STAFF REPORT

SUBJECT: Update on Measure A Projects

MEETING DATE: June 25, 2012 AGENDA ITEM: 6

STAFF CONTACT: Jim Kemp, Steve VanDenburgh, Gregg Hart, Fred Luna, Sarkes Khachek & Scott Spaulding

RECOMMENDATION: Receive a presentation on the current status of Measure A Regional Projects for both North County and South Coast.

DISCUSSION:

US 101 Widening:

Phase 1 – US 101 widening from Milpas St. to the Hot Springs/Cabrillo: Work on this project, which included reconstruction of several bridges, local improvements and added a third lane northbound and southbound on Highway 101 is largely complete. This is a Measure D funded project. Work is continuing on the final pavement surface and striping with some corrective surfacing work planned for late June. Installation of project landscaping will continue through the summer. On April 2nd, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held under the new Cacique underpass that was attended by hundreds of people.

Phase 2 – US 101 widening from Mussel Shoals to Carpinteria:– On January 3, 2012 a contract was awarded to Granite Construction for the second phase of the project to widen U.S. 101 by adding HOV lanes between Mussel Shoals and Carpinteria (six miles). Work began on this project in April and will continue through 2015. A groundbreaking event was held on April 30, 2012. The total construction capital cost for the project is $66 million, including contingencies. The low bid for this project was $50 million less than the original estimate, demonstrating the excellent construction cost environment that currently exists for large

construction projects. The project will be constructed in four stages of work. Two lanes of traffic will remain open at all times (except for nighttime lane closures to move equipment and concrete barriers to transition to a new stage) to avoid additional levels of congestion due to reduced capacity.

This project is primarily funded by Proposition 1B (state bonds approved in November 2006) and was required by the guidelines of Proposition 1B to be delivered by December 31, 2012. No Measure A funds are committed to this phase of the project. The project will add a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction of U.S. 101 for six miles from Mussel Shoals to Carpinteria. Some of the other key features of the project include:

 New pedestrian undercrossing connecting the community of La Conchita to the beach  Class I bike path along the southbound lanes of U.S. 101 between Bates and Mussel Shoals  Closure of the 101 median openings at Santa Barbara Ave (La Conchita), Mussel Shoals and Tank Farm to improve safety  Widening of the Bates Road Undercrossing  Median Landscaping in the community of Carpinteria  Installation of Changeable Message Sign along northbound lanes south of Bates Road  Improved drainage features throughout the project

Phase 3 – The Linden & Casitas Pass Interchange Project in Carpinteria: This project has a completed environmental document and in April of this year the California Transportation Commission allocated an additional $15 million to this project so that it is now fully funded using SBCAG’s share of state gas taxes, exclusively. The City of Carpinteria has formed a Design Review Team (DRT) consisting of members of the public, members from the city council and planning commission and a member of the architectural review board. The DRT has been meeting since December to discuss design of the bridges that will be built with this project. The DRT will conclude its work in July 2012 and a summary of findings will be presented to the Carpinteria City Council followed by submittal of the application to the City of Carpinteria for a coastal development permit. An amendment to the City of Carpinteria’s Local Coastal Plan will also be required for this project and for phase IV of the larger 101 widening project that will be processed together. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2015.

Phase 4 – The 101 South Coast HOV Lanes Project: This is the Measure A funded phase of the HOV project. The draft environmental impact report for this project is now available and open for public review and comment until July 9, 2012. Community meetings were held in Montecito and Carpinteria in in late April. Local responsible agencies have also elected to have hearings on the project. Between May 6, 2012 and June 14, 2012 hearings were held and presentations were given by Caltrans and SBCAG to the City of Santa Barbara, Montecito, Santa Barbara County and City of Carpinteria Planning Commissions & Carpinteria City Council. Following the close of public comment period, Caltrans will draft responses to the comments, select a preferred alternative and release a final EIR next summer. When the final EIR is certified a decision will be made about construction phasing and coastal development permits will be sought from the local agencies. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016.

Commuter Rail

In April of this year, the SBCAG Board authorized staff to submit a proposal to Union Pacific Railroad to operate a single commuter train from the East Ventura Station to Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta in the morning with a return trip in the evening. The new commuter rail

2 service would be operated by Metrolink under a contract with SBCAG using available Metrolink passenger rail cars. Under the terms of the proposal to UPRR there is sufficient funding in the Measure A Program to operate this service as a pilot program for ten years. Union Pacific Railroad has done modeling that concluded the new commuter service will not conflict with their current freight operations, but UP would like to see new rail sidings constructed at Seacliff in Ventura County and Ortega near Summerland to ensure there is sufficient rail capacity in the future. SBCAG has received federal grant funds to fully fund preliminary engineering and environmental clearance on these two siding projects, and the California Transportation Commission has earmarked more than $25 million in state funding for construction of these siding projects. SBCAG staff is currently negotiating with UPRR on the principles of an operating agreement.

SBCAG is also working with the other regional agencies in the LOSSAN/Pacific Surfliner corridor to pass state legislation, SB 1225 that will enable the transition from state to local control of the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service. SB 1225 passed the California State Senate by a vote of 38-0 on May 30th. The bill is now in the California State Assembly and its next hearing will occur on June 25th in Assembly Transportation Committee followed by a hearing in the Assembly Local Government Committee on June 27th.

U.S. 101 Santa Maria River Bridge

The Santa Maria River Bridge Project will widen the two existing bridges from two to three lanes in each direction with inside / outside shoulders and will include a Class I bicycle path adjacent to the southbound lanes behind a concrete barrier. In addition, all existing traffic lanes will be resurfaced. The contractor for this $31 million project is Flatiron West Inc. of Benicia, CA. The project began construction in September 2011 and is now approximately 45% complete. The project is scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2014.

SBCAG, SLOCOG and Caltrans entered into a funding agreement on this project which is funded primarily with Proposition 1B and Measure A funds. The Measure A Investment Plan originally allocated $10 million in Measure A funds toward this project but because of the low bid awarded only $7.8 million is anticipated to be needed from Measure A. Any cost savings realized on this project will remain in the North County program for reallocation to other North County projects. SBCAG is working with Caltrans to keep the public informed of the construction activities on the project by issuing regular construction e-mail updates and to inform motorists of alternative ways of traveling through the construction zone to reduce traffic congestion.

U.S. 101 Union Valley Parkway Interchange

Construction of a new 101 Union Valley Parkway Interchange was included in the Measure A Investment Plan and was originally estimated to cost $25 million. The funding plan identified in the Measure A Strategic Plan included $10 million in Measure A, $10 million in Prop 1B Regional State\Local Partnership funding, and $5.0 million in STIP funding. The project was advertised on May 22, 2012 with an engineer’s estimate of approximately $12 million including contingencies. The bid opening on the project is scheduled for July 11, 2012 and it is anticipated that SBCAG will receive favorable construction bids. Construction will begin in the fall of this year and is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. Caltrans and SBCAG have entered into a cooperative agreement for construction on this project. Caltrans is the lead agency.

3 SBCAG is a funding partner. Any cost savings realized on this project will remain in the North County program for reallocation to other North County projects.

Highway 246 Passing Lanes

The Measure A Investment Plan identified a project to construct operational and safety improvements on Highway 246 between Lompoc and Buellton which included two sets of passing lanes and several intersection channelization improvements. This project was allocated $20 million in the Measure A Investment Plan was estimated to cost $50 million, requiring state gas tax from SBCAG to complete the project funding plan. Since that state gas tax funding is being devoted to the U.S. 101 HOV project, the Measure A Strategic Plan proposed to construct this project as two phases with the first phase to begin construction in 2014. Caltrans is currently preparing final design for the first phase of improvements which focuses on the western end of Highway 246 and includes a passing lane, profile correction, and channelization at several public road intersections. The project requires intensive coordination with regulatory permit agencies in regard to California Tiger Salamander habitat and mitigation. Phase I is currently estimated to cost between $16 million and $20 million which would utilize nearly all of the Measure A funds. Phase II is scheduled in FY 30/31 in the Strategic Plan and will have to rely almost entirely on state gas tax funding to be delivered.

Highway 166 Operational and Safety Improvements

In February 2012, the SBCAG board approved an array of safety and operational improvements for Highway 166 that will be funded by Measure A and other sources. The projects on Highway 166 were identified through a feasibility study and prioritization process conducted by SBCAG. The projects include capital improvement projects and a CHP Enforcement program.

Below is a brief description of the six projects:

Highway 166/Highway 101 SB Off-ramp: This improvement will address deficiencies in the current geometry for trucks making a right-turn onto Hwy 166 (Main St) from the US 101 southbound off-ramp. Caltrans has expressed interest in completing conceptual work on this project and it would be a candidate for STIP funding that SBCAG has available for re- programming in the next STIP cycle (2014).

Highway 166/Simas Street Intersection: This improvement will look at improving safety and operations by replacing the four-way stop controlled intersection at Simas St with a signalized intersection or roundabout. Caltrans has expressed interest in completing conceptual work on this project and it would be a candidate for STIP funding that SBCAG has available for re- programming in the next STIP cycle (2014).

Highway 166/Black Road Intersection: This improvement will look at improving safety and operations by replacing the single stop controlled on Black Road at this tee-intersection with signalized intersection or roundabout. SBCAG has proposed to use consultant resources on this location.

Highway 166/Highway 1 Intersection: This improvement will look to improve safety and operations by replacing the four-way stop controlled intersection at Hwy 1 / Hwy 166 with signalized intersection. There is also the possibility that improvements at the adjacent railroad crossing would need to be included such as coordinated signals. SBCAG will continue to work

4 closely with the City of Guadalupe and Caltrans to move this project forward. SBCAG possibly could take the lead on this project with consultant resources.

Highway 166 School Bus Turnouts and Signing: This improvement will look to add signing and pullouts along Highway 166 to serve existing school bus stops provided by the Cuyama Joint Unified School District. SBCAG has proposed to use consultant resources on this location.

CHP Additional Enforcement Program: This program will provide resources for additional enforcement by CHP on Highway 166 (East) during peak seasons, holidays, special events. SBCAG will enter into a reimbursement agreement with CHP for them to provide services up to $30,000 per year for enhanced enforcement.

Buellton Circulation Improvements

The Measure A Investment Plan includes $3 million for the Buellton Circulation Improvements Project. The City of Buellton, as the project sponsor developed a project that consists of a number of pedestrian improvements along Highway 246 between Palm Way and the Avenue of Flags including raised medians west of the Avenue of Flags, improved sidewalks, handicap ramps and intersection crosswalks with block pavers enhancement. Additional street lighting and landscape and irrigation improvements, as well as park benches, were also installed.

The cost for Phase I w as $975,000. The Measure A share of the cost is $600,000. The city funded the remainder with Measure D local funds and Gas Tax funds. The balance of funding for the Buellton Circulation Improvements of $2.4 M will be used by the city for subsequent phases of the circulation project. Phase I began construction last fall and was completed in April of 2012.

Interregional Transit

Measure A funds two separate interregional transit programs one for north county and one for south county. The North County Interregional Transit Program funds the operation of the Clean Air Express service that connects commuters from Santa Maria, Buellton, Solvang, and Lompoc to job sites in Goleta and Santa Barbara. The service is operated under contract by Santa Maria Area Transit, a division of the City of Santa Maria’s Public Works Department. The City of Santa Maria in turn contracts with First Transit, a private company that actually employs the drivers and maintains the bus fleet. There are 13 daily bus routes that annually carry nearly 300,000 passengers. The fare box recovery ratio for the Clean Air Express is consistently in the high 70% range, among the highest in the country.

In the South Coast, SBCAG funds and manages the VISTA Coastal Express service in partnership with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC). The service is operated by a private contractor, CUSA. On June 14, VCTC staff informed SBCAG staff that VISTA customers may soon encounter some service disruption arising from recent bankruptcy proceedings associated with the service contractor. Representatives from CUSA informed VCTC staff that it intends to halt operations on or about June 30, 2012 due to bankruptcy sale of assets. VCTC staff are working actively to identify a safe and quality solution that would avoid any disruption in service.

The VISTA service from Ventura and Oxnard to the South Coast is the largest of the five VISTA routes, carrying 300,000 passengers a year. Over 50 one way trips each week day connect the

5 two counties, and SBCAG and VCTC fund the service equally. SBCAG staff are developing contingency plans for keeping the Coastal Express service in operation using Measure A funds in the event that VCTC is unable to find a new contractor to take over the entire VISTA operation.

Traffic Solutions also stands ready to assist commuters interested in arranging carpools or vanpools as an alternative to the Coastal Express service.

The service disruption resulting from Coach's bankruptcy will not affect the Coastal Express Limited, which is a separate service operated jointly by SBCAG and MTD.

Bicycle, Pedestrian & Safe Routes to School Programs

The Measure A Investment Plan includes funding in both the North County and South Coast program categories for bicycle and pedestrian and safe routes to school programs. Allocation of funding is required by the Investment Plan to be conducted through a competitive grant process. The first cycle of the Bicycle & Pedestrian and Safe Routes to Schools Programs was a great success. A wide variety of projects will be funded in both North and South County that will fill gaps in the regional bicycle/pedestrian network, rehabilitate important infrastructure on the existing network, facilitate bicycle usage, promote ADA mobility, and increase the safety of children walking and riding bikes to school. These are exactly the types of improvements promised to voters from the Bicycle & Pedestrian and Safe Routes to School Programs in the Measure A Investment Plan. All local agencies in the County, many schools, PTAs and civic groups that promote bicycle and pedestrian usage participated in the process by either submitting projects for consideration or participating on the scoring committee.

SBCAG received 17 applications from project sponsors for the South Coast Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. The total funding requested was $2,224,340. A total of $992,276 was available for the program for the three year period FY 10/11 – FY 12/13. The scoring committee recommended Measure A funding for 13 projects. SBCAG also received a total of 13 applications from project sponsors for the South Coast Safe Routes to School Program. The total funding requested for Cycle 1 of the program was $1,289,047. A total of $992,276 was available for the three year period FY 10/11 – FY 12/13. The scoring committee recommended Measure A funding for all 13 projects but recommended reduced funding for the Ninth Street Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitation project in Carpinteria and the Hollister Class I Bikeway in Goleta.

Project sponsors submitted fifteen (15) project applications requesting a total of $1.2 million in North County Measure A Safe Routes to School, Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding. A total of $397,000 was available for the five year program period FY 10/11 – 14/15. Projects were submitted by each North County jurisdiction except for the city of Solvang. The city of Solvang will pursue funding in the next cycle of the program. The scoring committee recommended that a total of seven (7) projects receive funding for Cycle 1 of the program. Five projects were recommended for full funding while 2 projects were recommended for partial funding. The two projects recommended for partial funding were the City of Buellton’s Phase III SR 246 Sidewalk Improvement and Warning Light project and City of Lompoc’s Sidewalk, Curb Ramp and Pedestrian Crossing Improvements project. The SBCAG Board unanimously approved the recommended projects for South County at the January SBCAG Board meeting and North County at the February SBCAG Board meeting.

6