PUBLIC COMMENT
Claudia Hanson, Pacifica, commented that the commute from Pacifica to San Bruno from October until the end of November takes about 15 minutes. After Thanksgiving, it takes only 6-7 minutes, unless it is raining, to get through the same area of congestion. Therefore, she feels that it doesn’t seem like a good expenditure of funds to widen the freeway and destroy wetlands for traffic congestion that isn’t much longer than 15-20 minutes for only three months during the year.

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC) MEMBER APPOINTMENTS

• Director Lee reported that seven candidates were interviewed on August 19, 2004 for two vacancies on the CAC. The interview committee recommends that the Directors of the TA appoint Dave Pine and Juan Garcia-Rovetta to the TA CAC.

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC) REPORT

• CAC Chair Larry Shaine noted the presence of fellow CAC members in the audience and reported that at the last CAC meeting:
  1. Larry Stueck provided an informative presentation on the SamTrans Strategic Plan.
  2. Several members expressed concern over SamTrans schedule cutbacks, particularly on the Coastside, so Ken Feldstein (SamTrans CAC Chair) provided input regarding ridership.
  3. Joe Hurley updated the committee regarding Measure A including ballot arguments and rebuttals.
  4. Mr. Hurley also updated the committee on the Highway 101 auxiliary lane improvements between Third Avenue in San Mateo and Millbrae.
  5. The CAC discussed agenda item 10(b), Revised Application for Regional Measure 2 Funds, and voted to support the request.
  6. Invited all to attend the next CAC meeting, which is October 5.

Mr. Shaine replied that they are somewhat active. However, he is trying to generate more interest in what is going on to maintain a higher level of achievement.

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT
No report this month.

SAMTRANS LIAISON REPORTS
A written report from the July 14, 2004 meeting was included in the packet to the board.

JOINT POWERS BOARD REPORT
Michael Scanlon reported that at the September 2 board meeting:

• The meeting was held in the Santa Clara City Council Chambers.
• Members from the public expressed their strong desire to have a pedestrian overpass or underpass to get to the east side of the tracks at Santa Clara station. The JPB agreed to work with VTA and the City of Santa Clara to explore interim alternatives before improvements to the station can be made as part of the BART extension to San Jose.
• Reported that for the first time since September 2001 there has been an increase in ridership and revenue.
• Key Caltrain Performance Statistics:

June 2004

1. Average Weekday Ridership was up 3 percent from 28,281 riders to 29,123.
2. Total Ridership was up 15 percent from 684,125 riders to 789,924.
3. Total Revenue was up 6 percent from $1.74 million to $1.84 million.
4. On-Time Performance was up 4 percent from 93.2 percent to 97 percent.
5. Shuttle Ridership was up 9 percent from 3,819 riders to 4,154.

July 2004

1. Average Weekday Ridership was up 9.9 percent, from 27,588 riders to 30,330.
2. Total Ridership was up 12.9 percent from 711,677 riders to 803,513.
3. Total Revenue was up 5.9 percent from $1.8 million to $1.9 million.
4. On-Time Performance was up 1.7 percent from 94.7 percent to 96.3 percent.
5. Shuttle Ridership had an increase of 2.5 percent from 3,806 riders to 3,901.
   
• Commented that with the success of Baby Bullet have come a few problems, such as overcrowding. In Mountain View, staff has been working with the city to provide overflow parking within easy walking distance. The City Council will consider a proposal at its meeting on September 4. If approved, there will be approximately 120 additional parking spots.
• Sue Lempert reported that the Baby Bullet has won, out of 74 nominations, the MTC Grand Award. The award ceremony will be September 22 in Oakland. Legislator of the Year will be awarded to Senator Jackie Speier. Jim Bigelow will receive the Valuable Citizen Award.
• Service will be restored to the home football games at Stanford beginning September 4.
• Baseball service to SBC Park for Giants home games remains at about 3,500 riders per game.
• Regarding the Transbay Terminal, there have been three lawsuits filed challenging the certification of the EIR/EIS. The lawsuits have been tendered to the Transbay Terminal who has in return transferred them to the City Attorney who has agreed to challenge the lawsuits.
• In local newspapers, there has been discussion of a pending wrongful death civil suit stemming from an incident in October 2000. General Counsel prepared a confidential memorandum to the board members to update them on the situation.
• On September 1 staff and the representatives of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Domestic Preparedness met to begin a threat and vulnerability study. This will be approximately a four-month project.
• The Tunnel Rehab project has begun. There was a thorough debriefing with OSHA before any work began to ensure that everyone was up to date with safety procedures since the project entails single track work within the tunnels.
• The Board took the following actions:
  1. Annual adoption of Investment Policy and authorization to invest in monies with the Local Agency Investment Fund
  2. Approved authorization to enter into a funding agreement with Caltrans for seismic retrofit work on Caltrain bridges in an amount of $665,552
  3. Approved authorization for an amendment to increase the FY2005 Operating Budget in the amount of $37,600 to account for Metropolitan Transportation Commission Section 5303 grant funding
  4. Adopted a Resolution of Appreciation for Jim Gallagher.
  5. Awarded Lenzen Yard Mainline Track Relocation and Tunnel Project Contract to Shimmick Construction.
  6. Awarded CCTV and Audible Signs Project Contract to Manuel Brothers, Inc.
• The Board received the following presentations:
  1. Quarterly Capital Program Status and Electrification Report

Mr. Scanlon replied that although the numbers from previous years are available, it is customary to do a year-to-year comparison. Going over the 30,000 riders per day was very symbolic.

Chair Church said it would be appropriate to have the TA board present a resolution of appreciation to Jim Gallagher as well.

Mr. Scanlon stated that a resolution has already been prepared on behalf of the JPB and could be adopted by the TA as well.

The motion to adopt the Resolution of Appreciation for Jim Gallagher was approved unanimously, by roll call.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mr. Scanlon reported that the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the draft Transportation Expenditure Plan on July 27. Since that time, a letter was submitted from the California State Automobile Association (AAA) that states that they will support Measure A on the November 2 ballot. Also, Sustainable San Mateo County favors the Measure and will take a formal action soon. In the Reading File, ballot arguments were included for board review.

FINANCE
Request for FY2005 Funding for the Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Program
Shahla Yazdy, Engineer, proposed that the Board approve funds in the amount of $348,197 to be directed to the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance (The Alliance) and funds in the amount of $51,973 to be directed to the City of Menlo Park to continue the implementation of employer shuttle and vanpool/carpool programs.

Jim Bigelow said that the Redwood City/San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce and the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce strongly support the shuttle funding.

The motion to approve the request for FY2005 Funding for the TSM Program was unanimously approved, by roll call, and Resolution 2004-12 was adopted.

Revised Application for Regional Measure 2 Funds
Howard Goode, Deputy Executive Director, reported that the application is being brought back to the board because as staff worked with other parties in the Dumbarton project, an opportunity emerged for phasing the project with early implementation. In order to do that Union City needs to do some additional environmental analysis. The change in the application allows $100,000 of the $2.8 million MTC funds, which will be coming to the TA, to be allocated directly to Union City to supplement its environmental document. Mr. Goode noted that the next phase of the work is 50 percent funded by Regional Measure 2 funds with the balance split evenly between the three counties (San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda).

The motion to approve the revised application for Regional Measure 2 Funds passed unanimously, by roll call, and Resolution 2004-13 was adopted.

PROGRAM
Capital Projects Status Report – 4th Quarter
Joe Hurley, Director of Transportation Authority Programs, highlighted a few projects from the report:

1. There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 30 for the second phase of Oyster Point Interchange Reconstruction Project. Work continues on the Phase III of the project with completion scheduled for next summer.
2. The auxiliary lane between Ralston and Marsh is nearing completion. Soundwall components are also included within this project. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for September 17 at 11 a.m.
3. Development of the plans, specifications and estimate associated with the Highway 101 auxiliary lane that runs from Third Avenue in San Mateo to Millbrae are continuing. It will involve reconstruction of the Peninsula Avenue Interchange Project.
4. Baby Bullet began service in the fourth quarter of 2004. Measure A made two contributions to this project. A $1.5 million contribution was to Bayshore Station. Additionally, $12 million was contributed, in partnership with San Francisco and Santa Clara County, which allowed capturing an additional $60 million in Federal funds for this project.

REPORT FROM LEGAL COUNSEL
None.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION TO AUTHORITY
The communication packets were distributed to the Board members.

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETING:
October 7, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. at the San Mateo County Transit District Administrative Building, 1250 San Carlos Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070