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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 2.A
Meeting Date: February 14, 2024
From: Tracey Hermosillo, City Clerk
Title: Presentation on Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) Draft Traffic Relief Plan
RECOMMENDATION:
This is for information only, there is no formal action required.
BACKGROUND:
By law, the RCTC is the regional transportation agency for Riverside County, which is governed by local city council members or mayors of every city and all five members of the County Board of Supervisors. RCTC has statutory authority to propose and implement voter-approved sales taxes for transportation projects, and for distribution of some state and federal transportation funds. RCTC serves as an advocate and representative for the transportation interests for Riverside County on policy and funding issues.
DISCUSSION:
In May 2020, the Commission adopted the Traffic Relief Plan (TRP or Plan), a transportation infrastructure planning and funding strategy for Riverside County residents. The TRP was developed over a years -long public and community engagement effort amongst Riverside County residents, its leaders and local stakeholder groups to identify solutions to fund a backlog of transportation improvements and to conceptualize the future transportation and mobility needs to support the County’s growing population and economy. This outreach included the robust launch of the #RebootMyCommute public engagement program in 2019, generating thousands of public comments from residents which were then used to finalize the Plan.
The Commission was in the midst of determining whether and how to fund the TRP, including consideration of a potential ballot measure before Riverside County voters in the 2020 general election, when the COVID -19 pandemic challenged public outreach and created economic uncertainty. Exploration of a local funding strategy subsequently ceased. Ultimately, the Commission decided not to move forward with a funding strategy in 2020 but did opt to approve the TRP as a statement of long -term
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transportation priorities.
The extent of Riverside County’s transportation needs has not changed since the TRP was adopted in 2020. However, the cost of delivering transportation projects has significantly increased and Riverside County’s population continues to grow faster than nearly all other parts of California. At its February 2023 Commission Workshop, Commissioners held dynamic discussions regarding the need for transportation funding to keep up with the population growth, adjust to new state transportation policies, and to ease traffic and congestion burden felt by Riverside County residents. As a result, the Commission directed staff to review and update the TRP to reflect any cost, funding, and policy changes since its original adoption.
In October 2023, the Commission approved the Draft 2024 TRP for public circulation and input. RCTC staff are conducting extensive outreach to hear from Riverside County residents on their transportation needs and feedback to the Plan. This feedback and input will inform the Commission as they finalize the Plan later this spring.
Anne Mayer, RCTC Executive Director an d Aaron Hake, RCTC Deputy Executive Director, will provide an overview of the draft Traffic Relief Plan and will be available to answer any questions that the City Council may have.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
None