July 18, 2008
TO:       &nbs p;         ;  Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM:       &n bsp;    Alan Tandy, City Manager
SUBJECT:     General Information

 
 
• It begins!  See the attached story from today’s Los Angeles Times.  The Legislature is now talking about the capture of City funds and transportation dollars.  Most unfortunate!  An alert from the League of California Cities is attached.
 
• The City will be requesting approval to advance Phase I of the Westside Parkway Project (Mohawk Street from Rosedale Highway to Truxtun Avenue) from final design to construction in September 2008.
 
When a lead agency requests approval to spend money on a project, the Federal Clean Air Act requires FHWA to make a determination that a project is in conformity with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) State Implementation Plans (SIPs).  Currently, one of the SIPs has been delayed due to recent dust storms, which has delayed KernCOG’s new Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP), and, possibly, may impact federally-funded projects listed in the FTIP.
 
The Westside Parkway is listed in the current FTIP with the initial phases funded through the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).  The State has utilized State-only money to fund previous phases of this project, and we anticipate that the STIP will continue to be funded with State-only money.  Caltrans has previously approved the environmental, design, and right-of-way components of the Westside Parkway.  The City is proceeding under the assumption that the construction component will also be approved based on the project being listed in the 2007 KernCOG Regional Transportation Plan and 2007 FTIP.
 
• CalTrans will be holding several neighborhood informational meetings next week.  The first meeting will be held on Monday, July 21st at McKinley School from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the Centennial Corridor “Union Avenue” freeway alignment.  Westpark focus group meetings will be held on July 24th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Assembly Manor (4801 California Avenue Club House) and from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 19 Morrison Street.  A meeting with the Westgate Winds Homeowners Association will be held on July 25th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 5200 Dunsmuir Road.