In order to comply with Monterey County and State of California shelter-in-place orders, all Transportation Agency staff have been working remotely since March 16, except to complete essential financial activities. Staff have been able to work remotely utilizing virtual private network (VPN) connections to their office computers and/or using internet based productivity applications. Working remotely has been facilitated by the Agency's recent transition from an in-office computer server to cloud-based file storage and data back up. Agency staff has been working with vendors to shift from paper invoices and payment checks to digital invoices and electronic fund transfer payments. TAMC was also one of the first government agencies to hold a video public meeting and has provided advice and assistance to others, including Monterey-Salinas Transit and the Fort Ord Reuse Authority. Staff continues to refine these remote meeting techniques as experience with various software platforms, safeguards and public input strategies grows.
Agency staff have been providing its Go831 program clients sample telecommuting policies to support local businesses whose employees are now working at home. The Go831 and TAMC social media platforms have also been publishing tips and techniques supporting employers and employees in implementing home-based work.
Construction jobs must now be deemed essential in order to continue. While this only requires an agency declaration to do so, many jobs cannot be considered essential. The Salinas Rail Station project will halt after Stage 1, when the work on public streets will be completed. The remaining work within the rail station project area (Stage 2) will be delayed until the construction restrictions are lifted, for the safety of construction workers.
The Safe Routes to School program is working on creative ways to continue to deliver its program during the shelter-in-place orders. Agency staff is working with Ecology Action to develop techniques to teach on-line bicycle and pedestrian safety lessons - particularly timely since walking and bicycling for exercise has increased. The Salinas Safe Routes to School project and the Every Child safety education projects are impacted by County of Monterey Health Department staff being transferred to address the County's COVID-19 response. Staff is working out which components of these programs can proceed within the shelter-in-place guidelines.
Agency staff have been working closely with project sponsors and state regulatory agencies to address potential project delays due to the COVID-19 crisis. There are external risks to project schedules, such as the possibility that the shortened state legislative session could delay consideration of SB 1231 (Monning). This TAMC-sponsored legislation will allow the mitigation of potential impacts to the Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander habitat resulting from the State Route 156-Castroville Boulevard Interchange project. Staff has recently received word that this legislation is one of three bills that Senator Monning will continue to carry forward as time-sensitive. Otherwise, the SR 156 project is still on schedule to be ready for construction in 2022.
The US 101 - South of Salinas project study was in the middle of a broad public outreach effort, which is now being reframed. The team has already held a video meeting with the US 101 South of Salinas Traffic Safety Alliance, and are working to schedule video meetings with other stakeholder groups. In person outreach to harder-to-reach populations will be deferred until after the pandemic passes. Traffic counts for the study's technical analysis are postponed until traffic returns to normal conditions, hopefully in the fall.
The California Transportation Commission is considering relaxing some of its timely use of funds requirements to take into account any project delays caused by the shelter-in-place order. They are also considering delaying the due date for the Active Transportation Program grant applications, currently scheduled for mid-June.
While Measure X monies are forecast to be significantly less over the next three years, the program's existing fund balance along with new revenues will allow the Measure X program of projects to stay on track to meet programmed local match requirements for the next four years. That said, the anticipated loss of gas tax revenues will have a definite impact on the ability to deliver Measure X projects, unless the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and the various SB 1 programs are back-filled with a state or federal stimulus package.
The impact on TAMC's operating budget is currently being assessed and will be reported on when the final Agency budget is brought forward for adoption in May.