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Commission adopts 2014 STIP guidelines after debate over performance reporting thresholds
Summary
After a public hearing and extensive comment from regional agencies and MPOs, the commission adopted 2014 STIP guidelines with staff-proposed edits including an adjusted threshold for project-level reporting and a deletion of a conflicting bullet in the draft.
The commission adopted the 2014 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) guidelines after a hearing that drew multiple regional transportation planning agencies and district staff to comment.
Nut graf: The adopted package keeps a focus on performance‑based reporting while adjusting the threshold that triggers project‑level reporting — the commission approved a compromise requiring project‑level benefit reporting for projects with a total cost of $50 million or more or $15 million or more in STIP funds, and directed staff to remove a conflicting bullet on page 40 of the draft guidelines.
What happened at the hearing - Regional representatives and MPOs urged caution and asked the commission not to adopt reporting requirements that could be premature or onerous while federal MAP‑21 performance rules remain under development. Speakers asked for flexibility for regions still developing sustainable communities strategies and for clearer explanation of how the commission would use the new reporting.
- Commission staff and the chair argued the guidelines provide flexibility; staff noted regions may state “not applicable” if a listed performance measure does not reflect regional goals.
- After public comment and commissioner discussion, the commission voted to adopt the guidelines with the two staff edits described above.
Voices and positions - Mitch (CTC staff lead): emphasized the guidelines’ flexibility and the origin of many measures from MPO practice, and proposed the compromise threshold of $50 million total cost or $15 million in STIP funds.
- Regional speakers (SCAG, SANBAG, OCTA and others): supported limiting changes to those required by MAP‑21 and urged deferring other new reporting until federal rules and legislation are clear.
Ending The commission directed staff to implement the edits and proceed with the STIP cycle under the adopted guidelines; staff also plans to review the reporting approach in the next STIP cycle if needed.
