Earlier this month, the Tri-Valley Transportation Council (TVTC) unanimously approved the adoption of the Tri-Valley Transportation Development Fee (TVTDF) update and Strategic Expenditure Plan (SEP). Under the leadership of TVTC Chair Scott Perkins, Vice Chair Jean Josey, Councilmember Brittni Kiick, Supervisor David Haubert, Mayor Karla Brown, Supervisor Candace Andersen, and Mayor Newell Arnerich, the SEP included a commitment of $25.8 million to the Valley Link rail project.
The adoption of the TVTDF and SEP followed the completion of an updated 2020 Nexus Fee Study in August 2021 and extensive technical analysis and community outreach on the development of the SEP. Community outreach on the SEP began with the presentation of a draft SEP Funding Plan to the TVTC Board in December 2021. The TVTC Technical Advisory Committee subsequently held two community outreach information sessions in February and March 2022 to receive feedback from the community on the draft SEP.
The final SEP includes funding for 22 projects over the next seven to 10 years with the TVTDF revenues providing approximately 10 percent of the total cost of each project. The $25.8 million in funding committed to the Valley Link rail project is specifically targeted to the implementation of the rail stations in the Tri-Valley (Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin) portion of the project. These monies are recognized as critical seed funding for the leveraging of other state and federal funds required to complete the full funding plan for the project. The Funding Plan and Priority List of Projects can be found at the TVTC website: www.tvtc-jpa.com
Following the TVTC action Supervisor Haubert commented, “The funding approved by TVTC proves how important the Valley Link project is to our region. Our goal is to someday be a world model of sustainability – and these stations will be an important element of this vision.”
Veronica Vargas, City of Tracy Mayor Pro Tem and Chair of the Tri -Valley - San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority, applauded the TVTC action stating, “The TVTC commitment of funding to Valley Link is a reflection of the tremendous local support for the project, the recognition of its megaregional significance regardless of where you live and work, and the collaboration across our communities to deliver Valley Link.”
The Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority was created by the California Legislature in 2017 with the passage of Assembly Bill 758, to implement the Valley Link rail project. Valley Link will provide a new 42-mile, seven station rail connection between the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station in Alameda County and the North Lathrop Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) station in San Joaquin County, providing an estimated 33,000 daily rides in 2040. In addition to the use of zero emissions vehicle and green energy production technologies, the Valley Link Board-adopted Sustainability Policy identifies implementing strategies to achieve a zero emissions system through innovation station access. This includes electric autonomous shuttles, shared mobility, and support for local transit operator alternative vehicle technology.
