Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 17, 2016
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM
ACTION: APPROVE CANDIDATE TRANSIT AND INTERCITY RAIL CAPITAL PROGRAM PROJECTS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to approve the development of project applications for grant funds from California's Cap-and-Trade Program's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP).
Issue
ISSUE
The second cycle of GGRF programming for the Cap-and-Trade's TIRCP is underway; the State's call for projects occurred on February 5, 2016, and grant applications will be due to Caltrans by April 5, 2015. In order to meet this timeline, staff seeks Board approval to develop grant applications for identified candidate projects considered as the most competitive for this program. Staff will return to the Board in March for action on the submission of final project applications and prioritization.
The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), the administrator of TIRCP, intends to adopt a two-year program of projects, which in this Cycle 2 will be FY 2016-17 and 2017-18. Attachment A identifies the major capital project candidates nominated by various Metro departments to be evaluated in accordance with the rigorous evaluation criteria provided in the draft TIRCP Guidelines, illustrating graphically which projects evolved as the most viable for an award of grant funds. As with the last cycle, project readiness continues to be a major consideration, as allocations must be requested in the fiscal year of project programming. The projects that staff are considering as potentially competitive candidates for this cycle, in no order of priority, are the Airport Metro Connector; Division 20 Portal Expansion/Turnback Facility for the Red/Purple Line; Gold Line Foothill Extension Phase 2B; potential joint Metrolink projects; Orange Line Electric Bus Purch...
Click here for full text