Agency legislative analyst Gus Khouri, Khouri Consulting, will attend the meeting to present an update on state legislative activities and the 2019 legislative program.
The purpose of the legislative program is to set general principles to guide staff and Board responses to legislative or budgetary proposals. The program also notifies state representatives of the Transportation Agency’s position on issues of key importance to the Agency. The 2019 legislative program continues to focus on transportation funding and is limited to priorities that are likely to come up in the 2019 legislative session.
Attachment 1 is the final 2019 legislative program, and Attachment 2 shows changes from the draft 2019 program.
Key changes between the draft program circulated by the TAMC Board and the proposed final program include:
State priorities:
- 3S. Promote jobs-housing balance and alternative transportation modes as ways to reduce vehicles miles traveled, while maintaining statewide equity between urban and rural areas. (New item)
- 5S. Support streamlining project delivery, including simplifying grant program applications, raising encroachment permit thresholds, and accelerating project permit approvals. (New item)
- 6S. Coordinate with the Monterey-Salinas Transit District to review existing metrics for the qualification and distribution of Transportation Development Act (TDA) revenues, with the possibility for legislation in 2020 to update TDA law. (Revised language per MST)
Federal priorities:
- 1F.7. Support Monterey-Salinas Transit application for federal funding for the SURF Bus Line in the Monterey Branch Line corridor.(New item)
- 1F.8. Support applications for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grant program on the California Central Coast. (New item)
On December 17, 2018, Principal Planner Christina Watson attended the County Board of Supervisors meeting with legislators, where every legislator noted support for transportation funding, and especially road safety projects. After the meeting, Senator Anna Caballero noted she would carry the Prunedale Bypass excess property bill that was vetoed by Governor Brown. As Caltrans is working on an administrative solution, that legislative action is not currently on the Agency program. The language from the 2017 program stated: "Support legislation to transfer funding derived from the sale of excess rights-of-way purchased for the Prunedale Bypass project to priority projects in the region."
Executive Director Debbie Hale met with Assembly Member Robert Rivas on December 19, 2018 to discuss priorities. Assembly Member Rivas suggested an item for the Agency to consider is the possible return of redevelopment funding for affordable housing purposes. While housing is not within the Agency's responsibilities, state priority 7S includes supporting transit-oriented development.
Staff presented the draft program at the TAMC Board meeting in October and the Rail Policy Committee, Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee, and Technical Advisory Committee in November. Staff also met with partner agencies locally and statewide to discuss items for the program. This Committee is now asked to review the final draft program and recommend adoption by the Board in January.