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Zero Funding for Future Highway Improvements
In June of this year, State funding for highway improvements to address congested areas and interchanges on 101, 227, and 46 was expected to be $15M for programming in 2020 or 2021, in addition to providing competitive funding to Caltrans for Highway 46 widening. But with the decline of the price-based excise fuel tax by 30%, the new highway funds for the state and our region’s problems is zero. A few low cost projects will move forward under separate funding, but these funding sources won’t likely increase to address all of the similar transportation needs and requests.
More information can be found in the staff report.
READ HERE
Questions? Contact Rich Murphy at 805-781-5754 or rmurphy@slocog.org.
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Slow Going as the Transportation Funding Picture Grows Bleak
Diminishing highway funding will affect all regions in the State. However, voters in 20 California counties have passed Local Option Sales Tax measures for the specific purpose of improving their local transportation systems. SLOCOG contracted a consultant to poll 600 voters on their affordability of a new tax, their trust that it would be spent wisely and the need for transportation improvements. Ultimately, most of the projects polled found support greater than the poll conducted in 2011, but willingness to increase taxes came in below the required 2/3rd level of support.
More information can be found in the staff report.
READ HERE
Questions? Contact James Worthley at 805-788-2002 or jworthley@slocog.org.
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Status of State and Federal Transportation Legislation
Congress approved the 35th extension of the Transportation Reauthorization program, or MAP-21, to continue to fund non-highway programs. To date, there is no clear consensus to move forward on a new multi-year program or how to fund it given that MAP-21 now expends nearly 50% more than it collects in the outdated fuel tax.
At the State level, a flurry of legislative activity is occurring. The focus is "fix it first" to address deferred maintenance on highways and local streets and roads. Only $3M might be seen i n 2020 (at the earliest) to address highway congestion such as 101 in South County, Highway 227 and a number of other congested interchanges.
More information can be found in the staff report.
READ HERE
Questions? Contact Rich Murphy at 805-781-5754 or rmurphy@slocog.org.
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Safe Routes to School Parent Survey
This survey was conducted to gain a better understanding of parent perceptions of children using alternative modes commuting to school. The one month survey period resulted in 1,428 survey responses. This data provides the program with a baseline to monitor program effectiveness, supports new grant applications - infrastructure and non-infrastructure, and will inform the SRTS Prioritization Tool. The tool will be created during this fiscal year and will provide guidance on current infrastructure needs. The data from this survey will can be seen at slosaferoutes.org and School District reports will be published in October.
More information can be found in the staff report.
READ HERE
Questions? Contact Sara Sanders at 805-781-1385 or ssanders@slocog.org.
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2014 Aerial Imaging Project Nearing Completion
Coordinating with agency GIS staff around the region, the 2014 aerial photography project is the first project of the SLO Regional GIS Collaborative (SLORGC), an organization meant to coordinate making strategic investments in regional GIS products and projects to benefit public agencies around the region. SLOCOG staff coordinates communication of the SLORGC and is the lead agency for the imagery project. In July 2014 the SLOCOG Board approved a contract for services for $122,088 with Sanborn Map Company, Inc. to procure new countywide aerial photography. SLOCOG, the seven cities and the County contributed funding to this project. The project is completed and SLOCOG is anticipating product delivery in the coming days.
Upon receipt of the 2014 imagery files, SLOCOG staff will coordinate distribution, with priority being given to those agencies that have financially contributed to the project. SLOCOG also intends to coordinate with USGS to host the imagery files on a web portal, similar to how SLO County made 2011 imagery files accessible. Instructions for accessing the 2014 imagery files will be forthcoming.
Questions? Contact Geoffrey Chiapella at 805-781-5190 or gchiapella@slocog.org.
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2015 FTIP Amendment No. 7
The 2015 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) for the San Luis Obispo County Region was adopted by the SLOCOG Board on September 10, 2014. This seventh amendment to the 2015 FTIP requires a public hearing for the inclusion of projects funded by the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP). The SHOPP projects involve the replacement and widening of bridges on State Routes 1 and 58 and a new bridge rail replacement project added to the Emergency Repair grouped project listing. This includes providing new northbound shoulders on Highway 1 in Morro Bay, improving safety for cyclists. Amendment No. 7 meets all FHWA and FTA requirements and SLOCOG procedures identified in the 2013 Public Participation Plan. Previously approved amendment correspondence can be found in the FTIP section of the SLOCOG website (www.slocog.org) under programming.
More information can be found in the staff report.
READ HERE
Questions? Contact Rich Murphy at 805-781-5754 or rmurphy@slocog.org.
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