RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the RTPA Board:

• Hold a public hearing to receive comments on the Regional Transportation Plan; and
• Find the 2001 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) consistent with the prior Environmental Impact Report for the 1994 RTP; and
• Adopt Resolution 01-08 updating the Regional Transportation Plan.

SUMMARY

The Regional Transportation Plan is a dynamic document that should be updated at least every three years. A working group of the major stakeholders was formed to update the plan for this cycle. The process resulted in a draft plan that is fiscally constrained and responsive to the interests of the local, state and federal agencies; local transportation stakeholders; and general citizen needs. Adoption of the Staff recommendation will complete this RTP Update process.

DISCUSSION

The format of the updated Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) is consistent with prior filings. Many of the goals and issues are similar to previous RTP updates. For example the maintenance needs of the region continue to exceed available funding and there continues to be unmet transit needs.

The addition of a checklist, provided by the Department of Transportation RTP Guidelines, ensures that all Regional Transportation Plan Components have been addressed. The RTP is divided into transportation topics including transit, goods movement, streets and highways, aviation, and nonmotorized. Each chapter deals with mobility issues associated with that topic and lists goals, objectives, policies and actions. A summary of the major chapters is provided below.

Streets and Highways

Specific Streets and Highway projects are incorporated into the RTP either by reference to the circulation elements of the general plans of the local jurisdictions or with the tables of projects that include; Short Term Fundable, Long Term Fundable, Needed But Currently Unfundable by agency. Additional tables were used to demonstrate the project efforts in State Highway System Operation and Protection Program(SHOPP), Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (HBRR), and other local agency Redevelopment Projects. The RTP is intended to include as many projects as reasonable. Generally, project-specific state and federal grants require that projects be listed in the region's RTP to demonstrate that the project fulfills a documented need. Therefore, the document is intended to be inclusive, or broad, with regard to listing projects.

The growing Deferred Maintenance Needs of the region have been projected within the RTP, the estimate exceeds $150,000,000 and will grow higher every year. Maintenance budgets have seen an increase in available funds from the Traffic Congestion Relief Program. This will help address the continuing road maintenance deficit.

Transit

Since the last update of the plan, there have been a number of changes to transit service. These changes have not been significant and involve route changes in and around the Redding urbanized area. Additional trial services extending Burney Express and adding Express service to Cottonwood are now underway. The other services have remained the same. The majority of funding for operating and capital needs for transit service will continue to be provided from Transportation Development Act funds. Capital needs will continue to be applied for via the FTA 5307 grants and matched with TDA funds. These sources of funding are projected to be stable with limited growth. Therefore, the transit system will have to depend on increased efficiency if it is to add service in future years. The source for these estimates is the RABA Short and Long Range Master Transit Plan Study recently completed and accepted by RABA.

Non-Motorized

Although development of nonmotorized facilities continues to be slow, several bicycle lanes have been added in the Region. A high profile project that will be constructed within the short-range term of the plan is the pedestrian/bicycle bridge between the Civic Auditorium and the Arboretum in the City of Redding.

The RTP projects using Transportation Enhancement funds as the major source of funding for future bicycle lanes. There is also an increased amount of Bicycle Lane Account funds available through a competitive grant application process. This state source is limited and typically consists of $90,000 to $100,000 per project; which is not adequate to fund a major project.

Air Quality

Air quality is an important issue that will be affecting the transportation planning process along with many other activities within the county. It is projected that the county will be designated as a "non-attainment" area for federal air quality standards by the year 2002. The impact on transportation planning will primarily impact capacity increasing projects such as street, road and highway lane additions. These projects will not be allowed unless it is demonstrated through air quality modeling that they will not only not increase air pollution but will help meet the emission levels that will be established to comply withe federal standards. It should be emphasized that this projected designation is not firm. The region has been on the cusp of this designation since 1999. Nonetheless, the RTP is organized to comply with this designation if and when it occurs.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

The Regional Transportation Plan was developed in cooperation with Shasta County; the cities of Redding, Shasta Lake and Anderson; Caltrans; Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA), and Shasta County Air Quality Management District. A working group was formed that included local, state, and federal agencies, a bicycle group representative, a wheelchair user, and the trucking industry.

Public comments gathered during the review have been incorporated in the draft. Advertisements of the opportunity to comment on the plan were placed in the Record Searchlight, Shingletown Ridge Rider News, and the Intermountain News. Comments were received from Caltrans, the Redding Area Bus Authority and from Allen Kost representing bicycling interests. These comments, as well as any received up to and including December 11 will be included in the back of the RTP and will be included in the final draft of the document that will be printed after the Board's adoption.

Obviously, if comments are received after the agenda deadline that significantly change the major themes of the Plan it will be brought back to the Agency for review and adoption. However, this is not anticipated.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

The Regional Transportation Plan is the tool that is used to set regional goals and identify policies for the allocation of funding for transportation projects. The plan contains a financial chapter which provides both a 10-year and 20-year estimates of funding available and anticipated expenditures by jurisdiction.

Daniel J. Kovacich, Executive Officer

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Enclosures: Resolution No. 01-08