STA Regional Transportation Impact Fee, AB 1600 Nexus Study
Summary
By 2030, the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) is projected to receive enough federal and state funding for
seven new projects ($986M) to help accommodate the increasing demand for "regional mobility" in Solano County. Additional projects identified through other studies or by local cities and the county cannot compete for limited future funding, despite their local necessity for "regional" mobility.
Because of high projected growth in population and jobs, Solano County will need to be creative and opportunistic to find
funding for new projects. One local option that is being explored is a
Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) that can provide
needed infrastructure improvements for local and regional projects in Solano County.
What is a Regional Transportation Impact Fee?
A transportation impact fee is established by a local or regional government (usually collected during issuance of the building permit)in connection with approval of a development project for purpose of defraying all or a portion of the cost of particular public facilities, in this case, transportation projects (e.g., roadway  expansion, transitcenters, interchanges, etc.). Regional Transportation Impact Fees (RTIF) are used in a variety of counties throughout the State of California to help fund transportation projects.
Download the STA's Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). (107kb, PDF),
12-09-08. |
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Study Materials
Solano Regional Transportataion Impact Fee Feasibility Study
 On January 14, 2009, the STA Board adopted the Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) Feasibility Study, as part of the STA Board's decision to conduct a RTIF Nexus Study. The RTIF Feasibility Study and Executive Summary documents assist in educating elected officials, local agency staff, and the public regarding:
- the transportation funding shortfalls projected to occur in the next 30 years,
- the nature of regional transportation impact fees and their potential benefits, and
- a preliminary timeline for the development of a nexus study and impact fee program.
Download an Executive Summary of the "Solano Regional Transportation Impact Fee Feasibility Study" (4.8MB, PDF), 12-17-08.
Download the full "Solano Regional Transportation Impact Fee Feasibility Study" (6.1MB, PDF), 12-17-08.
STA Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) AB1600 Nexus Study
The legal requirements for enactment of a transportation impact fee program are set forth in the California “Mitigation Fee Act”, which was adopted in 1987 under AB 1600, and thus these fees are commonly referred to as “AB 1600” fees. An impact fee is not a tax or a special assessment so, by definition, a fee must be "reasonably related" to the cost of the facility or service provided by the local agency. The AB 1600 Nexus Study that is underway will recommend how a potential fee program would relate fees collected to improvement projects funded.
Based on the findings of the RTIF Feasibility Study, in December 2008, the STA Board authorized STA staff to being work on a RTIF AB1600 Nexus Study in preparation for a potential impact fee program. The STA has contracted with Economic Planning Systems (EPS) to assist in the development of the RTIF AB1600 Nexus Study.
Draft materials will be available for download once reviewed by various technical, stakeholder, and policy committees.
Committee Meetings & Agendas
Three committees will review RTIF Nexus Study draft materials and potential RTIF governance options prior to STA Board actions: 1) RTIF Working Group, 2) RTIF Stakeholders Committee, 3) RTIF Policy Committee.
Download a RTIF meeting schedule for all three RTIF committees (11-06-09).
Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) Working Group
The RTIF Working Group is composed of public works directors and planning directors, who advise STA staff on the technical accuracy of draft materials and discuss the feasibility of proposed policies.
Meeting Agendas:
July 30, 2008
December 4, 2008
April 1, 2009
July 22, 2009
August 19, 2009
October 15, 2009
December 10, 2009
Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) Stakeholders Committee
On May 13, 2009, the STA Board directed STA staff to form a RTIF Stakeholders Committee, composed of representatives from each city council, developers of multiple land uses, agricultural, business, and taxpayers groups, engineers, real estate brokers, environmental justice representatives, and transit providers.
Meeting Agendas:
September 24, 2009
October 22, 2009
December 17, 2009
Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) Policy Committee
On December 10, 2008, the RTIF Policy Committee was formed to discuss the policy implications and issues associated with pursuing a RTIF in Solano County. This committee is chaired by Solano County Supervisor Jim Spering and is composed of all seven city mayors, the seven city managers, and the County Administrative Officer.
Meeting Agendas:
December 10, 2008
February 20, 2009
May 4, 2009
December 9, 2009
January 13, 2009
Frequently Asked Questions
As discussion continues between the three RTIF committees and the STA Board, STA staff have compiled the most frequently asked questions about RTIFs from these meetings.
Download the STA's Regional Transportation Impact Fee (RTIF) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (107kb, PDF), 12-09-08.
Other Regional Transportation Impact Fee Programs in California
17 other counties across California charge regional impact fees on new development to help pay for new transportation infrastructure. Below are links to more information about these programs.
Contact Us
Send comments or questions to Sam Shelton, Project Manager at sshelton@sta-snci.com or call (707) 424-6075. |
