|
|
The following is a summary of the progress made on the Renewed Measure M (M2) Early Action Plan covering the period of August 2007 - December 2007.
Highway Projects Conceptual Engineering
Early Action Plan Priority Projects
Significant progress was made on five of the nine priority freeway projects in the past quarter:
Eligibility for Cities
Signal Synchronization
OCTA is working with all local agencies to define initial requirements for the Regional Traffic Synchronization Program. Policy input on program development will be discussed with the OCTA Board of Directors in early 2008. Separately, OCTA has worked with the Technical Advisory Committee to secure funding for additional signal synchronization demonstration projects using Measure M funds.
Pavement Management
Currently, there are approximately 10 different systems in use for reporting pavement conditions in Orange County, and there is no consistent standard for reporting pavement conditions countywide. The Renewed Measure M (M2) requires that each local jurisdiction adopt and fund a pavement management plan in order to be eligible to receive M2 funds. The inconsistency between the different software programs makes it difficult to determine the countywide pavement condition and individual city needs. Since August 2007, OCTA has met with all local agencies to review their various systems and pavement management needs. A recommendation for a common system is under development, and that recommendation will be brought to the Board of Directors by spring 2008.
Metrolink Expansion
Quiet zone/Safety Improvements
Grade Separations
The M2 Early Action Plan approved funding for project development of five grade separations on the OCTA owned railroad right-of-way on LOSSAN rail corridor between the San Diego County Line and Fullerton. Staff is currently preparing a report for the Board which will identify the top candidate crossing for separation and make a recommendation to the Board in early 2008.
Go Local
On November 26, 2007, the Board approved modifications to Step 1 of the Go Local program to extend the completion period to June 30, 2008, and directed to staff to return in January 2008 with competitive program guidelines for entry in Step 2. OCTA staff is currently meeting with all cities participating in the Go Local program to review their progress on Step 1, answer any outstanding questions and begin discussions about Step 2 needs. Click here to learn more about the Go Local program.
Environmental Programs
Taxpayers Oversight Committee
The Measure M Citizens Oversight Committee (COC), which has been meeting since 1991, formally transitioned into the M2 Taxpayers Oversight Committee (TOC) during the past quarter. The first official meeting of the TOC took place on August 28, 2007. The TOC has taken over the responsibilities of the COC; in addition, it will oversee the implementation of M2.
At their August meeting, the TOC approved amendments to the M1 Freeway Program as recommended in the Early Action Plan. The two amendments, subsequently approved by the OCTA Board in September 2007, will allocate $22 million to pay for preconstruction costs on the M2 SR-57 Widening (Project G), and allocate $10 million as working capital for design and right-of-way on the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) Phase II - West County Connections.
The committee also reviewed the capital improvement programs submitted by 34 cities and the County of Orange and found that all local agencies were in compliance and eligible to continue receiving Measure M funds.
Procurement for Administrative Systems As part of the FY 2007-08 Budget, the OCTA Board of Directors approved the use of $500,000 out of the General Fund to assess OCTA's ability to deliver on all of the planned programs and projects over the next several years, including the M2 program. This work has been divided over three separate contracts.
Organizational Readiness and Capacity Assessment
On November 26, 2007, the Board selected a specialized team of consultants—PB Consult, Inc.—to provide an organizational readiness and capacity assessment to ensure that OCTA is well-positioned and prepared to meet future challenges, most particularly implementing the Early Action Plan. In January 2008, the consultant will begin the three-phase assessment: an overall organizational assessment of OCTA as a whole; a division-by-division assessment; and a program-specific review of the use of consultants and the procurement process. Recommendations to OCTA management and the Board are expected by June 2008. Click here for more information.
Market Conditions Analysis
A $90,000 market analysis study is beginning to determine if the construction materials will be available to deliver the M2 Early Action Plan, offer suggestions on how to mitigate risk and assess the private sector's perspective on doing business with OCTA. This study was competitively bid and the contract was awarded to the Orange County Business Council (OCBC). The study is scheduled for completion at the end of the first quarter of 2008.
Institutional Readiness and Absorption Capacity
A $48,000 study is beginning to assess the capacity of cities and other agencies to deliver the various programs and projects they will be responsible for with M2 funding. This study was competitively bid and the contract was awarded to the OCBC. The study is scheduled for completion at the end of the first quarter of 2008.
M2 Administrative Setup and Implementation
Separately as a result of the August 13, 2007 budget amendment, consultant assistance is being sought to develop management and oversight policies and procedures for the new and/or significantly revised elements of M2. This work is anticipated to begin early in 2008 and be completed by mid-year.
Highway and Transit Strategic Plans
Highway Program
A baseline budget and master schedule are being developed for each priority freeway project. These documents will form the basis for the Highway Program Implementation Plan which will be competed in the next quarter.
Transit Program
The draft transit strategic plan is scheduled to go to the Board of
Directors in the first quarter of 2008. It will include all of OCTA's
transit programs and services, including fixed-route bus, paratransit,
Metrolink expansion, Go Local, and the various M2 transit programs. Four
main policy areas will be addressed: 1) fare/service integration; 2)
funding of capital and operations costs; 3) criteria for competitive
funding awards; and 4) performance measures. An initial discussion of
these policy issues will be before the Transportation 2020 Committee in
January 2008.
Website Upgrade and Information Sharing
Plan of Finance
The plan of finance was approved by the Board on November 9, 2007. The plan highlights a need of approximately $350 million in project expenditures by 2011. These expenditures will be funded through a tax-exempt commercial paper program. Staff is working with OCTA's financing team to finalize legal documents for the program. The documents are scheduled to go to the Board for final approval in the first quarter of calendar year 2008. Click here to find more information on the plan of finance.
Budget Amendment and Progress on Staffing
On August 13, 2007, the Board of Directors amended the FY 2007-08 budget by $20.2 million to accommodate the delivery of the M2 Early Action Plan. Eleven staff positions were added as part of the budget amendment. To date, one of these positions (Director of Contracts Administration and Materials Management) has been filled while two other positions have had candidates selected but are awaiting standard background checks and formal offers. The other eight positions are in the applicant screening/interview stage. Click here to find more information on the budget amendment.
Distribution of Early Action Plan
|
The first phase of development for freeway projects is to prepare a project study report (PSR) that analyzes the transportation need and identifies possible design solutions. The plan for fiscal year (FY) 2007-08 was to begin the preparation of two PSR’s for the San Diego Freeway (I-405) between the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55) and the San Gabriel Freeway (I-605) and for the Riverside Freeway (SR-91) between the Orange Freeway (SR-57) and SR-55. A consultant was selected and work began on the I-405 PSR in the past quarter. A request for proposals was released to prepare a feasibility study for the SR-91 project to better define the project needs, prior to starting the PSR.
The OCTA Board of Directors approved a comprehensive $60 million grade crossing safety and quiet zone program on August 27, 2007. In early September, Metrolink issued a contract task order to the design engineering firm to begin the engineering design work for the program. Kick-off meetings have been held with all affected cities. The current schedule calls for 35 percent design to be completed by the end of March 2008 with final design completed by the end of 2008 and construction to occur through 2009. 
According to the M2 ordinance, the 
The initial phase of the OCTA Website redesign has been completed. This phase involved creating interactive maps and adding baseline information from M2 and the Early Action Plan. A contract is expected to be awarded on March 1, 2008 for the second phase of the upgrade which will involve enhancing the site through more interactive mapping, interactive surveys, email subscription service, e-commerce features with OCTA’s Contracts Administration and Materials Management Department and creating a master project database for web usage.
