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TRANSPORTATION AGENCY FOR MONTEREY COUNTY Memorandum | |
| | | | | | | | | To: | Rail Policy Committee | | From: |
| | Meeting Date: | November 2, 2020 | | Subject: | 2021 Legislative Program |
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| | | | | | | | | RECOMMENDED ACTION: | RECEIVE and COMMENT on draft 2021 Legislative Program. |
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| | | | | | | | | SUMMARY: | 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. |
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| | | | | | | | | FINANCIAL IMPACT: | The recommended action has no direct financial impact. |
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| | | | | | | | | DISCUSSION: | The draft 2021 legislative program continues to focus on transportation funding and is limited to priorities that are likely to come up in the 2021 legislative session. Attachment 1 is the draft legislative program.
Items of particular interest to this Committee include:
State:
- 1S. Preserve funding for transportation projects, maximize formula funding to regions, and preserve regional discretion and priority-setting.
- 2S. Pursue competitive grant or bond funding for highway safety, traffic congestion relief, trade corridors, passenger rail, and public transportation for Monterey County projects.
- 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.
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7S. Support a resolution to recognize the Coast Route as an active rail corridor that can help the State meet transportation and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
- 14S. Support legislation that promotes transit-oriented development (such as via redevelopment or opportunity zones), complete streets, alternative commutes, multi-modal transportation, and active transportation projects.
Federal:
- 1F. Support stabilizing and increasing transportation infrastructure funding sources to avoid the bankruptcy of the federal highway and transit trust funds in the multimodal transportation authorization bill:
- 7. Support Monterey-Salinas Transit application for federal funding for the SURF Bus Line in the Monterey Branch Line corridor.
- 4F. Support streamlining of federal rail funding and removal of funding barriers between commuter and intercity rail programs, with the goal of increasing passenger rail service for the traveling public.
- 5F. Support an adequate level of funding for Amtrak to restore pre-COVID-19 service level and support a fair share allocation to California for capital improvements and vehicle acquisition.
The Executive Committee discussed this draft legislative program on October 7, 2020, and on October 28, 2020, the Board approved releasing it to Committees for input. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee will review the draft in November. Staff will also meet with partner agencies locally and statewide to discuss common issues. Following the Executive Committee's review of the draft program on January 6, 2021, the final program will come back to the Board on January 27, 2021 for adoption. |
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