Meeting_Body
REVISED
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
Subject
SUBJECT: UNCONSTRAINED PROJECT ADDITIONS AND
REVISIONS TO THE SCAG REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
PLAN
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. APPROVING the list of additional and revised financially unconstrained projects (see Attachment A) to submit to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) for inclusion in its Regional Transportation Plan (RTP); and
B. REQUESTING that SCAG amend the 2016 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Strategic Project list to include the project revisions and additions.
Issue
ISSUE
Metro has received internal and external requests to add financially unconstrained (not fully funded) projects to the 2016 RTP amendment prepared by SCAG as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Southern California region. SCAG agreed to an extension to February 28March 8, 2018 for unconstrained project additions and changes to their Strategic Project list, which consists of financially unconstrained projects. If approved, these projects would be added to the SCAG RTP. This action does not amend LA Metro’s 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Background
SCAG is currently compiling the 3rd Amendment to its 2016 RTP. SCAG is forecasting that the 3rd Amendment will be the last amendment prior to the adoption of the 2020 RTP. Metro submitted one financially constrained project update: Orange Line BRT Improvements - Grade Separation changes. The deadline to submit project information was January 9, 2018.
SCAG agreed to a submittal extension to February 28, 2018 for the strategic project additions and changes. The information needed for submission is a project description and some minor details of the project. Federal planning regulations allow the MPO’s plan to contain financially unconstrained (unfunded) projects for strategic planning purposes; however such projects are not cleared for federal funding, permitting or other approval actions. Details and costs are not required because strategic projects are not modeled for federal air quality conformity determinations.
Project Requests
Through an RTP amendment process, SCAG looks to Metro to submit project updates even if the project lead agency is not Metro. To that end Metro staff has received requests from partner agencies to add or amend projects to the RTP Strategic Projects list. These requests include:
• Caltrans, in combination with private sector entities, requested modifications to the following existing unconstrained project listings a) Highway efficiency projects along the 101, 134 and 110 freeways; and b) a project clarification for one undefined mobility hub listing to now specify a Mobility Hub at Universal City Metro Red Line Station;
• Metrolink Regional Rail improvements; and
• City of Los Angeles, a 6th Street Heavy Rail Station.
The Regional Rail improvement requests in the attached table are not in the current RTP Strategic Projects list, and Metro Regional Rail staff, in coordination with Metrolink, has requested for their inclusion into the RTP amendment.
Considerations
There are approximately 100 unconstrained Metro projects in SCAG’s 2016 RTP. Metro has not submitted new unconstrained projects since the 2009 LRTP. As part of the future update to the LRTP, Metro will update its considerations of strategic projects and related strategic funding initiatives.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
This Board action will have no adverse impact on safety standards for Metro.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will have no direct financial impact to Metro
Impact to Budget
As these projects are not funded, there is no impact to the current fiscal year budget, nor any anticipated impact to future budgets.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
Staff considered waiting for a future amendment or the formal update to the LRTP to submit strategic projects, but this would not align with SCAG’s amendment schedule.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
With Board approval, staff will work with SCAG to amend the 2016 RTP to include the unconstrained list of projects, including adjustments for any duplicative entries.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Unconstrained Project List for RTP Inclusion
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Mark Yamarone, Senior Director, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-2834
Kalieh Honish, EO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-7109
Manjeet Ranu, SEO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3157
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Therese W. McMillan, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-7077
