BOARD MEETING REPORT

Thursday, February 21, 2008

 ROUTE 135/CLARK AVENUE (WEST) PARK AND RIDE LOT IMPROVEMENTS

Last month the City of Santa Barbara presented On-TRAC: A Plan of Transit/Rail Action for Commuters to the SBCAG board.  On-TRAC  is a plan prepared by the City of Santa Barbara that advocates for proposed changes to intercity passenger rail service to better serve the Ventura County-Santa Barbara County commuter market, regional cooperation and collaboration for rail, and regional support for rail capital improvements in the corridor.  A key component of the plan is to re-schedule existing Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains to provide commuters with an alternative to using 101.  The SBCAG Board voted unanimously to support the City of Santa Barbara’s On-TRAC plan.
 

FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS EARMARKS FOR FY 2008-09

The 2008/2009 federal budget appropriations cycle is underway.  Appropriations requests must be submitted by February 29, 2008 to Senators Feinstein and Boxer and Congressmembers Capps and Gallegly’s offices in order to meet the budget preparation timeline.

The SBCAG Board approved three projects that will be submitted by staff for incorporation into the 2008/09 appropriations bill.  Proposed earmark requests for FY 08/09 are:

101/Santa Maria River Bridge Widening Project:  $1.4 million.

When the widening of Highway 101 to six lanes in Santa Maria, from Santa Maria Way to the Santa Maria River Bridge, is completed this year the four-lane bridge over the Santa Maria River linking Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties will likely become a traffic bottleneck.  In anticipation of this, SBCAG, SLOCOG and Caltrans programmed $2.16 million in STIP funds, prorated 20%\20%\60%, for environmental studies for the bridge widening which was completed on December 11, 2006.  SBCAG and SLOCOG also requested an earmark from Congresswoman Capps for design of the six-lane bridge, and a $2.7 million earmark was received.  Caltrans has started to utilize the funds to do survey work in support of project design and successfully secured additional funding at the request of Mayor Lavagnino to fully fund design. 

SBCAG staff recommended that the Board submit an earmark request to Congresswoman Capps for $1.4 million to cover the cost of preparing a Corridor System Management Plan (CMSP) for this segment of Highway 101 that incorporates the Santa Maria River Bridge widening, the proposed Highway 101\135 interchange and north of the bridge into San Luis Obispo County.  A CSMP is required of all projects after they are accepted into the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) program.  Completing the CSMP ahead of time will make the project stand out from its competitors should CMIA funds become available in the future.  The request would specify that any earmark funding not needed to complete the CSMP would be used on bridge-related right of way purchases or to fund bridge construction in Santa Barbara County or San Luis Obispo County.

Highway 101 \ Carpinteria Creek:  $10.0 Million

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released new 100-year flood maps in the Carpinteria area, and they show that water flows down Carpinteria Creek during a 100-year flood event would overtop the Highway 101 Carpinteria Creek Bridge.  Any effort to widen Highway 101 to six lanes or to make improvements to the Casitas Pass Interchange as part of the currently programmed Linden\Casitas Pass Interchange STIP project would require raising the elevation of the bridge, and the profile of Highway 101 to the north and south.  The cost of raising the bridge has not been calculated, but a rough estimate is $10 million.  That is the amount of an earmark that SBCAG staff recommended that the board request from Congress.  Given the scope and cost of the earmark needed, and because it is driven by a FEMA flood map issue, Senators Feinstein and Boxer would receive this request.  

Highway 166 (East) Safety Improvements: $6.0 Million

Since 1996, fifty two people have been killed on Highway 166, and 9 in 2006 alone, including the principal of Cuyama Valley High School.   This increase in accidents has prompted the reactivation of the Highway 166 Safety Task Force, which includes the CHP, SBCAG, SLOCOG, the City of Santa Maria Fire Department, and representatives from the offices of Senator Maldonado, Assemblyman Blakeslee, and Supervisor Centeno.   The Task Force meets to identify and implement measures to reduce fatalities on the highway and coordinate its resources toward that end.  The CHP, for instance, has applied for and received a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety to increase patrols on Highway 166.    Caltrans is designing SHOPP safety projects for the corridor, including a turn lane project. In addition, Santa Barbara County SAFE call box revenues have been applied to a safety public information campaign for the corridor.  Requesting an earmark for Highway 166 would be another way that SBCAG could assist in improving safety.  The earmark would be targeted toward the east end of Highway 166, from Highway 101 to the Kern\SLO county lines, which is where recent fatalities have been located. 

This earmark request would be submitted to Congressman Gallegly.  His district covers portions of East Highway 166, from Highway 101 to the Kern\SLO border.  SBCAG staff has also contacted SLOCOG about the possibility of a two-congressional district earmark, including the 24th district (Congressman Gallegly) and the 22nd district (Congressman McCarthy).  The dividing line between the 24th (Santa Barbara County) and 22nd (SLO County) districts is the Cuyama River.  Highway 166 meanders back and forth across the river east of Highway 101.   SBCAG staff would work with SLOCOG to gain their support for a two-district, $6 million earmark that would augment existing safety projects under design or study by Caltrans, or be targeted to other projects as advised by the Safety Task Force.
 

MEASURE D REVENUE ESTIMATES (2008-2010) 

As the Local Transportation Authority, SBCAG is responsible for allocating Measure D funds to local agencies and to the regional highway program.  SBCAG and local agencies for many years annually updated and adopted five-year programs of projects using the Measure D revenue estimates.  Measure D, however, expires in 2010—thus revenue estimates are being provided only for the final two years of the current Measure D program.  The final normal disbursements of Measure D revenues will take place in June of 2010.

The Measure D program revenue estimates for FY 08-09 is $33,966,252 in total receipts.  The revenue estimate for FY 08-09 assumes about a 1.5% rate of growth.  A growth rate of 3% is estimated for the last program year. 

HIGHWAY 101:  TRAFFIC CONGESTION SENSORS

SBCAG has an opportunity to partner with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) to have traffic congestion sensors installed along the Highway 101 South Coast corridor.  The sensors would gather data on traffic density and speed which would be used to determine congestion levels.  Sensors have already been installed by VCTC on Highway 101 in Ventura County, so this would extend coverage to the South Coast.  The information gathered by the sensors could be displayed on maps on publicly accessible websites. It would be opportune to disseminate information such as this as the US 101/Milpas-Hot Springs project begins construction in the Summer of 2008 and SBCAG launches a website on the project in the next few months at www.SBRoads.com.

With information about congestion on 101 in the Milpas area, commuters could use alternate routes or plan trips during less congested times.  Traffic congestion information could also be transmitted to Caltrans’ Traffic Management Centers in Districts 5 and 7 and be used to notify motorists of travel times to and through the South Coast via changeable message signs.  The information gathered will also be helpful in providing data for traffic studies for the 101 Widening projects that are currently underway.  Finally, the information could be made available to radio and TV traffic reporters for live reporting of traffic conditions.    

Installation and Spacing
The traffic sensors are configured to be mounted on existing infrastructure such as light poles, signs, bridges, etc.  The devices are solar-powered and small.  (See photo below).        

It is anticipated that the sensors in Santa Barbara County would be installed on existing poles and roadside callboxes, which is the approach VCTC took on Highway 101 in their county.  Working with the parameters of up to 24 sensors available and one-mile spacing, it is anticipated that coverage can be provided on Highway 101 from the Ventura County line north up to at least Santa Barbara. 

Since VCTC’s interests in congestion data end at Winchester Canyon, the congestion sensors would not be installed any farther north than that point.  But SBCAG staff believes this is a great opportunity to run what is, with the VCTC subsidy, a low-budget pilot program to collect and disseminate travel data that if successful could be applied to the 101 corridor in Orcutt and Santa Maria and perhaps even extend as far north as Nipomo through a partnership with SLOCOG.  This is an idea that SBCAG staff can evaluate and discuss with TTAC after the congestion sensors go on-line and are put to the test over the next year.  The SBCAG Board voted unanimously to move forward with the installation of traffic speed sensors in the 101 corridor.
 

HIGHWAY 101 MILPAS TO CABRILLO HOT SPRINGS: PHASE I

The Highway 101 Milpas to Cabrillo\Hot Springs Project is scheduled to open bids on March 5, 2008.   Approximately three months after bid opening, Caltrans will have signed a contract and the project contractor will be ready to begin construction.   It is therefore time to prepare for a groundbreaking ceremony on this long awaited project.  A tentative date staff is exploring is Tuesday, June 10, 2008. 

Since the project will relieve a bottleneck on a critical state facility—one of only two highways connecting Northern and Southern California.  And the project is a partnership between SBCAG and the State because it is partly funded by Measure D.  The SBCAG Board authorized Chair Firestone to sign a letter inviting Governor Schwarzenegger to attend the groundbreaking ceremony and celebrate this Measure D and State success.  Other state representatives, such as Assemblyman Nava and Senator McClintock, would also be invited to participate. 
 

MEASURE D RENEWAL INVESTMENT PLAN

Staff has been presenting the draft investment plan adopted by the board in November to numerous organizations to gather input.  The board also authorized staff to hire a research firm to conduct a poll of likely voters to learn about their opinions on the renewal plan.  Following an RFP process the opinion research firm of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates (FMMA) was hired to complete the poll.  FMMA is one of the top public opinion research firms in the state and has conducted many research projects on both statewide and local ballot measures including over a dozen for other county transportation sales tax measures. 

FMMA conducted the survey of approximately 600 Santa Barbara County voters who are likely to vote in the November 2008 Presidential Election.  The telephone survey was conducted from January 17-22 and provided for responses in both English and Spanish. 

FMMA conducted the survey of approximately 600 Santa Barbara County voters who are likely to vote in the November 2008 Presidential Election.  The telephone survey was conducted from January 17-22 and provided for responses in both English and Spanish. 

The results of the survey are very encouraging for the Measure D Renewal effort.  When presented with a sample ballot statement summarizing the renewal measure, countywide support exceeds the two-thirds supermajority required for passage.  In fact, 75% of respondents indicated support for the ballot measure and the draft investment plan (including those who strongly support, probably support and undecided but lean toward support).  Voters throughout the county recognize transportation needs and favor continuation of the existing ½ cent sales tax to address these needs.  Furthermore, there is very strong support for specific projects in each of the county’s subregions. 

The survey and FMMA’s findings underscore the importance of informing the public about the plan.  When provided with additional information about the renewal plan, support for the renewal measure increases in both magnitude and intensity.
 

REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION (RHNA)

In order to respond to the growing population and household growth of the state and to ensure the availability of decent affordable housing for all income groups, the State of California enacted a law that requires Councils of Governments like SBCAG to periodically distribute the state-identified housing need for its region.  This regional housing needs assessment occurs roughly every five years and is a prelude to the housing element update by each local agency.  The Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with the COG, is responsible for determining this regional need, initiating the process by which each COG must then distribute its share of statewide need to all local jurisdictions within its region.

The primary objective of the RHNA is to set the housing need targets that each city and county uses in its local Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan.  The legislation requires COGs to distribute total housing need as well as housing need by income categories.  COGs are also required to distribute the lower-income portion of need in such a way that impaction of lower- income households is avoided in any one area.  The regional need considers forecasted household growth, ideal vacancy rates, and replacement needs from demolitions of housing units.

The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) produces regional and local targets for the amount and type of housing needed over the seven and a half year period.  It takes into account unmet housing needs and anticipated housing demand generated by employment growth and population increase.  State law requires SBCAG to follow a set of guidelines in preparing its regional housing need determination.  Guidelines come from two primary sources: (1) HCD who sets a housing need planning target for the region, and (2) State law, which provides guidelines on how to allocate the region’s housing need among jurisdictions (Government Code, Sections 65584).

The regional housing allocations are used by local jurisdictions in updating their housing elements.  They are the basis for assuring that adequate sites and zoning are available to accommodate at least the number of units allocated.  After local agencies receive their share of the regional need they must ensure adequate site capacity and/or programs to accommodate and address all housing need is addressed in their local Housing Element.  However, the allocation is not a quota of housing to be produced and does not mandate the local agency to produce these units.

On November 13, SBCAG received from the state a revised final Regional Housing Needs Allocation of 11,600 households for the 2007 to 2014 planning period.  The board directed staff to work with the Technical Planning Advisory Committee, comprised of local planning directors or their representatives, to serve as the Steering Committee to assist staff in preparing a draft RHNA plan.  TPAC held 5 public workshops around the county to solicit public input on the RHNA methodology.  TPAC reviewed the allocation plans of other Council’s of Governments in California, requested that SBCAG staff develop more than 10 separate allocation scenarios, and examined many additional allocation factors in detail.

After considerable debate, TPAC approved an allocation scenario, voting 9-1 in favor, with the County of Santa Barbara representative opposed.  In this scenario, one-third of the allocation of 11,600 units is based on the distribution of existing jobs, by jurisdiction and market area, in the year 2005, one-third is based on the distribution of 2007 to 2014 projected job growth, and one-third is based on the distribution of 2007 to 2014 projected household growth.

Based on the estimated buildout housing capacity and the lower regional housing need target in the current RHNA cycle, it appears that most jurisdictions may be able to accommodate the recommended allocation without making significant changes to existing housing elements.  This is a determination, however, that must be made by each agency.  Further, it should be noted that the board will be distributing the allocations to each agency according to household income categories and local agencies will not be able to determine whether housing element changes are needed until this distribution is done.  

The SBCAG Board did not agree with the TPAC recommendation and instead sent the RHNA methodology back to TPAC for more discussion and urged the TPAc members to reach consensus on a methodology.  At the next TPAC meeting the committee will again discuss the RHNA methodology and to allocate this household growth by income level and to address other aspects of the allocation plan such as how annexations are impacted by the regional housing needs plan.  TPAC will meet on February 28 to formulate recommendations.  It is anticipated that the board will hold a hearing and consider adoption of the RHNA Plan at its March 20 meeting.