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SANBAG Awards RPRP Design Contract with Updated Project Delivery Timeline
On October 7th, the SANBAG Board of Directors approved a five-year contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. for Final Mainline Design Services for the Redlands Passenger Rail Project (RPRP). SANBAG staff anticipates amending this contract in the future to include scope and fee to accommodate the New York Street Station and improvements to the University Station. These improvements would be funded by Esri and the University of Redlands respectively and memorialized in individual cooperative agreements which are scheduled to be presented to the SANBAG Board later this year.
Identified by the SANBAG Board as one of its priority projects, and having cleared environmental review in March of this year, staff is moving forward with the project with an adjusted project delivery timeline.
Due to the complexity of the project, consultant services have been identified that will assist SANBAG staff in implementing the project, including program management, maintenance facility design, right-of-way legal services, and construction management. Also approved during the October 7th meeting was the contract with Thomas Communications Group, Inc. for Public Outreach Services.
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Air Quality Management Plan
Dr. Philip Fine, Deputy Executive Officer from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) provided a presentation to the Board of Directors on the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) process; the work accomplished; how they are approaching development of control measures; what the next steps will be; and the timeline for completion of the AQMP.
The SCAQMD is responsible for clean air planning in the South Coast Air Basin. While air quality has dramatically improved over the years, the Basin still exceeds federal public health standards for both ozone and particulate matter (PM) and experiences some of the worst air pollution in the nation. The federal Clean Air Act requires areas that are not attaining National Ambient Air Quality Standards to develop and implement an emission reduction strategy that will bring the area into attainment in a timely manner. This strategy and the underlying technical analyses are integrated into Air Quality Management Plans (AQMPs) for the region.
The SCAQMD is preparing the 2016 AQMP to demonstrate how our region will reduce pollution to meet federal clean air standards. As part of this process the SCAQMD has prepared a series of white papers to provide a policy framework from which the AQMP can be developed. The white papers cover a range of broad policy areas such as: A Business Case for Clean Air Strategies; Goods Movement; Off-Road Equipment; Passenger Transportation; Particulate Matter Controls; and Residential and Commercial Energy.
Ten key policy issues papers are being developed and can be found online:
AQMP Schedule
- Fall/Winter 2015 - draft AQMP development
- Winter 2015- release draft AQMP, draft Environmental Impact Report, and Socioeconomic Report
- Spring 2016 -- conduct Public Workshops, Hearings and continue outreach
- April 2016 -- SCAQMD Governing Board considers adoption of the 2016 AQMP
- June 2016 -- CARB action on SCAQMD State Implementation Plan
- July 2016 - Plan submittal to EPA
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SANBAG Names Duane Baker as New Deputy Executive Director
As SANBAG continues to expand its activities as a Council of Governments (COG), the Board of Directors approved the creation of a Deputy Executive Director position to serve as the primary back-up for the Executive Director, execute the long-term vision of SANBAG, coordinate COG activities, and provide oversight for the planning, finance, management services, and air quality/mobility programs for the organization.
Ray Wolfe, Executive Director of SANBAG, is pleased to announce that Duane Baker has been selected for the position. Mr. Baker was the Director of Management Services and Air Quality/Mobility Programs at SANBAG. Previously, he has served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Hemet and as Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Rancho Cucamonga and has 30 years of local government experience in the Inland Empire.
SANBAG was originally formed as a Council of Governments in 1973 and has had limited funding to pursue Council of Government programs like energy, water, public safety, and sustainability. The Deputy Executive Director will pursue additional funding through state and federal grants, as well as utilize funds resulting from SANBAG's participation in the Home Energy Retrofit Opportunity (HERO) program to further develop COG programs in areas like renewable energy through community choice aggregation, alternative fuel vehicles, sustainability/air quality programs, community health and wellness and others.
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Federal Advocacy Team Shares Insight to Highway Funding Issues
 Earlier this year, the SANBAG Board of Directors approved the release of a Request for Proposals for Federal Advocacy Services. Interviews were conducted and Holland & Knight LLP, was selected for a two-year contract with two, two-year option terms to match the federal congressional calendar and election cycle.
Holland & Knight was selected based on their clear understanding of the issues, knowledge of SANBAG priorities, ability to assign sufficient staff to address needs and avoid conflicts of interest, history of securing competitive grants for clients, and strong relationships with the legislative delegation and leadership in both houses. Holland & Knight has been advocating for SANBAG since July 1st and updated the Board of Directors on their ongoing efforts in Washington D.C. this month.
Lastly, Holland & Knight is also working closely with the U.S. Department of Transportation on the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program and the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program on SANBAG's behalf.
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Study Looks for Opportunities to ARRIVE in San Bernardino County
The Advanced Regional Rail Integrated Vision - East (ARRIVE) study has examined the feasibility of transitioning the Metrolink commuter rail corridor through San Bernardino County to one that fully integrates transit oriented development (TOD) and regional rail. While this line represents one of the more successful lines of the Metrolink system by moving more than 12,000 passengers on 38 trains daily, ARRIVE is exploring how to build on that success by evaluating opportunities for TOD across all of the stations within the County.
The name ARRIVE reflects the motivation of this initiative well. Ultimately, the goal of this rail service will not merely be to send more commuters westward to Los Angeles, but to support a series of in-County destinations in their own right. The objective is to lay the groundwork that will eventually lead to an increase in the number of passengers "arriving" via rail in the County to work, shop, recreate, and conduct business. At the same time, the hope is that these station-area nodes can become more significant mixed-use, walkable activity centers, contributing to the livability and economy of the San Bernardino Valley.
The approach to this project recognizes that multiple challenges must be addressed and practical steps will be needed to bring this vision to reality. The ARRIVE study team fully recognizes that this transition will take time and require deliberate actions on the part of local jurisdictions, land owners, the business community, and transportation agencies. Some of the challenges identified in early study activities include:
To learn more about ARRIVE and this ongoing effort to improve mobility in San Bernardino County, visit the SANBAG website at http://www.sanbag.ca.gov/planning2/study_arrive.html.
- Noise and air quality impacts from train activity;
- Limited undeveloped land around the station areas;
- Economic costs of redevelopment;
- Some station areas may not yet be ripe for higher density development and face competition for development energy from lower-cost Greenfield development;
- High degree of parcelization;
- Significant destinations that are just outside the typical "catchment area" for rail transit stations;
- Concerns communities may have about densification in general;
- Difficulties convincing private developers and capital markets that mixed use and/or mixed-income housing projects can be viable and valuable at TOD sites;
- Challenges in balancing financial realities and social equity goals; and
- Fare structure on Metrolink that is higher than one would find in a light rail or rapid bus line
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Give BIG December 1st
 The Give BIG San Bernardino County campaign, will take place during a 24-hour period starting Tuesday, December 1, 2015. The Campaign supports organizations that help those most in need in San Bernardino County. Giving days are powerful online fundraising competitions that unite communities around causes. The goal of this campaign is to increase the number of individual donors to nonprofits thus increasing their long-term sustainability and philanthropy in our county. Nonprofits with more stable donor bases have the ability to improve the quality of life for residents of San Bernardino County. Spread the word and Give BIG! Additional information on the Campaign and participating nonprofits can be found here:
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Mike Layne Selected to Serve on ITOC
When Measure I was renewed by the voters, it included a requirement that an Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee (ITOC) be formed. The ITOC provides citizen review to ensure that all Measure I funds are spent by SANBAG in accordance with provisions of the Measure I Expenditure Plan.
A vacancy was created with the unfortunate passing of ITOC member, Mr. Larry Sharp. Measure I states that there will be an open process to select the committee members. A selection committee comprised of President Ryan McEachron, Past President L. Dennis Michael, Board Members Larry McCallon, Bill Jahn and Janice Rutherford was formed to review candidates. The vacancy was announced and candidates were solicited. Initially three candidates submitted their names for consideration. The selection committee felt that this was not a sufficient number and the candidate period was re-opened to allow time for more candidates to submit their applications. A total of eight candidates ultimately submitted applications.
Interviews took place on July 8, 2015. As a result, the selection committee recommended Mike Layne be appointed to fill the vacancy on the ITOC. On October 7th, the SANBAG Board of Directors confirmed that appointment.
Mr. Layne is the owner of his own business which provides grant writing and grant management services. He has more than 15 years of experience in developing and administering federal, state, and foundation grants which include developing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with grant requirements. Mr. Layne is a resident of Redlands and regularly volunteers for many civic opportunities within the community.
His term on the ITOC will expire on December 31, 2018.
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HERO by the numbers...
HERO investments stimulate direct economic opportunity in
San Bernardino County.
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