MINUTES OF THE METRO COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

Tuesday, September 22, 1998

Metro Council Chamber

Members Present:  Ed Washington (Chair), Susan McLain (Vice Chair), Jon Kvistad

Members Absent:  None.

Chair Washington called the meeting to order at 3:39 PM.

1.  INTRODUCTIONS

None.

2.  CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 8, 1998

3.  RESOLUTION NO. 98-2676, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A POLICY BASIS AND FUNDING STRATEGY FOR TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATIONS (TMAS) FOR THE MTIP/STIP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Andrew Cotugno, Director, Metro Transportation Department, explained briefly the purpose of the resolution. He said the resolution establishes a process for reviewing and implementing Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) and TMA transportation improvement programs (TIPs). The resolution recognizes that Metro would need to amend the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) to include the policy basis. It places administrative responsibility with Tri-Met, which ensures this process blends with Tri-Met’s process. Exhibit A to the resolution describes a three-phase process for developing TMAs and explains the process by which TMAs will be selected for funding, the funding strategy, and the process by which projects proposed by the TMAs will be selected. Briefly, initial review lies with the Technical Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC) subcommittee on Transportation Demand Management (TDM). The subcommittee’s recommendation then must be approved by TPAC, the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT), and the Council.

The three phases have different goals and different funding mixes. The first phase involves more public money than private, and the final phase more private than public. The funding is based on a $75,000/year budget over three years, starting at 90% public money, going to 66%, and then dropping to 33%. The question of whether any of the money could be used for operating expenses was raised at JPACT, and the answer was no. This would be seed money to get the TMAs started. Private sources would need to be in place for the year after the TMA has been operating on one-third public support.

The other issue that was raised at JPACT is how this fits with Tri-Met’s role, because Tri-Met funds TMAs as well. The answer was the TMA program will be administered by Tri-Met to avoid overlap. Metro’s responsibility would be to determine how much money to set aside for this purpose in the upcoming STIP process. After that, Metro would need to approve the specific uses and the specific locations of the projects after the STIP process has been completed.

Councilor McLain brought up another question that had been asked at JPACT, and that is how Metro would ensure that the money Metro contributes to TMAs would further projects most helpful to the overall system. Mr. Cotugno said the Tri-Met Transit Choices for Livability (TCL) program identified the potential for up to 25 TMAs. Not all of those would be funded. Most likely, Metro would fund four or six. Metro would want to be sure those four or six are in the most important areas.

Councilor McLain asked how that judgment would be made. Mr. Cotugno said the JPACT TDM committee would do the initial screening.

Councilor McLain said that Mayor Lou Ogden had asked how TMAs that had been formed before this resolution passed would be accommodated. He had asked how money would be allocated to them considering they were in mid-stream.

Mr. Cotugno said those TMAs would be brought up to this level of funding. He said Metro would need to make sure that happens during the allocation process.

Councilor Kvistad asked what the total allocation would be. Mr. Cotugno said this resolution does not allocate money. He said it describes only how money would be allocated in the future. He said it identifies a total amount of $142,000 spread over three years and distributed according to a formula of 90% public funding the first year, two-thirds the second, and one-third the third.

Councilor Kvistad asked for clarification on whether the $142,000 is a per-year per-project figure or a total. Mr. Cotugno said it is a total per project spread over three years. He said that if Metro funds TMAs, that is the amount to set aside as a total public funding commitment, per TMA. The upcoming TIP process would decide how many TMAs to fund. That will be when the funding action comes, not now.

Chair Washington asked where the $75,000 figure came from. Mr. Cotugno said it is based on the experience of the three TMAs that are already operating. Those TMAs provided advice as to what it takes to establish a bare-bones foundation. It is based on one FTE level of effort and assumes a chamber is provided by some agency or organization on an in-kind basis.

Mr. Cotugno added that, as explained in Exhibit A, the funding strategy includes a recommended funding level for doing feasibility studies prior to forming TMAs. The recommended level would provide up to $35,000 for each freasibility study, with a 10% local match required. He suggested setting aside enough money to fund five feasibility studies and five implementation projects. In summary, he said $35,000 is the recommended total to fund the initial feasibility study for forming a TMA, and $142,000 over three years is the recommended total to get each TMA up and operating.

Chair Washington will carry the resolution to a meeting of the full Council.

4.  COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

There being no further business before the Committee, Chair Washington adjourned the meeting at 3:46 PM.

Prepared by,

Pat Emmerson

Council Assistant