BOARD MEETING DATE: February 2, 2007
AGENDA NO. 35

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

SYNOPSIS:

Below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s regular January 18, 2007 meeting. The MSRC’s next meeting is Thursday, February 15, 2007, at 2:00  p.m. in Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Michael D. Antonovich
AQMD Representative on MSRC

Minutes

Minutes from the November 16, 2006 meeting were unanimously approved. They are attached for your information (Attachment 1).

Issuance of $2 Million Solicitation for Local Government Match Program

At its January 18, 2007 meeting, the MSRC unanimously approved release of a $2 million Program Announcement for a Local Government Match Program under Phase II of the FY 2006-07 Work Program. Eligible categories include the traditional funding providing dollar-for-dollar match for heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles up to $25,000 per vehicle and alternative fuel infrastructure with a maximum amount per project of $350,000. However, it also includes a new category to fund street sweeping operations using low-emission alternative fuel street sweepers. For this new eligible category the maximum amount per project is $100,000 with a total target allocation of $200,000. This new category will be limited to jurisdictions that perform street sweeping as a documented PM10 control strategy. Funding for all eligible categories will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis with a geographic minimum per county of $250,000. The Program Announcement includes an open application period commencing March 13, 2007 and closing June 29, 2007. The AQMD Board will consider this PA at its February 2, 2007 meeting.

More Dollars for CNG School Buses for Private Pupil Transportation Providers

The MSRC’s FY 2006-07 Work Program included $2 million in funding for CNG school bus incentives for private pupil transportation providers, and AQMD staff has been administering the program on behalf of the MSRC. At its January 18, 2007 meeting, the MSRC unanimously approved augmenting this funding with an additional $2 million in light of demand. Once again, this will help ensure fewer diesel school buses are put on the roads due to lack of incentive funding because the incentive will go directly to the private pupil transportation provider. The AQMD Board will consider this funding augmentation at its February 2, 2007 meeting.

New Category for Phase II FY 2006-07 Work Program

In its FY 2005-06 Work Program the MSRC provided incentives to purchase or repower transit buses with a 0.2 gram NOx natural gas engine that meets 2010 standards. The MSRC heard recommendations on how this program could be expanded to include refuse trucks, and unanimously directed staff to prepare a solicitation to implement such a program. The recommended target funding would be $1.728 million which would provide a $32,000 incentive per engine. A solicitation will be brought forward to the MSRC for consideration at its February 2007 meeting, along with recommendations to implement the $1 million Off-Road Vehicle Diesel Emission Control System Demonstration Program, in partnership with CARB.

Received and Approved Final Reports

The MSRC received and approved four final reports at its January 18, 2007 meeting. I abstained from this item due to a potential conflict of interest. The four final reports are as follows:

1. TransVironmental Solutions Contract #MS03038, which provided $615,200 to implement a Regional Vanpool Incentive Program;
2. Orange County Transportation Authority Contract #MS03059, which provided $375,000 to implement an Expanded Freeway Service Patrol Program;
3. Orange County Transportation Authority Contract #MS05047, which provided $75,563 for CNG fueling upgrades; and
4. Omnitrans Contract #MS05049, which provided $25,000 for CNG fueling station upgrades.

All final reports are filed in the AQMD's library and a two-page summary of each closed project can be viewed in the electronic library on the MSRC's website. It is anticipated that in the future the MSRC’s website, http://www.cleantransportationfunding.org/, will include complete final reports in its electronic library.

Contract Modification Requests

At its January 18, 2007 meeting, the MSRC considered three contract modification requests and took unanimous action, as follows:

1. For County of Los Angeles, Dept. of Public Works, Contract #ML05009, which provides $198,333 to install seven LPG stations, approval to change the locations for two of the seven stations and a one-year contractual term extension;
2. For CR& R Inc., Contract #MS04039, which provides $463,168 towards the purchase of 30 LNG refuse trucks and mechanic training, approval of a 15-month contractual term extension; and
3. For City of Corona Contract #PT05069, which provides $150,000 towards the installation of 18 particulate traps, approval to substitute one vehicle for retrofit and to extend the device installation deadline to 18 months from the date of contract execution.

Contracts Administrator’s Report

The MSRC's AB 2766 Contracts Administrator provides a written status report on all open contracts from FY 2000-01 through the present. The Contracts Administrator’s Report for January 2007 is attached for your information (Attachment 2).

Attachments (EXE 313kb)
1)  Approved November 16, 2006 Minutes
2)  Contract Administrator’s Report