Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
APRIL 11, 2018
Subject
SUBJECT: METROPOLITAN PLANNING AGREEMENT UPDATE
WITH SCAG AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY TRANSIT
OPERATORS
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to execute a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and Los Angeles County Transit Operators.
Issue
ISSUE
Federal Rule (23 CFR 450.314) determines mutual responsibilities in the metropolitan transportation planning and programming processes. Recent updates to this rule require SCAG to make minor amendments to the existing MOU, known as the Metropolitan Planning Agreement (Agreement), between SCAG, Metro and Los Angeles County Transit Operators.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Background
The Agreement defines roles, responsibilities, and coordination processes for Metro, SCAG, and Transit Operators in the planning process for Los Angeles County. SCAG is the agency with the overall responsibility for comprehensive and coordinated regional transportation planning in the six-county SCAG region, including Los Angeles County. These responsibilities primarily include, but are not limited to, preparation and adoption of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Federal Transportation Improvement Plan (FTIP).
Metro is responsible for continuous and comprehensive transportation planning and project implementation within Los Angeles County. Some of these responsibilities include the development and adoption of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Los Angeles County, development of corridor and sub-regional studies, and allocation of transit funds to Los Angeles County Transit Operators.
Transit Operators are responsible for coordinating with Metro regarding their capital and operating needs, including submittal of projects for inclusion into the LRTP and TIP for Los Angeles County.
Together, coordinated efforts between Metro, SCAG, and Transit Operators involve a consultative process that follows applicable federal and state laws, as well as regulations pertaining to the roles and responsibilities of each agency in carrying out metropolitan transportation planning. Through the Agreement, the parties agree to collaborate on regional/county/local transportation issues, integrate goals and objectives, estimate funds availability, and implement federal performance reporting and performance-based planning provisions.
Metro, SCAG and seventeen (17) Los Angeles County Transit Operators entered into the original Metropolitan Planning Agreement in March 2007. The Agreement identifies the Metropolitan Planning Organization SCAG, Metro and Transit Operators as the responsible “Parties,” with provisions to cooperatively determine their mutual responsibilities in carrying out the metropolitan transportation planning and programming processes, in accordance with 23 CFR 450.314
Agreement Revisions
New federal requirements being incorporated into this amendment include:
• New performance-based planning requirements;
• New transit asset management requirements; and
• FTA Section 5307 Program of Projects & Public Participation.
Transit Asset Management (TAM) staff in the Metro Risk, Safety and Asset Management Department has reviewed and commented on the draft MOU. County Counsel has also reviewed and commented on the draft MOU. Both sets of comments were incorporated and accepted by SCAG.
On February 20, 2018, SCAG staff presented the MOU amendments to the Bus Operator Subcommittee to update the Transit Operators of this process because all operators are required to approve and execute the amended MOU. SCAG’s Regional Council authorized their CEO to execute the MOU amendment at their March 1, 2018 meeting.
Considerations
If the MOU is not updated, Metro will be out of compliance with the federal planning regulations and would have to assume transit data reporting responsibilities for Los Angeles County transit operators now performed by SCAG.
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
There is no impact to the current fiscal year budget nor any anticipated impact to future budgets.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
If approved, the Metro CEO will execute the revised Memorandum of Understanding among the Southern California Association of Governments, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Los Angeles County Transit Operators.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Memorandum of Understanding
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Mark Yamarone, DEO, 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
