Title
Hearing for the Board of Supervisors to consider:
a. A Resolution regarding the Transportation Safety and Investment Plan to be placed before the voters on a future ballot; and
b. Approve the partial list of local road repair and safety projects to be funded through the Local Road Projects portion of the plan.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Adopt Resolution regarding the Transportation Safety and Investment Plan to be placed before the voters on a future ballot; and
b. Approve the partial list of local road repair and safety projects to be funded through the Local Road Projects portion of the plan as shown in Exhibit A.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The TAMC Transportation Safety & Investment Plan will guide the investment of an estimated $20 million per year for the next 30 years for a total of $600 million in new revenues. The revenue will be raised from a 3/8 percent sales tax if approved by the voters in the November 4, 2016 election. The Investment Plan would provide funding for local road maintenance and regional safety and mobility projects. The Investment Plan is a crucial part of becoming a “self-help” county. Gaining this status would significantly enhance the ability for local projects in Monterey County by opening up opportunities for the County and other local agencies to compete for federal and state grants.
On February 24, 2016, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s (TAMC) Board of Directors agreed to a spending plan for the Transportation Safety & Investment Plan that will split the estimated $600 million raised through the transportation sales tax. The TAMC Board approved a 60% /40% split of revenues between local and regional projects, respectively. The distribution of the 60% local share amongst the cities and the county be allocated 50% by population and 50% by lane miles. The TAMC Board adopted a cost-sharing policy for payment of election costs based thereon, should the measure not be approved. The TAMC Board also approved a set of Policies and Project Descriptions to provide additional detail for the anticipated uses of the revenue to be generated by the measure.
A partial list of the type of projects anticipated to be funded by the County is attached. This list will be included in the Policies and Project Description document being prepared by the Transportation Agency for dissemination to the voters, if the measure is approved to go on the ballot. The attached list of work is anticipated to occur in the first ten years of the plan. Future projects will be developed based on the County’s existing Pavement Management Plan or identified safety needs and in consultation with key stakeholders including the Agricultural community. The Pavement Management Plan prioritizes roadway maintenance projects based on the existing condition of the road, roadway volume, importance as an agricultural route and, importance as a route used for tourism.
Staff was actively involved in the crafting of policy language with the City Managers group and TAMC staff.
If the Board of Supervisors and the majority of the cities in the county approve the Transportation Safety and Investment Plan, then an item will be prepared to have the Board consider placing the plan on the November 1, 2016 ballot. That decision would be placed in front of this Board in July, 2016.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
California Environmental Quality Act guidelines 15378 (b)(4) states that the following is not considered a project:
“The creation of government funding mechanisms or other government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment”.
The Transportation Safety and Investment Plan is a funding mechanism and not a project for consideration under CEQA.
This supports the County’s strategic policies regarding infrastructure by potentially securing funds to make needed maintenance and safety improvements.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The creation of the proposed Transportation Safety & Investment Plan is a collaborative effort led by TAMC and including all of the incorporated cities in Monterey County and the County of Monterey.
FINANCING:
There could be an impact to the Road Fund 002-3000-RMA012 associated with this measure. If the final measure is rejected, TAMC has indicated that based on language in TAMC policy document the cost of the election would be shared amongst all of the local agencies using the formulas that would have been used to allocate the funds. These estimated costs to Monterey County range from $160,000 to $275,000. These are Road Fund costs; however, the Road Fund is projecting a fund balance/deficit for FY17. If the final measure is approved by the voters, there would be an increase in revenues and corresponding expenditures in the Road Fund that would be used for maintenance and safety projects on the county road system. However, the County would not realize funding until FY18.
Neither scenario has been included in RMA’s FY 2016-17 Baseline Budget request as there was not sufficient quantifiable information at the time the budge was developed. It is anticipated that there will be little to no impact in FY 2016-17 given the timing of the election. However, should there be an impact, staff will return to the Board through its committees requesting appropriate modifications to FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for the Road Fund. Any impacts to the Road Fund in following fiscal year will be included in the FY 2017-18 Baseline Budget request.
Prepared by: Ryan D. Chapman, P.E., Traffic Engineer, (831) 796-3009
Approved by: Benny J. Young, Interim Director of Public Works and Facilities
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
Prepared Date: April 1, 2016
Attachment(s): Resolution - Att 1; Exh A - Transportation Safety and Investment Plan (Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board)