REPORT
TO SHASTA COUNTY RTPA
|
SUBJECT |
|
MEETING DATE |
ITEM NUMBER |
|
Select a Demonstration Project to be
Included in Federal Reauthorization |
12/10/02 |
7 |
|
It
is recommended that the Agency consider selecting either the State Route 44
Improvement Project or the Cypress Bridge Replacement Project to refer to
Federal legislators for possible inclusion in Federal reauthorization in 2003.
SUMMARY
Staff
is seeking Agency guidance to direct efforts regarding project “earmarks” in
the Federal transportation reauthorization expected to occur in 2003.
DISCUSSION
Congress
funds transportation through six year funding bills. The last two funding bills, passed in 1991 and 1997, were
entitled ISTEA and TEA-21. It is
expected that Congress will start working on a new transportation bill in 2003,
presumably entitled TEA-3. The majority
of Federal transportation revenues flow from Washington to Sacramento and are
then distributed to regions and local agencies through various programs such as
the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) or the Highway Bridge
Replacement and Rehabilitation (HBRR) program.
In
addition to funding many transportation programs, Congress will include
language in the bill authorizing certain specific projects. These projects are called “demonstration
projects” or “earmarks.” Although there
are no specific guidelines or statutory authority, all members of Congress are
given the discretion to recommend specific projects for funding. Staff has been advised that each member of
the House of Representatives will have approximately fifteen million dollars to
earmark towards specific projects. United States senators typically are allowed
to recommend higher amounts.
Typically,
earmarks do not fund one hundred percent of a project and earmarks should be
within certain limits.
The
first question for the Agency is, “Do
they wish to solicit an earmark from Congress in Federal reauthorization?” There does not seem to be any compelling
reason not to solicit such a project.
To the extent that every other agency is pursuing further funding it
seems natural that Shasta County should also play the game. If we do not ask for a demonstration
project, it surely will not happen.
If
the answer to this question is affirmative, then staff recommends that one
project be identified for endorsement.
This will allow the region to focus our efforts towards one project. It is expected and encouraged that
individual local agencies will push for their own demonstration projects as
well.
It
should be emphasized that earmarks typically do not fund one hundred percent of
a project and earmarks have to be within certain limits. For example, it is not recommended that the
Buckhorn Curve Realignments be considered a candidate because there is very
little likelihood of receiving upwards of one hundred million dollars from
Congress. Likewise, it is not recommended
that a two or three million-dollar project be nominated. The reason for this is that a small
percentage would be earmarked and it may not be worth the effort.
Legislators
are interested in attending ribbon cuttings so projects that are near delivery
tend to be prime candidates for demonstration projects.
The
project ideally should be included in current planning documents as this
provides some tools to use in selling the project. Presumably, all the viable candidate projects should have already
been identified as part of the 2001 RTP update.
Another
item to keep in mind is that the Federal representatives for Shasta County also
represent other counties and, in the case of senators, represent the entire
state. Therefore, the likelihood of an
entire entitlement coming to this region is remote, as legislators prefer to
“spread the wealth.” Realistically, it
seems the region should aim for about a $5 million demonstration project.
After
factoring in these limitations, staff has identified two potential projects.
This
project is a partnership between Caltrans and the RTPA and is currently
programmed for the Environmental phase.
The total cost of the project is not yet known but is expected to be up
to $32 million. This project has
significant regional benefits, addresses a documented need and has been
highlighted in the press recently. It
is the second highest ranked project in the region. These factors could make this project a viable candidate as a
demonstration project. The highest
rated project, the South Bonnyview Widening, is programmed in the current STIP
for Environmental and Preliminary Engineering.
No work on this project has been initiated.
This
project is in excess of thirty million dollars and has a funding shortfall
estimated in excess of twenty million dollars.
It is currently in the Environmental phase of development.
If
the Agency nominates a project, it is anticipated that staff would meet with
our Federal representatives to discuss TEA reauthorization principles adopted
earlier by this Agency and the need for the selected demonstration
project. Any further suggestions by the
Agency for endorsement of the selected demonstration project are welcome.
The
Agency may want to consider other projects that had been considered for funding
as part of the RTP. Exhibit A is a
listing in priority order of those projects identified as Short-Range Fundable
in the current RTP.
ALTERNATIVES
As
indicated above, the Agency could choose to not seek a demonstration project,
nominate both projects, or nominate any other transportation project within
Shasta County.
OTHER
AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
This item was reviewed with the TAC
committee; however, the staff report was not available until the time of the
meeting.
FINANCING
This
item would have no impact on the finances of the RTPA. To the extent that demonstration projects
are obtained in Shasta County, the practice of the State has been to not reduce
other funding available to those regions lucky enough to receive them.
_______________________________________
Daniel
J. Kovacich, Executive Officer
DJK/jac
Attachment Exhibit A