Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Open Board of Directors Meeting
San Bernardino Community College District
114 S. Del Rosa Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Deborah Barmack, Carole Beswick, Tom Brickley, Erin Brinker, Ken Coate, Bill Easley, Dick Hart, Mark Kaenel, Sue McKee, John Mirau, Charlie Ng, Bev Powell, John Prentice, Susan Rice, Kristine Scott, Larry Sharp, Paul Shimoff, Phil Waller, A.J. Wilson and Ray Wolfe. Guests: Jane Dreher, Pam Langford, Nathan Miller, Frank Reyes and Greg Young
Announcements: 1) Business cards are requested from the participants in the Washington, D.C. trip. 2) Inland Action will again host a legislative dinner during the advocacy trip to Washington. The dinner will be held at the Credit Union House on Tuesday, March 19th with a reception at 7 pm and dinner at 8 pm. Sponsorship for the dinner is requested. 3) Carole Beswick has been invited and will serve on one of SANBAG’s three Community Advisory groups for the I-10 I-15 Corridor Proects.
M/S/P: Minutes from February 12, 2013
Mark Kaenel Introduced Garry Cohoe, Director of Project Delivery, Southern California Associated Governments (SANBAG).
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in cooperation with SANBAG proposes to improve and widen a 35-mile segment of the I-10 (from the San Bernardino County line in the City of Pomona to Ford Street in Redlands) and approximately 33 miles of the I-15 (from State Route 60 to US 395). The intention of these projects is to improve the movement of people and goods through these congested corridors.
Continued growth is expected in San Bernardino County creating increased traffic on these heavy demand corridors. The I-10, for example, is already at capacity for many hours of the day. Difficult development issues such as right of way constraints and limited funding are a challenge that must be met. The tools are limited, but options for addressing these demands are HOV (High Occupancy vehicle-aka carpool) Lanes and Express Lanes.
HOV Lanes manage traffic demands by increasing corridor throughput and promoting carpooling, reducing trip reduction without fees. HOV lanes, however, do not improve our air quality and as demand increases (likely 59% by 2060) the throughput decreases (making travel time longer and reducing trip reliability). The HOV lanes are managed by occupancy restrictions.
Express Lanes manage traffic demands by promoting carpooling and creating reliable trip times. HOV lanes have shown they improve air quality (by decreasing congestion), generate revenue and offer synergy potential with transit. Concerns include the public sentiment of “I already paid for the freeway” and equity among users.
Study results from the existing 91 Express Lanes show that at severe congestion throughput on a 10-mile segment of the 2 HOV lanes was 3,800 (with an 11 min. travel time) compared to the purpose throughput of 4,800 on 4 general lanes (with a 50 min. travel time). Without the Express lanes, the total throughput would be reduced by 1,400 vehicles. Studies from the I-15 Express Lanes reflect public approval of Express Lanes is growing and is now at 70% in all categories based on ethnicity, income and age.
Both corridors must be managed to optimize the system within the given constraints and both HOV and express lanes are viable. SANBAG is currently conducting informational sessions on managed lanes with community leaders, electeds, board members and three community advisory groups.
A Q & A period followed
A majority of the members present voted to extend an invitation of membership to Farmdale Creamery.
The membership went into a closed session in order to discuss and decide the 2013 federal priority issues. The priority issues are:
- Fund Critical Regional Projects
- Redlands Rail
- Ontario transit connection
- Support regional appointees to Freight Policy Council
- Support Customs Service in the Inland Empire
- Support (bill desig. Re: local control WFD funding)
- Show strong support for Pell Grants and Stafford Loans
The complete list of federal issues is:
Economic Development
- Cap on charitable giving
- Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
- Support (bill info) re: local control
Education
- Support Pell Grants/Stafford Loans
- Support US Department of Education TRIO Funds
- Support US Department of Education Gear Up Funds
Environment
- Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Reauthorization
Transportation
- Long-term funding for surface transportation
- Long-term funding for goods movement
- Local membership on national and state Freight Policy Councils
- Funding for critical transportation projects
- Redlands Rail
- Ontario Airport Transit Connections
- Project delivery streamlining by extending the life of the DOT federally required traffic studies
- Curbing air pollution from interstate and international goods movement activities – marine, rail and aircraft
- Customs Service in the Inland Empire (Homeland Security)
Healthcare
- Medicare/Medicaid cuts must be avoided
- Our region is critically underserved by healthcare professionals
- Our region needs more residency slots. Currently capped which causes fewer MDs available in the Inland Empire.
- We need to create opportunities for work force development in the medical field.
Meeting adjourned at 8:43 a.m.