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MEMORANDUM - CITY OF PASADENA Department Of Transportation DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2008 TO: ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMISSION FROM: ~ FRED C. DOCK, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION UEA ACTION PLAN Provided below is an update on the Green City Action Plan approved by City Council on September 18, 2006, that pertain to the Department of Transportation (DOT). UEA Urban Design 1. Transportation Planning Document Review Update on planning documents incorporation of objectives, policies and implementation measures that support the coordination of land use and transportation with open space systems for recreation and ecological reconstruction, and disabled access and use. UPDATE: DOT continues to work with the community and other City agencies to implement the City s Mobility Element objectives to promote a livable community where people can circulate without cars by increasing the availability and use of transit, by promoting bicycle and pedestrian travel, by enforcing stricter parking requirements for new developments in transit-oriented zones, and by managing traffic on multimodal corridors to promote and improve Citywide transportation services. 2. Bicycle Master Plan Update: Since the adoption of the Bicycle Master Plan by the City Council in November 2000, DOT has been implementing a citywide bikeway system of over 60 new miles of bikeway and the installation of over 400 new bicycle racks to encourage the public to circulate the City without the use of cars. Outreach events such as the annual Bike to Work Day and Bike Week Pasadena held in May, distribution of the City Bicycle Map through several local businesses, the annual Bicycle Rodeo targeted to kids of all ages have also encouraged the increased use of this alternative mode of transportation. The City is actively pursuing grants from various sources, including Caltrans Local Assistance Program funding from the Bicycle Transportation Account. The Department of Transportation has recently advertised a Request for \\tr-admin-cs\users\tr-shared\eac\dot-uea Action Plan memo 2008-2009_Final.doc

Update on Dept. of Transportation UEA Action Plan October 21, 2008 Page 2 Proposals to hire a consultant to develop the City s new Bicycle Master Plan that is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009. 3. Transportation Funding Update on efforts to secure local, state and federal funding sources for multi-modal recreational transportation. Update: To date, the City of Pasadena has received $4.5 million in state and federal grants to implement the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Master Plan. The City is seeking $4.8 million through the next federal reauthorization to complete our ITS Master Plan. The unfunded $4.8 million will close fiber optic communication gaps accounting for over seven miles of fiber along 10 corridors. Installation of this fiber network will allow the City to reach more of the traffic signal network through fiber providing for increased communication bandwidth and the ability to monitor traffic conditions along additional corridors. Annually, the City complies with the Congestion Management Program (CMP) for the County of Los Angeles and submits a Local Development Report to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This report summarizes all new residential and commercial development that occurred in the City from June 1 through May 31 each year. By complying with the CMP, the City receives an annual average of $800,000 from gas tax funds, which is used to support transportation capital improvement projects. In November 2006, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 7076 establishing the Traffic Reduction and Transportation Improvement Fee. To date approximately $250,000 have been collected from new developments to be used to implement transportation projects required to address traffic generated by new development, such as enhancing intersection capacity and improving safety with the installation of traffic signals. The Fee will also be used to increase the frequency of service on the Pasadena Area Rapid Transit System (ARTS) routes. 4. ARTS Funding Update on expansion of the City s local transit service, Pasadena ARTS. Update: Pasadena Area Rapid Transit System (ARTS) is a local circulator system that is funded with local funds. Pasadena ARTS is not eligible for Federal, State, or Regional transit funds that come through Metro to other city operated transit systems such as Santa Monica s Big Blue Bus or Montebello Bus Lines. The primary source of funds to operate the Pasadena ARTS is the local share of the county-wide transit sales tax money referred to as Proposition A and Proposition C funds. The City of Pasadena receives these sales tax funds from Metro based on the City s population.

Update on Dept. of Transportation UEA Action Plan October 21, 2008 Page 3 Department of Transportation (DOT) staff continues to explore funding options to increase revenue for the operation of the Pasadena ARTS. 5. Public Transit Coordination Update on the facilitation and coordination of transit services within Pasadena provided by other agencies. Update: Pasadena is served by several regional transit agencies: Metro, Foothill Transit, City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation s Commuter Express, and Montebello Bus Lines. Pasadena s Department of Transportation staff maintains regular contact with staff from all the agencies to facilitate and coordinate transit services in Pasadena. This coordination includes the scheduling of special events that result in street closures. This ranges from small events like the Latino History Parade to major events such as the Rose Parade and new this year the Pasadena Marathon. The City is also invested in maintaining the existing level of service currently operating in Pasadena. To this end, the City actively worked to ensure that two Metro lines, the 177 and 256, were retained. DOT staff continues to have discussions with Metro regarding the operation of these two routes by Pasadena ARTS. The City also works with Metro in the establishment of special services such as the two Bus Rapid Transit routes in the City, the 780 operating from Pasadena to West Los Angeles; and the new 762 operating in Pasadena along Fair Oaks Avenue. The 762 operates from Pasadena to the Artesia Blue Line Station. DOT staff is working on a project associated with the 780 Bus Rapid service, signal priority along Colorado Boulevard. The City of Pasadena is working with Foothill Transit to explore the potential of becoming a member of the Foothill Transit Joint Powers Authority. This action will allow the City to have input into the policy decisions affecting Foothill services in Pasadena. DOT staff is also working with Foothill Transit to install signal priority equipment along Colorado Boulevard to improve service operation of Foothill Line 187. 6. TDM Update on implementation of the existing Transportation Demand Management strategies and Traffic Reduction Strategies Study. Update: Department of Transportation staff continues to implement existing Transportation Demand Management strategies through the Southern California Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)-.regulated Rule 2202 Employee Commute Reduction program/city of Pasadena employees Rideshare Program and through the implementation of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the City of Pasadena Trip Reduction Ordinance.

Update on Dept. of Transportation UEA Action Plan October 21, 2008 Page 4 The proposed amendments to the TRO have been developed to strengthen TDM requirement on new development in Pasadena and include the following three changes: Lowering the threshold from 100,000 square feet of new development, for certain transportation program requirements, to 75,000 sq. ft.; Applying trip reduction requirements to multi-family residential projects with 100 units or more and mixed-use projects with 50 or more residential units; and Renaming and restructuring the transportation management plan including: Monitoring and enforcement measures and a $250 daily penalty for non compliance; and establishing trip reduction performance goals. 7. Public Transit Marketing Update on the public transit marketing efforts, especially for housing located within 1/4 mile of transit stations. Update: DOT staff has continued to provide transit information to residents, people who are employed in the City and to visitors through a variety of programs. These programs include community events (e.g., Greening the Earth Day and Bike to Work Week events); neighborhood events (e.g., Garfield Heights, Councilmember Holden s annual event and West Pasadena Resident Association annual meeting); and employer events (e.g., Bike to Work, and Ride Share Fairs). Staff continues to update and install new bus stop information panels at major bus stop locations. Out reach through the City s In Focus brings news and updates about service to residents. Business Improvement Districts - Update on involvement of the BIDs to provide subsidized or free transit passes for downtown employees. Update: The Department of Transportation is working with the Old Pasadena Management District (OPMD) to implement a transit subsidy demonstration program. The program proposes to use revenues from the parking structures in Old Pasadena to provide a $50 subsidy towards the cost of a monthly transit pass for employees who currently purchase a monthly parking pass from OPMD. The goal of the program is to provide an incentive for employees to ride transit while freeing up parking for customers. 8. Carpool Update on enforcement of carpool parking requirements. Update: Department of Transportation staff continues to enforce the carpool parking requirements in support of the Southern California Air Quality Management District s Rule 2202 Employee Commute Reduction Program and the Los Angeles County Congestion Management Program/City of Pasadena s Trip Reduction Ordinance. The City currently monitors approximately 35

Update on Dept. of Transportation UEA Action Plan October 21, 2008 Page 5 regulated carpool sites annually to ensure compliance with carpool/preferential parking requirements. 9. Pasadena Transportation Management Association Update on leadership efforts with Pasadena TMA to encourage large developments and employers to promote alternative transportation programs. Update: Department of Transportation (DOT) staff continues to provide a leadership role in the Pasadena Transportation Management Association to support Trip Reduction Ordinance (TRO) regulated developments and employers to cultivate, implement and market alternative transportation programs for their tenants and employees (with assistance through Metro Employer based Programs) that reinforce compliance with the Southern California Air Quality Management District s Rule 2202 Employee Commute Reduction Program and the Los Angeles County s Congestion Management Program/City of Pasadena s TRO. DOT staff facilitates the bi-monthly TMA meetings that are attended by approximately 35-40 AQMD/TRO-regulated and non-regulated work sites. Bi monthly meetings are hosted by various businesses and developments throughout the City.