Transcript

    

Fresno COG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) /

Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) Member Agency Workshop

Agenda

Date: Thursday, August 23, 2012 Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: COG Sequoia Conference Room 2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201

 

Toll Free Number: 877-455-8695 ~ Participant Code: 740166

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations The Fresno COG offices and restrooms are ADA accessible. Representatives or individuals with disabilities should contact Fresno COG, at least 3 days in advance, to request auxiliary aids and/or translation services necessary to participate in the public meeting / public hearing. If Fresno COG is unable to accommodate an auxiliary aid or translation request for a public hearing, after receiving proper notice, the hearing will be continued on a specified date when accommodations are available.

Item Description Enclosure Action*

I. PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Committee on items within its jurisdiction but not on this agenda. Note: Prior to action by the Committee on any item on this agenda, the public may comment on that item. Unscheduled comments may be limited to 3 minutes.

II. INFORMATION / DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. Welcome and Introductions – Tony Boren Yes Overview of RTP/SCS and Decision Making Process

B. RTP Elements and Related Tasks – Barbara Steck Yes

Schedule of planning process

C. RTP Components & Task Managers Yes Regional Context – Kathy Chung Policy Element – Lauren Dawson Sustainable Communities Strategy – Kristine Cai Action Element – Clark Thompson/John Downs Financial Element – Lindsey Monge Conformity – Lauren Dawson Environmental Impact Report – Rob Terry Public Outreach – Brenda Veenendaal Environmental Justice Analysis Process – Peggy Arnest

D. Discussion ~ Q & A

  

Various Technical Working Groups (Public

Outreach, EJ, SCS, etc.)

Fresno COG Staff and retained Consultants

RTP Roundtable

Fresno COG Policy Board

Transportation Technical Committee (TTC)

Policy Advisory Committee (PAC)

2014 Fresno COG RTP Decision Making Process Flowchart2014 Fresno COG RTP Decision Making Process Flowchart

Current as of 8/15/12

Regional Regional Transportation Transportation

Plan (RTP)Plan (RTP)

Financial Financial ElementElement

Action Action ElementElement

PolicyPolicyElementElement

ConformityConformity

Environmental Environmental Impact ReportImpact Report

(EIR)(EIR)

Public Public OutreachOutreach

Regional Regional ContextContext

Sustainable Sustainable Communities Communities Strategy (SCS)Strategy (SCS)

Current as of 8/15/12

Regional Regional Transportation Transportation

Plan (RTP)Plan (RTP)

Financial Financial ElementElement

Action Action ElementElement

PolicyPolicyElementElement

ConformityConformity

Environmental Environmental Impact ReportImpact Report

(EIR)(EIR)

Public Public OutreachOutreach

Regional Regional ContextContext

Sustainable Sustainable Communities Communities Strategy (SCS)Strategy (SCS)

Caltrans & FHWA

Review and Approval

Final RTP/SCS &

EIR

Draft RTP/SCS & EIR

Review

SB 375 Task Force Activities & Target Setting SCS Performance Indicators & Scenario Development

Public Outreach and Participation Activities

Action Element Activities

Regional Context Overview

Financial Element Activities

Conformity Activities

Environmental Impact Report Activities

Project Manager: Barbara Steck, Deputy Director

Fresno Council of Governments2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201

Fresno, CA 93721(559) 233-4148 Ext. 202

fax (559) 233-9645email: [email protected]

Notes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy Element Activities

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2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - Complete Plan Overview2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - Complete Plan Overview

Current as of 8/15/12

ElementElement

PublicPublicOutreachOutreach

Regional Regional ContextContext

Task Manager: Kathy Chung, Senior Planner

Fresno Council of Governments2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201

Fresno, CA 93721(559) 233-4148 Ext. 214

fax (559) 233-9645email: [email protected]

Notes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Valleywide RTP Team Formation

RTP Roundtable Activities

County Profi le

Regional Planning, Memoranda of Understanding, Transportation by Modes, Air Quality and Funding

Issues

Fresno COG, RTP, Traffi c Modeling and Other Analytical Tools

Blueprint Activities, County Regional Planning Policies and MAP-21

Caltrans a& FHWA W&

Review and wRApprovalovA

Final nRTP/PSCS & S

EIRR

Draft RTP/SCS & EIR &

Reviewv

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2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - Regional Context

Current as of 8/15/12

ElementElement

PolicyPolicyElementElement

Task Manager: Lauren Dawson, Senior PlannerFresno Council of Governments

2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201Fresno, CA 93721

(559) 233-4148 Ext. 217fax (559) 233-9645

email: [email protected]

Notes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Review Current Policy Outlines

a& FHWA W&

Review and wRApprovalovA

Final nRTP/PSCS & S

EIRR

Draft RTP/SCS & EIR &

Reviewv

Draft Policy Element Outline

Draft Goals and Objectives

Finalize Draft Text of Goals/Objectives/Policies

RTP Roundtable Activities

2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - Policy ElementJa

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ElementElement

Sustainable Sustainable Communities Communities Strategy (SCS)Strategy (SCS)

Task Manager: Kristine Cai, Senior Planner

Fresno Council of Governments2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201

Fresno, CA 93721(559) 233-4148 Ext. 215

fax (559) 233-9645email: [email protected]

Notes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SB 375 Task Force Activities & Target Setting

Performance Indicators

Draft SCS Outreach

Alternative Scenario Development (Land Use &

Transportation)

RTP Roundtable Activities

Finalize Draft SCS Scenario

Caltrans a& FHWA W&

Review and wRApprovalovA

Final nRTP/PSCS & S

EIRR

Draft RTP/SCS & EIR &

Reviewv

2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS)Ja

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ElementElement

Action Action ElementElement

Task Managers: John Downs, Senior Transit Planner

Fresno Area Express (FAX)2223 G Street

Fresno, CA 93706(559) 621-1502

email: [email protected]

Notes:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Review and update Overview, Existing System Inventory, Accomplishments, Needs

Assessment, Proposed Actions and Un-funded Needs

Caltrans a& FHWA W&

Review and wRApprovalovA

Final nRTP/PSCS & S

EIRR

Draft RTP/SCS & EIR &

ReviewvMulti-Modal Stakeholder Meetings

Prepare Draft Action Element

RTP Roundtable Activities

Clark Th ompson, Senior PlannerFresno Council of Governments

2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201Fresno, CA 93721

(559) 233-4148 Ext. 203fax (559) 233-9645

email: [email protected]

2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - Action ElementJa

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Financial Financial ElementElement

ElementElementConformityConformity

Task Manager: Lindsey Monge, Associate Planner

Fresno Council of Governments2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201

Fresno, CA 93721(559) 233-4148 Ext. 205

fax (559) 233-9645email: [email protected]

Notes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Draft Financial Element Goals/

Objectives and Project

Criteria

Caltrans a& FHWA W&

Review and wRApprovalovA

Final nRTP/PSCS & S

EIRR

Draft RTP/SCS & EIR &

Reviewv

Update Revenue

Projection Tables

(MAP-21 Allocations)

Technical Focus Group

Meetings

RTP Roundtable Activities

Proj

ect L

ist In

corp

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SCS

Scen

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Call

for P

roje

ctsPresent

Project Criteria

Selection to RTP

Roundtable Finalize Chapter Con-tent and Format

2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - Financial ElementJa

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ElementElement

ConformityConformity

Task Manager: Lauren Dawson, Senior PlannerFresno Council of Governments

2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201Fresno, CA 93721

(559) 233-4148 Ext. 217fax (559) 233-9645

email: [email protected]

Notes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Network Model Development

RTP Roundtable Activities

Draft Project Lists

Update Project Timely Implementation Document

Interagency Consultation on Document Development

Caltrans a& FHWA W&

Review and wRApprovalovA

Final nRTP/PSCS & S

EIRR

Draft RTP/SCS & EIR &

Reviewv

2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - ConformityJa

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ElementElement

Environmental Environmental Impact ReportImpact Report

(EIR)(EIR)

Task Manager: Rob Terry, Associate Planner

Fresno Council of Governments2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201

Fresno, CA 93721(559) 233-4148 Ext. 222

fax (559) 233-9645email: [email protected]

Notes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Consultant Retained

a& FHWA W&

Review and wRApprovalovA

Final nRTP/PSCS & S

EIRR

Draft RTP/SCS & EIR &

Reviewv

NOP & Comment

Period

Administrative Draft EIR Preparation

Draft EIR

RTP Roundtable Activities

2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - Environmental Impact Report (EIR)Ja

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ElementElement

Public Public OutreachOutreach

Task Manager: Brenda Veenandaal, Senior Planner

Fresno Council of Governments2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201

Fresno, CA 93721(559) 233-4148 Ext. 219

fax (559) 233-9645email: [email protected]

Notes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

County-wide Scientifi c Survey and Research

a& FHWA W&

Review and wRApprovalovA

Final nRTP/PSCS & S

Draft RTP/SCS & EIR &

RTP Roundtable Activities

Valleywide SCS Public Outreach Activities

Co-ordination and consultation with various agencies, identifi ed interest groups and the general public

Community-based mini grants organized and delivered

Environmental Justice (EJ) Task Force Formation and Activities

Fresno COG RTP (SCS, etc.) Workshops and Meetings

Website and Social Media Outreach Eff orts and Updates

2014 Fresno COG RTP Schedule - Public OutreachJa

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Action Element Establish a future vision for the transportation system in the County consistent with the goals, policies, and objectives of the RTP. Both federal regulations and state statute require RTPs to address each transportation mode individually. But modal considerations must also be integrated to enable the development of a complete and coordinated multimodal transportation system. Each mode is presented in a separate section, to include an inventory of the existing system, an assessment of the issues and needs, and proposed actions. The latter will be divided into short-range (0-4 years) and long-range (5-25 years). Proposed actions will be based upon projected travel demand and appropriate policy. The short-range measures will then form the basis for the RTIP and FTIP. Highways, Streets, and Roads – This section will identify the existing system, including streets and highways of regional significance, and describe the future streets and highways network noting both short-term improvements and the envisioned long-range system. Other considerations include corridor preservation for possible future transportation projects, infrastructure for ITS, and unmet highway needs. Local Streets & Roads – Where every trip begins and ends. Major issue is the preservation needs of the local road system, in light of declining revenues and rising maintenance costs. [Regionally Significant Road System – For transportation modeling purposes.] Regional Aviation System – A major contributor to the economy and should be protected. Challenges include aircraft noise mitigation, ground access congestion, and encroachment from incompatible land uses. This section includes a broad locational diagram of public use airports within the Fresno County region, the specific details of individual airport facility development, a discussion of future aviation needs, and references to aviation related planning documents; i.e. Airport Master Plans, Land Use Compatibility Plans, etc. Rail – Includes both freight and passenger rail. System inventory. Additional emphasis on high speed rail and the short line railroad. Bicycle & Pedestrian – Promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce environmental impacts. Focused on regional and metropolitan bikeway networks and a network of multi-use trails that includes bicycling. Includes an updated inventory of bikeways and trails; policies, plans, and programs used to promote the usage of bikes and walking and unmet needs. Transit interface with bicyclists and pedestrians. Previous RTPs have not had much to say about pedestrian facilities because they have not been considered regional in function. Instead, they are typically site specific and local and of particular importance in community design in working toward a more livable environment. However, there is increased emphasis generally within COGs and local

agencies on Active Transportation (bicycle and pedestrian trips) and their relationship with transit. The 2011 RTP included new policy regarding Complete Streets and policy enhancements suggested by the Fresno County Department of Public Health that emphasize Active Transportation and transit for reasons of health and well-being. Goods Movement (Rail, Trucking and Aviation) – Emphasis on improving the regional goods movement transportation system so positive impacts (e.g. job creation) are maximized and negative impacts (e.g. land use conflicts, air pollution) are minimized. This section will establish the economic importance of goods movement within the region (especially farm to market), inventory highway and roadway routes used for trucking, air cargo facilities, freight rail lines, and freight transfer facilities within the region, and identify freight-related highway and freight rail lines within the region. Transportation System Operations and Management – This section includes operational and management strategies aimed at improving the performance of the existing regional transportation system in order to reduce transportation congestion issues and maximize the safety and mobility of people and goods. Examples include traffic incident management, travel information services, freeway management, traffic signal coordination, etc. Regional Intelligent Transportation System Architecture – ITS can improve the operation and efficiency of the existing transportation system (streets and highways, transit, trains, etc.). Includes wireless and wire line communications-based information and electronics technologies. Examples are advanced traffic signals, ramp metering, roadway and weather monitoring stations, bus and other vehicle location systems, electronic roadside information signs, etc. Congestion Management Process (CMP) – Provides information on transportation system performance and alternatives to relieve congestion and improve mobility of persons and goods. Where is congestion occurring or expected to occur (performance measures). What alternative strategies should be considered before constructing capacity-increasing projects. All reasonable travel demand and operational improvement strategies should be conducted for the corridor in which a capacity increasing project is proposed. 2014 RTP Roundtable Workshop. docx

2014 RTP Policy Board Workshop 8/23/2012 [Talking Points}   RTP must comply with California Transportation Commission Guidelines as codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), as legislated [U.S. Code]  

1  

Policy Element

Introduction

The Policy Element seeks to identify the transportation goals, objectives, and policies that meet the regional needs. Goals, objectives, and policies are established to direct the specific courses of action that will provide efficient, integrated multimodal transportation systems to serve the mobility needs of people, and freight, including accessible pedestrian and bicycle facilities, which will foster economic prosperity and development, while minimizing mobile sources of air pollution. The Action Element, which will be covered by Clark and John, describes the programs and actions necessary to implement the Goals of the Policy Element. The Financial Element, that Lindsey will share, summarizes the cost of plan implementation constrained by a realistic projection of available revenues. The 2014 Regional Transportation Plan’s goals, objectives, and policies will be developed to serve as the foundation for both short and long-term planning. For purposes of the RTP the following definitions will apply. Goal: A “Goal” is the end toward which the overall effort is directed; it is timeless, general and conceptual. The intent of the overall goals is to provide a framework for subsequent objectives and policies. Objective: An “Objective” provides clear, concise guidance to obtaining the goal. Objectives are successive levels of achievement in movement toward a goal. Individual objectives are capable of being quantified and realistically attained.

2014 RTP Policy Board Workshop 8/23/2012 [Talking Points}   RTP must comply with California Transportation Commission Guidelines as codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), as legislated [U.S. Code]  

2  

Policy: A “Policy” is a direction statement that guides present and future decisions on specific actions. Policies should support the attainment of objectives. The goals, objectives and policies will be developed in six broad categories: General Transportation including general Air Quality Goals; Highways, Streets, and Roads; Mass Transportation; Aviation Goals; Non-Motorized or Active Transportation Rail These very broad, conceptual, and timeless goals will be reflective of the Blueprint Principles, Sustainable Communities Strategies and Health in all Policies, and will incorporate the results from the survey to assess community values and transportation needs. FYI Background information: Blueprint Principles: Create a range of housing choices Create walkable neighborhoods Encourage community collaboration Foster communities with strong sense of place Make development decisions predictable fair and cost effective Mixing land uses Preserving open space Providing variety of transportation choices Strengthening and directing development toward existing communities Take advantage of compact design Active transportation: Refers to systems that promote pedestrian mobility, bicycle usage, connectivity to mass transit and the “complete streets” approach that make room for all modes of transport.

Deliverable: Catalog of Performance Indicators

Deliverable: Alternative Scenarios (land use + transportation)

Deliverable: Draft SCS

Focus Groups to inform and refine performance indicator selection

Land use elements

Transportation elements

Public Workshops (to refine target setting scenarios 2 and 3 and identify additional scenario theme)

Project selection process

Workshops (RTP & SCS)

RTP/SCS Roundtable

TTC/PAC

Policy Board

Fresno COG SCS Development Process

1. Select Performance Indicators 2. Develop Alternative Scenarios 3. Finalize Draft SCS Scenario

September 2012 January 2012 April/May 2013 August 2013

Draft SCS Outreach

Public Workshops

Public Hearings

October, 2013

Final RTP/SCS Adoption

Deliverable: Final 2013 RTP/SCS

Deliverable: Comments addressed

2013 Regional Transportation Plan

FINANCIAL ELEMENT

Fresno COG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Introductory WorkshopAugust 15, 2012

What is the Financial Element? Where the money is! Costs of implementing the plan vs.

available revenues Recommendations for allocation of funds Pieces of Financial Element

Goals and Objectives Revenue Projection Tables RTP Project Lists

Project Criteria and ListsALL NEW PROCESS! Technical focus group to develop RTP

Project Criteria and ranking system Call for Projects to receive member

agency projects Projects ranked by mode and placed on

constrained or unconstrained list Consistency is key!

Financial Element Timeline

Contact Information

Lindsey Monge, Associate Regional Planner559-233-4148 ext. [email protected]

1

2014 RTP Policy Board Workshop 8-23-2012

“Transportation Conformity” Talking Points

Transportation Conformity is a federal requirement that applies to regions that are

designated as being in nonattainment for National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and those that receive Federal funding for transportation plans, programs or projects. Only involves Criteria Pollutants

Ozone Particulate Matter Carbon Monoxide (CO) ***Does NOT include GHG…yet! GHG are not classified by the federal government under the CAA as criteria pollutants yet. The Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) process that we will be following is a state mandated requirement, not federal.

Also, because we are a multi-jurisdictional/ Multi-nonattainment area we are mandated to do a Fresno County Transportation Conformity Analysis concurrently with the other 7 counties in the SJV Air Basin

Submitting a positive Transportation Conformity Analysis is documentation that Transportation plans, programs, and projects

– DO NOT negatively impact air quality – And that the transportation plans, programs, and projects “Conform” with

approved State Implementation Plans-which are the state’s response to EPA requirements showing how the state will work toward attaining national air quality standards

The Transportation Conformity process Quantifies impacts of transportation and land use decisions by evaluating Mobile Source Emission Budgets The emission budgets act as a ceiling on emissions for attainment year

Conformity modeling process requires: – Latest Planning Assumptions (population, employment) – Transportation Modeling – Regional Emissions Analysis

2

Requires Separate Formal Public Process Interagency consultation review and development process : US EPA, California ARB,

Caltrans-local and headquarters; , Local Air District, FTA, FHWA, all eight Valley MPOs in SJV participates in the process and provides comments

Public notice, public review and Public hearing, formal response to comments

Minimum 30 day public review period FHWA/FTA has authority to approve or disapprove the conformity analysis

Potential Consequences of a Transportation Conformity disapproval: Conformity Lapse-off-set sanctions Highway Sanctions

Changes to Transportation Conformity for the 2014 RTP: include COG will have to use the all new EMFAC 2011 model developed by California ARB that estimates mobile source exhaust emissions and the new improved COG transportation network model developed during the recent work called the Model Improvement Program.[ MIP]. Externally the documents will look the same-internally there will be tremendous changes and challenges- additional pollutant budgets etc. COG modelers have been proactive in this work and have already done preliminary modeling runs. Testing of the new models and inputs is continuing.

Fresno COG RTP/SCS EIR RFP Schedule 

 

Activity                Date Request for Proposals (RFP) Released         May 18, 2012 Deadline for Proposal Submittal Questions        June 7, 2012 Deadline for Proposal Submittal          June 21, 2012 Determine Short List for Interviews (If determined necessary)  June 28, 2012 Interviews and/or Selection            July 12, 2012 Fresno COG Policy Board Approval          July 26, 2012 Notice to Proceed ‐ Subject to Contract Signing      August 2, 2012 Consultant/Fresno COG Staff Kick‐off Meeting      August 13, 2012 Notice of Preparation (NOP)            August 27, 2012 NOP Comments Due (min. 30‐day comment period)     October 4, 2012 Administrative Draft EIR Released          March 14, 2013 Notice of Completion – Draft EIR (DEIR)        June 20, 2013 Public Notice of Availability (DEIR)          June 20, 2013 DEIR Presentation to Fresno TTC/PAC and RTP Roundtable*  July 12, 2013 Public Workshops (min. 2 each)          TBD DEIR Presentation to Fresno COG Policy Board**      July 25, 2013 DEIR Public Hearing at COG Policy Board**        July 25, 2013 DEIR Comments Due (min. 45‐day comment period)    September 16, 2013 Final EIR Presentation to Fresno TTC/PAC and RTP Roundtable  October 11, 2013 Final EIR and RTP/SCS Certification & Adoption      October 31, 2013 Notice of Determination            November 1, 2013  Completion of contract work           November 1, 2013 

 

Environmental Justice Analysis Process

It is the goal of Fresno COG’s Environmental Justice process to ensure that all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, age or income are protected from disproportionate negative or adverse impacts caused by Fresno COG’s 2014 RTP Program of Projects.

The Environmental Justice Taskforce will be asked to define the environmental justice populations within Fresno County. For example, for the 2011 RTP, the EJ taskforce focused on four ‘disadvantaged populations’: low-income, non-white, senior, and disabled. Using Federal Census and American Community Survey data, Fresno COG staff with help from the EJ Taskforce will determine which areas of Fresno County are EJ areas.

Fresno COG will use a methodology in the traffic model to determine whether all EJ neighborhoods not only are not negatively impacted by the Program of Projects, but share in the benefits from the Projects as well.

Once the EJ areas are determined and entered into the traffic model, the model methodology will test eight criteria: accessibility, mobility, cost-effectiveness, equity, reliability, consumer satisfaction, and safety. Each criterion will be analyzed separately to determine performance and impacts specifically on EJ Areas compared with Non-EJ areas.

CRITERIA MODEL WILL TEST

Accessibility: The ease of reaching destinations as measured by the percent of commuters who can get to work within a given period of time.

Mobility: The ability to move throughout the region and the time it takes to reach desired destinations within a reasonable amount of time.

Cost effectiveness: Maximized return on transportation investment.

Equity: Equitable distribution of transportation investment benefits (as a share of benefits).

Reliability: Percentage of on-time arrivals by transit and highways.

Consumer satisfaction: The condition where consumers can largely agree that their transportation needs are being met in a safe, reliable, efficient and cost-effective manner.

Safety: Minimal risk of accident or injury as measured by reduced accidents.

Fresno Council of Government’s Environmental Justice Task Force

Federal guideline for Environmental Justice is based on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Growing attention has been placed on the need to incorporate Environmental Justice Principles into the processes and products of transportation planning. In response to this challenge Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) developed methods to assess the impacts of our transportation plans and planning processes on “Environmental Justice Populations” such as low-income, non-white, senior or the disabled.

An Environmental Justice Task Force (EJ Task Force) was formed for the following purposes:

• Identify and map locations of low-income and minority populations • Review existing COG processes to identify needs of Environmental Justice populations • Document and evaluate the agency’s public involvement process and Environmental Justice Plan (EJ

Plan) • Quantitatively assess benefits and burdens of transportation plans with respect to target populations

Fresno COG is seeking interested parties who represent the Environmental Justice Communities defined in our current EJ Plan, to sit on the EJ Task Force. Those communities include low income, non-white, seniors or the disabled, representing public, private or non-profit sectors. No experience or understanding of transportation plans is required.

The EJ Task Force will meet as needed on a monthly basis from August 2012 to October 2013 to serve in an advisory capacity as the Fresno Council of Governments updates the following plans:

1. Regional Transportation Plan, which includes the Sustainable Communities Strategy A seat for one EJ Task Force member will also be available on the Regional Transportation Plan Roundtable.

2. Environmental Justice Plan 3. Regional Housing Needs Assessment

Once these plans are completed, the EJ Task Force and Fresno COG will assess how often the group should continue to meet. However, it will always be on an “as needed” basis.

The EJ Task Force will meet at the Fresno COG offices in Downtown Fresno on a date and time agreed upon by active members of the committee. Meeting would typically be scheduled in two hour blocks of time. All parking would be validated.

Fresno COG is located at: 2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201 Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 233-4148 ext. 219

If you are interested in joining the Environmental Justice Task Force, or would like more information, please contact Fresno COG Senior Regional Planner Brenda Veenendaal by calling (559) 233-4149 ext. 219 or email her at [email protected].


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