To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: APPROVE the DISSOLUTION of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee.
Recommendation: Recommendation of the County Administrator
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE the DISSOLUTION of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee, Countywide.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact. Staff efficiency and cost savings will be gained by eliminating the need to staff this committee and utilizing the Countywide Active Transportation Advisory Committee through the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
BACKGROUND:
The Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee (CBAC) was formed by the Board of Supervisors on August 4, 1992, as a requirement by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for agencies to receive input from bicycle groups through a Bicycle Advisory Committee, prior to applying for Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds. The formation of the CBAC was to provide a cost-efficient alternative to cities/towns and the County, other than forming individual bicycle advisory committees by each agency. The formation was endorsed by the City County Engineering Advisory Committee and the Mayors’ Conference.
The CBAC provides input to cities/towns and the County for funds to construct bicycle/pedestrian projects and provides advice on bicycle planning matters.
The CBAC is comprised of sixteen (16) seats, including the following:
• Five (5) District Representatives, each representing one of the Board of Supervisors Districts
• Eight (8) Bicycle Organization Representatives, each representing one Bicycle Organization that uses the roads in Contra Costa County
• One (1) Mayors' Conference Representative
• One (1) East Bay Regional Park District Representative
• One (1) Bicycle Industry Representative
The California Highway Patrol and Superintendent of Schools serve in an ex officio capacity as resources only. The qualifications for membership on the committee are to live or work in the County. Each representative should designate an alternate who must also live or work in the County.
The CBAC meets once a year to advise the cities/town and the County on which projects should be a priority for application of TDA funds.
The Public Works Department has administered the TDA grant program on behalf of Contra Costa County and its cities for over 35 years. Public Works staff have also served as staff to the CBAC to facilitate the TDA grant process. The Public Works Department committed to administering the TDA grant program before the existence of the County congestion management agency or known today as the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA). Through the function of CCTA, CCTA formed the Countywide Active Transportation Advisory Committee (CATAC, formerly Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (CBPAC)), which has a very similar function to the CBAC. After discussion with CCTA staff, they agree with County staff’s proposal to utilize the CATAC to serve as the Bicycle Advisory Committee required for the TDA grant process. Therefore, there will no longer be a need for the CBAC.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to approve the recommendation will require County staff to continue to staff the CBAC and efficiencies will not be realized through the utilization of CCTA’s CATAC.