Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 17, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: 2022 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE:
A. PROGRAMMING of up to $60,514,000 in Regional Transportation Improvement Program funds to the proposed projects and the program amendments shown in Attachment A; and
B. SUBMITTAL of the 2022 Los Angeles County Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) to the California Transportation Commission (CTC).
Issue
ISSUE
In August 2021, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopted the 2022 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Fund Estimate, which provides new funding capacity over the five-year STIP period from Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 through FY 2027. As such, Metro is charged with preparing and managing the Regional Transportation Improvement Plan (RTIP) for Los Angeles County. The RTIP must be adopted by the Board prior to the December 15, 2021 RTIP submittal deadline to the CTC to program funds in the 2022 STIP.
Background
BACKGROUND
The STIP is a five-year capital improvement program of transportation projects that is updated every two years (the last STIP was adopted by the CTC in March 2020). The STIP contains two portions. The first portion, the RTIP, accounts for 75% of the total STIP and is programmed by County Transportation Commissions, such as Metro. The second portion is the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP), which consists of the remaining 25% of the STIP and is developed by Caltrans. The CTC adopted STIP Fund Estimate identifies available RTIP funding shares by each county of California for programming over the five-year STIP period. The RTIP portion is the subject of the recommendations of this report.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Metro staff proposes to request RTIP funding of a total of $53,830,000 for Mobility Improvement Projects (MIPs), previously approved by the Board (file # 2019-0245 <https://metro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4136467&GUID=B480634A-20D0-4FA3-9CE6-1A20E1E2B7DB&Options=&Search=>), for the Los Angeles County projects in lieu of previously programmed funding for the SR-710 North project. The request will be made in the form of advanced programming of future funding shares, as the current STIP fund estimate for Los Angeles County is zero, due to successful requests for advance programming in the previous two STIP cycles. Staff also proposes to request $6,684,000 in funds that have been reserved for Planning, Programming, and Monitoring. The total request is $60,514,000. Also included in the submittal are program schedule amendments to three previously programmed projects to allow prudent delivery of projects.
Caltrans is responsible for developing the ITIP, consistent with the Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan (ITSP), which the CTC adopts as a component of the STIP. Staff worked with Caltrans District 7 to propose projects in LA County for the 2022 ITIP to be considered by Caltrans Headquarters to be included in their Draft 2022 ITIP.
USC Medical Center Project, LA County/Soto St. Project, LA City:
Two Mobility Improvement Projects are proposed for RTIP funding as part of a large package of Transportation System Management projects to be developed in lieu of the SR-710 North freeway extension project, which was cancelled by the Metro Board due to community opposition from residents near the proposed alignment, some of which also include Equity Focus Communities.
The two projects proposed by the City and County of Los Angeles are streetscape projects, which will provide new and improved active transportation improvements. The Soto Street project will address a bottleneck by adding a safety median and a new lane in one direction, plant new trees, and widen sidewalks. The USC Medical Center project will improve pedestrian crossings and Metro J Line (formerly Silver Line).
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of the 2022 RTIP for Los Angeles County will have no negative impact to Metro patrons or employees. The 2022 RTIP fulfills prior and anticipated commitments of the Long-Range Transportation Plan and the Measure M Expenditure Plan.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The CTC Fund Estimate contains a zero-funding share target for Los Angeles County, as previous years’ advance programming continues to be directed to offset previous cycles’ advances. However, STIP guidelines allow for Metro to continue drawing Planning, Programming, and Monitoring funding and request additional advances up to our maximum funding share target of $57,061,000. Following CTC action on the 2022 RTIP in March 2022, staff will include the programmed resources in the corresponding budgets.
Impact to Budget
The 2022 RTIP includes funding for FY 2023 through FY 2027 and has no impact to the FY22 budget.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The projects and their equity impacts are described below.
USC Medical Center Project, LA County/Soto St. Project, LA City:
Both of these projects are located in or near Equity Focus Communities, and residents in these areas are expected to receive the primary safety and streetscape benefits. Secondary benefits are anticipated to accrue to USC Medical Center patients and employees, and longer-distance cyclists traveling to or through the area.
Each of the two project sponsors are planning additional community engagement and are responsible to their agencies to conduct equitable outreach and responsive planning.
Typical outreach for the County of Los Angeles includes:
• Outreach materials in both English and other predominant languages of the communities along the project corridor;
• Collaboration with key stakeholders from Community-Based Organizations, Service Organizations, churches, special needs groups, advocacy groups, local schools, and arts community members;
• Participation in community events and set up information tables and workshops at schools and/or activity centers to promote the project and solicit feedback; and
• Mobile friendly project website and social media outlets
Planning, Programming, and Monitoring:
The State sets aside 5% of RTIP funds for planning activities. Metro uses this funding to support the Countywide Planning Department’s labor and professional services budget. At this time, there are no equity concerns anticipated as a part of this funding action.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The recommendation supports Strategic Plan goal #1 to “provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling” by obtaining funding to support the delivery of transportation improvements that support the safety and performance of the highway system and expand high-quality transit options.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could elect not to approve the staff recommendation for the 2022 RTIP. This option is not recommended as it would defer the potential programming and access to up to $60,680,000 in RTIP funds within the 2022 STIP period for the new projects proposed. Additionally, failure to adopt the RTIP could cause negative impacts to the delivery of existing RTIP projects that require programming amendments to align RTIP funding with their current schedules.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
With Board approval of staff’s recommendation, staff will proceed with and monitor the following steps to securing the 2020 LA County RTIP submittal:
• Submit RTIP request to CTC - December 15, 2021
• CTC publishes staff recommendations - February 28, 2022
• CTC adopts STIP - March 23-24, 2022
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - 2022 LA County RTIP Summary and Program
Attachment B - 2022 LA RTIP Project Descriptions
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Dominica Smith, Manager, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-2795
Patricia Chen, Senior Director, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-3041
Michael Cano, DEO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3010
Wil Ridder, EO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-2887 Laurie
Lombardi, SEO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3251
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: James de la Loza, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-2920
