Regional Council Activity Report November 16, 1998
Executive Director’s Report
The Maricopa Association of Governments continues to dedicate
considerable energy to ensuring that the Maricopa Region gets
a fair distribution of dollars under the Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century. Those efforts notwithstanding, it is
important to note that we have been equally busy in a number of
other worthwhile projects.
In October, we held our first-ever Valley Freight Forum. With more than 100 industry stakeholders, legislators, and transportation users in attendance, we received valuable input on the needs and concerns of the freight community. Panelists reported that their most significant concerns involved congestion in the urban area. They also indicated that they were not interested in bypass routes, but would rather travel through metro areas where they had access to important goods and services.
On November 2nd, MAG began distribution of its Domestic Violence Safety Plan. The brochure contains tips to help domestic violence victims stay safe when living with or leaving an abuser. The brochure also contains a new local hotline number that, for the first time, can immediately identify available shelter space. The plan is being distributed with the help of numerous partners, including DES offices, Maricopa County food banks, five City of Phoenix Family Services Centers, 17 senior centers, 13 community action programs, seven school districts, six Valley hospitals, six community colleges and Arizona State University. American Express and the Valley of the Sun United Way are underwriting the cost of printing 150,000 brochures, including 50,000 copies in Spanish. The safety brochure marks the first step in development of a region-wide Domestic Violence Plan, which will coordinate the efforts of Valley cities in fighting this significant social issue.
MAG is also keeping a close eye on developments surrounding the year 2000 census. As a member of the national Census Advisory Committee, I have had a unique opportunity to outline my concerns over several outstanding census issues, such as problems surrounding the Bureau’s efforts to update local addresses using information provided by the U.S. Postal Service. The Committee is also monitoring oral arguments which begin this month in the Supreme Court over the use of statistical sampling to develop more accurate population estimates.
There is good news to report on ozone. The Environmental Protection Agency has extended the deadline for the Serious Area Ozone Plan to March 22, 1999. During the 1997 and 1998 summer ozone season, there were no violations. If there are no violations in 1999, the one-hour standard will be met. This area would then have until 2008 to meet the new eight-hour ozone standard.
Study Session Focuses on Funding, Programming Process
The Regional Council has directed MAG to work with the Arizona
Department of Transportation to ensure that suballocations of
increased federal funds are equitable under the “fair share”
concept of receiving one dollar back for every dollar collected
through state and federal gas taxes. Under a new funding allocation
and programming process being discussed with ADOT, a fundamental
change for allocating available state and federal transportation
funds would occur. The amount of funding to each region would
be guided by system criteria on a statewide basis, such as traffic
congestion, air quality and vehicle miles traveled. MAG would
work cooperatively with ADOT and the Regional Public Transportation
Authority in a stakeholder process to develop projects for the
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
ADOT estimates that during the five-year programming cycle for FY 1999-2004, it would receive approximately $2.2 billion dollars for its construction program from state and federal sources. ADOT further reports that although $1.4 billion of this total is not yet programmed to specific projects, it has designated about $800 million of the total to specific program categories, such as pavement preservation and system management. In a report to the Regional Council, MAG estimated that if those category allocations are left untouched, it would leave ADOT with approximately $628 million dollars available for programming. However, MAG did address the possibility that ADOT could retrieve and redistribute some of the money designated to those program categories, for a potential total of about $953 million.
During a presentation at the November 4th Regional Council Meeting, MAG Freeway Program Manager Eric Anderson was asked what MAG’s “fair share” would be, if the region were to receive a dollar back on every dollar collected. Eric estimated that a true “fair share” would equate to about $778 million over the programming cycle.
MAG has presented its findings to ADOT, and is awaiting a regional
funding estimate from the state as required under federal law.
For more information, contact Eric
Anderson, MAG Freeway Program Manager, 470-1107.
MAG Changes Approach to Public Outreach
In the past, MAG has relied mainly on public hearings to receive
input on its Transportation Improvement Program. Under a new,
more proactive approach, MAG will use focus groups, regional forums,
and “stakeholders involvement” processes — like
our recent Valley Freight Forum — to broaden this feedback.
This focus on community outreach will occur in all three phases
(early, mid- and final) of input. MAG is also committed to involving
Title VI populations in these input opportunities, and continues
to seek ways of reaching out to this important population.
For more information, contact John
Farry, MAG Transportation Planning Program Manager,
254-6300.
Safety Brochure First Step in Regional Domestic Violence
Plan
As mentioned above, MAG began distribution of its Domestic Violence
Safety Plan November 2nd. The plan, developed by MAG’s Domestic
Violence Subcommittee, is the first major step in a region-wide
campaign to fight domestic violence. The Subcommittee was formed
in May, after the Regional Council approved the development of
a regional domestic violence plan.
After meeting throughout the summer, the Subcommittee developed a proposed structure for this regional plan. The scope of the plan will include the following strategies: Prevention and Early Intervention; Crisis Intervention; Long-term Response; and Systems Coordination/Evaluation. There will be two phases to the process. One focuses on legislative initiatives, the other on actual plan development.
The legislative initiatives include creation of a “Domestic Violence Resolution,” supported by the League of Cities, the city of Tucson, and all of the cities and towns within Maricopa County. It addresses stiffer penalties for offenders, increased operational funding for the additional shelter beds created this past year, and additional funding for supervised probation.
The Subcommittee also spent considerable time studying model
planning frameworks utilized in Pima and Yavapai counties, and
has decided to adopt a modified version of this framework for
the Maricopa region. This is especially significant, because now
almost the entire state will be responding to domestic violence
using the same framework.
For more information, contact Carol
Kratz, Human Services Manager, or Kelly Taft, Public Communications
Program Manager, at 254-6300.
Valley Vision 2025
The Valley Vision 2025 process is in full swing, as 31 citizen-centered
collaborative groups around the Valley have begun efforts to reach
out to as many Valley citizens as possible. The “collaboratives”
are targeting businesses, small groups, organizations, and individual
citizens, to talk to them about their vision for the future. The
collaboratives will ask citizens their opinions on issues identified
by the Valley Vision 2025 Committee as crucial to the future of
the Valley.
To help the collaborative groups with their efforts, a survey
has been developed which contains 18 open-ended questions. The
questions are based around nine issue areas, including Economy,
Education, Cultural, Human Services, Natural Features, Public
safety/Civic Infrastructure, Public Utility/Governance, Transportation,
and Urban Features. This survey will also be made available on
the Valley Vision website at www.mag.maricopa.gov/vv2025, or through
the Valley Vision hotline, 452-5080.
For more information, contact Margot
Cordova, Valley Vision 2025 Program Manager,
254-6300.
Early TIP Guidelines Being Developed
Although funding estimates for the 1999-2004 programming cycle
are still pending, MAG has begun developing early guidelines for
the selection of projects for the FY 2000-2004 MAG TIP. A 1999
of the MAG Management System Report update has been prepared as
a guide for jurisdictions to use during the selection process.
The update includes results of six management systems as well
as socioeconomic factors.
In addition, a Regional Stakeholders meeting has been scheduled
for November 18, 1998 to bring all stakeholders together, including
MAG member agency representatives, to finalize the public input.
For more information, contact Terry
Johnson, MAG Transportation Manager, 254-6300.
Working Group Ranks Applications
The Enhancement Funds Working Group has received 15 enhancement
fund applications this year. Applications for local funds totaled
approximately $4.2 million for $5.5 million available statewide.
Applications for State funds received totaled approximately $2.4
million for $3.5 million available statewide. The Working Group
will ranked applications at its November 12, 1998 meeting. The
recommendations have been provided to members of the Management
Committee.
For more information, contact Terry
Johnson, MAG Transportation Manager, 254-6300.
Regional Council Retreat set for January
The Regional Council Retreat has been scheduled for January 8th
at the Buttes hotel in Tempe. This informal yet informative get-together
will focus on upcoming challenges and opportunities for the region,
as well as provide an opportunity to set goals and to review MAG’s
proposed strategic communication plan.
For more information, contact James
M. Bourey, Executive Director, 254-6300.
Next Regional Council Meeting
The next Regional Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, December
9th, 1998 at 5:00 p.m. Agenda items are expected to include additional
discussion regarding transportation funding, Proposed Amendments
to the FY 1999-2003 MAG Transportation Improvement Program, a
Transportation Management Systems Report, Submission of Applications
for the Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot
Program, a Transportation Planning/Programming Update, and more.
For more information, contact Dennis
Smith, Assistant Director, 254-6300.