HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 COT RESPONSE-DRAFT SCAG RTP & PEIR 02-05-08AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 5, 2008
TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: CITY OF TUSTIN RESPONSE TO DRAFT SCAG 2008 RTP AND DRAFT PEIR
SUMMARY
City Council authorization is requested for the City of Tustin's response to the Southern
California Association of Governments (SCAG) Draft 2008 Regional Transportation Plan
(RTP) and associated Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (DPEIR).
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council authorize the Mayor to send a comment letter to SCAG regarding the
Draft 2008 RTP and Draft PEIR.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this action.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
In accordance with federal law, SCAG is required to prepare a regional transportation plan
for the region every four years that prioritizes proposed transportation projects and
coordinates a balanced transportation system. The SCAG region is comprised of Imperial,
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties.
The RTP is a prerequisite for obtaining and allocating federal funding for regional
transportation projects. These projects are implemented by agencies other than SCAG.
SCAG has released the Draft 2008 RTP and PEIR for public review. However, due to the
complexity of the documents and the turnaround time provided by SCAG, Community
Development and Public Works Department staff are still reviewing the Draft RTP and
PEIR. Staff believes that it is in the City's interest to be on record regarding this matter
and requests that the Tustin City Council authorize the Mayor to send a comment letter
to SCAG prior to the February 19, 2008, due date for comments.
Staff has identified the following significant issues and concerns to be addressed in the
comment letter to SCAG:
City Council Report
SCAG 2008 RTP and PEIR
February 5, 2008
Page 2
• That SCAG use the 2006 Orange County Projections for population,
employment, and households in any adopted 2008 RTP growth forecast.
Presently, only the SCAG Baseline Growth Forecast incorporates local input.
SLAG has proposed a Policy Growth Forecast which redirects growth in the
region and proposes intensifying land use near transit stations and employment
centers and reducing growth in outlying communities to achieve reduced
congestion and vehicle miles traveled.
• That SCAG incorporate the Orange County Transportation Authority's list of
transportation projects submitted to SCAG for incorporation into the 2008 RTP.
These projects have already been included in OCTA's Long-Range
Transportation Plan and the Renewed Measure M Major Investment Plan.
• That SCAG remove mitigation measures in the Draft RTP PEIR that are not
related to transportation project delivery and implementation. For example, one
of the proposed mitigation measures that should be removed states that "Local
governments should adopt and implement General Plan Housing Elements that
accommodate the housing need identified through the RHNA (Regional Housing
Needs Assessment) process."
• That the City of Tustin supports the January 28, 2008, recommendation of the
OCTA Board of Directors that Orange County host cities and other local and
regional jurisdictions work with the OCTA to examine transit alternatives on the
Pacific Electric (PE) Railroad right-of-way. The Orangeline Development
Authority (OLDA) has proposed a high-speed magnetic levitation (Maglev)
system from Palmdale to Irvine that would traverse the PE right-of-way, which is
owned by the OCTA. However, the OCTA has not committed to making the
right-of-way available for use by the OLDA.
• That all Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) projects located
in Tustin be included in the 2008 RTP
Scott Reekstin
Senior Planner
Elizabeth A. Binsack
Community Development Director
S:\Cdd\CCREPORT\DPEIR SCAG 2008 RTP.doc