October 11, 2019
One of the highlights of the joint meeting of the California Air Resources Board and the California Transportation Commi...
Agency Type:
Responsibilities:
Overview:
Fresno COG’s primary functions are transportation planning and programming. As a state-designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) and federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Fresno County, Fresno COG must comply with both designation requirements. Fresno COG prepares a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) that looks 25 years into the future, and sets policies for a wide variety of transportation options and projects. It guides how and where people and goods will travel by identifying both existing and needed transportation facilities. Fresno COG prepares the region’s Federal Transportation Improvement Program, a four-year program of financially constrained transportation projects consisting of highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects that are selected through an approved project selection process.
Fresno County voters approved Measure C, a ½ cent transportation sales tax, in 1986 and again in 2006. Fresno COG prepared the Measure C Expenditure Plan, a guide to how $1.2 billion in Measure C transportation dollars will be spent through the year 2027. It was prepared with our partners, the cities, the County, Caltrans and the Fresno County Transportation Authority (administrators of the tax) and other community stakeholder groups.
Fresno COG implements several Measure C programs. (For information on the Measure C sales tax visit www.measurec.com). Staff operates the Measure C Carpool Incentive Program, the Commuter and Farmworker Vanpool Subsidy Programs, the Measure C Taxi Scrip Program for seniors, and the Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program. Fresno COG planning staff also oversees Measure C studies and develops the Measure C Regional Program’s Short- and Long-Term Plans.
The federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) gives Fresno COG direct responsibility for determining how two federal program funds are spent within Fresno County. The two programs are the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) and the Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Program (CMAQ). In addition, the state vested responsibility in Fresno COG for the federal portion of the Transportation Enhancement Program (TE). These federal programs have strict project eligibility criteria. Project nominations are sought by Fresno COG from eligible agencies and then proceed through a selection process resulting in a project listing adopted by the Policy Board. Fresno COG’s approval is required before these state and federal funds can be utilized by the local agencies.
At the state level, the Transportation Development Act created two funds: The Local Transportation Fund (LTF), a portion of state sales tax that returns to local government for funding of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, public transportation or streets and roads, and the State Transit Assistance Fund (STA), derived from a portion of the diesel fuel tax that supports public transportation services. Both funds are apportioned to member agencies on a population basis, though some of the STA funds are apportioned directly to transit operators based on their farebox revenues.
Fresno is one of 8 MPOs that make up the San Joaquin Valley Policy Council.
Primary Funding Sources:
Fresno COG is partially supported by contributed dues from its 16 members, however, the major revenue sources include federal and state grants.
Population Represented:
984,541
Staff:
25
Program Highlights:
Related Stories:
Board Makeup:
The Policy Board is comprised of 15 members who represent the incorporated cities within Fresno County, and 1 member who represents the Chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. The Board has a “double-weighted” voting system, which provides for an urban/rural balance. Each member has a percentage vote based upon population. To approve any action, a majority of board members must vote in the affirmative (9 out of 16) and the affirmative voting members must represent at least 40% of the county’s population.
Executive Director:
Tony Boren
CALCOG Board Representative:
Gary Yep, Mayor, City of Kerman
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