A. Allow the County to receive Measure R equity funds.

Transcription

1 22 One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA metro. net PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE JUNE 19,2013 SUBJECT: ACTION: COUNTY ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE MEASURE R EQUITY FUNDS APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS A. Allow the County to receive Measure R equity funds. B. Require the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, and the County Los Angeles to jointly develop a recommended project list for future programming years that will allow the County to "catch up" with its population share of the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion Highway Operational Funds. C. Require all other subregions that receive Highway Operational Funds to continue developing future recommended projects using the need-based, instead of population-based, methodology. ISSUE Pursuant to the approved motion by Director Ara Najarian (Item #18.1) at the September 27, 2012 Board Meeting (Attachment A), County Counsel provided a legal opinion which concludes that the County's eligibility to receive Measure R equity funds allocated to the Arroyo Verdugo subregion is a policy, instead of legal, matter. Staff believes the same conclusion applies to the other subregions. Since the Board has only approved the first ten years of projects to be funded by Measure R equity funds, it is necessary for the Board to provide policy guidance on the County's eligibility for Measure R equity funds for the remaining twenty years of the Measure R program.

2 DISCUSSION Background At the September 27, 2012 Board Meeting, the Board recertified the project list for the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion. The following language in that Board report (Item No. 18, see Attachment B) prompted a discussion which led to Director Najarian's motion: We considered the question of whether the first five years of the Arroyo Verdugo Highway Operational Improvement list should be re-opened to consider projects in the unincorporated areas of the subregion. Since the LACMTA Board of Directors already programmed the first five years, we do not believe it is appropriate to re-open the project list. Going forward into the next five years [beginning in Fiscal Year 2015] and beyond, we will return to the LACMTA Board of Directors with a recommendation on the question of programming projects in the unincorporated areas of the subregion. The motion directed County Counsel to provide the legal foundation, including specific documents, detailed descriptions, and citations, as to how, in the case of the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion, the County should have part of the encumbered funds. The motion likewise requested any reference to staff bringing back a recommendation for future programming be struck from this report and the legality of this assertion be brought back to the Board at the December 2012 meeting. County Eligibility County Counsel issued its legal opinion on October 19, 2012, and provided specific documents confirming that the population of unincorporated La Crescenta, and its employment, were included in the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion's share of the total population and employment which was used to generate the $170 million equitable allocation for Highway Operational Improvements in the subregion. Since the same methodology was used to generate the equitable allocations for all other subregions, it is reasonable for the Board to adopt a policy that allows the County of Los Angeles to receive Measure R equity funds in all subregions. Equity funds subject to this policy clarification include the following: a. Highway Operational Improvement projects for Arroyo Verdugo Subregion ($170 million); b. Highway Operational Improvement projects for Las Virgenes/Malibu Subregion ($175 million); c. Ramp and Interchange Improvements for the 1-405, 1-110, and SR-91 in the South Bay ($906 million); d Corridor "Hot Spot' Interchanges ($590 million); e. BNSF Grade Separations ($35 million); COUNTY ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE MEASURE R EQUITY FUNDS Page 2

3 f South and/or Early Action projects ($590 million); and g. SR-138 Capacity Enhancement ($200 million). Recommended Project Lists by Subregions Staff understands that all subregions, except for Arroyo Verdugo, have developed their recommended project lists based on operational needs, not population distribution. In the case of Arroyo Verdugo subregion, in January 2013, the Board approved the project list for the first ten years as recommended by the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and La Canada Flintridge based on the population distribution among these three cities. Should the Board adopt staff's recommendation to allow the County to receive Measure R equity funds, each subregion should include the County in the development of future project lists. Staff recommends that the Board encourage all, except for the Arroyo Verdugo subregion, to continue developing future recommended project lists using the need-based, as opposed to population-based, methodology. As for the Arroyo Verdugo subregion, since its first ten-year fund allocation (through FY 201 9) was distributed among three incorporated cities by population and omitted the County's population share for fund distribution, staff recommends that the Board encourage the Cities of Burbank, Glendale, and La Canada Flintridge, and the County to develop a recommended project list (Attachment C) that will allow the County to "catch up" on its receipt of Measure R funds based on its population share in future years. The Crescenta Valley Town Council has reviewed and concurs with the recommended project list (Attachment D). DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT The decision to include the County in the funding allocation for the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion will have no adverse impact on safety. FINANCIAL IMPACT There will be no financial impact since future project selection will be consistent with the allocations on the Long Range Transportation Plan. Impact to Budget There is no impact to the fiscal year budget since there is no change to the previously approved project lists. The cost center manager and the Executive Director Highway Program will be responsible for budgeting the costs in future years. COUNTY ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE MEASURE R EQUITY FUNDS Page 3

4 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED The only alternative is not to allow the County to receive Measure R equity funds. However, disqualifying the County from receiving Measure R Highway equity funds will not be consistent with how each subregion's equitable share of Measure R funds was derived. NEXT STEPS Staff will work with each subregion in the development of the future project lists to make sure the approved recommendations are followed. ATTACHMENTS A. September 27, 2012 Board Motion Item #18.1 B. September 27, 2012 Board Item #18 C. County Recommended Project List D. May 20, 3013 Concurrence Letter from Crescenta Valley Town Council Prepared by: Tasha Higgins, Sr. Engineering Manager (213) Lan Saadatnejadi, Executive Officer (213) COUNTY ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE MEASURE R EQUITY FUNDS Page 4

5 p~ Douglas R~, P.E. Executive Director, Highway Program ArthurT. Leahy, Chief Executive Officer COUNTY ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE MEASURER EQUITY FUNDS Page 5

6 ATTACHMENT A MOTION BY DIRECTOR ARA NAJARIAN Planning and Programming Committee September 19, 2012 Item# 18 When MeasureR was drafted, the proposed legislation included funds allocated to three Los Angeles county subregions to be used specifically for highway improvements. The "equity" funding was included in the Measure to offset the lack of major transit projects in these areas. The three subregions were defined as called out in the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP): Arroyo-Verdugo (the cities of Burbank, La Canada Flintridge and Glendale), Las Virgenes/Malibu (the Las Virgenes Cog and the unincorporated area of the County) and the South Bay COG, which includes as a member the unincorporated area of the County. The funding was based on 2000 census population for the cities and included the County. With the 2008 passage of Measure R, MTA implemented a Highway Advisory Committee, which included stakeholders in the equity funds. This Committee was essentially involved in oversight of the eligibility of projects. The MTA Area Team staff began working directly with the cities, i.e., Burbank, Glendale and La Canada Flintridge in the Arroyo-Verdugo Subregion. A list of projects was developed, along with allocations and cashflows, which was approved by the Board for the first five years of allocations. There are signed agreements between the MT A and the three cities and projects beyond first five years have been planned. From the inception of the Highway Advisory Committee until recently, there has been no mention of County involvement in the Arroyo Verdugo project development, allocations or cashflow projections and the LRTP does not call out the County as part of the subregion. Yet this report states that MTA staff will be coming back to the Board with a recommendation on programming projects in future years for the County from Arroyo Verdugo equity funds. This attempt at policy-making is premature, given the fact that the resent assertion regarding County ehgibility has not yet been vetted legally. I THEREFORE MOVE that County Counsel provide the legal foundation, including specific documents, detailed descriptions, with citations, as to how, in the case of the Arroyo-Verdugo Subregion, the County should have part of any encumbered funds; and I FURTHER MOVE that any reference to staff bringing back a recommendation for future programming be struck from this report and the legality of this assertion be brought back to the Board at the December 2012 meeting.

7 18 ATTACHMENT 8 One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles. CA ) l,_ metro. net PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 SUBJECT: ACTION: MEASURER HIGHWAY OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS- ARROYO VERDUGO SUBREGION APPROVE THE REVISED PROJECT LIST FOR SUBREGIONAL MEASURE R FUND RECOMMENDATION Approve the proposed revised project list for the previously programmed first five years of the MeasureR highway operational improvement project funding for the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion. ISSUE The Arroyo Verdugo Council of Governments has submitted their requests to the project list and implementation schedules. In recent discussions with the Subregion on their financing and local needs of the MeasureR projects, we have developed an agreement with the Subregion to further expedite the project implementation. DISCUSSION The Arroyo Verdugo Subregion has proposed a revised project list and their funding allocations, as shown in Attachment A The City of Burbank has requested to adjust cash flows for all approved projects, realizing that the San Fernando Boulevard at Burbank Boulevard project has resulted in a big right-of-way saving, yielding a $5,675,000 project cost reduction. The savings from this project is then redistributed among other projects within the City. These changes yield no net change in Burbank's allotted funds. The City of Glendale has proposed to add the construction budget of $3,215,000 for the SR-134 Central Avenue Eastbound Off-ramp Widening project, yielding a net increase of nearly $992,000 in the 3-year cash flow. Although there is an increase in funds for Measure R H1ghway Operational Improvements- Arroyo Verdugo Subregion Page 1

8 ATTACHMENT B Glendale, the total cumulative funds for the subregion are still within the forecasted allocation identified in the Long Range Transportation Plan for the first five years. The City of La Canada Flintridge allocation remains unchanged, but the Soundwalls on project is experiencing delays and construction funds will be moved to FY DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT The recertification of the approved project list and funding allocations for the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion will have no adverse impact on safety. FINANCIAL IMPACT Due to the change of project list and its shift in funding needed by the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion, the previously programmed funds for the prior years ($1 0.4 million) would need to be rolled into FY13 and reprogrammed as: $24.8 million 1n FY 13, $6.4 million in FY 14, and $1.3 million in FY 15. However; the cumulative overall cash flow for the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion does not exceed the cumulative forecasted amount identified in the Long Range Transportation Plan for the first five years. Since this is a multi-year agreement, the cost center manager and the Executive Director Highway Program will be responsible for budgeting the costs in future years. Impact to Budget Funding for the highway projects is from the 20% MeasureR Highway Capital Funds earmarked for the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion. These funds are not eligible for bus and rail operating and capital expenditures. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED The Board could elect not to approve the funding reallocation requests, however, this alternative is not recommended as the proposed reallocation would facilitate implementation of near-term MeasureR projects in the Arroyo Verdugo Subregion. We considered the question of whether the first five years of the Arroyo Verdugo Highway Operational Improvement list should be re-opened to consider projects in the unincorporated areas of the subregion. Since the LACMTA Board of Directors already programmed the first five years, we do not believe it is appropriate to re-open the project list. Going forward into the next five years and beyond, we will return to the LACMTA Board of Directors with a recommendation on the question of programming projects in the unincorporated areas of the subregion. Measure R Highway Operational Improvements- Arroyo Verdugo Subreg1oro Page 2

9 ATTACHMENT B NEXT STEPS Upon Board approval, we will execute Memoranda of Understanding (MOU's) with individual jurisdictions in the Subregion so that they may initiate work on the projects. ATTACHMENT A. Arroyo Verdugo Subregion MeasureR Highway Operational Improvements Project List- Proposed Revised Project List and Funding Reallocations Prepared by: Tasha Higgins, Senior Engineering Manager, Highway Program (213) Lan Saadatnejadi, Executive Officer, Highway Program (213) MeasureR Highway Operational Improvements~ Arroyo Verdugo Subregion Page 3

10 ATTACHMENT 8 Douglas. Failing, P.E. E/;~iv Director, Hi~:vay Program I /~ / c~ Arthu~ Chief Executive Officer 1 MeasureR H1ghway Oper~t1onallmprovements- Arroyo Verdugo Subregion

11 Arroyo Verdugo Subregion MeasureR Highway Operational Improvements Project List Proposed Revised Project List and Fund1ng Reallocations Priority Projects up to $170 Million Burbank San Fernando Blvd I Burbank Blvd. Intersection 1-5 Corridor Arterial Signal improvements [construction only) 1-5 Corridor Arterial Signal Improvements (design+ construction) SR-134 Corridor Arterial Signal Improvements (construction only) SR-134 Corridor Arterial Signal Improvements (design+ construction) Olive Ave. I Verdugo Ave. Intersection Improvement Widen Olive Ave /1-5 Bridge for center-turn lane, sta11dard width lanes, shoulders Widen Magnolia Blvd /1 5 Bridge for center-turn lane, standard lar~es, shoulders City of Burbank GE>neral Plan Intersection Improvements Glendale TOTAL BURBANK Prior Years 0 ATTACHMENT B Attachment A Updated August 29, 2012 Cash Flow (ODDs) Total Year 575 1,750 2, ,750 1, ,600 2, ,200 1, ,550 4,250 1,900 10,700 Frontage Rd. South of SR-134 between Brand Blvd. and Geneva St Glendale Narrows R1verwalk Bndge Construction of Citywide B1cycle Facilities SR-134 Central Avenue Eastbound Offramp Widening Fairmont Ave. Grade Separation at San Fernando Rd. San Fernando/Grandview At-Grade Rail Crossing Imp. Glendale Narrows Bikeway Culvert SR-134 I Glendale Ave Interchange Modificatio11 SR-134 Ramps I Harvey Dr./ Wilson Ave. Signal & Street Widening Verdugo Road Sign<JI Upgrades Traffic Signal Sync Brand I Colorado-San Fernando I Glendale-Verdugo Verdugo Rd I Honolulu Ave I Verdugo Blvd Intersection Modification Central Ave Improvements I Broadway to SR-134 EB Off ramp Sonora Avenue At-Grade Ra'il Crossing Safety Upgrade Colorado St. w 1dening between Brand Blvd. and east of Brand Blvd. TOTAL GLENDALE ,215 3, ,850 1, , ,250 3,250 2,700 2, ,010 2,075 4,415 17,075 La Canada Flintridge Soundwalls on Interstate 210 TOTAllA CANADA FLINTRIDGE ,500 4, ,500 0 I 4,588 TOTAL PLANNED EXPENDITURE TOTAL ARROYO VERDUGO( , ,825 I 6,315 I 32,363 Forecasted Funds for Arroyo Verdugo Subregion (Yearly) forecasted Funds for Arroyo Verdugo Subregion (Cumulative Yearly) 10,400 10,400 14,400 6,400 1,300 32,500 24,800 31,200 32,500 MeasureR Highway Operational Improvements- Arroyo Verdugo Subregion Page 5

12 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ARROYO VERDUGO SUBREGIONAL MEASURE R EQUITY FUNDS PROPOSED PROJECT LIST ATTACHMENT C Project Name Limits Description/Scope Estimated Project Cost Widen and restripe intersection approaches, Foothill Blvd At Rosemont Ave reconstruct storm drains & retaining walls, relocate traffic signal equipment, install $900,000 southbound left turn phasing Construct medians to channelize traffic, Foothill Blvd Pennsylvania Av to Briggs Av ease congestion, and allow for TBD increased and safer pedestrian traffic Foothill Blvd At La Crescenta Ave Modify intersection & traffic signal to improve operation $900, Soundwalls Pennsylvania Av to the La Canada/Flintridge City boundary Construct 3.6 miles of soundwalls on E/B and W/B sides $5,000,000 La Crescenta Avenue At Modify eastbound on-ramp traffic control and channelization to improve capacity $100,000 Construct westbound on-ramp, modify La Crescenta Avenue At $3,500,000 traffic signal La Crescenta-Montrose Area Bikeways $2,210,000 Pennsylvania Ave At Modify on- and off-ramp intersections and traffic signals to improve southbound Pennsylvania Ave to eastbound leftturn capacity $1,000,000 $13,610,0001

13 LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ARROYO VERDUGO SUBREGIONAL MEASURE R EQUITY FUNDS PROPOSED BIKEWAYS PROJECT LIST ATTACHMENT C Project Name Limits Description/Scope Estimated Project Cost I La Crescenta-Montrose Area Bikeways Rosemont Avenue Rockdell St to Honolulu Ave Install 1.9 miles of Class Ill Bike Route $60,000 La Cresenta Avenue Orange Ave to Foothill Blvd Install 0.6 mile of Class Ill Bike Route $35,000 La Crescenta Avenue Foothill Blvd to Montrose Ave Install 0.6 mile of Class Ill Bike Route $35,000 Altura Avenue La Crescenta Ave to Rosemont Ave Install 0.35 mile of Class Ill Bike Route $20,000 Briggs Avenue Shields St to Foothill Blvd lnstalll.3 miles of Class Ill Bike Route $70,000 Ramsdell Avenue Markridge Rd to Montrose Ave lnstalll.6 miles of Class Ill Bike Route $70,000 Montrose Avenue Rosemont Ave to Montrose Ln Install 0.9 mile of Class II Bike Lanes $70,000 Orange Av/Whittier Dr Pennsylvania Ave to Briggs Ave Install 1.2 miles of Class Ill Bike Route $50,000 Ocean View Boulevard Foothill Blvd to Honolulu Ave Install 0.9 mile of Class II Bike Lanes $300,000 Verdugo Channel Crescenta Valley Park to Shirley Jean St (within City of Glendale) Construct 1.2 miles of Class I Bike Path $1,500,000 $2,210,000

14 ATTACHMENT D Crescenta Valley Town Council May 20,2013 Sussy Nemer Field Deputy Los Angeles County Supervisor Antonovich Office 215 N. Marengo Ave., Suite 120 Pasadena, CA eryt I:Evis President Frank Beyt Vice President D:miel Oleurg Recording Secretary C81ette Erickson Treasurer RobiJyn Battles Qxrespording Secretary COJNClL rvenbers Mke Oaessens Harry Leon D'. Yourg Seok Sli1 Rorert Thorras, atemcie Leslie Dckson, atemcie 1\/larti 1\/larshall, atemcie Re: MeasureR- La Crescenta/Montrose Unincorporated Dear Sussy, The Crescenta Valley Town Council has reviewed the current Measure R proposals and has agreed to accept them in their entirety with a request that several other items be added to the list for consideration. In addition, Council has taken the time to prioritize the projects as follows: 1: Overwhelmingly if sufficient funding becomes available sound walls along the 210 Freeway would be the top priority. The remaining 7 items have been prioritized. 2: The re-design and addition of lanes at Foothill and Rosemont with the inclusion of a left turn only signal for South bound traffic. 3: Reconfigure the La Crescenta Ave on-ramp going Eastbound both North and Southbound traffic have significant congestion issues. If medians are added or current medians altered they are to be filled with landscape not concrete. This is an addition to the current list. 4: Add garden medians on Foothill to better direct traffic ease congestion and allow for increased and safer pedestrian crossing and foot traffic. This is an addition to the current list. 5: Re-design entry from Pennsylvania to East Bound 210. If any median are added or changed they need to be planted not filled with concrete. 6: Ease traffic congestion at La Crescenta and Foothill on the Northerly side of Foothill. The problems are identical to those at Rosemont and Foothill. 7: Addition of a 210 Freeway West bound on-ramp at La Crescenta Avenue. 8: Addition of Bike Lanes. Should you have any questions or need any further clarifications please contact. When funding for any of the above becomes available Council requests sufficient notification to review the project selected and to allow for proper community input. President Cheryl Davis cc: John T. Walker Assistant Deputy Directorlos Angeles County Department of Public Works Programs Develooment Division P.O. Box 8676 La Crescenta, CA p: e:contact@thecvcouncil.com