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Orange County Transportation Authority Names New Members and Recognizes Service of Members on Two Public Committees

The Board of Directors has named new members to the Taxpayer Oversight Committee for the next three years and provided resolutions of appreciation to the Teen Council.

The Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors has named four new members to the Taxpayer Oversight Committee and recognized the contributions of members of this year's Teen Council.

The committees are two of four OCTA committees with public members that help the agency keep Orange County moving safely and efficiently.

The Taxpayer Oversight Committee, an 11-member independent committee of public members, ensures that funds collected through Measure M, the county's half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, are being spent as intended. In June 2024, the TOC conducted its annual hearing and determined for the 33rd consecutive year that the funds are being allocated as promised to voters who approved the tax in 1991 and overwhelmingly renewed it in 2006.

The newly appointed members of the Taxpayer Oversight Committee selected at the June 24 OCTA Board meeting to represent their respective Orange County Supervisorial Districts, are:

• Clayton King, of Huntington Beach, District 1
• James Fuchs, of Santa Ana, District 2
• James Evans, of Brea, District 4
• Robert Dorneman, of Dana Point, District 5

OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson at the most recent Board meeting also presented the outgoing members of the Teen Council with certificates of appreciation for the work they did throughout the academic year providing valuable insights from a youth perspective while learning about transportation in Orange County.

Teen Council is made up of high school students and meets once every other month to discuss a variety of topics related to transportation decisions in Orange County, including transportation planning, funding, legislation, environmental equity and impact, marketing, ridesharing and various transit modes.

They share insight on emerging transportation trends and improve their own leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and communication skills. They also engage in discussions, exchange ideas and participate in projects and community service. The next selected Teen Council will begin meeting in the fall semester.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission: Draft Blueprint Demonstrates Continued Progress Toward Key Plan Goals

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)'s and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)'s newly released Plan Bay Area 2050+ Draft Blueprint analysis outlines how the nine-county region can advance an affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant Bay Area for all residents by the year 2050.

As the first draft of the Bay Area's next long-range plan, the Draft Blueprint demonstrates significant progress toward reaching key goals for housing affordability, post-pandemic economic recovery and environmental health and sustainability. This includes the addition of 840,000 affordable homes, with a total of nearly 1 million permanently affordable homes regionwide by 2050; a 17 percent increase in the number of lower-income households living within a half-mile of transit service; and a gradual shift away from the use of single-occupancy cars and trucks. MTC and ABAG planning staff stress that the expected progress would only come about if all the strategies to be detailed in Plan Bay Area 2050+ are implemented.

The full range of performance and equity outcomes from the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Draft Blueprint analysis may be found in the Draft Blueprint Compendium, which also demonstrates how the Bay Area can accommodate some 1.3 million additional jobs and nearly 1 million new households by the year 2050.

These outcomes were first presented at the May meeting of MTC's Policy Advisory Council, and then at the June 14 joint meeting of the MTC Planning Committee and the ABAG Administrative Committee.

The Draft Blueprint also identifies challenges that will have to be addressed as part of the Final Blueprint process over the coming months. More work is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as to identify transportation investment priorities for the plan's fiscally constrained transportation project list. The Draft Blueprint does not include significant transportation expansion or enhancement investments, as these will be identified through Transit 2050+ and the Final Blueprint process.

What's Next?

In light of the pandemic's lasting impact to public transportation, MTC is collaborating with the region's transit operators on Transit 2050+, a parallel planning effort to re-envision the future of public transit in the nine-county Bay Area. Two key updates in this process are scheduled for release in July: the Draft Project Performance Assessment and the Transit 2050+ Draft Network.

The Draft Project Performance Assessment will analyze the costs and benefits of major capacity-increasing projects being considered for inclusion in Plan Bay Area 2050+, the vast majority of which are transit projects. These investments, including those adopted in Plan Bay Area 2050, now face a significantly reduced projected revenue stream. This is due largely to slow post-pandemic transit ridership recovery and other economic changes.

The Transit 2050+ Draft Network will identify strategies and investments (capital and operating) envisioned through 2035 and over the long term through 2050. Development of the Draft Network has been guided in part by public engagement conducted in summer 2023, when nearly 3,000 Bay Area residents provided input on the future of Bay Area transit. The Draft Network also is being informed by an existing needs and gaps assessment conducted in partnership with local transit agencies, the Draft Project Performance Assessment, local priorities and improvements to transit network connectivity and customer experience.

Summer 2024 Public Engagement

Beginning in August, MTC staff will conduct a second round of public engagement for Plan Bay Area 2050+, the content of which will focus on:

● Sharing both the Draft Blueprint outcomes and the Transit 2050+ Draft Network
● Gathering feedback to inform the development of the Final Blueprint and address identified Draft Blueprint challenges
● Identifying early priorities for implementing Plan Bay Area 2050+

There will be a variety of in-person and virtual opportunities for the public to participate. Stay up-to-date on upcoming engagement activities in your community by subscribing to the Plan Bay Area 2050+ mailing list. There also will be dedicated engagement opportunities for technical partners and stakeholders, which will be publicized on the Plan Bay Area website's Partner Engagement page.

Following an analysis of public input, the Commission and the ABAG Executive Board are expected to consider approval of the Final Blueprint in late 2024.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority: Metro Board Unanimously Approves Establishment of Transit Community Public Safety Department

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors unanimously approved the establishment of the Metro Transit Community Public Safety Department (TCPSD) in its monthly meeting on Thursday, June 28, 2024.

The objectives of the Metro TCPSD are increased visibility, accountability and consistent service delivery, which will result in a safer transit system for Metro employees and customers using a specialized transit community public safety workforce who are trained specifically to address the needs of transit riders, as well as care-based strategies.

The Metro TCPSD personnel will be trained to address the needs of the transit system, its employees and its customers.

"This action will make Metro safer by transforming the public safety system through a new model that fits the unique needs of our transit system," said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Karen Bass. "The Metro Board of Directors' top priority is keeping our riders and operators safe, and we will continue to do all that we can to enhance Metro's ability to keep riders safe."

The TCPSD will maintain the current number of 386 law enforcement officers deployed daily in the field, while increasing the daily deployment of Ambassadors (+141), homeless outreach (+5) and crisis intervention (+81) staff. The plan also allocates $5 million annually for innovative public safety infrastructure improvements at transit stations.

The new TCPSD is expected to cost $192,566,505 per year, compared to the current $194,051,691 Multi-Agency Contract Cost. Metro will reinvest the savings achieved by moving away from the costly multi-contract service model in care strategies.

By increasing safety layers, the model will enhance coordination, improve response times and ensure that the specific needs of riders are met with a tailored approach based upon the prevalence of quality-of-life incidents on the Metro system. This holistic approach not only bolsters security but also fosters a safer and more supportive environment for all Metro users.

"The Board appreciates its partnerships with LASD, LAPD, and LBPD throughout the years and deeply values the officers who have worked diligently to address the critical safety needs of Metro riders and employees," said Metro Board Member and Glendale City Councilmember Ara J. Najarian. "For that reason, this was a difficult decision but ultimately the right one to ensure a safer, more resilient transit system for Los Angeles County."

The transition to the Metro TCPSD will occur in three phases over the next five years. All current contract law enforcement agencies have agreed to cooperate with the transition and there will be no disruption of law enforcement services as the new Metro TCPSD is developed.

"PSAC is thrilled the Metro board authorized the creation of the Transit Community Public Safety Department," said Metro's Public Safety Advisory Committee Chair Jeremy Oliver-Ronceros. "By bringing the officers in-house and adding 227 daily deployed care-based workers, increasing the ranks of our transit ambassadors, homeless outreach, and crisis interventionists, they have taken the first step in revolutionizing how we approach safety on public transit. Not only will visibility be increased across the system, but we will able to create an environment that puts people first."

Metro will now create a dedicated Transition Team of subject matter experts who will serve as the cornerstone for orchestrating a seamless shift toward the envisioned department, ensuring effective coordination both internally and externally. Additionally, a Chief of Police will be hired.

The selection process for this newly created role will include engaging Metro's customers and employees to ensure the selection resonates with the transit community's expectations.

"On behalf of the 5,000 bus and rail Members we represent, the Union expresses our sincere appreciation for the forward steps taken by the Board," said General Chairman John M. Ellis, SMART Union. "It's reassuring to see the Board listened to our members and approved Metro's own in-house safety department. We look forward to working with CEO Wiggins and Metro's management to make the approved proposal of Metro's own in-house public safety department a reality and keep our communities safe."

The Department will embody a modern model of proactive community transit policing using training that is specific to the transit environment.    

"We are addressing complex public safety issues that require a bold, new approach," said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. "The Metro TCPSD will go far beyond providing law enforcement to address crime. We will introduce a fresh, new public safety model that puts people at the center and addresses quality of life issues that have become so prevalent in cities and transit systems across the country."

Bay Area Rapid Transit: Final Car of the Original Fleet of the Future Contract Now Ready for Service

BART's popular Fleet of the Future project has just completed one milestone, with the final car of the original contract now ready for service. The project is now entering its second phase. The last car of the original contract, car number 775, was officially certified for passenger service on Thursday, July 18th. BART is now accepting cars from the second Core Capacity contract at the Hayward Test Track.

"It's remarkable how much the new cars have changed the look and feel of BART for the better," said BART President Bevan Dufty. "These cars are delivering on the promise of being more reliable, more modern and easier to enter and exit."

In the six years since the first Fleet of the Future train first went into service, the new trains have gone from a surprising sight for riders to an everyday part of their trip. The legacy fleet was officially retired in April with a fond send off, but the fact is the new trains took over the system by replacing the old cars for all scheduled runs in September 2023.

The increased pace in production and delivery of the new fleet has been essential to the transition. Car manufacturer Alstom is now delivering 20 cars a month to BART, almost twice as many as the 11 cars a month stipulated in the original delivery schedule.

The quicker tempo of deliveries is one of the reasons the Fleet of the Future project is expected to come $394 million under budget. Another big cost saver was BART's decision to have its own highly experienced staff do more of the engineering work in house. The project team, led by John Garnham, has included engineers who have successfully completed new rail car projects at other agencies. 

With all 775 of the cars from the original contract now on board, BART is renewing its focus on the delivery and certification of an additional 306 rail cars for the Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Program (CCP). That's a package of strategic investments that will allow BART to operate up to 30 ten-car trains per hour in each direction through the Transbay Tube.

An additional 48 cars, which will follow the 306 CCP cars, will serve Phase II of BART to Silicon Valley (BSVII) in the coming decades. The CCP cars and BSVII cars will bring BART's total fleet to 1,129 rail cars.

"Getting to this transition point has been a true team effort," said BART General Manager Bob Powers. "We've not only worked closely with the car maker to ensure the quality and reliability of the new cars, but we've created partnerships to make sure we have the funding to pay for these important investments."

In addition to BART funds in the 775 Rail Car Project, many funding partners have made the Project possible, including:

• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)
• High Speed Rail Authority
• Strategic Growth Council/California Dept of Housing & Community Development
• California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

The Core Capacity (306) Rail Car Project is likewise supported by a coalition of funding partners, including:

• FTA
• MTC
• California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA)
• Caltrans
• San Francisco County Transportation Authority
• Alameda County Transportation Commission

The 48 BSVII rail cars are fully funded by VTA.

Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District Receives Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Award for Second Consecutive Year

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) is proud to announce that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the transit district $15 million through the 2024 Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards (Low-No Grant) to support the expansion of AC Transit's green bus fleet and maintenance facilities for the future. Today's announcement is part of approximately $1.5 billion in funding to support 117 projects that will improve public transportation in 47 states.

For the second consecutive year, the FTA has supported AC Transit's commitment to reducing and ultimately eliminating our greenhouse gas footprint by aiding in the purchase of an additional 25state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell buses (FCEBs) and a third hydrogen fueling station.

"Today, 117 communities, including AC Transit's East Bay, are receiving the good news that their transit buses are being modernized and their commutes improved through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "The Biden-Harris Administration is helping agencies across 47 states replace old buses running on dirty, expensive fuels by delivering modern and zero-emission buses, manufactured by American workers, that will connect more people to where they need to go."

AC Transit's Zero Emission Transit Bus Technology Analysis (ZETBTA), which was groundbreaking as the first side-by-side test of all available engine propulsion systems, demonstrated the operational reliability of FCEB fleets. In addition to new FCEBs, the $15 million Low-No Grant helps to pave the way for converting our Hayward-D6 bus yard from its current 1980s-era facility to an industry-leading zero emission maintenance and FCEB fueling center.

AC Transit was the first U.S. transit agency to introduce a hydrogen fuel cell bus into daily service, in 1999. Over 25 years, our zero emission fleet has expanded to 30 FCEBs and 28 battery electric buses (BEB), which combined, have eliminated more than 13,000 metric tons of CO2.

"All-new hydrogen fuel cell buses (FCEBs) are more than just quiet on the road, reducing noise pollution; they are also game changers in lowering particulate matter concentrations that can lead to increased asthma rates and other adverse health effects," said AC Transit Board of Directors President Joel Young. "It is why the collective Board continues to prioritize AC Transit's Clean Corridors Plan, which specifically assigns zero emission buses to bus lines in disadvantaged communities."

AC Transit is leading the way in complying with the California Air Resources Board regulation that mandates all state transit agencies transition to zero emission bus fleets by 2040. However, being a pioneer in zero emission bus deployment is an expensive endeavor.

"Rehabilitating our legacy bus yard enables us to advance our Zero Emission Transition Plan through infrastructure investment. This includes a one-time upgrade to remove underground diesel tanks and transition to a hydrogen fueling station capable of servicing 130 buses daily," said General Manager Michael Hursh. "However, the estimated construction cost is $12 million, which demands us to find additional funding beyond the Low-No Grant for completion."

The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program provides federal funding for U.S. transit agencies to buy and rehabilitate buses and vans and build and modernize bus facilities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides nearly $2 billion through 2026 for the program. For Fiscal Year 2024, approximately $390 million for grants was available under this program.

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