Staff has been working with the legislature and stakeholder entities on AB 2730 (Alejo): Department of Transportation: Prunedale Bypass: County of Monterey: disposition of excess properties. AB 2730 was passed through the Assembly and the Senate and is currently awaiting action from the Governor (see attachment 1, analysis for the Senate).
The state legislative transportation committee chairs, Senator Beall and Assembly Member Frazier, have introduced a $7.4 billion/year transportation funding package. This is an ambitious new proposal based on months of negotiations.
Positive aspects of this proposal are that it: includes new sources of transportation funding; provides matching funds for self-help counties; increases transit capital; increases funds for freight movement; and includes a constitutional amendment for lowering the voter threshold.
The proposal is, however, still heavily weighted towards maintenance and rehabilitation, and only allocates a small new amount for regional projects via the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP); self-help counties money is available for existing counties, not just the new ones; no dedicated source of funding for intercity passenger rail; very little time to get this package adopted before the August 31 end of session, although it could be considered in the special session. Staff recommends supporting this proposal and encouraging the authors to include proposals previously discussed such as public private partnerships.
Attachment 2 is a one-page summary. Key provisions include:
- State - $2.9 billion annually for maintenance and rehabilitation of the state highway system.
- Locals - $2.5 billion annually for maintenance and rehabilitation of local streets and roads.
- Regions - $534 million annually to help restore the cuts to the STIP.
- Self-Help - $200 million as matching funds for self-help counties.
- Transit - $516 million annually for transit capital projects and operations.
- Freight - $900 million annually for goods movement.
- Active Transportation - $80 million annually, with up to $150 million possible through Caltrans efficiencies, for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
- Lower Voter Threshold - Constitutional Amendment to help locals raise funding at home by lowering the voter threshold for transportation tax measures to 55 percent.
Attachment 3 is the updated bill list as of August 19. Attachment 4 is the Agency’s adopted 2016 legislative program. Agency consultant and staff will walk through the bill list and recommended positions.