Newell Arnerich

The committee held a meeting to discuss the development of a future transportation expenditure plan to guide funding investments for the next 20 to 30 years. Key discussion topics included the four phases of the planning process, the four principles of the countywide transportation plan (safety, accessibility, connectivity, and sustainability), and the pillars for the new expenditure plan: community focus, transparency, countywide balance, accountability, and performance. The meeting also featured interactive polling on transportation challenges, including bicycle and pedestrian safety, transit reliability, and improvements needed in local and regional travel.

The committee discussed the recap of the San Pablo medical shuttle pilot program, funded by Measure J and Measure X. The program, which aimed to facilitate medical trips for seniors and disabled adults, experienced low ridership, leading to its discontinuation. Key topics included a review of the pilot's performance data, challenges related to service boundaries, and marketing efforts. The committee also explored future recommendations, such as collecting more data on patient volume and travel patterns, potentially expanding service coverage, investigating partnerships with Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), and exploring medical reimbursement opportunities.

The Planning Committee discussed the distribution of the final Measure J growth management program compliance checklist for the allocation of local street maintenance and improvement funds. The committee received an overview of the checklist components, including action plans, development mitigation programs, housing options, traffic impact reports, capital improvement programs, and maintenance of effort requirements. Additionally, the committee considered recommendations for improving presentation expectations for local jurisdictions during compliance reviews.

The committee discussed the status of quarterly sales tax reductions and forecasting in light of inflation. A state legislative update was provided regarding two pending bills, Senate Bill 408 concerning the extension of sales tax authority and Senate Bill 1087 related to modernizing the sustainable community strategies framework, as well as an update on the cap and invest program. A federal update covered the status of congressional appropriations, surface transportation reauthorization, and the implementation of discretionary grant programs, including funding for safe streets initiatives.

The committee held a meeting to review compliance with the Measure J Growth Management Program, which focuses on prioritizing transportation infrastructure and protecting agricultural lands. Discussions included the allocation of 'return to source' funds for the town of Moraga and the status of various transportation improvement projects, such as local roadway safety plans, pedestrian signal upgrades, and complete streets initiatives. Additionally, the committee welcomed a new member and received updates on projects aimed at improving safe access to schools and community areas.