Year: 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2008

Media contact: Rose Willems Office of the Advocate (559) 251-6105 rose_willems@dot.ca.gov

75% Discount on Taxi Fares for Fresno County Seniors ~ A Measure C Funded Program

FRESNO, CA (December 19, 2008) – Senior Taxi Scrip provides alternative, reliable and affordable transportation any day or time of the week to Fresno County residents who are 70 years of age or older. Funded by Measure C, Taxi Scrip enables eligible seniors to receive a 75% discount on taxi fares by purchasing taxi scrip. Scrip booklets are available at select locations for five dollars ($20 value) and act as coupons for taxicab fares with participating taxi companies. Up to five booklets of scrip can be purchased each calendar month per senior. Those who wish to apply for Taxi Scrip can do so by submitting an eligibility application at www.fresnocog.org. “I am so happy with the Taxi Scrip Program because I cannot drive at night,” said 87-year old Taxi Scrip User Lorryne Shryer. “I am able to visit my son more often because the taxi driver picks me up at home and takes me to the train station. I don’t need to ask anyone for help and it gives me more independence.” Seniors can visit the following locations to apply or purchase Taxi Scrip: Fresno Area Express (FAX), Firebaugh Senior Center, Clovis City Hall, Clovis Senior Center, Parlier Senior Center and Parlier City Hall. The Council of Fresno County Governments (Fresno COG) accepts applications and is able to provide Taxi Scrip via direct mail. The following taxi companies that hold a city of Fresno business license can be utilized for Taxi Scrip: Fresno Cab Co., USA Cab Co., Taxi Acapulco, Faretta Cab Co., City Cab Co., Checker Taxi Co., Yosemite Cab Co., Parlier Taxi Services, Yellow Cab, Star Yellow Cab and Bulldog Cab Co. Interviews are available with Fresno County Taxi Scrip users, Fresno County Transportation Authority representatives and the Fresno COG. For information on more projects made possible by Measure C, please review “20 Years In Review” the measure’s annual report, available online at www.MeasureC.com. For more information about Taxi Scrip, please call 559.233.4148.

About Measure C Measure C is a Fresno County ½ cent transportation sales tax passed in 1986 that has generated over $1 billion into the local economy. Measure C was renewed in 2006 to fund local transportation programs through the year 2027 and it will raise over $1.7 billion locally, and qualify Fresno County for millions of dollars in matching State and Federal funds.

Today’s Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008

District: Fresno County Contact: Sherri Martin, Contracts Administrator

Phone: (559) 453-5023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FCTA APPROVES REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION MITIGATION IMPACT FEE PROGRAM

FRESNO– With the passage of the Measure C Extension in November 2006, the Regional Transportation Program component of the Measure C Extension Expenditure plan requires that a Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (RTMF) be developed and approved by the Fresno County Council of Governments (Fresno COG) and the Fresno County Transportation Authority Board (Authority) and adopted by ordinance by all fifteen incorporated cities and the County by January 1, 2009. The RTMF Program was approved by the Fresno COG Board on October 9, 2008 and by the Authority Board on October 15, 2008. The $1,727 per single family unit RTMF will be implemented with a three step phase-in as follows: the initial mitigation fee for 2009 will be $1,200, the mitigation fee for 2010 will be $1,450, and the mitigation fee for 2011 and thereafter will be $1727. In addition to the “phasing in” process, the Authority directed the consultant, PB Americas, to work with the Building Industry Association to resolve issues related to related to assumptions and costs differences, and with the understanding that the RTMF will be reviewed every two years at the same time the Measure C Extension Expenditure Plan is updated. The RTMF identified for commercial and industrial development is to be administered on a per square foot basis and will be granted the same phase-in approach as residential development (see grid below). The phase-in process estimates a reduction in anticipated revenue over the entire life of the fee program of 2.3 % or $6 million. Fresno COG staff has reviewed this revenue reduction impact on the proposed Tier 1 construction program and found that the only projects from the Tier 1 Urban and Rural project lists that are at risk of remaining unfunded due to the revenue loss and given current planning assumptions under this revised proposal are the 180 West Extension to I5 and the SR 99 – North/Cedar Interchange improvements. The next step will be for PB Americas to take the recommended RTMF to each of the incorporated cities and the County of Fresno and each agency must adopt the RTMF by ordinance prior to January 1, 2009.