Wednesday, April 1 2015 11:00 AM

MINUTES
Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Update
TAC Working Group Meeting #6
Mulholland Conference Room
15th Floor

Attendees:
Please see attached sign-in sheet.
Items Reviewed:
1. Schedule
2. Mobility Matrices Update
3. Polling/Research Update
4. Community Outreach Update
5. LTSS Motion and Tier 2 Operators Letter
6. Transit Funding

Discussion Highlights:
1. Schedule

General public polling results will be available to share with the COG Executive Directors at
their mid-April meeting. The polling results will support the Executive Directors in identifying
COG project/program priorities, which are due to Metro by May 22.
Using COG project/program priorities input received by the end of May and non-COG
stakeholder input on projects/programs received by early June, Metro will develop an
Expenditure Plan Framework during June for COG Executive Director and Metro Board
consideration in July.
Following approval of the Expenditure Plan Framework, Long Range Transportation Plan
(LRTP) Update processes will accelerate. Analytical work, community outreach workshops, and
stakeholder briefings will be carried out through April 2016.
Another round of polling will be conducted in May 2016. The results from this poll will help
inform the Metro Boards go/no go decision on the ballot measure in June 2016.

2. Mobility Matrices Update

The Mobility Matrices are complete. Each COG has either accepted, acknowledged or
approved the final report. The Metro Planning and Programming Committee is scheduled to
receive and file the final report in April.
o Mobility Matrices reports will be posted on the Metro website on the LRTP Update page.
The Mobility Matrices projects, cost estimates, and summaries have been compiled into a
Briefing Book to share with the COG Executive Directors. Since then, there have been some
updates which will be incorporated into a revised Briefing Book that will be shared with the
TAC Working Group.*

3. Polling/Research Update

LRTP Public Opinion Research was completed on March 29. Data and results will be shared
with the COG Executive Directors at their mid-April meeting.

4. Community Outreach Update

Stakeholder and community outreach has been ongoing. The Metro Community Relations
team has been going out into the community with high level presentations. Other groups in
Metro are working on marketing, media, and web outreach strategies.

Like in the last LRTP Update, we will be doing workshops around the County. There will be
about a half dozen workshops which will be opportunities for us to talk and listen to the
public.

We have a draft outreach plan prepared, and will share it at a later date after its presented to
the Board staff.
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5. LTSS Motion and Tier 2 Operators Letter

We have started the discussion on geographic equity, and the work is still ongoing. While this
discussion includes understanding subregional boundaries and needs, it also includes
balancing capital and operations and maintenance needs. The Local Transit Systems
Subcommittee (LTSS) and Tier 2 Operators have both developed proposals that focus on the
operations and maintenance side of this discussion.
At their March meeting, the LTSS developed a motion to recommend dedicated operating
funding from the potential sales tax.
Sebastian Hernandez, Chair of LTSS, stated that there are more than thirty Local Transit
Systems comprising LTSS that collectively carry more than 25 million trips annually. These are
not municipal operators, and so do not receive dedicated funding through the Formula
Allocation Procedure (FAP). The services are primarily funded from Local Return. These
services have evolved over time, so they serve many regional trips. The LTSS proposes
requesting $15 million annually (2% of a half-cent sales tax) for operating and capital to be
dedicated to these operators. This would allow for LTSS to work with Metro to identify
priorities and provide thresholds to ensure productivity with enhancement of services.
In a March 24, 2015 letter, the Tier 2 Operators addressed the need for dedicated funding for
bus operators from the potential sales tax.
Jim Lefton, City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation, stated that there is a clear need
for dedicated operating funds because LTSS and Tier 2 operators do not have a dedicated
funding stream though the four Tier 2 operators are larger than all but 2 or 3 of the operators
that receive funds through the FAP. There are few grant opportunities for operations. The Tier
2 Operators propose allocating about 20% for FAP operators and an additional 5% for LTSS
and Tier 2 operators in order to lessen the competition for limited funds.

6. Transit Funding

Tim Mengle of Metro Office of Management and Budget presented Local Return and FAP as
examples of how local sales tax revenues are allocated.
Carlos Vendiola of Metro Local Programming provided an oral snapshot of LA Countys transit
funding.
LA Countys transit needs total approximately $3 billion in operations and capital expenses in
the following modes:
o 65% bus
o 17% rail
o 9% Metrolink
o 9% paratransit
o The average capital cost over the past 5 years is $1 billion
Fares net about $500 million.
Dedicated local, state, and federal fund sources provide less than $1.5 billion in funds for
transit.
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The remaining $1 billion of need is funded from various non-dedicated funds or one-time
grants and state and federal programs. Non-dedicated funds can be used on both transit and
streets and freeways. Use of the funds on transit operations and capital would be to the
detriment of streets and freeways, and vice versa.
Operations needs are growing at a rate of 4%, outpacing the growth of sales tax revenue
(approximately 1.8%).
The overall funding picture is not promising moving forward. Metro Operations is projected to
face a deficit in FY 18 and it is only a matter of time before operators from the municipalities,
LTSS, and Tier 2 follow.

7. Responses to TAC Working Group Members Questions and Concerns

Larry Stevens, City of San Dimas, asked what is expected from the COGs in terms of next steps
for the Mobility Matrices.
o We are asking the COGs to provide their prioritized projects/programs by May 22nd for the
potential ballot measure.
Larry Stevens asked whether specific projects will be included in the next phone survey as
feedback on specific projects will assist COGs in prioritizing projects and programs.
o Yes, that is the intent.
Hector Rodriguez, Access Services, asked whether the TAC Working Group would receive a
copy of the phone survey.
o The TAC Working Group will receive summary information that presents top line results of
key survey questions and the wording of those key survey questions will be included. These
results will be fairly optimistic because this was a random digit dial survey.*
Linda Taira, Caltrans, asked whether Metro would provide the TAC Working Group with the
presentation being presented at the stakeholder meetings.
o There is a general presentation that is tailored for each stakeholder group. We will review the
general version of the presentation and share it with the group.*
Kathryn Engel, City of Glendale, asked that Metro inform cities at each key point in the
process. Cities can play a role in outreach, so it would be beneficial for Metro to keep the cities
in the loop so that cities can update Councils and other city groups.
o Yes, this is a good idea. We will be sure to do this when the outreach plan is rolled out. Feel
free to suggest groups that should be included in this outreach so that we can facilitate
discussion sooner rather than later.*
Marianne Kim, Automobile Club of America, asked whether the LTSS motions proposed 2%
for operators is for operations only, or operations and capital.
o Both.
Larry Stevens asked what kinds of operators are included in LTSS.
o There are more than 30 Local Transit Systems operators including fixed route and
paratransit operators.
Marianne Kim asked whether any operator could be in LTSS.
o Yes, operators with service not eligible to receive funds through the FAP can be part of the
LTSS.
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Patrick DeChellis, County of Los Angeles, stated that operations funding is part of the Local
Return issue, not a set-aside issue. Each jurisdiction has its own priorities and should be able
to use Local Return according to those priorities.
Robert Beste, City of Torrance, stated that local priorities need to direct how Local Return is
used. To do this, Local Return needs to be a bigger share of the sales tax.
David Kriske, City of Burbank, stated that there is a regional influence on transit operations.
Local operators have shouldered a regional connection/network, so funding cannot come from
Local Return only.
Dana Pynn, Long Beach Transit, stated that as a municipal operator, she believes LTSS and
Tier 2 operators provide important first/last mile connections, and need dedicated funding.
Not every city recognizes the role of or prioritizes transit operations.
Larry Stevens stated that discussing dedicated funding for transit operations, and in general,
how to slice up the sales tax pie, is premature because the ballot measure is still only a
potential funding source. When and if the time comes for the ballot measure to go forward,
there will be many groups fighting for a slice of the pie.
o We just want to gather as much information as possible now. It is important to capture
these ideas and needs as the Mobility Matrices may not have captured this level of detail on
operations funding.
Justine Garcia stated operators must compete for Local Return funds with various city
priorities and other local needs such as active transportation and complete streets. It becomes
hard to justify where money goes when there are so many hands in the pot. It is important to
have voices heard as early as possible.
Dan Mitchell, City of Los Angeles, asked whether the FAP allocation is Metro Board policy.
o It is Metro Board policy and is reflected in State law.
Dana Pynn stated that FAP operators support over 600 million boardings annually and
securing money for these operations is difficult. There are few grants for transit operations and
they are often one-off, leaving continued operations needs unmet. Because of this, transit
operations rely heavily on sales tax money. Transit operators are being called upon to provide
more frequent, far reaching service to connect with rail, take over Metro routes, and help reach
greenhouse gas reduction goals. There is a greater demand for bus transit and less money to
go around.
Kathryn Engel stated that the intent is not to pit capital against operations, but it should be
recognized that operations money is necessary to make use of new capital projects and that
we need to consider what we can afford to operate.
Patrick DeChellis stated that the 2014 Local Street and Roads Needs Assessment estimated
$10 billion in unfunded streets needs in Los Angeles County. Streets provide for all modes, so
rather than focusing on one mode, a more holistic approach needs to be taken when
determining funding allocations.
Roderick Diaz, Southern California Regional Rail Authority, stated three themes of the
discussion.1) Operators want credit for their expanding services. 2) Many operators provide
complementary and coordinating services, so there needs to be incentives to work together
and not cannibalize each other. 3) Independent of a new funding source, the priority setting
process for local jurisdictions on how bus operations money is allocated is difficult.
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Additionally, funding allocations should be made to operators with consideration of their

contributions in terms of ridership and also how they generate revenue for the County.

Action Items*:

Metro staff to provide Mobility Matrices Results Briefing Book.

Metro staff to provide summary of results of key questions from LRTP Public Opinion
Research poll.

Metro staff to provide stakeholder outreach general presentation.

Metro staff to inform cities at key points in the ballot measure/LRTP update process.

Next Meeting Dates:

The group generally meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 11:00am following TAC
meetings. However, the next meeting will precede the TAC meeting.

The next TAC Working Group meeting will be on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 from 8:00am to
9:00am in the Mulholland Room, Metro 15th floor.

The purpose of the time change is so the meeting does not hinge upon the conclusion of the
TAC de-obligation appeals process.