San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA)

Upcoming Meetings

May 24, 2013 at 1:30 pm

SJJPA Board Meeting Agenda

SJJPA May Complete Board Packet

Historic City Hall, Council Chambers

915 I Street, Sacramento CA 95814

• July 26, 2013 - location & time TBD
• September 27, 2013 - location & time TBD
• November 22, 2013 - location & time TBD

About the SJJPA

The "Intercity Passenger Rail Act of 2012" (AB 1779), authored by Assemblymember Galgiani was passed with bi-partisan support by the Legislature on August 30, 2012 and signed by Governor Brown on September 29, 2012. AB 1779 reauthorizes regional government agencies' ability to form the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) to take over the governance/management of the existing San Joaquin intercity passenger rail service between Bakersfield-Fresno-Modesto-Stockton-Sacramento-Oakland.

AB 1779 defines the composition of the SJJPA, and extends the time for creating the SJJPA and executing an interagency transfer agreement with the Department of Transportation to June 30, 2015. In order to transfer responsibility of the San Joaquin intercity passenger rail service to the SJJPA, AB 1779 requires that the transfer must result in administrative or operating cost reductions. With this measure, the SJJPA is required to protect existing services and facilities and seek to expand service as warranted by ridership and available revenue. Increases in the San Joaquin intercity rail service and ridership will result in more jobs, improved air quality, and will help promote sustainable development in the San Joaquin Valley. Under the provisions of AB 1779, the state will continue to provide the funding necessary for service operations, administration and marketing. Furthermore, Caltrans Division of Rail would remain responsible for the development of the Statewide Rail Plan and the coordination and integration between the three state-supported intercity passenger rail services.  AB 1779 enables a better, stronger partnership between the local and regional agencies within the San Joaquin Corridor and the state to support and improve the existing San Joaquin intercity rail service.

AB 1779 follows the model of the Capitol Corridor intercity passenger rail service. Over the last 15 years, without direct financial contribution by member agencies, the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) has successfully managed the Capitol Corridor between Auburn and San Jose. In addition to more cost effective administration and operations, the CCJPA has shown that there are several other potential benefits to local authority administration of intercity passenger service including:

• The ability to have a stronger voice in advocating for service improvements and expansions;
• Local decision-making that is more responsive and adaptive to passenger issues;
• The ability to take better advantage of joint marketing and partnerships with local agencies; and
• More engagement by local communities to support the service.

AB 1779 was supported by a number of Central Valley local and regional agencies. It was sponsored by the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, Sacramento Regional Transit, the Central Valley Rail Working Group, and the San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council.  The SJJPA could be formed once six of the eleven potential Member Agencies identified in AB 1779 signed the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement and appointed members to the board. There are currently ten Member Agencies that make up the SJJPA (Alameda County, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, Fresno Council of Governments, Kings County Association of Governmetns, Madera County Transportation Commission, Merced County Association of Governments, Sacramento Regional Transit, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, Stanislaus Council of Governments and Tulare County Association of Governments). The first San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority Board meeting was held on March 22, 2013 at the Merced Civic Center Board Room.  Merced County Supervisor John Pedrozo was elected to be the first Chairperson of the SJJPA.  Two Vice-Chairs were also elected: Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea and Sacramento City Council Member Steve Cohn.  Actions taken on March 22 include adoption of SJJPA Bylaws and a Conflict of Interest Code, and approving a comment letter on the Draft State Rail Plan and a letter of support for the Intercity Passenger Rail Program. 

AB 1779 dictates that the SJJPA can’t take over administrative responsibility of the San Joaquin service until at least July 2014.  The SJJPA must first select a Managing Agency to provide all necessary administrative support for the SJJPA, develop a Business Plan and have it approved by the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, and negotiate and execute an interagency transfer agreement with the state.

A key role of the SJJPA is to advocate for the San Joaquin Rail Service and the California Intercity Passenger Rail Program as a whole.  This effort has already begun.  The SJJPA is working with the supporters and sponsors of AB 1779, the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board, the LOSSAN Board, the Coast Rail Coordinating Council and other partners to advocate for conventional intercity rail service improvements in California.  This is particularly important this year.  Section 209 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008 requires that all Amtrak service on routes of 750 miles or less in length become the funding responsibility of the state, so California will be losing the portion of the Pacific Surfliner funding that is federally subsidized.  To preserve and improve current levels of conventional intercity service in California we are advocating for increasing state funding for FY 13/14 by as much as $25 million to offset the loss of federal funds and potentially provide additional funding for more service.  The SJJPA encourages agencies, organizations, and members of the public to submit letters of support to the Governor and Legislature for increasing state funding for California’s Intercity Passenger Rail Program.

California’s Intercity Passenger Rail Program is an indispensable economic and environmental asset to our state. Improvements in California’s conventional intercity rail services and increases in ridership will result in more jobs, improved air quality, and will help promote sustainable development.  In addition, improving conventional intercity rail services in California is critical to the phased implementation and success of California’s future high-speed rail system.

Available Documents

March 22 - Board Meeting Packet

March 22 - Agenda

March 22 - Agenda (Spanish)

Documents:

• AB 1779 Fact Sheet
• AB 1779 Chaptered
• AB 1779 Press Releases
• Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JEPA)
• Comment Letter for the Draft State Rail Plan
• Letter of Support for California Intercity Passenger Rail Program
• Bylaws

• Letters of Support for AB 1779 - Legislature

  California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley California Transit Association Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority City of Corcoran City of Elk Grove City of Fresno City of Lodi City of Mendota City of Merced City of Modesto City of Sacramento City of Selma City of Stockton City of Visalia Contra Costa Board of Supervisors Contra Costa Transportation Authority County of Fresno Fresno Council of Governments Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency

  Madera County Transportation Commission Merced County Association of Governments Sacramento Area Council of Govemments Sacramento Councilmember Steve Cohn Sacramento Regional Transit District San Joaquin Council of Governments San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission 3-30-12 San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission 4-6-12 San Joaquin Regional Transit District San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council Stanislaus Council of Governments Tulare County Association of Governments

• Letters of Support - Governor

Assembly Member Galgiani California Partnership for San Joaquin Valley California Transit Association Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Central Valley Rail Working Group City of Manteca City of Modesto City of Sacramento City of Stockton City of Tracy Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Contra Costa Transportation Authority Fresno Council of Governments Fresno Regional Workforce Board Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles San Diego San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency Mayor of Fresno Merced Council of Governments Sac Regional Transit District Sacramento Area Council of Governments Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce San Joaquin Council of Governments San Joaquin Partnership San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission San Joaquin Regional Transit District San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District San Joaquin Valley Regional Planning Agencies Directors Committee Stanislaus Council of Governments

• Sample AB 1779 Presentations
  • Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce Presentation: August 8, 2012
  • RailPac - NARP Joint Annual Conference: September 15, 2012
  • San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council: October 12, 2012
• Revised White Paper for AB 1779
• Regional Governance Working Group Meetings for AB 1779
  • May 18, 2012 (Merced, Civic Center)
    Presentation
  • July 20, 2012 (Merced, Civic Center)
    Presentation
  • August 17, 2012 (Merced, Civic Center)
    Presentation
  • October 26, 2012 (Merced, Civic Center)
    Presentation
  • January 11, 2013 (TBD)

Contact the SJJPA