2013/16 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program ... - sacog

Annual Listing of Obligated Projects
By federal requirement, SACOG publishes at the end of each calendar year the Annual Listing of Obligated
Projects 15 , which is a record of project delivery for the previous year. The publication of this list is in
response to 23 U.S.C. 134(j)(7)(B), 23 U.S.C. 135(g)(4)(B), 49 U.S.C. 5303(j)(7)(B), and 49 U.S.C.
5304(g)(4)(B), as revised by SAFETEA-LU, that require “...an Annual Listing of projects, including
investments in pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, for which federal funds have been
obligated in the preceding year shall be published or otherwise made available by the cooperative effort of the
State, transit operator, and metropolitan planning organization for public review. The listing shall be
consistent with the funding categories identified in each metropolitan transportation improvement program
(MTIP).”
The Annual Listing of Obligated Projects is intended to increase the awareness of federal government
spending on transportation projects to the public and to indicate a federal project’s progress. However, the
indicator has limitations. When a project reaches a point where federal funds are ready to be expended, a
request is sent from Caltrans to the U.S. Department of Transportation requesting commitment of the funds
for reimbursement. (For FTA-funded projects, the obligation equivalent occurs when the FTA grant is
awarded.) This commitment of funds "obligates" the funds, committing the funds to contract for
reimbursement as soon as expenditures occur. This action indicates that the project is proceeding, but the
action can be misleading in several ways. First, obligated projects are not necessarily initiated or completed in
the same year as the obligation year. Second, the amount of the obligation will not necessarily equal the total
cost of the project. Third, it is possible that unused funds may be credited back when not needed at the
completion of a project phase resulting in a negative obligation.
Title VI Compliance
It is SACOG’s policy to comply with state and federal laws and regulations including Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) 16 and other federal discrimination laws
and regulations, as well as the Unruh Civil Rights Act of 1959 17 , the California Fair Employment and Housing
Act (FEHA) 18 , and other California State discrimination laws and regulations. SACOG does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, religion, national origin, age, marital status, ancestry, medical condition,
disability, sexual orientation or gender identity in conducting its business. SACOG prohibits discrimination by
its employees, contractors and consultants. 19
Investments made in the MTIP must be consistent with Title VI and must support “Environmental Justice.”
Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, income, and national origin in programs and
activities receiving federal financial assistance. Similarly, Environmental Justice is defined by EPA as “the fair
treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income,
with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies.” Public outreach to and involvement of individuals in low income and minority communities
covered under Title VI, are critical to regional planning and programming decisions. The fundamental
principles of environmental justice include:
• Avoiding, minimizing or mitigating disproportionately high and adverse health or environmental
effects on minority and low-income populations;
• Ensuring full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation
decision-making process; and
• Preventing the denial, reduction or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority populations
and low-income communities.
2013 MTIP - Page 11 of 390
11