VTA
Adopting final goals for Envision Silicon Valley proposed tax measure
At is June 4th meeting, the VTA board will adopt the final draft goals for Envision Silicon Valley, a new effort where VTA will engage community leaders discuss current and future transportation needs, identify solutions and craft funding priorities. The plan will consider supporting a sales tax measure on the 2016 ballot to enhance transit, highways, expressways and active transportation (bicycles, pedestrians and complete streets).
Valley Transportation Authority Board meeting, June 4th, 5:30 p.m.
Link to agenda packet: http://vtaorgcontent.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Site_Content/bod_060415_a_packet.pdf
Supporting SB 16 (Beall) to generate $15B over 5 years for roads & highways
Adopt a support position for SB 16 (Beall), which proposes to generate between $2 billion-$4 billion per year for highway and road maintenance and rehabilitation. Further, continue to work with the author of SB 16 to ensure that any issues related to the bill that may arise as it moves through the legislative process are resolved in a manner that advances the interests of Silicon Valley.
SB 16 proposes the most ambitious state transportation funding package since 2006. The bill calls for establishing the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program for an initial five-year period running through FY 2020, though the Legislature would have the ability to reauthorize it beyond FY 2020. The program would be funded with revenues derived from the following sources:
· A temporary 10-cent increase in the gasoline excise tax that would remain in place as long as the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program exists.
· A temporary 12-cent increase in the diesel excise tax, again tied to the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program.
· A new registration surcharge of $35 per year imposed on all motor vehicles.
· An additional registration surcharge of $100 per year imposed on zero-emission vehicles.
· Full repayment over the next three years of all outstanding loans owed by the General Fund to the State Highway Account, the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account, the Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA), and the Motor Vehicle Account.
· Permanent recapture of vehicle weight fee revenues (ending the transfer of these revenues to the General Fund) for transportation projects to be accomplished incrementally over a five-year period.
· A gradual increase in the vehicle license fee from 0.65 percent to 1 percent of the market value of a vehicle occurring over a five-year period to backfill the General Fund for the loss of vehicle weight fee revenues.
It is estimated that approximately $2.8 billion in new revenues for transportation projects would be raised in FY 2016 from these sources, growing to $3.6 billion in FY 2020. The five-year total is projected to be roughly $15 billion.
Link to agenda packet: http://vtaorgcontent.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Site_Content/bod_060415_a_packet.pdf
San Jose
Transportation Network Companies Public Safety Requirements.
This bill would require transportation network companies (TNCs) to participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Employer Pull-Notice (EPN) program. The EPN Program was established to provide employers and regulatory agencies with a means of promoting driver safety through the ongoing review of driver records. This bill would cover not just “employees” of TNCs but “all participating drivers.”
Under this bill, TNCs are required to provide a mandatory controlled substance and alcohol testing certification program that would allow for random testing.
This bill would also require a TNC to register any vehicle used in the transportation of passengers for compensation with the California Public Utilities Commission and to display an identifying symbol as prescribed by the Commission on the vehicle.
Finally, the bill would also require that drivers hired or initially retained by a TNC on or after January 1, 2016, be subject to mandatory drug and alcohol testing prior to employment or retention and that drivers hired or initially retained before January 1,2016, complete a drug and alcohol test before January 1,2017.
Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=733&meta_id=517229
Link to agenda: http://sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=3549
Increasing water rates by 29%
Agenda Item Name: Municipal Water System Water Rate Increase for 2015-2016.
Date/time/location to be heard June 9, 2015, 1:30 pm
The San Jose Municipal Water System (SJMWS) is a rate-funded utility operating at full cost recovery to provide water to approximately 26,000 customer accounts, serving a population of about 116,000 people in the North San Jose, Alviso, Evergreen, Edenvale, and Coyote Valley areas.
Recommendation is to allow SJMWS to increase rates by up to 29% effective July 1, 2015, in order to increase operating revenues by approximately $7,800,000 to fund increased operating expenses, including enhanced water conservation efforts, and offset a projected decrease in water sales due to conservation.
Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=733&meta_id=517331
Link to agenda: http://sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=3549
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