| Plans and Programs Committee - May 8, 2007 |
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AGENDA PLANS AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
Meeting Notice
1. Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of the April 10, 2007 Meeting - ACTION* (attachment) 3. Citizens Advisory Committee Report - INFORMATION* (attachment) 4. Recommend Allocation of $4,500 in Prop K Funds, with Conditions, to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) and Appropriation of $16,300 in Prop K Funds to the Authority for the Geary Corridor Bicycle Network Review Project, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and Amendment of the Relevant 5-Year Prioritization Program - ACTION* (attachment) The Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) has requested Prop K funds for a bicycle demand survey and investigation of potential bicycle facility design option within the Geary Corridor. As part of the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study, the Authority and MTA conducted a preliminary review of possible configurations for incorporating bicycle facilities on Geary. A key recommendation of the Geary Corridor BRT Study, to be presented to the Authority Board in May 2007, is additional analysis on where and how to best incorporate safe, convenient bicycle facilities on Geary or on other streets within the corridor. Results of this analysis will help to determine whether bicycle facilities would be best evaluated as part of an environmental study for a potential BRT project on Geary or as part of the citywide Bike Plan Environmental Impact Review (EIR) on a street parallel to Geary. In order to complete the subject project prior to the start of the Geary BRT EIR, the MTA has requested to utilize the Authority's on-call planning services for the consultant portion of the project scope, to be paid for with the $16,300 in Prop K funds proposed for appropriation. The MTA will be responsible for day-to-day management of the consultant. We are seeking a recommendation to allocate $4,500 in Prop K Funds, with conditions, to the MTA and appropriate $16,300 in Prop K Funds to the Authority for the Geary Corridor Bicycle Network Review project, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and amendment of the relevant 5YPP. 5. Recommend Approval of the Final Report on the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Study - ACTION* (attachment) The Authority, in coordination with the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), has completed the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit 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 Geary Boulevard. The feasibility study drew upon citywide BRT goals established by an interagency Study Team and upon an intensive assessment of existing conditions and transportation needs on Geary, to develop and evaluate a 2015 baseline scenario, a peak hour bus lane alternative, and three full-featured BRT alternatives: a curb-lane BRT design and 2 center-lane BRT designs. Evaluations are based on a three-step transportation modeling process, analysis of the conceptual engineering designs of each alternative, and design charrettes focused on key station attributes. Based on the analysis, several BRT design configurations appear to provide significant transit performance benefits at an affordable cost, and with manageable impacts. The study report documents the results of the needs analysis, alternative designs, and findings from the alternatives evaluation, describes a potential funding and implementation plan, and recommends further analysis and next steps. The study recommends that the project proceed to the Environmental Analysis and Preliminary Engineering phase of work, to begin by fall 2007 and conclude in late 2009. We are seeking a recommendation to approve the Final Report of the Geary Corridor BRT Study. 6. Recommend Appropriation of $1,183,000 in Prop K funds for Geary Bus Rapid Transit Environmental Analysis and Preliminary Engineering - Part 1, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, the Commitment to Appropriate $1,125,000 in Fiscal Year 2007/08 to Fund the Rest of the Part 1 Effort, and the Amendment of the Relevant 5-Year Prioritization Program - ACTION* (attachment) The Authority, in coordination with the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), has completed the Geary Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study, including conceptual design and evaluation of BRT alternatives. The study recommends that several BRT alternatives be carried forward to the Environmental Analysis and Preliminary Engineering phase of work, to begin in fall 2007 and conclude in early 2009. Following approval of the study's Final Report, a separate agenda item at the May 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) to implement transit improvements on Geary. The EIR/EIS is intended to clear the project environmentally under state and federal rules respectively, and to comply with the Alternatives Analysis requirements under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) rules. We have agreed with MTA on a management approach for this EIR/EIS phase and subsequent design and implementation phases of the project. The Authority will lead project development through environmental clearance and preliminary engineering while final design and construction will be the responsibility of the MTA, and would be coordinated with other planned improvements on Geary Boulevard with the goal of opening at least a first phase of the project for service in 2011. The proposed appropriation would keep this significant Prop K project moving forward, helping to advance the Prop K mandate for a network of BRT routes, and would position the Geary BRT project to compete for FTA Small Starts funds. We are seeking a recommendation for the appropriation of $1,183,000 in Prop K funds for Geary BRT Environmental Analysis and Preliminary Engineering - Part 1, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, the commitment to appropriate $1,125,000 in Fiscal Year 2007/08 to fund the rest of the Part 1 effort, and the amendment of the relevant 5-Year Prioritization Program.
7. Prop K Fiscal Year 2007/08 Annual Allocations - Part 1 - INFORMATION* (attachment) (applications) Each spring the Authority issues an annual call for Prop K projects with the intent of bringing as many of the programmatic and other individual capital project allocations to the Authority Board for approval in June. This allows project sponsors to incorporate the level of Prop K funding in their annual budget processes, and to put into place the staff and other resources necessary to deliver Prop K projects and programs. Project sponsors that can demonstrate need and project readiness can also receive allocations for individual projects and programs during the year. We are presenting 16 applications received by March 28, requesting nearly $19 million in Prop K funds to the Plans and Programs Committee for information this month and for action in June. At the May meeting, we will highlight any issues or policy choices that we foresee, as well as project delivery successes, as appropriate. We have invited project sponsors to attend the meeting to answer any questions that the Committee may have. We will bring the second batch of annual requests, including bicycle, pedestrian, traffic calming, and street resurfacing projects to the Committee as an information item in June and as an action item in July. The other major grouping of annual requests that we have not received is part of Caltrain's capital improvement program. We expect to receive these applications in mid to late summer, corresponding to Caltrain's annual budget process. We are seeking guidance and input from the Committee. This is an information item. 8. Third Street Light Rail Project Status Report - INFORMATION* (attachment) This is a status report on the Third Street Light Rail Project. Full revenue service commenced on April 7, 2007 and closeout activities are underway on all line contracts on the Initial Operating Segment (IOS). The Municipal Transportation Authority (MTA) reports that on-time performance on the T-Third has increased to approximately 30% (compared to 12% on April 7) and the overall metro system is approaching pre-T-Third service levels. The switching issue at Fourth and King, which is considered by MTA to be the main contributor to T-Third schedule disruptions, is being addressed by software modifications which are currently underway. MTA expects that once this issue is resolved on-time performance will increase dramatically. The lack of sufficient LRV operators systemwide to cover for sickness, vacations, or absenteeism continues to be a challenge for MTA, as is the availability of sufficient vehicles and mechanics to provide sustainable service for the new line. The Muni Metro East Maintenance Facility is now 54% complete, based on the current forecast-at-completion. Trackwork and Overhead Contact System (OCS) trusses on the rail yard have been completed and roofing and siding are underway. Work on preliminary engineering for the Central Subway is now 39% complete. A bottom-up estimating effort, based on a risk-based cost approach, has been completed and an estimate review workshop with the funding partners has been scheduled for May 10. A project delivery workshop, in which a group of experts will convene to address the optimal contract packaging and contracting method scenarios, has been scheduled for May 31 and June 1. Having received comments from the Planning Department on the Administrative draft of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Report (SEIS/SEIR), MTA will re-issue the document the week of May 7. Efforts continue on tunnel and station design and community outreach. This is an information item. 9. Update on the Municipal Transportation Agency's Bicycle Program - INFORMATION* (attachment) 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. The injunction will remain in place until the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) completes an environmental impact report on the bicycle plan. The Plans and Programs Committee asked for periodic updates on this topic, including, but not limited to the MTA's efforts to ensure that it is ready to move forward with project implementation as soon as the injunction is lifted. The Committee was last briefed on this item in January 2007. MTA staff will provide an update at the May Committee meeting and be able to answer any questions the Committee may have. This is an information item. 10. Introduction of New Items - INFORMATION 11. Public Comment
12. Adjournment
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