Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 16, 2019
Subject
SUBJECT: 2020 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE the programming of up to $51,440,000, as well as the proposed program amendments, in the 2020 Los Angeles County Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) as shown in Attachment A.
Issue
ISSUE
In August 2019, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopted the 2020 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Fund Estimate (FE), which provides new funding capacity over the five-year STIP period from Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 through FY 2025. Metro prepares the Regional Transportation Improvement Plan (RTIP) for Los Angeles County, programming the county’s regional funding share through FY 2025. The RTIP must be adopted by the Board prior to the December 13, 2019 RTIP submittal deadline to the CTC in order to program funds in the 2020 State Transportation Improvement Program (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 2018. 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 RTIP portion is the subject of the recommendations of this report. The second portion is the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP), which consists of the remaining 25% of the STIP and is developed by Caltrans.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Relationship to the 2018 STIP
Staff utilized the Evaluative Criteria Framework, as established in the September 2017 Board report on State and Federal Transportation Funding Programs (File #2017-0546) and updated in September 2019 (File# 2019-0601), to identify the appropriate program of projects. Staff aimed to use formula funds strategically for projects that were less likely to compete well in discretionary programs and for those that have a low tolerance for risk.
Through the 2018 STIP, Los Angeles County’s RTIP was programmed for its maximum funding share of $427.6 million, of which $110.5 million was advanced future shares. An additional advance of $41 million was made through the Advanced Project Development Element (APDE) of the STIP to fund three projects through final design to support their development as shovel ready projects for future funding cycles. As a result of these advances, very little funding shares will be distributed to LA County through the 2020 STIP, unless additional county share advances are made available.
Proposed 2020 RTIP Programming
Metro staff proposes to program up to $51.44 million (including potential advances) and to amend existing programming in the 2020 RTIP. The 2020 STIP Fund Estimate (FE) included $5.1 million in planning, programming and monitoring funds for Los Angeles County that must be programmed for RTIP administration activities. Additionally, the STIP FE included up to $46.34 million that could be advanced into the 2020 STIP period for Los Angeles County, should other regions under-program their RTIPs in the 2020 STIP. Staff recommends requesting $46.34 million of advanced shares be programmed for a future bus and bus infrastructure project. This recommendation is consistent with the Evaluative Criteria Framework. Lastly, the 2020 RTIP amends the existing program to support the delivery of previously programmed projects. The proposed 2020 RTIP, including the amended and additional programming, is included in Attachment A. The project descriptions for all of the RTIP projects is included in Attachment B.
Equity Platform
This board action employs the Equity Platform Pillar III “Focus and Deliver” by planning resources to strategically invest in high-quality mobility options for Los Angeles County, including highway and transit improvements, as well as cleaner and more efficient infrastructure including new buses.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Adoption of the 2020 RTIP will authorize staff to seek funds to make safety and other mobility improvements in several areas of the county.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the 2020 RTIP for LA County will have no negative financial impact to the county. The 2020 RTIP fulfills prior and anticipated commitments of the Long Range Transportation Plan and the Measure M Expenditure Plan.
Impact to Budget
The 2020 RTIP includes funding for FY21 through FY25 and has no impact to the FY20 budget. Following CTC action on the 2020 RTIP in the spring of 2020, staff will include the programmed resources in the corresponding budgets.
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 supporting 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 2020 RTIP. This option is not recommended as it would force LA County to surrender up to $51.44 million in RTIP funds through the 2020 STIP period. Additionally, failure to adopt the RTIP could cause delay for the projects proposed herein, such as the SR 138 Segments 6 and 13.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
With Board approval of our recommendation, staff will proceed with and monitor the following steps to securing the 2020 LA County RTIP submittal:
• Submit RTIP request to CTC - December 13, 2019
• CTC publishes staff recommendations - February 28, 2020
• CTC adopts STIP - March 25-26, 2020
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - 2020 Los Angeles County RTIP Summary and Program
Attachment B - RTIP Project Descriptions
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Zoe Unruh, Manager, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3319
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
