TCAG is currently updating the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The RTP is a 20-year planning document that TCAG updates at least once every four years. The RTP outlines all planned transportation improvements and must be financially constrained, based on funding estimates. Elements of the RTP include: the Executive Summary, Policy Element, Action Element, Financial Element, and Valleywide Chapter and associated documents such as the Air Quality Conformity Findings, Environmental Impact Report and coordinated Transporation (Transit) Plan.

The Draft 2011 RTP, 2011 FTIP, EIR and associated documents are open for public review from April 30, 2010 to June 14, 2010. A public hearing will be held at the TCAG Board meeeting on May 17, 2010 at 1:00 PM in the Tulare County Ag Auditorium (4437 S. Laspina St., Tulare 93274). The Draft 2011 RTP and its individual chapters can be viewed by selecting the weblinks to the right. In addition, brief overviews of the major chapters are listed below. To comment of the 2011 RTP and associated documents, please e-mail bgiuliani@co.tulare.ca.us or submit wirtten comments to TCAG at 5955 S. Mooney Blvd, Visalia, CA, 93277.

Tulare County Regional Road System	Proposed Regional Capacity Increasing Projects 2021-2035	Proposed Regional Capacity Increasing Projects 2011-2020

TCAG’s jurisdiction includes the cities of Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, Woodlake and Tulare County. The Tule River Tribal Council is also consulted as part of the transportation planning process. TCAG coordinates with federal, state, regional governments and the Native American tribal government to develop strategies that address transportation issues. This effort promotes direct involvement by the government and interested groups in the transportation planning and project selection process.

This RTP includes the following major chapters:

• Policy Element
• Action Element
• Financial Element
• Public Participation Summary
• Valleywide Chapter
• Goods Movement Chapter
• Environmental Impact Report
• Air Quality Conformity

The following is a brief summary of what is contained in each chapter:

Policy Element

The Policy Element identifies transportation goals, objectives and policies that meet the needs of the region. Goals, objectives, and policies will be established to determine specific courses of action to guide Tulare County toward implementation of the Plan. The element will begin by discussing regional issues including population growth, commercial, industrial, and residential development, sources of funding, and mitigation impact techniques. The Policy Element will document the region's transportation goals by the following categories:

• Regional
• Regional Corridors
• Transit
• Aviation
• Reduced traffic congestion
• Rail
• Non-motorized transportation
• Goods Movement
• Air Quality
• Transportation System Management
• Regional Blueprint

Action Element

The Action Element of the RTP will consist of short-term and long-term projects that address regional transportation issues and needs. The transportation modes such as highways, mass transportation, railroad, bicycle, pedestrian and aviation facilities will be addressed. The Action Element will contain a discussion of existing needs assumptions and conclusions.

Financial Element

The purpose of the Financial Element will be to provide an assumption of the cost and revenues necessary to implement the RTP. These assumptions include revenue estimates for specific governmental funding programs, local contributions, license and fuel taxes, and development fees. Tulare County does not currently have a local sales tax for transportation purposes. The majority of available funds generated from federal and state gas taxes are distributed in a variety of grants and acts.

Environmental Impact Report

The 2011 RTP Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will evaluate potential significant impacts that may result from the planning and implementing of the 2007 RTP. This review will be consistent with the CEQA and NEPA guidelines. The 2011 RTP EIR will focus on those impacts that are found to be potentially significant on a regional, system-wide level as a result of the Initial Study/Environmental Assessment and Impacts Checklist that will be prepared.

Air Quality Conformity

The Clean Air Act and federal transportation conformity rule requires that each new RTP and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) must be demonstrated to conform before the RTP/TIP is approved by the MPO or accepted by US DOT. This analysis will demonstrate that the criteria specified in the federal transportation conformity rule for a conformity determination are satisfied by the 2011 RTP.

Valleywide Chapter

The Valleywide Chapter provides a regional perspective to transportation planning in the San Joaquin Valley. The chapter will address several regional issues including air quality, highways, streets and roads, aviation, rail and goods movement. The chapter will provide a regional view on issues. The Valleywide Chapter relates the various transportation issues policies and goals from Tulare County and will compare to the whole San Joaquin Valley. An example is a regional issue such as air quality.

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