San Francisco County Transportation Authority
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AGENDA

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meeting Notice

Date:          6:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Location:     100 Van Ness Avenue, 26^th Floor

Members:    Brian Larkin (Chair), Jacqualine Sachs (Vice Chair), Chris Jones, Cecilia Lim, Michael Ma, Fran Martin, Vicki Oppenheim, Jul Lynn Parsons, Peter Tannen, and Wendy Tran

6:00     1.          Committee Meeting Call to Order

6:05     2.         Adoption of Minutes of the December 3, 2008 Meeting - ACTION* attachment

6:07     3.         Chair's Report - INFORMATION

6:10      Policy and Programming

4.                  Adopt a Motion of Support for the Allocation of $12,300,000 in Prop K Funds, with Conditions, to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority for Two Requests, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedules, and Associated Strategic Plan Amendment - ACTION* attachment

The Caltrain Downtown Extension to a Rebuilt Transbay Terminal (Transbay Transit Center Project) has three major components: a new multimodal Transbay Terminal on the site of the present Transbay Terminal; extension of Caltrain from Fourth and Townsend Streets to an underground terminus at the new Transbay Terminal; and the establishment of a Redevelopment Area Plan.  The proposed action includes allocations for two projects.  The Construction Management/General Contractor (CM/GC) Pre-Construction Services Project request would allocate $4,300,000 in Prop K funds to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) for a two-year contract.  The selected contractor would work with the Architect in reviewing the Schematic Documents, the Design Development Documents, and the Construction Documents for the Transbay Transit Center, taking into account constructability, quality of materials and equipment, to ensure an efficient design and minimum lifecycle cost.  The second project, for Demolition and Construction Management (CM) Services, would employ contractors to take down the existing terminal and ramps, prepare the site for construction of the new facility, and provide professional services including construction management, related administrative tasks (e.g., documentation of work progress, progress reports, correspondence, recordkeeping, payment verification, and communications), and rapid emergency response to the TJPA as required.  The TJPA intends to issue the notice to proceed for all related contracts before the end of Fiscal Year 2008/09.  We are recommending two special conditions for this request, which have been agreed to by TJPA staff.  First, we are recommending a special condition that by February 3, 2009, the TJPA shall submit an amendment request to modify the cash flows in the Standard Grant Agreements (SGA) for two prior Prop K allocations to align them with actual reimbursement rates in order to accommodate the cash flow requests for the subject projects. The second special condition is to amend the Prop K Strategic Plan to reprogram a total of $12,300,000 in Fiscal Year 2008/09 Design funds to Fiscal Year 2008/09 Construction funds to accommodate the current requests.  We are seeking a motion of support for the allocation of $12,300,000 in Prop K funds, with conditions, to the TJPA for two requests, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedules, and associated Strategic Plan amendment.

5.                  Adopt a Motion of Support for the Allocation of $120,000 in Prop K Funds, with Conditions, to the Municipal Transportation Agency for the Masonic Avenue Traffic Calming Plan, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and Associated 5-Year Prioritization Program Amendment - ACTION* attachment

The arterial section of Masonic Avenue running north-south between Geary Boulevard and Fell Street, has been the subject of public complaints citing speeding, number of collisions, reckless driving, red light running, failure of vehicles to yield to pedestrians, slow transit service, inconsistent and confusing lane configurations, and wide intersections. In February 2008, Fix Masonic, a community group comprised of neighbors and residents of Masonic Avenue and representatives from affiliated advocacy groups, submitted a traffic calming application to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) requesting a wide-variety of changes to the arterial street to meet the safety and mobility needs of all of its users, including pedestrians, bus riders, bicyclists, and drivers. On February 12, 2008, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, through Resolution 73-08, requested that the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) work with other city agencies, including the Authority, the Planning Department, and the Department of Public Works, to develop a funding plan and timeline for a comprehensive planning process to address stakeholders' concerns on Masonic Avenue from Geary Boulevard to Fell Street.  The subject Prop K request would fund this planning work, and will result in a plan that identifies potential improvements and associated costs. We are seeking a motion of support for the allocation of $120,000 in Prop K funds, with conditions, to the MTA for the Masonic Avenue Traffic Calming Plan, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and associated 5YPP amendment.

6.                  Adopt a Motion of Support for the Amendment of the Municipal Transportation Agency's Market Street Calm the Safety Zone Project (Resolution 06-43, Project Number 101.910001) to Revise the Scope, Schedule and Budget - ACTION* attachment

In February 2006, through approval of Resolution 06-43, the Authority allocated $223,500 in Prop K funds to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) for the planning, design and construction of the Market Street Calm the Safety Zone Project.  The project is one of the short-term improvements recommended by the Market Street Action Plan, approved by the Authority Board in February 2004.  The Prop K funds were leveraging a $600,000 Safe Routes to Transit (SR2T) grant of Regional Measure 2 (RM-2) funds from TransForm (formerly the Transportation and Land Use Coalition, or TALC) and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition (EBBC), which was awarded to the MTA in December 2005.  The original scope of the project included colored high-visibility pavement and the installation of an edge stripe in the safety zones, an advanced stop bar between the safety zone and the pedestrian crosswalk, and the installation of signage and reflective warning devices at 19 safety zones on Market Street between Justin Herman Plaza and Octavia Boulevard.  The main scope revision is the removal of high-visibility pavement in the safety zone.  In February 2006, the MTA asked the California Traffic Control Device Committee (CTCDC) for its opinion on the use of yellow for the colored high-visibility pavement in the safety zones.  The CTCDC rejected its use because yellow is a standard color with specific applications (e.g. separating directional traffic flow) and therefore cannot be used for the safety zones.  The CTCDC did state that another color could possibly be used; however, MTA staff believes that any other color would not have the safety effect of the color yellow because it is already known as a warning color, while other colors do not relay such a message.  The revised scope includes several different treatments for the safety zones, including reflective warning devices, ‘no pedestrian crossing' markings, signage, pavement markings, and a rumble strip in the safety zone.  The reduced cost of the items in the revised scope allows those treatments to be done at all the safety zones along Market Street from Justin Herman Plaza to Castro Street and it allows the MTA to install 16 Accessible Pedestrian Signals along Market Street.  The MTA requested a scope and expiration date amendment to the SR2T grant, which were administratively approved by Transform and the EBBC in June 2007.  On July 25, 2007, through Resolution 3759, MTC allocated the full $600,000 to the subject project with the revised scope and expiration date.  The Standard Grant Agreement needs to be amended so the Prop K funds that were used as leverage for the SR2T grant can be used for the revised scope by the extended expiration date.  We are seeking a motion of support for the amendment of the MTA's Market Street Calm the Safety Zone Project (Resolution 06-43, Project Number 101.910001) to revise the scope, schedule and budget.

7.                  Adopt a Motion of Support for the Appropriation of $15,000 in Prop K Funds for Planning and Conceptual Engineering of the Tenderloin Traffic Calming and Circulation Improvements Project, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and Amendment of the Relevant 5 Year Prioritization Program - ACTION* attachment 

The Tenderloin Traffic Calming and Circulation Improvements Project is a two-phase effort to support planning and conceptual engineering of circulation improvements in the Tenderloin. The first phase has an implementation timeframe of 6 to 8 months, and will identify traffic calming and circulation measures (i.e., conversion of one-way streets to two-way, corner bulbs, and reduced street widths) for Ellis and Eddy Streets.  The primary goal of Phase 1 is to identify projects that can be implemented in conjunction with street resurfacing projects scheduled for mid-2009.  The second phase has an implementation timeframe of 5 years and may look at additional streets in the area. In 2006, Caltrans awarded a $135,000 Community Based Planning Grant to the Authority for this project. That grant requires a 10% local match of $15,000, which would be fulfilled by the requested Prop K funding. We are seeking a motion of support for the appropriation of $15,000  in Prop K funds for planning and conceptual engineering of the Tenderloin Traffic Calming and Circulation Improvements Project, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and amendment of the relevant 5YPP.  

8.                  Adopt a Motion of Support for the Allocation of $5,637,664 in Prop K Funds, with Conditions, for Five Requests, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedules, and Associated 5-Year Prioritization Program Amendments - ACTION* attachment  enclosure

Due to a particularly crowded January Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) agenda, we have grouped four Prop K allocation requests from the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) and one Prop K allocation request from the Peninsular Corridor Joint Powers Board (PCJPB or Caltrain) into a single memo. The MTA applications, which have a combined request of $5,489,334, include Prop K funds for the rehabilitation of 8 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs); procurement and installation of a DriveCam System (Vehicle Driver Risk Management Program); design of the Green Roof and HVAC; and the construction of a new signal at the intersection of Skyline Boulevard, Herbst Road, and Lake Merced Boulevard. The single PCJPB application for $148,333 would provide the San Francisco share of the design and construction phases for PCJPB's ongoing Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program.  Attachment 1 summarizes the applications received, including leveraging compared to Expenditure Plan assumptions and project phases included in the current request.  Attachment 2 provides a brief description of each project.   We are recommending allocation of the amount requested for each project. Attachment 3 provides a summary of our staff recommendation, highlighting 5YPP amendments, special circumstances, and other issues of potential interest to the CAC, such as unusual funding issues, and factors that may impact project delivery or construction coordination opportunities.  We are seeking a motion of support for the allocation of $5,637,664 in Prop K funds, with conditions, for five requests, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedules, and associated 5-Year Prioritization Program Amendments.

9.                  Adopt a Motion of Support for the Allocation of Up to $153,750 in Prop K Funds, With Conditions, to the Planning Department for an Environmental Planner III Position to Advance Project Delivery of Various Prop K Projects, Subject to the Attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and five 5-Year Prioritization Program Amendments - ACTION* attachment

The San Francisco Planning Department is responsible for conducting environmental review of proposed development in San Francisco, including review of proposed capital projects.  Currently, there are a significant number of priority City-sponsored projects with complex transportation-related components requiring environmental review.  The department has had difficulty staffing its environmental review function sufficiently to provide the necessary transportation analysis for these projects.  According to the Planning Department, this is due in part to the department's lack of funding.  In order to remedy this situation, the department is simultaneously conducting extensive recruitment efforts and seeking additional funding to support qualified staff.   The department is also seeking a one-time allocation of Prop K funds to support its immediate staffing needs so that it can move forward the Prop K projects that either currently, or are expected to soon need environmental review.  The Planning Department is seeking to fund a full-time Environmental Planner III level position in its Major Environmental Analysis (MEA) division for a period of 16 months.  The total cost for this period is approximately $165,000 including fringe benefit costs. The department has requested an allocation of $153,750 in Prop K funds with the remaining $10,717 to be provided from the Planning Department's budget.  The department's funding proposal is based on MEA's current and anticipated work efforts to support environmental review of the projects shown in Attachment 1, including the Better Streets Plan (BSP) and Bicycle Plan Environmental Impact Report.  The Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), which is the sponsor of all the identified projects except for the BSP where the Planning Department is the lead, has provided its concurrence with the requested reprogramming and allocation of funds to the Planning Department for the above scope of work.  As a condition of its concurrence, the MTA has indicated that it would need to approve any Planning Department expenditures in support of MTA projects prior to the Authority reimbursing the Planning Department.   The recommended action would require amendment of five 5-Year Prioritization Programs (5YPPs). We are seeking a motion of support for the allocation of up to $153,750 in Prop K funds, with conditions, to the Planning Department for an Environmental Planner III Position to Advance Project Delivery of Various Prop K Projects, subject to the attached Fiscal Year Cash Flow Distribution Schedule, and five 5YPP Amendments.

6:50     Planning

10.               Adopt a Motion of Support for the Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Transportation Nexus Study - ACTION* attachment

In October 2008, the Authority adopted the Final Report on the Automobile Trip Generation Impact Measure.  The Report recommends that the City measure the transportation impacts of projects under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) based on the net new automobile trips generated (ATG) by a project.   Projects that generate automobile trips would be able to mitigate their impacts by paying a new auto trip mitigation fee (ATMF) that would fund a set of citywide and local area projects designed to address environmental impacts caused by the project.  The report proposes that the Authority partner with City agencies on the initiation of a nexus study to support the new program. The proposed draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Authority, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), the Planning Department, and the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), outlines the joint conduct of a three-part nexus study (the "Study") to support existing and proposed transportation-related development impact fees, with a focus on potential new transportation impact fees.  Part One of the Study would develop a legal basis for continued collection of the existing Transit Impact Development Fee (TIDF) and would be managed and funded solely by MTA.  Part Two of the Study would develop a legal basis for the potential future adoption of a new Comprehensive Transportation Impact Development Fee (CTIDF) that would expand upon the existing TIDF to address the effects of new development on the entire City transportation system.  This part of the Study would be jointly reviewed by all four parties to this agreement but funded entirely by MTA.  Part Three of the Study would develop a legal basis for the potential adoption of the ATMF that would mitigate significant transportation-related environmental effects identified pursuant to CEQA.  This part of the Study would be jointly reviewed by all four parties to the agreement and funded by all four agencies pursuant to the cost sharing provisions described in the MOU.  We are seeking a motion of support to approve the Memorandum of Understanding for the Transportation Nexus Study.

11.                Adopt a Motion of Support for the Approval of the Final Scope of Work for the Strategic Analysis Report on Transportation Options for a Better Market Street - ACTION*  attachment

At the October 7, 2008 meeting of the Plans and Programs Committee, Commissioner Chris Daly requested that we initiate a Strategic Analysis Report (SAR) on the issue of auto restrictions on Market Street.  As part of the scoping process, Authority staff has initiated review of relevant documents and consulted with several agencies and community stakeholders to obtain input on relevant issues that should be addressed in the SAR. As called for in the Authority's procedures governing the development of SARs, the draft scope was brought to the January 13 meeting of the Plans and Programs Committee for comments and guidance. The final SAR scope is being presented to the Citizens Advisory Committee in late January, and will be presented to the Plans and Programs Committee and Authority Board in February for approval. We are seeking a motion of support for the approval of the scope of work for the Strategic Analysis Report on Transportation Options for a Better Market Street.

7:20     Finance and Administration

12.               Adopt a Motion of Support to Increase the Amount of the Professional Services Contract with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., in an Amount Not to Exceed $130,000, for Congestion Management Program Level of Service Monitoring and Extend the Term of the Contract to December 31, 2009 - ACTION* attachment

As the Congestion Management Agency (CMA) for San Francisco, the Authority is responsible for developing and adopting a Congestion Management Program (CMP), which must be updated every two years.  The CMP was last updated in 2007.  The 2009 update will be due to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in the fall.  In support of the 2009 CMP update, the Authority will collect roadway Level of Service (LOS) data on all CMP-designated segments citywide in the spring.  In 2007, the Authority awarded a professional services contract for roadway LOS monitoring to Carter & Burgess, Inc. (subsequently acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.).  Under the agreement, the Authority may extend the contract by two additional two-year terms for LOS monitoring in support of the 2009 and 2011 CMP updates.  The 2009 monitoring effort will support both the CMP update and the other Authority planning activities.  We are seeking a motion of support to increase the amount of the professional services contract with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., in an amount not to exceed $130,000, for Congestion Management Program Level of Service Monitoring and extend the term of the contract to December 31, 2009.

13.               Adopt the Authority's 2009 State and Federal Legislative Program - ACTION

In January, as the Legislature comes back into session, we typically provide a comprehensive update on legislative initiatives we are tracking.  Our 2009 Legislative Program continues many of the themes from the previous legislative sessions and emphasizes issues of stabilizing and protecting transportation funds, funding flexibility, and streamlining of project delivery mechanisms. All of these are necessary, particularly at a time when transportation funds have dried up due to California's state budget crisis and Congress is moving quickly to approve an economic stimulus package that could potentially bring millions in federal transportation funds to the Bay Area.  Our legislative focus is to advocate for San Francisco priorities, support legislation that secures or increases funding for San Francisco projects, and encourage legislation that expedites project delivery.  Our Legislative Program also continues to explore ways to address long term funding needs for transit operations.  We will present the 2009 Legislative Program at the meeting.  We are seeking a motion of support for the 2009 State and Federal Legislative Programs.

14.               Adopt a Motion of Support to Authorize the Executive Director to Submit to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) a List of Priority Projects for the Local Streets and Roads (LS&R) Portion of the Economic Stimulus Funds - INFORMATION/ACTION

The federal government has been developing a bill to dispense a significant amount of funds to be spent on projects that would create jobs and bring economic benefits to those most impacted by the economic recession.  The current draft of the economic stimulus bill designates $30 billion to the Federal Highway Administration, of which 45% will be directed to the urbanized Surface Transportation Program (STP) formula; 56% of the STP-formula funds will then be distributed to Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPAs).  The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Bay Area's RTPA, is planning to distribute 80% of the regional share of the stimulus funds to local agencies for their Local Streets and Roads (LS&R) projects.  MTC is finalizing guidelines to allocate the stimulus funds to local agencies in accordance with the bill's project selection requirements, and the Authority is required to prioritize the City's LS&R projects per MTC's guidelines.  As distribution of the stimulus funds will move at a full speed upon adoption of the bill, which is planned to be signed on February 15, 2009, it is almost certain that the Authority will be required to submit the priority project list to MTC no later than February 18, which does not leave sufficient time for the Board to review details of the stimulus package nor the priority project list by the next Board meeting. We are seeking a motion of support to authorize the Executive Director to submit to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) a list of priority projects for the Local Streets and Roads (LS&R) portion of the economic stimulus funds.

15.               Auditor Review of the Municipal Transportation Agency Overhead Multiplier - INFORMATION

In response to concerns raised by the CAC, and after examining sample Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) invoices, the Authority engaged the audit firm of Macias, Gini, and O'Connell, LLP (Macias Gini) to conduct an accounting review of the MTA multiplier.  A set of specific agreed-upon procedures was established, focusing on invoice testing and on an analysis of the MTA overheard multiplier.  The auditors are just completing their draft report, which is scheduled to be distributed and presented at the CAC meeting for information.   Macias Gini is the audit firm that conducts the annual audits of the Authority and of the City and County of San Francisco.  This in an information item.   

16.               Internal Accounting Report for the Six Months Ended December 31, 2008 - INFORMATION* attachment

The Authority's Fiscal Policy directs staff to give a quarterly report of expenditures including a comparison to the approved budget.  The Authority's Investment Policy directs that a review of portfolio compliance be presented along with the quarterly report.  The Internal Accounting Report for the six months ended December 31, 2008, is presented for information.  

7:50     11.        Public Comment

8:00     12.        Adjournment

Next Regular Meeting: February 25, 2009

CAC MEMBERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SHOULD CONTACT ERIKA CHENG AT (415) 522-4831

This meeting location is wheelchair accessible.  In order to allow individuals with environmental illness or multiple-chemical sensitivity to attend the meeting, individuals are requested to refrain from wearing perfume or other scented products.  All times shown are for information only.  Items will be called at the discretion of the Chair.

If any materials related to an item on this agenda have been distributed to the Citizens Advisory Committee after distribution of the agenda packet, those materials are available for public inspection at the San Francisco County Transportation Authority at 100 Van Ness Avenue, Floor 26, San Francisco, CA 94102, during normal office hours.