables, and lead the development of the funding and implementation plan. The $12,000 in requested Prop K funds, along with $12,000 in in-kind contributions from RENEW SF and $12,000 from DPW equally split between in-kind contributions and cash, will fully fund the Plan and provide the required local match. The Prop K funds would come from the Transportation/Land Use Coordination category, which provides matching funds for state and federal grants to support neighborhood transportation plans that identify and prioritize transportation capital improvements for implementation. We are seeking a recommendation to appropriate $12,000 in Prop K funds for the Columbus Avenue Revitalization Master Plan, subject to the attached cash flow distribution schedule, and amendment of the relevant 5-Year Prioritization Program.

10. Recommend Allocation of $65,000 in Prop K funds to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) for the Conceptual Engineering Phase of the Escalator Rehabilitation and Upgrade Project, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and Amendment of the Relevant 5-Year Prioritization Programs – ACTION* (attachment)

The Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) has requested $65,000 in Prop K funds to produce a conceptual engineering report (CER) for upgrade of 5 of the MUNI Metro System's station escalators. In total, the MTA is responsible for 28 escalators across the 7 MUNI Metro Stations, and plans to upgrade approximately 5 escalators per year over the next 6 years. The Prop K funds requested would match $260,000 in Federal Section 5307 funds for a total cost of $325,000 for the CER phase of the project. The MTA has estimated the total cost to rehabilitate or replace the 5 escalators will be $7,165,000. This project will require an amendment to the 5-Year Prioritization Programs (5YPPs) for the Facilities and Guideways categories of Prop K. This project was inadvertently included in the 5YPP for Guideways, but should have been included in the Facilities category. We are seeking a recommendation for the allocation of $65,000 in Prop K funds to the MTA for the conceptual engineering phase of the Escalator Rehabilitation and Upgrade Project, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and amendment of the relevant 5YPPs.

11. Recommend Appropriation of $100,000 in Prop K funds, with Conditions, for the Congestion Pricing Feasibility Study, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and a Commitment to Appropriate an Additional $30,000 in Fiscal Year 2007/08 – ACTION* (attachment)

In January 2006, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded a $1.04 million grant to the Authority for the Congestion Pricing Feasibility Study, making San Francisco the first city in the nation to study congestion pricing and mobility in an urban area in the U.S. Our approach is to study roadway pricing in the larger context of congestion management includes the provision of competitive alternatives to driving, using the revenues generated through congestion charging to fund a package of mobility improvements that raise the level of service for alternatives to the private automobile, such as transit, cycling, walking and carpooling. This integrated approach has been used successfully in other cities to redefine the transportation choice-set for urban travelers in a way that improves a region's quality of life while maintaining a vibrant economy. During the course of the Congestion Pricing Feasibility Study, the results and recommendations of the Authority's On-Street Parking Management Study would be tracked, focusing on investigating the use of market-based pricing among other strategies to increase parking availability. If the Parking Management Study recommendations are accepted by the Authority Board, the Parking Management Study would be followed by the creation of a pilot parking management program that enables implementation of parking management strategies in one or two neighborhoods. FHWA's Value Pricing Program grant requires a 20% local match, in this case resulting in a local contribution of $260,000. We have identified funds in the Transportation Demand Management/Parking Management (TDM/PM) category of Prop K for half of the required match, and have secured the other $130,000 from the Bay Area Toll Authority. We are seeking a recommendation for the appropriation of $100,000 in Prop K fund, with conditions, for the Congestion Pricing Feasibility Study, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule , and a commitment to appropriate an additional $30,000 in Fiscal Year 2007/08.

12. Update on the Municipal Transportation Agency Bicycle Program – INFORMATION

On June 13 2006, the Superior Court of the State of California issued a legal injunction that effectively prohibits the implementation (e.g. construction) of bicycle improvements including, but not limited to bicycle lanes, pavement markings, signage, and bicycle parking. Based on addition information issued by the judge last week, it appears that the injunction will remain in place until the MTA completes an environmental impact report on the bicycle plan. Commissioner Daly, with the concurrence of Plans and Programs Committee Chair Dufty, asked for a report from Authority staff with an analysis of whether the MTA was still aggressively pursuing funds for bicycle projects, with the intent of ensuring that the City is ready to move forward with projects immediately once the injunction was lifted. We have been working closely with MTA bicycle program staff to assess the status of currently funded projects, as well as gain an understanding of project development work planned for the near future. We presented our findings at the November Plans and Programs Committee along with several recommendations focusing on the need for the MTA to provide a resource-based work program for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2006/07 through Fiscal Year 2008/09. At the meeting, Commissioner Dufty asked the MTA to consider the possibility of whether the Authority could assist the MTA by leading the environmental review effort and advancing it on a more aggressive timeline than might otherwise occur. MTA staff will make a brief presentation at the Plans and Programs Committee meeting to address these two topics. This is an information item.

13. Status Report on the Third Street Project – INFORMATION* (attachment)

This is a status report on the Third Street Light Rail Project. As of October 31, 2006, the project had spent approximately 85% of the total approved budget, including soft costs, and overall construction was 84% complete. All line segment contracts are substantially complete, with the exception of Segment J (Station Finishes and Project-wide Systems), which is scheduled to complete on December 15, 2006. If only the line segments are considered and the Metro East Maintenance Facility (MME) is excluded, the degree of construction completion rises to 98%. Operator training on the alignment commenced on November 20. The Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) has completed the safety certification process and all critical systems acceptance testing and operations readiness exercises; it plans to issue the final letter to the CPUC confirming T-Line operational readiness on December 21. The availability of sufficient vehicles and mechanics to provide sustainable service for the new line continues to be one of the challenges MTA faces in preparation for revenue service. The MME is 46% complete; work continues on the building interior as well as on the rail yard, where efforts continue on special trackwork and overhead contact system (OCS) poles. The Department of Public Works (DPW) and the contractor for the 4th Street Bridge will conclude their sessions with the dispute resolution board (DRB) on December 8. The DRB's final report is scheduled for April 16, 2007. Limited weekend passenger service will commence on January 13, 2007, and full revenue service will start on April 7, 2007. Work on preliminary engineering for the Central Subway is now 36% complete. Efforts continue on tunnel and station design in parallel with the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIR/EIS) and community outreach. This is an information item.

14. Introduction of New Items – INFORMATION

15. Public Comment

16. Adjournment

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