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December, 2013 - In This Issue:
   
Board Meeting Briefs
A summary of actions taken by the Board of Directors
 
SANBAG Board Moves on an Aggressive Agenda, Preserves Funding Opportunity
  

Actions taken by the Board of Directors at the December 4, 2013 meeting saved over $20 million in state and federal funds from being lost and will result in the delivery of $87.6 million in much-needed projects for the county.  In order to preserve the state and federal funds, SANBAG had to award contracts for three critical projects before the end of the year.  This will allow the California Transportation Commission to complete the funding package at their meeting next week.  These projects include two of SANBAG's largest transit capital investments as part of delivering the Measure I program of projects and yet another step forward in addressing the region's goods movement mitigation needs through the grade separation program.

  
Downtown San Bernardino Passenger Rail Project and San Bernardino Transit Center 
The SANBAG Board acting as the San Bernardino County Transportation Commission awarded construction contracts for both the Downtown San Bernardino Passenger Rail Project and the San Bernardino Transit Center, expanding transit opportunities and transit connectivity within the county.
  
Lenwood Road Grade Separation Project
  
A construction contract was awarded for the Lenwood Road Grade Separation Project in Barstow.  This feature project in the southwest portion of Barstow will enhance safety, improve mobility, and improve goods movement through this major trucking hub of the high desert.
  
Cooperative Agreement with Colton Joint Unified School District
  
The SANBAG Board approved a cooperative agreement with the Colton Joint Unified School District to provide school transportation for the duration of the Laurel Street Grade Separation Project.
 
  
The entire Board agenda is available online at www.sanbag.ca.gov/about/agenda.html.
  
Interstate 10 and Interstate 15 Corridor Improvements
Express Lane Alternative Advances to Environmental Phase

After an extensive study period to assess the viability of an express lane alternative for Interstate 10 and Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County, the SANBAG Board of Directors acted to continue studying the alternative through the environmental phase of project delivery.

  

  
 
  
Buy America
Doing What is Right for the Region

Executive Vice President of California Steel Industries (CSI), Inc., Brett Guge, presented to the SANBAG Board of Directors on the Federal Buy America requirements and the impacts the requirements are causing to the industry.  CSI is located in the City of Fontana and is the largest steel mill in the Western U.S. and a major employer in San Bernardino County. CSI is a "slab converter" mill that takes steel slabs and transforms them into steel sheet that its customers then further manufacture into numerous products like pipe and guardrails for highway projects. 

 

Under the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Buy America requirements, steel mills, like CSI, are almost always unable to qualify under Buy America because they receive a portion of their materials from outside the U.S.  CSI is advocating for the U.S. Department of Transportation to allow for products made in the U.S. from imported steel slab be eligible for federal projects.  The SANBAG Board of Directors supports efforts to work with the DOT to find the appropriate solution that will allow CSI products on federally funded highway projects. 

 

 
Legislative Platforms
  

SANBAG's Board of Directors approved the 2014 State and Federal Legislative Platforms.  SANBAG's Legislative Platforms serve as the foundation for understanding the perspective of the Board on key issues that are anticipated to be considered during the course of each legislative session.  Key issues such as Goods Movement, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) modernization, Cap and Trade funding distributions, and innovative project delivery mechanisms highlight the major initiatives that are anticipated to be considered next year.   The platforms will guide staff's analysis and recommendations on pending legislative and regulatory items in the upcoming session.

 

  
 
Council of Governments
HERO Program Soaring in San Bernardino County

SANBAG and its 24 member cities and the county have embarked on a new program that will allow property owners in San Bernardino County to make their homes and office buildings more energy and water efficient through a low-cost, tax deductible financing plan that will be repaid through the owner's property tax bill. At a press conference held in November, local elected officials and contractors announced the program to the public and media.  

  
 
 
Red Tape to Red Carpet
Inland Empire Economic Partnership Awards

In an era of declining public resources, public agencies across the region are looking to "do more with less" and develop innovative ways to improve service and create a more positive business climate in the Inland Empire.   The Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP) announced that the first "Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet" event is scheduled for February 19, 2014.  This program is designed recognize those agencies that are proactively working to create a better environment for private sector job growth.

 

IEEP plans to give awards to public agencies in the following categories: Business Retention and Expansion; Responding to Globalization; Sustainable and Green Development; and Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse.  They also plan to recognize innovative public-private partnerships and great leadership in public service.  Nominations are due January 6, 2014.

 

Nomination Form

 

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Laurel Street Grade Separation
Groundbreaking Ceremony

 

The City of Colton, San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), and Union Pacific Railroad celebrated the start of construction on the Laurel Street Grade Separation Project in north Colton on November 12.

 

The project will lower Laurel Street underneath six sets of railroad tracks to separate vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic from the continuously growing train traffic across Laurel Street. This project is part of a series of improvements along this rail corridor that are being implemented to enhance safety and improve circulation in the area.

  

 

Learn More

 

 

 

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December Calendar
  
Committee Meetings:
  
December 11 - General Policy Committee        9:00 am   The Super Chief
December 12 - Metro Valley Study Session      9:00 am   First Floor Lobby
December 12 - Commuter Rail/Transit Committee - Canceled
December 13 - Mountain/Desert Committee - Canceled
  
Public Events:
  
December 12 - I-215/Barton Road Interchange Project
                           Environmental Document - Public Hearing
                           Grand Terrace Civic Center Community Room
                           22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, CA
                           5:00 pm - 8:00 pm (Open House Format)
  
SANBAG Offices Closed:  December 23 - January 1
  
San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) is the council of governments and transportation planning agency for San Bernardino County.

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