STAFF REPORT SUBJECT: Unmet Transit Needs MEETING DATE: January 16, 2014 AGENDA ITEM: 8 STAFF CONTACT: Andrew Orfila RECOMMENDATION: Hold hearing and receive public input on unmet transit needs in Santa Barbara County (Note: Hearing will not begin before 10:00 a.m.) SUMMARY: The annual Transit Needs Assessment process specified in the State Transportation Development Act requires SBCAG to hold at least one public hearing to receive public comment regarding unmet transit needs. Prior to allocating Transportation Development Act funding for non-transit purposes, SBCAG must evaluate and make findings regarding the existence of transit needs. Staff will use the definition and criteria that the Board approved in 2006 to evaluate the public testimony and make recommended findings for the fiscal year 2014-15 Transportation Development Act cycle. See Attachment 1 for the fiscal year 2014-15 Transit Needs Assessment schedule. At the hearing the Board will receive public testimony no action is required. DISCUSSION: The Transportation Development Act statute (California Public Utilities Code Section 99401.5(c)) requires that SBCAG hold at least one public hearing on the existence of unmet transit needs. Under the statute, the highest priority for use of Transportation Development Act funds is transit, unless the SBCAG Board finds that there are no unmet transit needs or that any unmet needs identified are not reasonable to meet. The purpose of the public hearing is to enable individuals to present testimony on any existing unmet transit needs. Individuals and groups can offer testimony on local, regional, and/or county-wide transit needs. SBCAG will use the testimony presented at this hearing, as well as public input from transit agency workshops, e-mail, mail, and telephone, to assist in making findings regarding the existence of any unmet transit needs in jurisdictions planning to allocate Transportation Development Act funding for purposes other than transit or bicycle/pedestrian facilities (i.e., streets and roads). Staff published notice of the public hearing in the Lompoc Record, Santa Maria Times, and Santa Barbara News-Press 30 days prior to the hearing (see Attachment 2). Staff placed
additional notices in the Space Country Times (a newspaper serving Vandenberg Air Force Base) and the Santa Ynez Valley News, and on the SBCAG website. Staff also sent notice to Allan Hancock College, the Solvang, Buellton, Oasis (Orcutt), and Mussel (Santa Maria) Senior Centers, persons who submitted public comments last year, and to anyone who requested notification. In addition, staff distributed flyers in both English and Spanish (see Attachment 3) through SBCAG s Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Council e-mail list. The list of nearly 90 persons includes public, transit, and social services representatives, elected officials, and members of the Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Council. Staff also distributed a followup press release in English and Spanish (see Attachment 4) to the newspapers in early January. After the January 24, 2014 deadline for public comment, SBCAG and transit staff will meet with the Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Council to discuss the input received and, if appropriate, the proposed method for implementing and paying for new services. SBCAG staff will evaluate the public testimony using the SBCAG Board s adopted definitions of unmet transit need and reasonable to meet. Staff will present draft findings to the Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Council, the Technical Transportation Advisory Council, and the Board in April and final recommended findings for review and approval in May. The Board must approve the findings before it can take action at its June meeting to allocate Transportation Development Act Funding for non-transit purposes. The Board is only required to make findings regarding unmet transit needs in jurisdictions that intend to claim fiscal year 2014-15 Transportation Development Act funding for non-transit purposes currently the unincorporated North County and the City of Lompoc. Findings are not required either in the South Coast area served by the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (SBMTD) or in the cities of Buellton, Solvang, Guadalupe, and Santa Maria, where local agency representatives have indicated they will be using all fiscal year 2014-15 Transportation Development Act funding for transit. Staff will nonetheless forward all public comments to the appropriate transit providers. COMMITTEE REVIEW The Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Council is involved throughout the Transit Needs Assessment process pursuant to California Public Utilities Code Section 99238. In September 2013, the Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Council discussed options and provided input on public outreach efforts for the 2014 process, and approved the type, design, and distribution of public outreach materials. Later the Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Council will provide a recommendation to the Board regarding the Transit Needs Assessment Findings. In addition, the Technical Transportation Advisory Committee will review and comment on the draft Transit Needs Assessment and findings. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Unmet Transit Needs Assessment 2013 Schedule 2. Public Hearing Notice 3. Unmet Transit Needs Hearing Flyer, English and Spanish 4. Unmet Transit Needs Hearing Press Release 2
Attachment 1: 2014 Timeline Action Timeframe Consultation with SBCTAC on public outreach September 11, 2012 COLT Workshop October 10, 2013 SMAT Workshop November 7, 2013 Notice of Public Hearing December 2013 January 2014 Santa Barbara News-Press display ad (30 days prior to January 16, 2014) Other display ads o Lompoc Record o Santa Maria Sun o Santa Maria Times o VAFB edition of Santa Maria Times o Santa Ynez Valley News Posting of notice on SBCAG website Mailed notice to those who requested prior notification, and Allan Hancock College Flyer distribution throughout North County Press release to regional media, SBCAG distribution list Public Hearing in Santa Barbara January 16, 2014 COLT, SMAT, and County presentation to February 2014 SBCTAC on workshop input Consultation with SBCTAC February March 2014 Draft Transit Needs Assessment (TNA) April 2014 TTAC review SBCTAC review SBCAG Board review and public hearing 30-day review and comment period for Draft April May 2014 TNA Final TNA May 2014 TTAC review SBCTAC review SBCAG Board review
Attachment 2: Public Notice Display Ad PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS How could the bus better serve your needs? The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) wants to hear your comments about transit service in North County. SBCAG is holding a hearing to receive public comment on transit needs in Santa Barbara County, as required under Section 99401.5 of the Public Utilities Code. The hearing will be held: Date: Thursday, January 16, 2014 Time: 10:00 AM (time certain) Place: Board of Supervisors Hearing Room 511 E. Lakeside Parkway Santa Maria, CA If you cannot attend the hearing, you may still submit written comments up until Friday, January 24, 2014. You may e-mail them to comment@sbcag.org or mail them to SBCAG at 260 North San Antonio Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact SBCAG at least three working days prior to the meeting at (805) 961-8900. For more information, call SBCAG at 961-8900. Favor de llamar a SBCAG al 961-8900, para más información del reunión.
Attachment 3: Flyer
Attachment 4: Press Release PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: Gregg Hart (805) 961-8905 How can the bus better serve your needs? The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments would like to hear what new bus routes or service schedules are needed in north Santa Barbara County to get local residents where they need to go. The public is invited to attend an Unmet Transit Needs public hearing on January 16 th at 10:00 am to let our local government leaders hear your ideas on ways to improve local and regional community bus service. The hearing will be held in the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at 511 East Lakeside Parkway in Santa Maria. Individuals needing special accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact SBCAG at least three working days prior to the meeting at (805) 961-8900. If you cannot attend the meeting, you may call the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments at 961-8900 or e-mail comment@sbcag.org to add your comments to the record. Cómo puede servir mejor el autobús a sus necesidades? La Asociación del Condado de Santa Barbara de Gobiernos quiere oír cuales servicios o recorridos nuevos del autobús se necesitan en el Condado del norte de Santa Barbara para ayudarle llegar a donde usted necesita ir. Favor de asistir una audiencia pública que se oye en el 16 de Enero a las 10:00 AM paraque los líderes de administración municipal oigan sus ideas en maneras de mejorar el servicio de autobus de la communidad. La audiencia estará en el quarto de audiencia del Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors en Santa Maria, en el 511 East Lakeside Parkway. Conforme al Americans with Disabilities Act, las personas que necesiten atención o acomodaciones especiales y quieran participar a la reunión tienen que contactar con SBCAG al menos tres días laborales previos al encuentro programado, al 805-961-8900. Si usted no puede asistir la audiencia, usted puede llamar al Santa Barbara County Association of Governments al 961-8900 o manda su correo electrónico a comment@sbcag.org para dar sus comentarios al registro.