Meeting_Body
REVISED
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 14, 2015
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: 2015 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM (ATP)
ACTION: APPROVE LOS ANGELES COUNTY PORTION OF SCAG 2015 ATP REGIONAL PROGRAM
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED (4-0) UNDER RECONSIDERATION:
A. ADOPTING Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG’s) Draft Regional Program for Los Angeles County ATP applicants as shown in Attachment A.
B. APPROVING the designation of ten points to reflect the consistency of the projects listed in Attachment A with regional and local plans.
Issue
ISSUE
On October 22, 2015, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) is scheduled to adopt the Statewide, Small Urban, and Rural Component of the 2015 Active Transportation Program (ATP). On December 10, 2015, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) is scheduled to adopt the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) component of the 2015 ATP. The ATP allocates forty percent of its funds toward the MPO component of its program. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) will be selecting and programming the regional program for its six counties, Los Angeles County included. SCAG will make their Regional Program recommendations by November 15, 2015, subsequent to the six counties receiving board approval for their respective project lists for SCAG’s final Regional Program. This report requests approval of a program of projects in Los Angeles County for funding under SCAG’s Regional Program.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Metro’s approval is necessary to secure approximately $40 million for Los Angeles County projects in MPO project funding. LA County 2015 ATP Regional Program awardees will be a part of SCAG’s 2015 Regional Program, which funds $76.3 million for active transportation across its six counties. Applicants are also vying for up to $180 million in the Statewide ATP competition.
2015 Regional Project Selection Process
The CTC released its recommendations for the 2015 ATP Statewide Program on September 15, 2015. As a secondary process to the 2015 ATP, Large Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) within California will be administering forty percent of the program funds for their respective regions. SCAG’s Regional Share will be awarded based on the State’s 2015 ATP guidelines and scoring with additional evaluation of criteria.
The six county transportation commissions in the SCAG area will review the Regional Program’s implementation project list and assign up to ten points for projects that are consistent with plans adopted by local and regional governments within the county. At the April 2015 meeting, Metro Board identified the SCAG 2012 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Metro’s 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) as the two guiding documents to review and assign the ten points for the Los Angeles County ATP projects. Staff has identified the ten points according to the Board policy in a September 2015 report. The point assignments are also listed in Attachment A.
Three percent (3%) of SCAG’s Regional Program budget has been dedicated towards planning projects. The remaining 97% has been applied towards implementation projects-planning, design, and construction of both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects. SCAG and its member counties have determined the implementation project list according to the ten point assignments and funding marks, which are based on county population. Planning projects are to be identified by SCAG, not by funding marks. Attachment A was prepared prior to SCAG’s identification of planning projects for funding. Attachment A lists all Los Angeles County plan applications in order of state recommended score. The final Regional Program ensures geographic equity across the six SCAG counties and that at least 25% of its funding has been awarded to disadvantaged communities.
SCAG 2015 Regional Program
SCAG will make its final project programming recommendations to the CTC by November 15, 2015. Each county transportation commission will be seeking board approval for their respective project lists prior to this date. Should there be changes in the draft program as part of SCAG’s or the CTC’s adoption processes, staff will return to the Board with an update.
As a valuable funding source for bicycle and pedestrian improvements, the ATP is a good tool to help augment the Call for Projects (CFP) resources. Metro staff is working with stakeholders to assess how best to make the CFP synergistic with the ATP. Staff anticipates coming back to the Board in a subsequent cycle with further recommendations.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Many of the projects described in the report include bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements. This report itself will have no direct impact on the safety of our customers and employees.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approving the staff recommendations will have no impact on the FY 2016 Budget.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
Metro Staff considered seeking Metro Board approval of the Los Angeles County portion of the 2015 SCAG Regional ATP Program in the November-December board cycle. We do not recommend this alternative, as the Metro Board’s approval should be incorporated in the program adopted by the SCAG Regional Council on November 5, 2015, and submitted to the CTC by its November 15, 2015 deadline.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
• CTC approves Statewide ATP Awards - October 22, 2015
• SCAG Regional Program Recommendations due to CTC - November 15, 2015
• CTC adopts MPO selected projects - December 10, 2015
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - SCAG 2015 ATP Regional Program
Attachment A - Active Transportation Program Award of Partial Funding
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Patricia Chen, Transportation Planning Manager, (213) 922-3041
Wil Ridder, Executive Officer, (213) 922-2887
Reviewed_By
Reviewed By: Martha Welborne, FAIA, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-7267
