Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
MAY 15, 2024
Subject
SUBJECT: MEASURE M MULTI-YEAR SUBREGIONAL PROGRAM UPDATE - SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SUBREGION
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. APPROVING inter-program borrowing and programming of $5,543,000 from Measure M Multi-Year Subregional Program (MSP) - Highway Demand Based Programs to Measure M MSP - Highway Efficiency Program to support grade separation projects, as shown in Attachment A;
B. APPROVING programming of an additional $124,800 for Planning Activities for Measure M MSP, as shown in Attachments B; and
C. AUTHORIZING the CEO or their designee to negotiate and execute all necessary agreements and/or amendments for approved projects.
Issue
ISSUE
Measure M MSP funding is included in the Measure M Expenditure Plan. All MSP funds are limited to capital projects. The annual update allows the San Gabriel Valley subregion and implementing agencies to approve new eligible projects for funding and revise the project scope of work and schedule for previously funded projects.
This update includes changes to projects that have received prior Board approval and funding allocation for a new project. Funds are programmed through Fiscal Year (FY) 2027-28. The Board’s approval is required to update the project lists (Attachments A and B), which serve as the basis for Metro to enter into agreements and/or amendments with the respective implementing agencies. There are no changes to the project lists in Attachments C, D, and E, but they are included in this report as information.
Background
BACKGROUND
In May 2019, the Metro Board of Directors approved the San Gabriel Valley subregion’s first MSP Five-Year Plan and programmed funds in 1) Active Transportation Program (expenditure line 54); 2) Bus System Improvement Program (expenditure line 58); 3) First/Last Mile and Complete Streets (expenditure line 59); and 4) Highway Efficiency Program (expenditure line 82). Since the first Plan was approved, staff updated the Metro Board in May 2021, May 2022, and May 2023.
Based on the amount provided in the Measure M Expenditure Plan, a total of $107 million was forecasted for programming for Fiscal Years (FY) 2017-18 to FY 2027-28. In prior actions, the Board approved programming of $78.1 million. Therefore, $28.9 million is available to the subregion for programming as part of this update.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Metro staff worked closely with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) and the implementing agencies on project eligibility reviews of the proposed scope of work change and schedule changes in projects for this annual update. The jurisdictional requests are proposed by the cities and approved/forwarded by the subregion. In line with the Metro Board adopted guidelines and June 2022 Objectives for Multimodal Highways Investments, cities provide documentation demonstrating community support, project need, and multimodal transportation benefits that enhance safety, support traffic mobility, economic vitality, and enable a safer and well-maintained transportation system. Cities lead and prioritize all proposed transportation improvements, including procurement, the environmental process, outreach, final design, and construction. Each city and/or agency, independently and in coordination with the subregion, undertakes their jurisdictionally determined community engagement process specific to the type of transportation improvement they seek to develop. These locally determined and prioritized projects represent the needs of cities.
During staff review, Metro required a detailed project scope of work to confirm eligibility and establish the program nexus, i.e., project location and limits, length, elements, phase(s), total expenses and funding request, schedule, etc. This level of detail will ensure the timeliness of the execution of the project Funding Agreements once the Metro Board approves the projects. For proposed projects that will have programming of funds in FY 2025-26 and beyond, Metro accepted high-level (but focused and relevant) project scopes of work during the review process. Metro staff will work on the details with the SGVCOG and the implementing agencies through a future annual update process. Those projects will receive conditional approval as part of this approval process. However, final approval of funds for those projects shall be contingent upon the implementing agency demonstrating the eligibility of each project, as required in the Measure M Master Guidelines.
This update includes the funding adjustments for two previously approved projects and the programming of one new project.
Highway Efficiency Program (expenditure line 82)
The Subregion’s Highway Efficiency Program funds are not available until FY 2047-48, per the Measure M Expenditure Plan. This update includes the programming of one existing and one new priority project by inter-program borrowing $5,543,000 from the Highway Demand Based Program:
SGVCOG
• Program additional $2,543,000 in FY 28 for MM5505.02 - ACE Montebello Corridor Grade Separation Project. The funds will be used to complete the Project’s Plans Specification and Estimates (PS&E), Right-of-Way (ROW), and construction phases.
• Program $3,000,000 in FY 28 for MM5505.04 - ACE Turnbull Canyon Road Grade Separation Project. The funds will be used to complete the Project’s ROW and construction phases.
Active Transportation Program (expenditure line 54)
This update includes funding adjustments to one existing project as follows:
SGVCOG
• Program an additional $124,800 in FYs 25 and 26 for MM4701.01 - Planning Activities for Subregion’s Measure M Multi-Year Subregional Programs.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Programming of Measure M MSP funds to the San Gabriel Valley subregion projects will not have any adverse safety impacts on Metro’s employees or patrons.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
In FY 2023-24, $12.9 million is budgeted in Cost Center 0441 (Subsidies to Others) for the Active Transportation Program (Project #474401), $5.71 million is budgeted in Cost Center 0441 (Subsidies to Others) for the Transit Program (Project #474102) and $3 million is budgeted in Cost Center 0442 (Highway Subsidies) for the Highway Efficiency Program (Project #475503). Upon approval of this action, staff will reallocate necessary funds to appropriate projects within Cost Center 0441. Since these are multi-year projects, Cost Centers 0441 will be responsible for budgeting the cost in future years.
Impact to Budget
The source of funds for these projects are Measure M Highway Construction 17% and Measure M Transit Construction 35%. These fund sources are not eligible for Metro bus and rail operating and capital expenditures.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The San Gabriel Valley subregion consists of 31 cities and unincorporated communities in Los Angeles County. Equity Focus Communities (EFCs) within the subregion are concentrated in Pasadena, Azusa (both along I-210), Alhambra, San Gabriel, Rosemead, El Monte, South El Monte, Baldwin Park, Covina, Pomona (along I-10), Monterey Park, Montebello, and Industry (along SR-60). Eleven percent of census tracts are defined as EFCs in the subregion.
The inter-program borrowing will not have any equity impacts. This is an available tool that allows a subregion to borrow from one MSP fund amount to accelerate priority projects in another MSP fund of a different type that may not be available until a later year.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The recommendation supports the following goals of the Metro Vision 2028 Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling by alleviating the current operational deficiencies and improving mobility along the projects.
Goal 4: Transform LA County through regional collaboration by partnering with the Council of Governments and the local jurisdictions to identify the needed improvements and take the lead in the development and implementation of their projects.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could elect not to approve the additional programming of funds for the Measure M MSP projects for the San Gabriel Valley subregion. This is not recommended as the San Gabriel Valley Subregion developed the proposed projects in accordance with the Measure M Ordinance, Guidelines, and Administrative Procedures.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Metro staff will continue to work with the subregion to identify and deliver projects. Funding Agreements will be executed with those who have funds programmed in FY 2023-24. Program/Project updates will be provided to the Board annually.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Highway Efficiency Program Project List
Attachment B - Active Transportation Program Project List
Attachment C - First/Last Mile and Complete Streets Program Project List
Attachment D - Bus System Improvement Program Project List
Attachment E - Highway Demand Based Program Project List
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Fanny Pan, Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3433
Laurie Lombardi, Senior Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3251
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4274
