STAFF REPORT. MEETING DATE: March 18, 2004 AGENDA ITEM: 15

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1 STAFF REPORT SUBJECT: 101 in Motion Project MEETING DATE: March 18, 2004 AGENDA ITEM: 15 RECOMMENDATION: Receive status report on 101 in Motion. SUMMARY: This report provides an update on the status of the 101 in Motion project and other congestion relief projects authorized by the board in October The public launch of the 101 in Motion project occurred on Friday February 20, A press conference was held to describe the project goals and process and to inform the public on how to get involved. The process of forming the project s advisory committees is nearly complete. Public Workshops will begin the week of March 8. DISCUSSION: Since last months progress report there has been a successful media launch of 101 In Motion with coverage by most of the local print and television media. Additionally the project website and hotline are up and running. Speakers at the February 20 th launch were Congresswoman Lois Capps, State Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, Board Member/ Supervisor Susan Rose, who also hosted the press conference, Board Member/ Mayor Larry Lavagnino, Executive Director Jim Kemp and Caltrans District 5 Director Gregg Albright. There will be three public workshops, on March 9 th in Goleta, on March 11 th in Santa Barbara, and on March 16 th in Buellton. The purpose of the workshops will be to elicit community values, their perceptions of the problems and opportunities to be addressed, and their ideas for possible solutions. At the 101 In Motion Steering Committee (SC) meeting on March 3 rd (agenda attached), the SC approved the Roles and Responsibilities of the various committees involved in the project. Earlier in the day the TAG approved the Screening Criteria and Methodology to be used in the

2 first cycle/ fatal flaw screening of alternative solutions; and the initial list of previously identified projects for use at the public workshops. The Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC) membership has been nearly finalized and there will be a retreat held on March 10 th to get them oriented to the project. The first regular meeting of the SAC is scheduled for March 29 th. A membership list by category is attached to this report. The work effort for staff and the consulting team has focused on finalizing the public participation plan including formation of the Stakeholders Advisory Committee and initial media launch, developing the data base and tools for analyzing alternative solutions, and finalizing the criteria and methodology for screening the initial set of solution alternatives. There continues to be monthly meetings with the Technical Advisory Group. While there was some delay in the media launch, overall the 101 In Motion (IM) Project remains on schedule and within budget. The EIR/EIS for the 101/Milpas to Hot Springs operational improvement project was signed last week by the Federal Highway Administration. This completes a major milestone for this project. Staff is continuing to work with Caltrans in the development of cooperative agreements for this project and the 101/Ortega Hill project. COMMITTEE REVIEW: The project Steering Committee met on March 3 and approved the Committee Roles and Responsibilities but recognized on going refinement would be needed. The committee discussed the results of the media launch event and the draft screening criteria and baseline project assumptions for the 2030 forecast. In addition staff apprised the committee of an opportunity to apply for a Congressional earmark for a proposed South Coast 101 Operations and Management project. The project TAG also met on March 3. A copy of the meeting agenda is attached. STAFF CONTACT: Jim Kemp, Michael Powers, Attachments: South Coast Subregional Planning Committee Agenda, March 3 Technical Advisory Group Meeting Agenda, March 3 News articles on 101 In Motion Media Launch Stakeholders Advisory Group members list 2

3 AGENDA SOUTH COAST SUBREGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE Wednesday, March 3, :00 4:00 PM SBMTD Conference Room 550 Olive Street Santa Barbara, CA The South Coast Subregional Planning Committee (SCSPC) is a board subcommittee of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments and also serves as the steering committee for the 101 in Motion. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact SBCAG at least three working days prior to the scheduled meeting. 1. Call to Order and Roll Call 2. Public Comment The public may address the Committee on any matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee that is not included as part of this agenda. 3, Meeting Summary Approve Meeting Summary of February 5, Roles and Responsibilities of Committees Review and approve revised memo on roles and responsibilities of committees. (Attachment 4) 5. Public Outreach Review and comment on Initial Plan for public outreach. (Attachment 5) 6. Screening Criteria

4 Review and comment on initial screening criteria/methodology. (Attachment 6) 7. Ventura County Sales Tax Receive report on status of proposed Ventura County Sales Tax Measure for transportation improvements. (Attachment 7) in Motion Information Items A. Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC) Receive status report on formation of SAC. B. Media Launch Receive report on February 20 media launch. C. Initial Project List Receive initial list of potential projects. (Attachment 8.1) D. Programmed Projects Receive assumed base case list of programmed projects for 2030 travel forecast. (Attachment 8.2) 9. Adjourn The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, 2004 in Santa Barbara. 5

5 AGENDA 101 IN MOTION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Wednesday, March 3, :00 a.m. Noon ` SBCAG Offices 260 N. San Antonio Rd., Suite B Santa Barbara, CA ALLOTED ITEM MINUTES ACTION 1 Comments on February TAG Meeting Summary 5 Comments 2 SC Meeting Report Back 5 Receive 3 SAC Formation and Meeting Status Report 10 Receive 4 Media Launch Report Back 10 Receive 5 Facilitation of TAG Meetings 15 Discuss 6 Roles & Responsibilities of Committees Memo 10 Approve (Attachment #1) Revised 7 Initial Screening Criteria/Methodology Tech 15 Approve Memo (Revised version sent 2/5/04) 8 Community Ideas Public Outreach (Attachment 30 Comments #2) New Travel Forecast/Assumed Projects (From prior TAG Meeting) 15 Approve 10 Baseline Performance/ Purpose & Need Tech 30 Comments Memo (Attachment #3) New 11 Initial List of Projects (Attachment #4) Revised 10 Approve 12 Travel Model Subcommittee Status Report 10 Receive 13 Other Business 10 Comments 14 Advance Calendar 5 Comments 6

6 2/27/04 Project aims to fix 101 By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter The only traffic signals on the 101 between Los Angeles and San Francisco long ago yielded to the cross-town freeway project through Santa Barbara. But as congestion increases, bright red brake lights continue to dim the hopes of commuters trying to get through two lanes that narrow in both directions near Milpas Street. And while southbound bottlenecks typically seem to receive the bulk of the complaints close to Salsipuedes, which, incidentally, means "Leave if you can" in Spanish, area officials are determined to come up with long-term solutions for the entire regional 101 corridor. That corridor is comprised of the section of freeway from Winchester Canyon in far-western Goleta to the Santa Barbara-Ventura county line, and includes early morning northbound tie-ups through Carpinteria, Summerland and Montecito. Jim Kemp, the executive director of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, or SBCAG, hopes the answers will evolve out of an almost twoyear long, community-based project called 101 In Motion: Creating Transportation Solutions. Congresswoman Lois Capps and representatives from Caltrans and SBCAG launched the campaign last Friday morning during a press conference overlooking a beleaguered stretch of the freeway from a spot near the KEYT studios on Television Hill. "The idea was to make sure we had the support and backing of the community for whatever package of projects was identified," said Kemp, who oversees SBCAG with members from each city in the county and the Board of Supervisors. "There has been a long-standing problem on the South Coast portion of the Highway 101 corridor, and that triggered the need for 101 In Motion." Kemp said the concept for an interactive Web site and 24-hour, toll-free hotline arose when SBCAG board members were wrestling with ways to find answers for the next quarter-century and beyond. "The cornerstone of 101 In Motion is public participation to come up with long-term solutions," Kemp said. All ideas, no matter how initially far-fetched, will be entertained "anything that has the potential to relieve congestion." "Later we ll narrow down the list of options and eliminate those with fatal flaws," Kemp said. "We are hoping to generate early action projects that will 8

7 be implemented to relieve some of the congestion but the SBCAG board will have to approve those." Some of the more obvious solutions that have surfaced over time could be implemented sooner than later. Others will take considerably longer if agreed on. "More bus lines and ride-sharing options could take place almost immediately," Kemp said. "But adding lanes on 101 could require years to complete." The SBCAG board has already mandated that 101 In Motion include the option of adding freeway lanes and increasing a host of transportation scenarios other than continued reliance only on motor vehicles. The objective is to come to a consensus among a variety of solutions. "Today we don t have a comprehensive plan in addressing the problem," Kemp said. "At this point we will be looking at all options, including widening 101, expanding alternative transportation such as buses and passenger rail, and reducing peak-hour travel. "We ll also look at more ride-sharing programs and encouraging alternative work schedules so that people don t have to travel during rush hours." To that end, Kemp and other board members hope residents will generate solutions that address the entire South Coast corridor "from the Ventura County line to far-western Goleta, and not just the Montecito section. There are also corresponding problems in the morning northbound and southbound in the evening," Kemp said. The SBCAG executive director pointed to the success of one "early action project" in use in the Bay Area and greater Los Angeles metropolitan district. "A Freeway Service Patrol involves contracting with a towing service to clear accidents and vehicle breakdowns before congestion can build up," Kemp said. "They re on constant patrol during peak periods of congestion." Democratic congresswoman Lois Capps, whose district includes the South Coast, received kudos at the press conference for securing $600,000 to go toward the 101 In Motion project. "This funding gets us on the road to fixing the maddening situation of overcrowding on Highway 101," Capps said. "Transportation experts agree that if we can reach consensus on the best way to resolve the gridlock on the 101, we can get started on the solution faster and spend our transportation dollars smarter. That is exactly what 101 In Motion will do." Several community workshops are scheduled throughout the month of March. During the on-going public sessions throughout the county, even state stakeholders in 101 In Motion envision actual improvements kicking in. "Mitigation projects will be under way as roundtable discussions are taking place," said Gregg Albright, a Caltrans district director. "101 In Motion will result in cutting off substantial time from the normal process. It s not just a feel good plan." In Albright s tenure, he has seen Caltrans necessarily shift its focus. Collaboration will go far toward long-term regional answers. "A strictly highway solution is not a solution," Albright said. "Caltrans used to 9

8 be an agency concerned with moving cars. Now it s about moving people." For further information, visit the interactive project Web site at or phone the 24-hour hotline at (866) MOVE-101. Community presentations and brainstorming sessions about 101 in Motion will take place at the following times and places: LI>Tuesday, March 9, from 6-8 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center, 5679 Hollister Ave. Thursday, March 11, from 6-8 p.m. at the Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, 1118 E. Cabrillo Blvd. Tuesday, March 16, from 6-8 p.m. at Pea Soup Andersen s, 376 Avenue of Flags in Buellton Members of the public are encouraged to attend one of the workshops to learn more about 101 in Motion, share their ideas and speak individually with project team members. For more information, call (866) or go to Photo by Martha Lannan Caption: Caltrans District 5 Representative Greg Albright answers questions about 101 in Motion at a press conference facilitated by 2nd District Supervisor Susan Rose. Caltrans and Santa Barbara Association of Governments have launched 101 in Motion, a public-input-based project with the purpose of alleviating traffic congestion in the county. SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT NEWS SHORTS A 101 ACTION PLAN was announced by elected officials last week, as 101 in Motion: Creating Transportation Solutions was formally launched. Previously called the Highway 101 Implementation Plan, 101 in Motion is a two-year community effort to ease congestion along the 101 corridor over the next 25 years. Officials announced community meetings, an interactive website ( motion.com), and a toll-free hotline (866-MOVE-101) to keep the public involved in the decision making process. Santa Barbara News-Press 2/29/04 Build smaller cars, not bigger freeways 10

9 Let's look at crowded freeways from a different perspective and not rush to write off a somewhat simplistic solution. The freeway lanes are crowded not just by too many cars, but by cars and trucks that are way too large. Solution: Make the cars smaller. It's estimated that only one person per vehicle occupies over 50 percent of all cars on the freeway. It's not hard to imagine if those 50 percent were on motorcycles, the crowding would be significantly less. But motorcycles are impractical for most people. A single-passenger car could work though. Much like the Morgan of old, it could have two wheels in front, normal steering wheel and dash panel, a single rear drive wheel and even a second seat right behind the driver. Encased in a super strong, reinforced driver/passenger compartment, and you'd have fun, practicality and economy. Another version could be a convertible with roll bars built into the driver/passenger seats. Strong tax incentives -- money saved from having to expand freeways, reduced license fees and a low initial sticker price could make the "Heller" -- named after me of course -- an attractive alternative to the choice of vehicles drivers have available today. Stephen Heller, Goleta SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS Local News Hwy. 101 study set in motion 2/21/04 By CHUCK SCHULTZ NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER Voicing a unified commitment to solving freeway congestion on the South Coast, officials said Friday that effort will fail unless the whole community is involved in the process. "We're at an historic moment where we're all ready to work together," Caltrans district director Gregg Albright said at a Santa Barbara press conference attended by Rep. Lois Capps, Assemblywoman Hannah- Beth Jackson, 2nd District county Supervisor Susan Rose and Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino. "We will solve this," he vowed. "We can deliver solutions quicker by all working together." In announcing the launch of $1.6 million study, the politicians and transportation officials said important lessons were learned about the need for early community involvement when plans to widen Highway 101 between Santa Barbara and the Ventura County line were shelved a decade ago after encountering strong opposition. "Having the support of the community is critical to moving this process forward," remarked Jim Kemp, executive director of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. "There's no single option for solving this problem. It's going to require a multitude of options and a package of solutions." But one person in the audience Friday wondered aloud whether seeking consensus from so many different factions will ultimately delay improvements needed on the stretch of freeway used by as many as 140,000 vehicles a day. 11

10 Times. "They see delay. The more people involved in the conversation, the more time it takes to actually do something." Formerly known as Highway 101 Implementation Plan, the effort was renamed "101 in Motion: Creating Transportation Solutions." The analysis, funded from local, state and federal sources, is expected to take at least 15 months to complete. An interactive Web site, and a toll-free hotline, (866)-MOVE-101, will help inform the public about the options being considered and the process for completing an "action plan." Three public presentations and "brainstorming" sessions are also scheduled next month: March 9 at Goleta Valley Community Center, March 11 at the Cabrillo Arts Center in Santa Barbara, and March 16 at Pea Soup Andersen's restaurant in Buellton. All three will run from 6 to 8 p.m. VENTURA COUNTY STAR Group aims to ease commuters' woes 101 in Motion will attempt to fight traffic, improve highway By Molly Freedenberg, February 21, 2004 When Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson drove from Burbank to Santa Barbara on Friday morning for a meeting, the traffic on Highway 101 wasn't that bad. But she knows from experience that easy commute was the exception, not the rule. "It's a mess," she said, adding that her usual Sunday evening drive south can sometimes be unbearable. "In summer, it's a bear." 12

11 Advertisement That's one reason Jackson, along with other South Coast politicians and agencies, supports the newly named group 101 in Motion. The group -- a partnership among the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, local cities, Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation District -- was formed to address growing traffic problems on the South Coast corridor of Highway 101. On Friday, group representatives announced a new plan for involving the public in trafficreducing decision making. The plan includes giving the former "Highway 101 Implementation Plan" a catchier name and setting up an interactive Web site, 24-hour hotline and community meetings where residents can get updates and give input on traffic solutions. "Engaging the public and encouraging participation is the link that's been significantly missing," said Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, who spoke at Friday's conference on a piece of Santa Barbara property overlooking the freeway. She conceded many people have been frustrated by traffic congestion between Ventura County and Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, both because it is so bad and because they feel helpless to change it. Previous solutions have been undesirable or limited, many speakers said, including one idea that focused only on expanding freeways in Santa Barbara. That plan eventually was shelved. "That frustration can be transferred into energy," Capps said. Speakers included Jackson; Santa Barbara County Supervisor Susan Rose; Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino; Jim Kemp, executive director of SBCAG; and Gregg Albright, district director of Caltrans, all of whom emphasized how different this plan is from the one in the 1990s. "Ten years ago we presented an incomplete solution," said Albright, who said the focus of the new plan should go beyond just highway improvements. "This is not only about moving cars, but moving people." The group is poised to spend the next two years creating a plan to address traffic for the next three decades, which could include adding freeway lanes, ferrying commuters by boat, adding light-rail service between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, or changing land-use laws to bring businesses and commuters closer together. Jackson and Rose, both East Coast transplants, are strongly in favor of expanding mass transit options. Kemp also suggested ways to reduce the number of drivers on the road at peak times, such as improving rideshare programs and cooperating with businesses to change work schedules. Members of 101 in Motion agreed their partnership will be the quickest solution to a growing problem. And though the group is based in Santa Barbara County, Jackson and others said they already have started working with officials in Ventura County. "This part of the county hasn't gotten full attention," said Jackson, whose district includes Oxnard and Ventura, where 20,000 of Santa Barbara's daily commuters live. She said a lot of recent focus has been on the quickly growing cities in east Ventura County, but she hopes to change that -- both with her commitment to 101 in Motion and continued appeals to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger about South Coast traffic's impact on the state economy. "We cannot afford, as a state, to have people sitting in their cars for an hour or hour and a half on a drive that should take 30 minutes," she said The program encourages anyone with ideas or interest in solving the Highway 101 traffic problem to get involved in the planning process. Here's how to get involved: Web site 13

12 24-hour hotline (866) MOVE-101 Community meetings All start with an open house at 6 p.m. and a presentation/ brainstorming session at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 9 Goleta Valley Community Center, 5679 Hollister Ave., Goleta Thursday, March 11 Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, 1118 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara Tuesday, March 16 Pea Soup Andersen's, 376 Avenue of Flags, Buellton SANTA MARIA TIMES HIGHWAY 101 WIDENING MAY TAKE DETOUR By Erin Carlyle/Staff Writer Local officials are considering whether to delay a $22 million Highway 101 widening project through Santa Maria - currently scheduled to begin as early as this summer - until 2006 or The project - adding a third lane in each direction from just south of Santa Maria Way to where Highways 101 and 135 intersect - is just one of many whose schedule may be thrown off by the state's budget problems. While projects worth $83.7 million in State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds were originally planned for the fiscal year beginning in July, just $38 million are now ready to begin. But only $4.4 million is available from the state to fund them. That means there is an approximately $34 million shortfall for next year's planned projects. "We're not being told we have to delete projects - but there's no new money," said Jim Kemp, executive director of Santa Barbara County Association of Governments Board (SBCAG). As a result, elected officials in Santa Barbara County must decide which projects should move ahead as scheduled, and which should be delayed. The shortage is sure to result in a battle between different regions, as members of the SBCAG Board - made up of county supervisors and elected city representatives - debate where to put the funds. Thursday SBCAG staff presented two possible scenarios to board members. The first, based on project readiness and especially popular with North County officials, would keep the 101 widening on course, but delay all other projects planned for that year. However, it is unlikely to occur because it would shift $17.1 million to the widening, when the state says only $4.4 million is available. 14

13 The second option would delay the six-lane North County widening until at least 2006, but would maintain the schedule for some local projects, including several on the South Coast. Neither scenario satisfied all board members, who directed staff to talk to public works directors from each jurisdiction and try to come up with a compromise. They'll review the options and make a decision at their meeting March 18. "We're hoping to allow other sources to pay for local projects," Kemp said. Local money could then be shifted to fill the holes for state projects. Further specifics will have to be worked out with public works officials, he said. In 2002, Santa Barbara County received $62 million in new STIP funds for the five-year period ending in This year, the county will receive only $274,000 in new money, which must stretch until 2009, Kemp said. "Two years later we are as close to zero as you can get. It went from feast to famine." * Staff writer Erin Carlyle can be reached at or by at ecarlyle@pulitzer.net. Feb. 21, 2004 SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS Local News IN BRIEF 2/20/04 Officials jazz up name of 101 study SANTA BARBARA A $1.6 million study of ways to ease congestion on Highway 101 between Goleta and the Ventura County line is getting a new name. Officials think "101 In Motion: Creating Transportation Solutions" is a more a catchy and descriptive title for what had been known as the Highway 101 Implementation Plan. "We just wanted something less ponderous than 'implementation plan,' " and that better describes the study's goals, said Jim Kemp, executive director of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. The new name, as well as the launch of an interactive Web site for the project, will be announced today. Funded from local, state and federal sources, the study will determine whether there's a community consensus on any solutions to the traffic jams frequently occurring on the freeway. Supporters say that reaching such agreement about the best options -- before environmental review and design work is done -- could save money and time in getting those improvements built. The issue has generated considerable controversy so far, with some people demanding the freeway be widened and others insisting alternative transportation, such as commuter rail or buses, is the long-term solution. 15

14 -- Chuck Schultz South Coast BEACON NewsFlash (via ) A highway plan by any other name 2/19/04 Congresswoman Lois Capps will join local officials Friday morning to introduce 101 In Motion: Creating Transportation Solutions, the re-named Highway 101 Implementation Plan, and its interactive web site, The reinvented project aims to build community consensus around regional transportation solutions along the South Coast from the Ventura County line to Winchester Canyon. Taking a more community-friendly approach, the project also features a 24-hour hotline (866.MOVE.101) to additionally help keep South Coast residents involved in the decision-making processes. The event begins at 10 a.m. Friday, at Dreier Properties, 800 Miramonte Drive in Santa Barbara. Capps will join Naomi Schwartz, SBCAG chair and Santa Barbara County 1st District supervisor; Larry Lavagnino, former SBCAG chair and mayor of Santa Maria; Susan Rose, Steering Committee chair and Santa Barbara County 2nd District; Jim Kemp, executive director, of SBCAG and Gregg Albright, Caltrans District 5. For information call

15 101 in Motion Stakeholder Advisory Committee Member Emergency Services Alternative / Sustainable Transport. Automobile Advocacy Local Regional Planning Assn. Chamber Economic Develop. Business Travel Tourism Convention Industry Large Employer Developers & Construct. Education Social Justice Advocacy Employee Organization Taxpayer Association Homeowner Groups Environmental Advocacy Local & Long Distance Regional Commuters Trucking Inter-regional Partnership Jobs / House Ventura County Resident North County South County Guy Wysinger, District Manager, Auto Club of So. Calif.- SB County X X X Jessica Sheeter, Executive Director, COAST X X X X Ron Lafrican, Cottage Hospital X X X X X X Jan Evans, President, SB Co.Taxpayers Assn X X X George Pernsteiner, Vice Chancellor, UCSB X X X X X Lt. Sal Navarro, SB County Sheriff's Dept. - Carpinteria X X X X X Nancy Hancock, Interfaith Initiative and South Coast Livable Communities X X X X X Bob Ferris, Community Environmental Council X X X X Steve Engles, President, SB Regional Chamber of Commerce X X John Bowen, Raytheon, Santa Barbara Industrial Association X X X X Tim Bridwell, Fess Parker DoubleTree X X X X Robin Hayhurst, Santa Maria Valley Contractors Association X X X Dennis Story, Citizens Planning Assoc. X X X X X Bob Westwick, Easy Lift X X X Tom Von Metzger, Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce X X X Jack Overall, Montecito Association X X X Mary Frink, Postmaster, USPS X X X X X Emilio Casaneuva, Santa Barbara County Action Network X X X X X X Ken Stevens, SB Teachers Association X X X X X