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Transportation Commission approves consent calendar, multiple allocations and program amendments; earmark reallocation proceeds under deadline
Summary
At its Riverside meeting the Transportation Commission approved the consent calendar (with one recusal and a separate vote on that item), moved multiple Proposition 1B, TCIF and SHOP allocations, accepted several baseline agreements and amended programs to reallocate federal earmarks ahead of a December 31 obligation deadline.
The Transportation Commission handled a full consent and action calendar and approved multiple allocations, baseline agreements and program amendments affecting TCIF, Proposition 1B and SHOP/STIP funding.
Minutes and consent calendar: The commission approved the minutes of Oct. 24 and approved the consent calendar (agenda items 21–70) with item 31 withdrawn for Commissioner Simi's recusal. The commission later approved item 31 after the commissioner left the room.
TCIF and Proposition 1B reports and actions: Commissioners heard coalition status updates for the TCIF program (Northern California, Southern California and San Diego coalitions). Kenneth Kao reported the Northern coalition had six unallocated projects and flagged one high‑risk project—the Tehachapi Trade Corridor Rail Improvement Project—where environmental work discovered an endangered species and may require recirculation of environmental documents. Patricia Chen (LA Metro) and Jose Nuncio (SANDAG) summarized allocation schedules and risk categories for Southern California and San Diego projects.
Earmark reallocation: Denis Anbier (Caltrans Local Assistance) reported on FHWA guidance allowing states to reallocate unobligated balances from FY2004–2006 earmarks. California had 71 projects with about $43,000,000 unobligated; 38 sponsors indicated they could obligate roughly $21,900,000 by the 11/01 request deadline, while 33 sponsors could not. Caltrans worked with regional agencies to identify 22 alternate projects for reallocation and submitted requests for obligation for those 22 projects so California can compete for redistribution from other states. The FHWA memorandum requires obligation by Dec. 31, 2012 for California to retain the funds.
Major allocations and approvals (votes at a glance): - Approval of consent calendar (items 21–70, minus item 31) — outcome: approved by voice vote ("Aye"). - Item 31 (commissioner recusal handled; item approved after recusal) — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 79 — Approval of four HRSA baseline agreements (Lathrop Road grade separation; Grant Leighton Road grade separation; Marina Bay Parkway; Navy Drive BNSF underpass) — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 85 & 86 — Acceptance of final EIRs, findings and statements of overriding considerations for La Pata Avenue gap closure / Camino Del Rio extension (Orange County) and Foothill Parkway westerly extension (Riverside County) — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 98 — HRSA baseline amendment for Nogales Street grade separation (City of Industry) — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 100 — SHOP allocation: $2,330,000 for three SHOP Minor projects (including a Wylie Wells safety/roadside project on Route 10 in Riverside County) — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 101 — SHOP allocation: $65,056,000 for 11 SHOP projects (largest $34,000,000 on Route 10, Los Angeles County) — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 102 — STIP allocation: $4,300,000 for Route 46 project (San Luis Obispo County) — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 103 — STIP allocations: $1,341,000 for 11 locally administered STIP projects — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 105 — Route 99 reserve allocation: $1,400,000 — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 107 — Local Bridge Seismic Retrofit annual allocation: $4,000,000 — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 108 — TCIF allocation to Project #87: $12,700,000 — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Items 109 & 110 — Allocations of Proposition 1B State and Local Partnership funds for a set of locally administered projects (9 highway/road projects and one transit project) — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 112 — Multifunded allocation request (STIP and State and Local Partnership) — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 113 — STIP allocations for three transit projects, including the Perris Valley project referenced in the Riverside presentation — outcome: approved by voice vote. - Items 114–117 — Requests for extensions of contract award deadlines (multiple projects) — outcome: approved by voice vote.
Program amendments and reallocations: The commission approved multiple TCIF baseline amendments and program amendments to reflect project schedule changes, CMA savings programming to the Dvor interchange project (items 81–84 family) and a program amendment to substitute a bridge project where the original Sacramento River Deepwater Channel project could not be delivered. Staff noted that the substitute bridge project offered greater quantified benefits than the original port project.
Why it matters: The votes allocate and program hundreds of millions of dollars to projects statewide, advance environmental approvals and baselines for construction, and move unobligated earmark funds into projects that can meet FHWA’s Dec. 31 obligation deadline—actions that directly influence which projects can start construction and when.
Next steps and follow‑up: Caltrans staff said they would continue working with the eight councils of governments on State Route 99 reserve needs and with project sponsors to obligate earmark reallocation funds before the federal deadline. Several commissioners urged clearer, documented explanations in informational materials when projects are replaced or withdrawn, especially when federal permitting delays are involved.
