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<br />8A <br />Page 5 <br /> <br />The League supports AS 2278 because it will promote the use of innovative funding <br />strategies to maximize opportunities for timely and cost-effective completion of public works <br />projects through public-private partnerships. The public-private partnership assistance from <br />OPR would be an invaluable educational resource to increase awareness of alternative <br />contracting options at the local level. <br /> <br />In addition, it will help ensure that cities seeking to utilize public-private partnerships will have <br />the appropriate knowledge and tools to guide cities' local infrastructure projects through the <br />contracting process, as well as obtain the most cost effective choices. <br /> <br />Take Action <br /> <br />To take action and send your letter of support, please visit www.cacities.orq/billsearch and plug in <br />AB 2278 to the search feature. This will provide you with a sample letter that you can personalize <br />and share how public-private partnerships could benefit your local infrastructure projects, or cite <br />examples of successes with this type of contracting. <br /> <br />$46 Million Now Available for Federal Safe Routes to School Funds <br /> <br />Local and regional government agencies are encouraged to apply for part of the $46 million now <br />available through CatTrans for the second cycle of the Federal Safe Routes to School Fund. The <br />deadline for applications is Friday, July 18. <br /> <br />There are two types of applications available for Cycle 2 (fiscal years 2008-09 and 2009- <br />10): Stand-alone infrastructure projects such as sidewalks, pathways, bike lanes and traffic <br />calming, and non-infrastructure activities such as public education, encouragement and <br />enforcement. All project awards are 100 percent federally reimbursable. <br /> <br />Applications for infrastructure must not exceed $1 million, and applications for non-infrastructure <br />must not exceed $500,000 and can be spent on activities over a four-year period. (Please note: <br />this Safe Routes to School Fund is for federal dollars, and is not affiliated with the State <br />Legislative Safe Routes to Schools funds.) <br /> <br />To view the updated Federal Safe Routes to Schools Guidelines and Application, please visit <br />www.dot.ca.Qov and search for "Federal Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Program: <br /> <br />League and Partners Offer Financing Pools for Street Repairs <br /> <br />California Communities, the League of California Cities and the California State Association of <br />Counties are proud to offer cities and counties two new statewide financing pools to fund street <br />projects. The first pooled issuance has been completed and both programs have pools closing <br />this fall. <br /> <br />One program assists local agencies to bond against future payments of Proposition 42 <br />allocations, which come from the sales tax on gasoline. The other program issues bonds against <br />future payments ofthe Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax or gas tax (18 cents per gallon excise tax). Both <br />programs help cities obtain funding for more projects today. Neither program requires a pledge of <br />the city's general fund. <br /> <br />Together, these are the TRIP programs-Total Road Improvement Programs. As a participant in <br />TRIP, a city can: <br />. Accelerate funding of street projects <br />. Fund larger projects leading to better construction bids <br />. Reduce street maintenance costs over time <br />. Reduce financing fees and interest rates through economies of scale <br />. Enjoy streamlined application and documentation procedures <br /> <br />5 <br />