• Funding for the town’s storm drain systemand other infrastructure was also needed.

In 2010, Moraga’s Revenue Enhancement &Community Outreach to Neighborhoods(RECON) group was created to investigate thecommunity’s willingness to approve a revenuemeasure to improve local streets and roads.RECON conducted focus groups, reviewedresearch and surveyed residents online. An April2010 community poll revealed that 60 percentof residents supported a bond measure for streetrepair, but they wanted more information aboutthe state of the town’s streets and finances.

The community’s need for informationkicked RECON’s efforts into overdrive. Before ameasure was put on the ballot, informationalmeetings were held and direct mailers were sentout to educate the community about Moraga’sroadway maintenance and rehabilitation needsand the need for a local tax measure.

In May 2012, another community survey wasissued and 54 percent of those surveyed saidthey would support a one cent sales tax. Therespondents’ priorities for funding were improv-ing road safety, repairing aging storm drains,“ensuring that proposed plan maintains localcontrol, with no funds for Sacramento,” andbuilding up reserves for long-term maintenance.

The Town of Moraga is a small, affluentsuburban city (pop. 16,016), located inContra Costa County. In 2011, the

town’s streets and roads were in poor conditionand its annual pavement condition index (PCI)was in the bottom 15 percent of all jurisdictionsin the nine Bay Area counties – number 93 of109 jurisdictions.

With a PCI consistently at or below 50 foryears, and with most of its network classified as“at risk,” Moraga needed to find funding to turn the situation around. Moraga residentsrarely pass local tax measures, but the com-munity managed to pass Measure K, a locally-supported sales tax measure focused on pave-ment maintenance. As a result, Moraga’s PCIincreased from 48 to 59 in 2014 and hundredsof thousands of dollars per year have been savedon construction costs because there is funding tomaintain streets and roads before they fail.

How Did They Do It?

In 2009, town staff asked volunteers who wereconcerned about the deteriorating condition oftheir streets and roads to participate on a com-mittee to look into how other jurisdictions suc-cessfully pay for maintenance and rehabilitationof infrastructure. The Revenue EnhancementCommittee (REC) was established and ultimate-ly recommended that the Town Council consid-er voter-approved funding mechanisms based onthe following findings:

• Moraga received substantially less in proper-ty and sales taxes per capita than neighboringand peer cities.

• Moraga spent less than $500,000 – butneeded to spend $2 - $3 million annually –to achieve “fair” and “good” PCI rating.

March 2015

Street TalkCurrent Issues in Pavement Maintenance and Management

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Volume 27 Number 1

Inside:

• State Budget Updatepage 2

• Software Updates andNewspage 3

• Upcoming Eventspage 4

User WeekStarts

March 30,2015

See page 4for details

Local Streets, Local Problem, Local Control: How the Town of Moraga Passed Measure KBy Christina Hohorst, MTC, and Edric Kwan, Public Works Director/Town Engineer, Town of Moraga

(Continued on page 4)

Street Talk/March 2015 -2-

The fiscal year 2015-16 statebudget proposal released byGovernor Brown in January

contained bad news for transportationinterests that rely heavily on gasoline taxrevenue. It was not entirely a surprise,given the recent prolonged reduction ingasoline prices, that the portion of thegas tax that is based on gasoline saleswould be depressed. The decline, how-ever, highlights the vulnerability of ourtransportation infrastructure to theprice and consumption level of fuel.

Planned Gasoline Excise TaxReduction

In fiscal year 2010-11 a new motorvehicle fuel tax was added that replacedthe previous allocations made under theProposition 42 sales tax on gasoline.The new tax is allocated to local streetsand roads (44 percent), the State Trans-portation Improvement Program (44percent) and the State Highway Opera-tion and Protection Program (12 per-cent), and may be adjusted annually tomimic what would have been generatedthrough the previous sales tax. Due to a39 percent decline in gasoline pricesover the last nine months, the Depart-

ment of Finance forecasts that the StateBoard of Equalization will reduce thisvariable portion of the state’s gas tax by6 cents, resulting in a statewide revenue decrease of approximately $800 million. That amount would rep-resent about a 25 percent decrease inoverall gasoline excise tax funding fortransportation.

The summary below includes the lat-est estimates, prepared by the League ofCalifornia Cities and the California StateAssociation of Counties, of gasoline taxrevenue subvened to counties and citiesfor local streets and roads. Overall, juris-dictions in the Bay Area can expect anapproximate $90 million decrease ingasoline excise tax revenue in fiscal year2015-16 over the previous year.

Road Usage Charge Pilot Program

As if on cue, the fiscal year 2015-16budget proposal includes $9.4 millionand five new Caltrans positions to accel-erate the Road Usage Charge pilot pro-gram. Senate Bill 1077 established a 15-member Road Usage Charge TechnicalAdvisory Committee to guide the devel-opment of a pilot program to study the

potential for a road usage charge as analternative to the gas tax. The additionalfunding is intended to help expedite thepilot program, which the CaliforniaState Transportation Agency is requiredto implement by January 1, 2017. Areport to the Legislature is due by June30, 2018. Supporters say a road-usagecharge would minimize the impact offuel price reductions and lower con-sumption due to more fuel efficientvehicles on revenues generated, and bet-ter distribute the tax burden among allusers of the roadways.

COUNTY FY 2014-15* FY2015-16 % ChangeALAMEDA $74,354,841 $56,099,621 -25%CONTRA COSTA $52,081,064 $39,348,451 -24%MARIN $12,411,571 $9,319,308 -25%NAPA $7,865,353 $5,858,043 -26%SAN FRANCISCO $37,746,665 $28,095,508 -26%SAN MATEO $37,936,059 $28,664,709 -24%SANTA CLARA $91,236,951 $68,782,572 -25%SOLANO $22,244,438 $16,632,396 -25%SONOMA $25,554,997 $19,036,748 -26%BAY AREA TOTAL $361,431,939 $271,837,356 -25%STATE TOTAL $1,904,092,607 $1,427,316,654 -25%*Includes $100 million in one-time repayment funding

Bay Area County and City Gas Tax Subvention Estimates

MAP-21: Notice of ProposedRulemaking

The Moving Ahead for Progress inthe 21st Century Act (MAP-21)established performance managementrequirements to ensure efficientinvestment of federal transportationfunds. On January 5, 2015, the Fed-eral Highway Administration pub-lished a Notice of Proposed Rulemak-ing (NPRM) to propose performancemanagement regulations related toassessing the condition of bridges onthe National Highway System(NHS), pavements on the Interstateand pavements on the non-InterstateNHS, as required by MAP-21. TheNPRM outlines six new performancemeasures to monitor pavement andbridge condition, data collection andreporting requirements, target settingprocesses and penalties. The com-ment period closes on May 8, 2015.For additional information on theNPRM, please visit:www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/rule.cfm

MTC is coordinating regional commentsthrough the Local Streets and RoadsWorking Group.

State Budget Update:Lower Fuel Prices Will Hamper Maintenance Resources

By MTC Staff

Meeting Your Sign Retroreflectivity RequirementsWith StreetSaver Plus - Sign

The newly released StreetSaverPlus is designed as a robust toolfor transportation asset manage-

ment. The traffic sign asset is the first ina series of assets that will roll out overthe next two years.

Traffic signs provide critical informa-tion to the general motoring public. Itis important that signs are effectivelymaintained and provide visibility duringdaytime and nighttime. FHWA hasmandated that by June 14, 2014, alllocal agencies establish an assessment ormanagement method designed to main-tain regulatory and warning signs abovethe minimum retroreflectivity levels.StreetSaver Plus is designed not only tomeet the retroreflectivity requirements,but also to assist local agencies in settingup an effective maintenance programfor sign replacement as well as routinemaintenance.

Key Features of the Sign Asset

Some of the key features include:

• Asset Management – Sign assets areintegrated with pavement and othernon-pavement assets in one plat-form that will enhance systemwideplanning and needs assessment.

• Inventory Management - Provides arobust and comprehensive systemfor tracking and updating signinventories.

• Minimum Retroreflectivity Compli-ance – Meets FHWA and MUTCDrequirements for maintaining mini-mum level of retroreflectivity.

• GIS Mapping – Easy-to-create mapsbased on key parameters of sign datathat can be fine-tuned with a filterand displayed alongside pavementsection data.

• Maintenance Needs Assessment –Develops maintenance plans forroutine maintenance and replace-ment. Performs investment analysisbased on remaining service life andexpected service life up to 30 years.

• Condition Assessment – Trackswork and condition to help keepsign data current.

• Database Import Tool – User friend-ly import tool to transfer and updateyour existing sign database. It isdesigned to make populating andupdating inventory, retroreflectivityevaluations, condition rating andwork history data easy.

Key Benefits

• Timely, accurate and completecloud-based data

• Improved efficiency through use ofGIS maps

• Improved safety through fasterresponse to customer servicerequests

• Peace of mind with secure databasestorage and nightly backup

• Needs assessments help to justifyand secure funding for maintenanceand rehabilitation

StreetSaver Plus Development

Following the release of Sign, our devel-opers are busy integrating the nextassets: ADA Ramps and Sidewalks.These assets are tentatively scheduledfor release in late summer. ADA rampsalso have a regulatory mandate. TheU.S. Department of Justice has ruledthat any roadway maintenance strategiesthat involve microsurfacing and cape

seals are considered alteration and there-fore require the installation of ADAramps if none are available. This newrequirement can increase maintenancecosts up to 50 percent.

Like the Sign asset, ADA Ramps andSidewalk asset integration will assist localagencies in tracking ADA complianceand effectively planning maintenancework for ADA ramp improvements.

Weathering and Raveling

We are ready to separate the weatheringand raveling distresses from the MTC7-Distress protocol. This means that forthis protocol, there will be eight AsphaltConcrete (AC) distresses and sevenPortland Cement Concrete (PCC) dis-tresses. This improvement meets thenew ASTM D6433-11 compliancestandards.

To make sure users will be able torate weathering and raveling separately,MTC is working on revising the distressmanuals. The new manuals will be easy-to-carry pocket-sized editions in fullcolor for easy identification.

MTC also will provide live webinarsto discuss the implementation, how thechanges will impact the PCI values, andthe impact on network pavement condi-tions. It is anticipated the webinars willtake place in September.

Climatic Performance Curves

Finally, our developers are working withthe University of Texas at El Paso andTexas A&M University in developingclimatic performance curves to moreaccurately track pavement performancein different geographic regions. Thisenhancement is designed to allow cur-rent and new users to fine-tune theirpavement performance curves to matchtheir local climate, which affects the rateof deterioration of pavement.

Street Talk/March 2015-3-

Software Updates and News

By Sui Tan, MTC

Town staff decided to seek a sales taxinstead of a bond measure to allowMoraga to maintain local control andcreate accountability through the cre-ation of an independent residents’ over-sight committee. The funding optionsconsidered by Moraga are shown below.Measure K, as it came to be known,asked residents to “enact a one cent salestax for 20 years with the authority toincur debt to accelerate infrastructureprojects, with annual audits, residents’oversight, no funds for Sacramento andall funds spent only in Moraga.”

Local residents formed a volunteerorganization called Moragans for Measure K and conducted door-to-doorcampaigns, created mailers and presen-tations, and even made a YouTubevideo.

On November 6, 2012,Measure K passed with70.5 percent approval.And almost two yearsafter implementation,annual revenues areapproximately $1.5 mil-lion. Instead of using apay-as-you-go funding plan, Moragachose a leveraged revenue financingplan that raised $7.7 million over threeyears with $600,000 required for debtservice. There are $25 million in neededrepairs in Moraga; however, the lever-

aged bond, unleveraged annual fundsand other funding sources should pro-vide $11 million in maintenance andrepair funding.

With funding in place,Moraga implemented athree-year intensive pave-ment repair program thatallowed residents to expe-rience the immediateimpacts of Measure K.StreetSaver software

helped pavement engineers objectivelyselect candidate streets for the Townbased on the Council-approved budgetto maximize the overall Town averagePCI in a cost-effective and systematicmanner.

Street Talk/March 2015 -4-

Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter101 Eighth StreetOakland, CA 94607-4700510.817.5700www.mtc.ca.gov

Executive Director: Steve HemingerDeputy Executive Directors:Alix Bockelman, Policy Andrew Fremier, OperationsDirector, Programming and Allocations:Anne RichmanManager, Regional Streets and RoadsProgram: Theresa Romell

Managing Editor: Christina Hohorst

Copy Editor: Karin Betts

Design and Layout: David Cooper

Street TalkMoraga (Continued from page 1)

StreetSaver User WeekMarch 30 – April 2, 2015

Technology Transfer Workshop:

Getting Rid of Your Fiscal Pothole –

Case Studies in Raising Money and

Getting Results for Road Maintenance

Monday, March 30

8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

MetroCenter, 1st Floor, Auditorium

101 Eighth Street, Oakland 94607

General Users Meeting

Monday, March 30

1 to 4 p.m.

MetroCenter, 1st Floor, Auditorium

101 Eighth Street, Oakland 94607

Workshop I:

Pavement Distress Survey

Tuesday, March 31

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MetroCenter, 1st Floor, Auditorium

101 Eighth Street, Oakland 94607

Workshop II:

StreetSaver ® Online v9.0 - Essential Skills

Wednesday, April 1

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Alameda Conference Center, 4th Floor

Fremont Room

125 12th Street, Suite 400

Oakland 94607

Workshop III:

StreetSaver ® Online v9.0 – Budget Analysis

Thursday, April 2

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Alameda Conference Center, 4th Floor

Fremont Room

125 12th Street, Suite 400

Oakland 94607

Next User Week:

Fall 2015

Contact Kimberly Ward

<kward@mtc.ca.gov>

for more information on User Week.

Upcoming Events

DefinitionBond measure based on assessed value of propertyProperty owners pay a share of the costs of improvements over a period of years Allows for variation in the rate collected based on broad catego-ries of land use (single family, multi family, public and private streets, commercial and vacant property)General tax measure Specific tax measure

TypeAd Valorem Tax

Benefit Assessment District

Community Facility District (CFD)

Sales Tax (½ cent vs. 1 cent)

Vote Required to Pass2/3 vote

Majority of district

2/3 vote

50% + 1 vote2/3 vote

What types of funding options did the Town of Moraga consider?