HCOG PAC wins board backing to form RTP project‑prioritization ad hoc committee

The Humboldt County Association of Governments board on March 20 approved a PAC recommendation to form an ad hoc committee to explore policies for prioritizing projects listed in the regional transportation plan and to seek ways to leverage additional funding.

The PAC forwarded a motion asking the HCOG board to consider approving a TAC‑led ad hoc committee; the board approved the recommendation by voice vote. PAC staff said six TAC volunteers have agreed to serve on the ad hoc group, which will develop recommendations to return to the TAC and the HCOG board for review and final approval.

Why it matters: TAC members and local jurisdictions say limited regional funding and the competitive nature of grant programs make it difficult for some jurisdictions to advance projects. The ad hoc committee is tasked with exploring whether RTP policy language or an RTP appendix could create mechanisms — for example set‑asides or clearer eligibility criteria for match funding — that improve member agencies’ ability to secure external grants without moving to a formal numeric ranking system.

Discussion at the meeting centered on balancing collaboration and transparency. HCOG staff and TAC members said the committee seeks a process that preserves the collaborative, negotiated approach TAC members said has produced unanimous recommendations in past STIP cycles, rather than installing a rigid ranking rubric that might create “winners and losers.”

Public comment from Colin Fisk of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities urged the committee to explicitly link RTP policy goals to project selection. “It would be very beneficial to connect those two in this next round of the RTP and to actually use the policy goals to assess and prioritize the projects that are listed,” Fisk said, urging clearer, consistent standards to improve public transparency.

Board members asked staff to clarify the scope and authority of the ad hoc group, including whether the output would be a prioritized list, criteria, or policy language that permits certain projects to be designated as priorities for match or set‑aside funds. Staff and TAC members emphasized a distinction they repeatedly drew between “prioritization” (identifying eligible or priority projects) and “ranking” (a numerical ordered list).

Next steps: The six TAC volunteers will draft options for RTP policy language or accompanying guidance, return recommendations to the TAC for refinement, and then bring a final recommendation to HCOG’s board. The motion approved by the board asked the HCOG board to consider formation of the ad hoc committee and to receive the committee’s recommendations at future meetings.

Votes at a glance: The PAC recommendation to form the ad hoc committee was approved by voice vote. No roll‑call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.