REPORT Thomas Walters & Associates, Inc.

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1 REPORT Thomas Walters & Associates, Inc. March 8, 2012 Santa Barbara County Association of Governments Washington, D.C. Advocacy Report SBCAG Chair/Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joni Gray, SBCAG Vice Chair/City of Goleta Mayor Pro Tem Roger Aceves and SBCAG Public Information Coordinator Gregg Hart traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings February 29 March 1 to advocate in support of SBCAG s Federal legislative platform. SBCAG s Washington Advocate, Thomas Walters & Associates, Inc., arranged and participated in the itinerary, which included meetings with key Congressional offices and Federal Agencies. The meetings included: Organizational meeting with Thomas Walters & Associates, Inc. Congressman Elton Gallegly Jonathan Levenshus, Legislative Director to Congresswoman Lois Capps Matthew Nelson, Professional Staff to Senator Dianne Feinstein Kyle Chapman, Professional Staff to Senator Barbara Boxer Tyler Rushforth, Majority Committee Counsel for Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Robert McCarthy, Professional Staff to Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Debbie Merrill, Legislative Director to Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) Polly Trottenberg, Associate Administrator for Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation and Beth Osborne, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Kellyn Blossom, Associate Director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs This advocacy trip was part of our 2012 targeted legislative strategy to advocate for surface transportation legislation reauthorization and to position SBCAG to take advantage of funding opportunities at the Federal level. Legislation to reauthorize surface transportation legislation is one of the central issues this year. This legislation will impact a broad scope of policies for highway,

2 2 transit and highway safety programs, as well as the funding needed to implement these efforts. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) expired at the end of FY 2009 and the difficulty in identifying resources for funding these programs has repeatedly delayed reauthorization legislation. The authority has been extended several times through stop-gap legislation, with the latest extension due to expire March 31, Both the House and the Senate have been drafting reauthorization legislation in recent months. Last fall, Chairwoman Boxer of the Environment and Public Works Committee took the lead in the Senate on drafting S. 1813, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century Act (MAP-21), a bipartisan, two year bill that would essentially maintain current base-line levels of funding for transportation programs. In the House, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Mica (R-FL) drafted H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, which is a five-year bill that would be partially funded through several controversial provisions including increased Outer Continental Shelf oil development. Both the House and the Senate have begun considering their respective versions of legislation to reauthorize SAFETEA-LU, but the process has been slowed due to controversial provisions in the House bill and the logjam of proposed amendments to both bills. Subsequent to your meetings, Senate leaders have agreed to a list of amendments to be offered to MAP-21, which will allow that legislation to move forward. In addition, due to internal party divisions, House Speaker Boehner recently announced that H.R. 7 would be drastically re-written to be closer to the bipartisan approach of the Senate. Both of these actions will make it more likely that a compromise bill can be enacted later in the year. The timing of SBCAG s advocacy meetings allowed your delegation to address key issues of funding and policy in the pending legislation and to advocate for changes during floor consideration of the bills and in the eventual House-Senate Conference Committee on the final version of the legislation. Although Congress is currently operating under a self-imposed moratorium on project earmarks, the trip was also an opportunity to build support for your projects and to advocate for funding in the TIGER IV discretionary grant program. It specifically provided the opportunity to stress the regional significance of the US 101 widening project, to highlight its support as the highest regional priority by all SBCAG member agencies, and to emphasize the importance of Highway 101 to the Central Coast. It also provided the opportunity to explore additional alternative funding opportunities for the project through other potential Federal resources.

3 3 The projects that SBCAG is seeking support for through the TIGER IV discretionary grant process are: US 101 Carpinteria Creek Bridge Highway 246 Safety Improvements Pre-applications for these projects have been submitted to DOT and full applications are due by March 19, For each of the meetings, SBCAG provided appropriate background information on pending legislative issues, fact sheets on project requests, and overview maps. The significance of the 101 to area military installations and space operations at Vandenberg AFB was a major part of our presentation in all of our meetings. In addition, briefing materials for the Central Coast Coalition effort to highlight the importance of the corridor were provided and were well-received. Summary of Meetings Delegation Meetings House Delegation Meetings with the local Congressional delegation focused first on the SAFETEA-LU reauthorization issues in pending legislation, and then on your project proposals. SBCAG urged House members to ensure that reauthorization legislation retain provisions currently in H.R. 7 to grandfather in all existing Metropolitan Planning Organizations. By contrast, the Senate bill would eliminate MPOs that are under 200,000 in size. SBCAG stressed your unique regional role in creating accountable and transparent transportation infrastructure investments in Santa Barbara County. Earlier, Congresswoman Capps took the lead in urging the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to protect MPOs. House offices were also briefed on the importance of retaining a dedicated stream of funding for Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to Schools. The impact on SBCAG and local agencies would be significant as all the local agencies apply for these funds and their availability helps leverage the Measure A Safe Routes to School funds. The SBCAG also requested support for maintaining funding for the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund. H.R. 7 would delete the dedicated Mass Transit Account and also eliminate the 2.86 cents per gallon that is currently put into the Account from motor fuel taxes. House Republican Leaders have subsequently indicated that they would revise H.R. 7 to retain the Mass Transit Account.

4 4 The House members were also asked to retain the current requirement that States must spend 15 percent of Highway Bridge Program funding on local bridges that are not on the Federal-aid system. H.R. 7 would eliminate both the current Highway Bridge program and the off-system bridge set-aside. Congresswoman Capps is co-sponsoring a proposed amendment to retain the off-system bridge setaside, and both Congresswoman Capps and Congressman Gallegly signed onto a joint letter to the Committee in support of the program. In both meetings with the local House Delegation, the importance of the Highway 101 Widening Project was reiterated, as was its status as the number one regional priority for SBCAG and its member agencies. Santa Barbara s self-help status as a result of Measure A was highlighted in relation to all of the projects being advocated. Congressman Gallegly is retiring at the end of his current term, but expressed recognition of the importance of the 101 Corridor and the benefits of the widening to VAFB and Pt. Mugu. Congresswoman Capps staff also expressed continuing support for the 101 project as her highest transportation priority. They were very appreciative of the Central Coast Coalition effort and agreed to continue working in support of SBCAG s project applications. In addition, they briefed SBCAG on a provision included in H.R. 7 that would direct State Departments of Transportation to give consideration to the condition and effectiveness of local evacuation routes when dispersing Federal transportation funds. This provision had its genesis in SBCAG s discussion of transportation issues with Congresswoman Capps during the 2011 SBCAG advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. Senate Delegation Our meetings with Senator Feinstein s transportation staffer, Matthew Nelson, and Senator Boxer s personal office staffer, Kyle Chapman, emphasized issues that are pending in MAP-21. Because of the Senate provisions to eliminate MPOs that are under 200,000 in size, this was a significant part of our discussion with the Senate offices. Mr. Nelson indicated that Senator Feinstein would support efforts to protect current MPOs out of recognition of the importance of local government s role in transportation planning. SBCAG also requested their support for the Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to Schools Programs and for retaining the current off-system bridge set-aside. The Senate bill would retain the current Mass Transit Account in the Highway Trust Fund, so that was not a part of our briefing. In both meetings, SBCAG stressed the regional significance of the Highway 101 project and urged support for your grant applications. Both offices indicated a willingness to be supportive, and Mr. Chapman urged SBCAG to work with Senator

5 5 Boxer s staff in California as well. In addition, Mr. Nelson urged SBCAG to consider the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, which provides Federal credit assistance in the form of direct loans, loan guarantees, and standby lines of credit to finance surface transportation projects, as a source of support for the Highway 101 Project. Under MAP-21 and H.R. 7, TIFIA would be dramatically expanded. SBCAG also thanked Mr. Chapman for Senator Boxer s efforts to persuade President Obama to name a person to the Amtrak Board of Directors who was familiar with and sympathetic to the rail issues on the west coast. He indicated that the issue pre-dated his time on Boxer s staff, so he was particularly appreciative of the information provided and the opportunity to get up-to-speed on the issue. Central Coast Coalition The meeting with Robert McCarthy was an opportunity to brief House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy s (R-CA) transportation staff on the Central Coast Coalition. As a member of the Republican Leadership and one of the members of Congress who currently represents San Luis Obispo County, Congressman McCarthy could have an important role in developing statewide support for the project. Robert McCarthy was very familiar with the transportation issues in the region, including the importance of the 101 Corridor. The current earmark moratorium severely limits the opportunities for funding the project, but there may be future ways to work in a coordinated fashion on behalf of the 101 corridor. Likewise, the meeting with Debbie Merrill provided an opportunity to develop support for the 101 corridor and to highlight the Coalition. Congressman Farr represents Monterey County and is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. Committee Meeting SBCAG met with Tyler Rushforth, Counsel for the Committee on Environment and Public Works, which has jurisdiction over the highway portion of SAFETEA-LU. Senator Boxer is Chair of the Committee and has taken the lead on drafting and advocating for MAP-21. In addition to thanking him for Senator Boxer s leadership on transportation issues, SBCAG also briefed him on the negative impact of several provisions in the bill and asked for their agreement to mitigating amendments. SBCAG expressed concern about the provisions in MAP-21 to eliminate MPOs that are under 200,000 in size. SBCAG also requested support for the Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to Schools Programs and for retaining the current off-system bridge set-aside.

6 6 Mr. Rushforth indicated that several possible amendments were being negotiated on these issues and that the impact on SBCAG would be taken into account as the bill is debated. He also explained that the bipartisan nature of the Senate bill required Senator Boxer to compromise with members of the Committee and the Senate who represent different constituencies and have differing philosophical commitments. SBCAG took the opportunity to re-brief Mr. Rushforth on the specifics of the regional significance of the Highway 101 project and urged support for the project. Mr. Rushforth reiterated the support of Senator Boxer for these types of projects, but lamented the ability to direct funding to them under the current moratorium on earmarks. Administration Meetings Department of Transportation SBCAG s meeting with Polly Trottenberg, Associate DOT Administrator for Policy, focused on opportunities for discretionary grant funding for the Highway 101 Project and the Highway 246 Project. Ms. Trottenberg oversees the TIGER Grant Program, and she included other key DOT officials who run that program in the meeting, including Beth Osborne, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy and several of her staff. The meeting provided the opportunity to advocate in support for SBCAG s TIGER IV applications for the projects and to continue to explore other funding options. SBCAG briefed DOT on the Central Coast Coalition and explained the importance of the 101 Corridor. Ms. Trottenberg is very familiar with Highway 101 and understood the impact on the region of closures on I-5. In addition, SBCAG stressed the impact on military bases in the area, including Pt. Mugu and Vandenberg AFB. DOT indicated that local leveraging of the Federal funds would be important and help to set the project apart from others. In addition, they stressed the importance of addressing the specific criteria in the grant announcement. Although there are five main categories of criteria, it is not necessary to score very high in all five. Most successful grant TIGER applications have scored very high in two or three of the criteria. In addition, project readiness and innovative features are important for setting projects apart from others. Also, the inclusion of Highway 101 improvements in the regions multi-modal strategic plan to deal with congestion should be emphasized to set it apart from other highway projects. DOT also cautioned about including support letters from stakeholders who are not also financial partners. Support from the military or other regional entities would

7 7 be much more important to DOT if the beneficiaries were also willing to help fund the project, even if it were only conditional on obtaining a TIGER grant. $500 million has been appropriated for a fourth round of TIGER Grants this year. SBCAG has submitted pre-applications for the two projects and final applications are due March 19. DOT staff is available to discuss the details of the application process with SBCAG staff. White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs The OIG is a key point of contact at the White House for local government agencies. SBCAG requested the support of Associate Director Kellyn Blossom for Presidential appointment of an Amtrak Board Member from California. SBCAG noted that California has the highest Amtrak usage of any State in the nation and that the Pacific Surfliner is Amtrak s third busiest route. In addition, SBCAG provided her with a copy of a California House-Senate Delegation letter on this issue. Because of the sensitivities of Presidential personnel appointments, she was not able to reply specifically as to who was under consideration, but Ms. Blossom indicated that the letter was under consideration and that a reply would be forthcoming. Summary of Key Findings Meetings with the local Congressional delegations were timely in reinforcing support for SBCAG s SAFETEA-LU reauthorization issues, since both the House and the Senate are actively developing this legislation. Enactment of SAFETEA-LU reauthorization legislation will be limited by the need to replenish the Highway Trust Fund. As a result, the traditional sixyear reauthorization legislation is less likely to occur than a two-year bill. Future reauthorization efforts will continue to face this growing problem. The local House Delegation and Senators Boxer and Feinstein are supportive of many of the issues advocated by SBCAG during this trip. The overarching process of moving reauthorization legislation forward will require considerable negotiation between the very different versions proposed by the House and the Senate. As expected, the more controversial provisions included in H.R. 7 are forcing House Republican Leaders to move in the direction of the bipartisan approach proposed in MAP-21. The continuation of the earmark moratorium means that the TIGER IV Grant Process is a key opportunity for funding SBCAG s projects. Although Vandenberg Air Force Base remains an important factor affecting regional transportation needs, the meetings also highlighted the importance of other factors for the 101 Highway Widening Project, including: o Santa Barbara is a self-help County where residents have taxed themselves through Measure A, o Any Federal funds to the project will be leveraged with significant non- Federal funds,

8 8 o The region is dependent on the Highway 101 Corridor in the event of a need for emergency evacuation, o The State is dependent on the 101 Corridor in the event of an I-5 closure o The economic benefits of the project, improvements to air quality and the state of good repair directly address key criteria in the TIGER IV grant process. Follow-Up Actions The Washington, D.C., Advocacy trip of February 29 - March 1 by Chair Gray, Vice Chair Aceves and Public Information Coordinator Gregg Hart was a key component in SBCAG s implementation of its 2012 Federal Legislative Strategy. Follow-up actions as a result of this trip are consistent with that Strategy, and include: Maintain close contact with DOT staff regarding the development of TIGER IV Grant applications for the 101 Corridor and Highway 246. Submit applications by March 19. Continue ongoing local efforts to maintain and express regional support for the Agenda in general and the Highway 101 Widening Project as the highest priority in particular. Obtain letters for support for TIGER IV applications from the Local Delegation. Request financial support for the project from the military. Continue to develop and implement the Central Coast Coalition to highlight the importance of the Highway 101 Corridor to the entire State of California and the nation. Research the TIFIA program as a potential source of support for SBCAG projects. Continue to advocate in the SAFETEA-LU reauthorization process with both the local Congressional delegation and the committees of jurisdiction for policies and programs of importance to SBCAG. Monitor the amendment process for MAP-21 and H.R. 7 for opportunities to continue advocacy on the following issues: o Retaining all existing Metropolitan Planning Organizations. o Dedicating a stream of funding for the Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to Schools Programs. o Maintaining funding for the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund. o Setting aside funding for local bridges that are not on the Federal-aid system.

Here is a link to Chairman Mica s press statement, a link to Speaker Boehner s statement and a link to House T&I Ranking Member Rahall s statement.

Here is a link to Chairman Mica s press statement, a link to Speaker Boehner s statement and a link to House T&I Ranking Member Rahall s statement. November 18, 2011 Once again, this has been a very busy week for infrastructure/transportation news. Congress passed and the President signed the FY 12 appropriations minibus bill which includes annual