201808XX GLENDALE LRT MAJOR AMENDMENT TPC.DOCX

Transportation Policy Committee
INFORMATION SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM # X
DATE
August 8, 2018
SUBJECT
Major Amendment to the Regional Transportation
Plan: Deletion of Central Glendale Light Rail
Extension
CONTACT
Audra Koester Thomas, Transportation Planning
Program Manager, (602) 254-6300
SUMMARY
The Regional Transportation Plan was adopted by MAG Regional Council on November
25, 2003, and provides a broad vision for the future regional transportation system. It
was the result of a major planning effort initiated in 2001 and completed in late 2003.
The Regional Transportation Plan also provides the blueprint for the implementation of
Proposition 400, the half-cent sales tax used to fund transportation. Funding from
Proposition 400 must be used on projects and programs identified in the Regional
Transportation Plan and is allocated by mode.
The extension of light rail to Glendale is a high capacity transit project originally included
in the 2003-adopted Regional Transportation Plan. This light rail extension was
envisioned to extend west from 19th Avenue to downtown Glendale; its study by Valley
Metro has been referred to as “West Phoenix/Central Glendale” project. On December
12, 2017, the Glendale City Council voted to discontinue participation in the West
Phoenix/Central Glendale study and requested that the Regional Transportation Plan
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reflect the decision; a major amendment to the Regional Transportation Plan is required
to satisfy such a request.
If proceeding with this major amendment is recommended by Transportation Policy
Committee and Regional Council, the following would ensue:
 August – September, 2018: Consultation with Regional Public Transportation
Authority (Valley Metro RPTA), Arizona State Transportation Board, and Maricopa
County Board of Supervisors, as well as Indian communities, cities and towns in the
county; action to approve, modify or disapprove amendment by Valley Metro
RPTA, Arizona State Transportation Board, and Maricopa County Board of
Supervisors.
 September – October, 2018: Approval of the major amendment through MAG
committee process, pending air quality conformity analysis.
 December 2018 – January 2019: Approval of amended Regional Transportation
Plan subsequent to new finding of air quality conformity.
The project is funded through federal, regional and local sources. Valley Metro’s Fiscal
Year 2019 Transit Life Cycle Program has moved Glendale’s portion of Proposition 400
funding previously allocated to this project, approximately $51 million, to the program’s
fund balance.
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ACTION NEEDED
Recommend approval to consult with the Valley Metro RPTA, Arizona State
Transportation Board, and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, as well as Indian
communities, cities and towns in the county, as required by A.R.S. 28-6353, on the
proposal to delete the Glendale Light Rail Extension from the 2040 Regional
Transportation Plan, contingent on the finding of air quality conformity.
PROS & CONS
PROS: Based on Glendale City Council’s decision to discontinue participation in and
remove funding support for a light rail extension to downtown Glendale, approval of this
major amendment would ensure the Regional Transportation Plan is consistent with the
latest planning activities and the requirement it be fiscally constrained.
CONS: Deletion of the Glendale Light Rail Extension eliminates the opportunity to further
improve regional mobility. An extension of light rail to downtown Glendale was
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supported by Glendale voters as part of Proposition 402 in 2001 and by Maricopa County
voters as part of Proposition 400 in 2004.
TECHNICAL & POLICY IMPLICATIONS
TECHNICAL: Previous study has indicated propensity for high capacity transit, such as
light rail, to Glendale. While the deletion of the Glendale Light Rail Extension from the
Regional Transportation Plan removes any planned high capacity transit north and west
of 43rd Avenue, it does not preclude action to add future planned high capacity transit
to the Plan pending technical evaluation and identification of funding.
POLICY: Addition or deletion of a fixed guideway transit system that exceeds one mile in
length is considered a “major amendment” per state statute (A.R.S. 28-6301). A major
amendment process (A.R.S. 28-6353) begins with consideration by the Transportation
Policy Committee. If it concurs, the Transportation Policy Committee submits the
proposed amendment for consultation by Valley Metro RPTA, Arizona State
Transportation Board, and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, as well as Indian
communities, cities and towns in the county. Within 30 days of receiving the proposed
amendment, the Valley Metro RPTA, Arizona State Transportation Board, and Maricopa
County Board of Supervisors by a majority vote of the members of each board submit a
written recommendation to the Transportation Policy Committee that the amendment
be approved, modified or disapproved. If the major amendment fails to receive approval
by any of these agencies, the affirmative vote of seventeen members of the
Transportation Policy Committee is required to proceed with approving the amendment.
PRIOR COMMITTEE ACTIONS
None.
PUBLIC INPUT
None.
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