RECEIVE update on the planned increase in passenger rail service along the coast corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles and RECOMMEND that the Agency Board appoint a 2018 representative to the Coast Rail Coordinating Council.

Progress since the last update  on the coast rail project to this Committee on November 6, 2017 includes meetings of the Coast Rail Coordinating Council Technical and Policy Committees and meetings related to the legislation to enable rail corridors to extend. Former Supervisor Dave Potter is the current representative to the Coast Rail Policy Committee.

The Coast Rail service project costs are still under evaluation. Appointing a representative to the CRCC entails covering the cost of travel to those meetings (up to the limits approved by Caltrans), which generally occur thrice yearly, and to Sacramento on behalf of the CRCC.

The Coast Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC) Technical Committee met on November 17 and December 15, and the next Policy Committee will be in Santa Barbara on January 19. Discussion topics included next steps on the bill to enable rail corridors to extend; new funding available for rail projects; the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); and the State Rail Plan.

CRCC Staff also met with Assembly Member Caballero, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) staff, and Department of Finance (DOF) Analyst Karen Finn, to discuss possible next steps on the legislation to enable intercity rail corridors to extend beyond their legislative boundaries. Staff will give a verbal update at the meeting.

In December 2016, the TAMC Board appointed Dave Potter to represent TAMC on the CRCC Policy Committee, of which Mr. Potter has been Chair for many years. The Board approved this appointment in recognition that Mr. Potter's long and respected experience in this role would benefit TAMC and the Coast Rail service project. Staff requests the Committee consider recommending that the Board re-appoint Mr. Potter to this position, which involves three Policy Committee meetings per year and semiannual trips to Sacramento to meet with state representatives. Mr. Potter has expressed a willingness to continue his efforts on behalf of TAMC and the CRCC, and the CRCC Policy Committee has expressed support for Mr. Potter to continue as CRCC Policy Committee Chair.

In 2017, Mr. Potter attended two CRCC Policy meetings in person and called in to a third meeting. Mr. Potter also attended legislative meetings in Sacramento in January and the annual Rail Summit in Sacramento in April. The total cost to TAMC for those 4 trips in 2017 was $816.09. These costs would be incurred regardless of whomever were to represent TAMC on the CRCC.  

Staff recommends this post be appointed annually, as our partner agencies the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) and Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) make annual appointments to the Policy Committee.