EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT COMMITTEE

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT COMMITTEE

SEPTEMBER 19, 2002

SUBJECT: LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROJECTS FOR THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT FOR THE 21^ST CENTURY (TEA-21)

ACTION: ADOPT TEA-21 REAUTHORIZATION PROJECTS FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY

RECOMMENDATION

Adopt the following:

A. Revised list of Los Angeles County projects for Reauthorization of Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21).

B. Revisions to The Los Angeles County Principles for Reauthorization General Principles.

ISSUE

The Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21) will expire on September 30, 2003. This legislation will need to be reauthorized to provide federal funding for surface transportation programs and projects across the county. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and other transportation providers in the county have developed a project list and revised set of principles to submit to the State of California and Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation.

BACKGROUND

Since February 2002, the Metro has been developing a regional list of projects that could be supported for funding through the TEA-21 Reauthorization process. The Metro also has requested the Sub Regional Councils of Governments, cities, County of Los Angeles, Municipal Operators and local organizations to submit recommended projects for funding during this next Reauthorization period. Metro staff has included projects from the Metro Long Range Transportation Plan for Los Angeles County (“the Long Range Plan”) that could benefit from federal funding.

From this list of projects, Metro staff is recommending that nine projects be given the highest priority for funding in the TEA-21 Reauthorization. These are major, regionally significant projects that have received previous Board commitment. All of the projects are included in the Long Range Plan --- either in the Baseline

(committed) element or the Constrained (funded) element. All of the projects except the Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA) project have design or construction funding in from the State Transportation Congestion Relief Program (TCRP) and/or State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). In addition, these same projects are programmed for funding (in full or in part) in the first ten years of the Long Range Plan. The LAWA project is included because of the recent federal Homeland Security efforts.

With respect to the remaining projects on the list, Metro staff is recommending that the Metro Board acknowledge its support for these projects in the TEA-21 Reauthorization. Many of these projects are specifically listed in the Long Range Plan in either the Constrained (funded) element or the Strategic (unfunded) element indicating the Metro’s previous recognition of the importance of these projects. Other projects on the list could apply for funding in the Metro’s Call for Projects process. Many of these projects are priorities of individual cities, subregions, or the County of Los Angeles.

Staff will continue to work with the Los Angeles County Congressional delegation to ensure all member-sponsored projects are listed in this document.

The Metro, the City of Los Angeles, and County of Los Angeles staffs, are also working to further develop the concept of a “Metropolitan Congestion Program” and how it meets Los Angeles County needs. Staff will continue to update the Board in subsequent meetings as the legislation emerges and issues develop over the next year.

Upon approval by the Board, Metro staff will distribute the Metro Principals and list of projects to the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Maria Contreras-Sweet and to the Los Angeles County Congressional delegation for inclusion in TEA-03.