HEY GOOD MORNING,
EVERYBODY. UM WELCOME THIS
SUBCOMMITTEE THREE ON CLIMATE
CRISIS, RESOURCES, ENERGY AND
TRANSPORTATION. TODAY WE'RE IN
ROOM 447 WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN
PERSON TESTIMONY. ONLY TODAY IN
TERMS OF TESTIMONY. WE ARE
ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE
END OF THE HEARING, BOTH IN THE
HEARING ROOM AND ON THE PHONE
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE LIMITED
TO ONE MINUTE. THE PHONE NUMBER
TO CONNECT HIS ON THE COMMITTEE
WEBSITE AND SHOULD BE ALSO ON
THE SCREEN. IF YOU'RE WATCHING
OVER THE INTERNET, UM THE NUMBER
OF THE PUBLIC TOLL FREE NUMBER
IS 87769289. THE PUBLIC ASKS S
CODE IS 131544. IF YOU ENCOUNTER
ANY PROBLEMS, PLEASE CONTACT THE
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE AT
916319 AND A STAFF MEMBER WILL
ASSIST YOU. WE ENCOURAGE THE
PUBLIC TO PROVIDE WRITTEN
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HEARING.
PLEASE SEND YOUR WRITTEN
TESTIMONY TO BUDGET SUB SIX. YOU
MEAN BUDGETS? 11-3. BUDGET SUB
THREE AT ASSEMBLY AT A S M DOT C
A DOT GOV UM AND SAY THAT AGAIN
BUDGET SUB THREE AT A SM DOT
CA.GOV. AH! WE'RE NOT READY TO
CALL THE ROLE. WE DON'T HAVE A
QUORUM YET, BUT WELCOME.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RIVAS. RIGHT?
UM, WE HAVE 11 ITEMS ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR WOULD LIKE TO
PULL THE VOTE ONLY ISSUE NUMBER
THREE THAT AND HAVE CALTRANS
PRESENT ON IT AFTER ISSUE, TOO,
AND BEFORE ISSUE THREE. UM AND
WE WON'T TAKE A VOTE ON THE VOTE
ONLY ITEMS AT THIS POINT IN
TIME. UM WE ARE NOW READY TO
MOVE TO ISSUE ONE. AND THAT'S
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL FOR
BUDGET SOLUTIONS FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET, AND WE
HAVE WITH WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ALL
OF THE PANELISTS COME UP. I'M
GOING TO ASK. THE PANELISTS
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AS THEY
BEGIN TO SPEAK, AND I IMAGINE
THAT THE UNDERSECRETARY WILL BE
THE FIRST SPEAKER, BUT I WON'T
PURSUE THAT SO. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIRMAN MEMBERS, I WILL
ACTUALLY TURN IT OVER TO CARLOS
QUANT PRESENT THE FIRST ITEM
JUST TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF,
PLEASE. MARK TILLERSON,
UNDERSECRETARY CALIFORNIA STATE
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH UNDER SECRETARY. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CARLOS QUARANTINE ON
THE DEPTH DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR
BUDGET AND FISCAL POLICY HERE AT
THE CALIFORNIA STATE
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY. TODAY
WILL BE PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF
THE GENERAL FUND AUGMENTATIONS
INCLUDED IN THE 2022
TRANSPORTATION SUPPLY CHAIN
RESILIENCY, IMPORT
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGES AND THE
REVISIONS PROPOSED IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. I HAVE
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE
ADMINISTRATION WITH ME HERE
TODAY TO HELP RESPOND TO ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THE
2022 TRANSPORTATION SUPPLY
CHAIN. IMPORTANT FRUSTRATION
PACKAGE INCLUDED. AN
AUGMENTATION OF APPROXIMATELY
10.8 BILLION GENERAL FUND FOR
INVESTMENTS IN THE STATE'S
TRANSPORTATION SUPPLY CHAIN
IMPORT INFRASTRUCTURE.
SPECIFICALLY THIS FUNDING WAS
COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING
INVESTMENTS. THE FIRST
INVESTMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 7.7
BILLION GENERAL FUND IN THE
TRANSIT AND INTERCITY RAIL
CAPITAL PROGRAM. OVER FOUR YEARS
FOR HIGH PRIORITY RAIL AND
TRANSIT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. THIS INCLUDED 3.7 BILLION
THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN 22 23,
WITH FOUR BILLION TO BECOME
AVAILABLE AFTER 22 23. THE NEXT
INVESTMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 1.2
BILLION IN GENERAL FUND. WHICH
WAS COMPRISED OF 600 MILLION
ANNUALLY IN 22, 23 23 24 FOR
INVESTMENTS, IMPORT FREIGHT AND
GOODS MOVEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE NEXT INVESTMENT WAS
APPROXIMATELY ONE BILLION
GENERAL FUND FOR THE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. HMM.
THESE PROJECTS ENCOURAGE THE
INCREASED USE OF ACTIVE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION, SUCH AS WALKING
AND BIKING AND INCREASE THE
SAFETY AND MOBILITY OF
NONMOTORIZED USERS. THE NEXT
INVESTMENT WAS 350 MILLION FOR
HIGH PRIORITY GRADE SEPARATION
PROJECTS. THESE PROJECTS SUPPORT
CRITICAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT
GRADE CROSSINGS. THE NEXT
INVESTMENT IS 200 MILLION FOR
CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECTS. HMM
THAT SUPPORT CLIMATE RESILIENCY
AND REDUCE THEIR RISKS TO
INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXTREME
WEATHER EVENTS. THE NEXT
INVESTMENT IS 180 MILLION. FOR
VARIOUS SUPPLY CHAIN INVESTMENTS
, WHICH INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A
GOODS MOVEMENT WORKFORCE
TRAINING CAMPUS, EXPANDING THE
STATE'S CAPACITY TO ISSUE
COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSES AND
IMPROVING OPERATIONS AND GOOD
MOVEMENT EFFICIENCY. THE FINAL
INVESTMENT IS 150 MILLION
GENERAL FUND TO ESTABLISH THE
RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES HIGH
WAISTED BOULEVARD PROGRAM. WHICH
WILL INFORM THE FUTURE
CONVERSION OF KEY UNDERUTILIZED
HIGHWAYS INTO MULTI MULTI MODAL
CORRIDORS THAT SERVE EXISTING
RESIDENTS. WHILE THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN
IMPLEMENTING THESE INVESTMENTS,
THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY DECLINED,
RESULTING IN A STRUCTURAL BUDGET
DEFICIT DEFICIT. TO ADDRESS THIS
DEFICIT. THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
PROPOSES SEVERAL SOLUTIONS, SOME
OF WHICH IMPACT THE
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET.
SPECIFICALLY, THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSES. A REDUCTION OF
PLANNED AUGMENTATIONS OF 2.7
BILLION GENERAL FUND FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET, FUNDING
DELAYS AND COST SHIFTS. TWO
OTHER FUNDING SOURCES COMPRISED
OF THE FOLLOWING SOLUTIONS. THE
FIRST SOLUTION IS REDUCING THE
ANTICIPATED FOUR BILLION NT RCP
AUGMENTATION TO $2 BILLION. THE
OUT YOUR FUNDING AUGMENTATION
WOULD BE SPREAD ACROSS THREE
FISCAL YEARS. ONE BILLION IN 22.
23 24 EXCUSE ME. AND 500 MILLION
IN 2024 25 2025 26. THE SOLUTION
WILL LEAVE AN INFUSION OF 5.7
BILLION GENERAL FUND IN THE T R
C P PROGRAM. AND ON TOP OF ITS
NORMAL BASELINE FUNDING FOR THE
PROGRAM OPERATIONS. THIS MONEY
WILL BE USED TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL
FUNDING THROUGH THE I J A I
WOULD NOTE THAT THE SOLUTION
WILL NOT IMPACT THE CURRENT 2023
ERCP GRANT PROGRAM. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES
LANGUAGE THAT WOULD RESTORE THIS
REDUCTION TO THE EXTENT THAT
REVENUES ARE SUFFICIENT TO
SUPPORT THEM. THE NEXT SOLUTION
WOULD SPREAD. 600 MILLION IN
PORTS, FREIGHT AND GOODS
MOVEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE. PLAN
FOR APPROPRIATION IN 2023 24.
ACROSS EVENLY ACROSS THREE
FISCAL YEARS 200 MILLION
ANNUALLY ACROSS THOSE YEARS. WE
DO NOT ANTICIPATE THIS SOLUTION
WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT ANY OF
THE PROJECTS AS THESE LARGE
MULTI YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS WILL LIKELY INCUR
EXPENDITURES. ACROSS MULTIPLE
FISCAL YEARS. THE SOLUTION
ALIGNS THE AVAILABILITY OF THE
FUNDING WITH THE ANTICIPATED
RECEIPT OF THE EXPENDITURES. THE
NEXT SOLUTION IS TO SWAP OUT 500
MILLION GENERAL FUND IN THE
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
WITH 300 MILLION FROM THE STATE
HIGHWAY ACCOUNT. THE SOLUTION
WOULD ALSO UTILIZED 200 MILLION
IN PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED
FUNDING. MHM. EXCUSE ME AND
PREVIOUSLY RESERVED STATE
HIGHWAY ACCOUNT ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FUNDING
FROM OUT YOUR CYCLES AVAILABLE
TO OFFSET THE REMAINDER OF THE
$500 MILLION GENERAL FUND
REDUCTION. THE CTC IS CURRENTLY
ADMINISTERING A FOUR YEAR GRANT
AWARD CYCLE FOR THE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, WHICH
TOTALS 1.7 BILLION. AVAILABLE
FOR GRANTS IN THE PROGRAM. THIS
FUNDING LEAVES ALL OF ALL OF
THAT AMOUNT INTACT FOR THE
CURRENT GRANT CYCLE, AND THE
PROGRAM WOULDN'T REALIZE THAT
REDUCTION UNTIL 2025 26. THIS
FUNDING WOULD ALSO BE USED TO
LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL FUNDING
THROUGH THE IJ. THE NEXT
SOLUTION SOLUTION WOULD DELAY
THE AVAILABILITY OF 350 MILLION
FOR HIGH PRIORITY GRADE
SEPARATIONS FROM 2023 24 TO 2025
26. THE FUNDING FOR THE GREAT
SEPARATIONS WAS INCLUDED IN THE
2023 ERCP CALL FOR PROJECTS.
HOWEVER GIVEN THE MULTIYEAR
NATURE OF THESE TYPES OF
PROJECTS THE SOLUTION IS NOT
EXPECTED TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT
THE ABILITY TO DELIVER THE SAME
NUMBER OF ORIGINALLY PLANNED
PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE SAFETY FOR
PEOPLE WALKING, BIKING AND
DRIVING AT RAIL CROSSINGS. THIS
PROPOSAL PROPOSAL ALSO ALIGNS
THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FUNDING
WITH THE ANTICIPATED RECEIPT OF
EXPENDITURES. I WOULD ALSO NOTE
THAT THIS FUNDING IS A SUBSET OF
THE TRC P PROGRAM. AND BECAUSE
OF THE SUBSTANTIAL AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDING UPFRONT. WE
ANTICIPATE THAT WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO MANAGE THE EXPENDITURES
WITH AVAILABLE CASH TO THE
EXTENT THAT WE RECEIVED THEM.
LASTLY THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
PROPOSES TO REPLACE 200 MILLION
GENERAL FUND AUGMENTATION FOR
CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROGRAMS WITH
FUNDING FROM THE STATE HIGHWAY
ACCOUNT. THIS CONCLUDES MY
PRESENTATION. MY COLLEAGUES AND
I ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH BEFORE WE
MOVE OVER OVER TWO FISCAL POLICY
WANT TO WELCOME OTHER MEMBERS
HERE AND I THINK WE CAN NOW
ESTABLISH TAKE A ROLE AND
ESTABLISHED QUARTER. BENNETT.
CARNIVAL HERE, CONNOLLY SALIH.
FRIEDMAN GARCIA. JIM PATTERSON,
THREE OF US. WELCOME. BUDGET
CHAIR TING HERE ALSO WELCOME.
AND, UH NOW THAT WE HAVE QUORUM
. I DO WANT TO EXPRESS AND I
APPRECIATE THE UNDERSECRETARY
BEING HERE AS HE WAS INVOLVED IN
ALL THIS LAST YEAR, BUT I WOULD
BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION
THAT THE LEGISLATURE CERTAINLY
KEENLY AWARE THAT THERE WERE
THERE ARE ITEMS IN HERE THAT THE
LEGISLATURE HAD NEGOTIATED LAST
YEAR INTO THE BUDGET, AND THEY
HAVE BEEN CUT OUT OF THE BUDGET
. UH AND CERTAINLY THERE IS A
PERCEPTION THAT THOSE CUTS HAVE
HAVE NOT BEEN BALANCED IN TERMS
OF WHAT WAS ALL THE LEGISLATORS
PRIORITIES THAT SEEMED TO HAVE
BEEN CUT, SO IT WILL BE AN ISSUE
WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ABOUT AS
WE MOVE FORWARD. DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. UM DEPARTMENT FINANCE
STEVE WELLS FROM DEPARTMENT
FINANCE. I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU
KNOW, WE SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND WE
HAVE GREAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HELLO GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. FRANKIE MEN
IS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE WHEN IT COMES
TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS WITHIN TRANSPORTATION
. WE HAVE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE FIRST ONE BEING WE RECOMMEND
THE LEGISLATURE ADOPT PACKAGE OF
SOLUTIONS THAT ALIGNS WITH ITS
PRIORITIES. UM OVERALL, WE FIND
THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS FROM THE RECENT
GENERAL PHªN AUGMENTATIONS FOR
TRANSPORTATION ARE REASONABLE.
HOWEVER THIS REPRESENTS THE
GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES FOR WHAT
SHOULD BE SUSTAINED AND WHAT
SHOULD BE CUT. UM THE
LEGISLATURE COULD COME UP WITH
AN ALTERNATIVE SET OF SOLUTIONS
THAT COULD BE JUST AS REASONABLE
WHETHER THAT'S A DIFFERENT MIX
OF SOLUTIONS WITHIN
TRANSPORTATION OR FINDING
SOLUTIONS FROM OTHER PARTS OF
THE BUDGET TO SUSTAIN HIGH
PRIORITY TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAMS. OVERALL THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PRIORITIZES SUSTAINING
FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT HAVE
ALREADY BEEN APPROPRIATED. UM IF
YOU LOOK IN YOUR AGENDAS ON PAGE
16, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE
PROGRAM'S APPROPRIATED IN 21 22
22 23. WE FIND THIS APPROACH TO
BE REASONABLE, GIVEN THAT MANY
OF THESE PROGRAMS HAVE ALREADY
STARTED TO AWARD FUNDING TO
PROJECTS AND LOCAL AGENCIES.
ALREADY UNDERWAY IN APPLYING FOR
AWARDS. UM THE GOVERNOR ALSO
PROPOSED A SUSTAINING FUNDING
FOR THE ACTIVE FOR A PORTION OF
THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAM AND THE FULL AMOUNT FOR
THE LOCAL CLIMATE ADAPTATION
PROGRAMS BY SHIFTING FUNDS FROM
THE GENERAL FUND TO THE STATE
HIGHWAY ACCOUNT. UM THE FUND
SHIFTS MINIMIZE DISRUPTION TO
PROGRAMS SIMILAR TO MANY OF
THESE PROGRAMS ALREADY UNDERWAY
IN ALLOCATING FUNDING TO
PROJECTS AND LOCAL AGENCIES ARE
IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING
APPLICATIONS. HOWEVER THE FUN
SHIFTS ULTIMATELY COME WITH THE
TRADE OFF TO THE LEGISLATURE, UM
, REDUCTIONS IN STATE HIGHWAY
ACCOUNT FUNDS ULTIMATELY RESULT
IN LESS FUNDING FOR HIGHWAY
MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION
PROJECTS. HOWEVER IN OUR REPORT
, WE NOTE THAT THE STATE IS IN A
UNIQUE POSITION TO LEVERAGE THE
ADDITIONAL FORMULA HIGHWAY
FUNDING THAT'S BEEN MADE
AVAILABLE UNDER THE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND
JOBS ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS I, J. UM
WHILE THE FUND SHIFTS ULTIMATELY
REDUCED FUNDING FOR STATE
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND
REHABILITATION PROJECTS, THE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT'S MADE
AVAILABLE UNDER IJ WOULDN'T
OFFSET THIS ONE TIME SHIFT. THE
LARGEST REDUCTIONS FOR WHAT'S IN
THE RECENT GENERAL WHEN
AUGMENTATIONS ARE FOR THE
POPULATION BASED, HERE'S DP
FUNDING THAT WAS AGREED TO IN
THE BUDGET YEAR AND THE BUDGET
YEAR PLUS ONE. UM WE FIND THESE
REDUCTIONS REASONABLE GIVEN THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE BUDGET PROBLEM
FACING THE STATE AND THE BUDGET
HERE IN THE OUT YEARS. THE
LEGISLATURE PROVIDED A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF ITS
RECENT GENERAL FUND SURPLUSES ON
ONE TIME AND LIMITED TERM
ACTIVITIES. THIS PROVIDED THE
LEGISLATURE SOME UNDERLYING
FLEXIBILITY IN CASE BUDGET
CONDITIONS WEREN'T SUSTAINED,
GIVEN THAT WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT
ECONOMIC SITUATION THAN WE WERE
SIX MONTHS AGO, WE FIND THAT
THESE CUTS ARE REASONABLE. UM.
THESE CUTS WOULD ALSO PREVENT
THE LEGISLATURE FROM HAVING TO
CUT PROGRAMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
UNDERWAY, AND IT WOULD ALSO
PREVENT THE LEGISLATURE FROM
HAVING TO GO INTO ONGOING
RESOURCES TO FIND SOLUTIONS. UM
EVEN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S CUTS TO
THE POPULATION BASED HERE, CP
THEY STILL REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT
GENERAL FUND AUGMENTATIONS FOR
TRANSIT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
WHEN COMPARED TO RECENT YEARS.
IN OUR REPORT. WE NOTE THAT SOME
TRANSIT AGENCIES ACROSS THE
STATE ARE FACING OPERATIONAL
SHORTFALLS. UM THE POPULATION
BASED ERCP. WE KNOW IT IS FOR
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND
SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE VIEWED
FROM THE LEGISLATURE'S PERFECT
PERSPECTIVE IS HELPING WITH THIS
PROBLEM DIRECTLY. HOWEVER THE
LEGISLATURE DOES HAVE THE OPTION
OF OPENING UP THIS FUNDING FOR
ALLOWING SOME LEVEL OF
OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. BUT WE NOTE
THAT THIS WOULD BE A RE
PRIORITIZATION OF THE FUNDS AND
WOULD LIKELY REQUIRE SOME
STATUTORY GUIDANCE, ALLOWING
THAT OUR SECOND RECOMMENDATION
IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD
REJECT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
TRIGGER RESTORATION PROPOSAL. UM
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDES A
TRIGGER TRIGGER RESTORATION
PROPOSAL FOR THE POPULATION
BASED HERE. CP FUNDING FROM THE
BUDGET YEAR. UM SO THAT FUNDING
WOULD GO FROM ONE BILLION TO ITS
ORIGINAL TWO BILLION AGREED TO
AMOUNT UM, IF IN JANUARY 2024.
THE ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATES
THAT THE STATE HAS ENOUGH
RESOURCES TO FUND ITS BASELINE
ACTIVITIES, UM AND ALL OF THE
PROGRAMS ON THE TRIGGER
RESTORATION PROPOSAL LIST.
CURRENTLY THERE'S ABOUT $3.8
BILLION IN PROGRAMS ON THE
TRIGGER RESTORATION PROPOSAL
LIST AND IT'S AN ALL OR NOTHING
APPROACH, SO IF THEY'LL IF THE
STATE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH
RESOURCES TO FUND ITS BASELINE
ACTIVITIES AND THE $43.8 BILLION
, NONE OF IT TRIGGERS BACK ON.
UM WE FIND THAT THE LIKELIHOOD
THAT THERE'S TRIGGER RESTORATION
OCCURS IS VERY UNLIKELY AND THE
LEGISLATURE SHOULD VIEW THESE AS
PURE REDUCTIONS INSTEAD OF
PROGRAMS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL
TO BE RESTORED. WE FIND THAT
PROPOSAL ALSO MINIMIZES THE
LEGISLATURE'S AUTHORITY AND
FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO
CHANGING REVENUE CONDITIONS. OUR
THIRD RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE
RECOMMEND THE LEGISLATURE
DIRECTLY ADMINISTRATION TO NOT
SOLICIT APPLICATIONS OR AWARD
FUNDING BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE
GRANTS SPENDING AUTHORITY.
CALISTA IS CURRENTLY IN THE
PROCESS OF AWARDING THE $600
MILLION AGREED TO IN THE BUDGET
YEAR FOR THE PORTANTINO RATE
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. UM, IF
YOU LOOK IN YOUR AGENDAS ON PAGE
16, IT'S THE AMOUNTS AGREED TO
AND 23 24. UM WE ALSO NOTE THAT
UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL
THAT THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE
DELAYED, SO THAT'S 600 MILLION
IN THE BUDGET WOULD BE, UM THREE
PARTS OF 200 MILLION OVER THREE
PHYSICAL YEARS. UM WHILE THAT
YOUR FUNDING WAS AGREED TO, IT
HAS NOT BEEN APPROPRIATE BY THE
LEGISLATURE, AND IT'S STILL
SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENTS. WE FIND
THIS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN
THE YEAR WHERE THE STATE FACES A
BUDGET PROBLEM. WE FIND THAT THE
FUNDING THAT THE AWARDING
FUNDING BEFORE IT IS
APPROPRIATED CREATES A DYNAMIC
WHERE THE LEGISLATURE WOULD THEN
NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT
SHOULD CUT FUNDS THAT HAVE
ALREADY BEEN PROMISED TO LOCAL
AGENCIES. THIS PLACE IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
DISRUPTION ON THE LEGISLATURE'S
SHOULDERS WHEN IT WAS THE
ADMINISTRATION PREMATURELY,
AWARDING FUNDING TO LOCAL
AGENCIES AND CREATING THAT
PROMISE. UM OUR LAST
RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE
RECOMMEND THE LEGISLATURE USED
SPRING TWO WAY ALTERNATIVE
BUDGET SOLUTIONS AND ADDITIONAL
CUTS. BASED ON MORE RECENT
ECONOMIC DATA ARE OFFICE
ESTIMATES THAT THE BUDGET
PROBLEM COULD BE, UM WORSE THAN
WHAT IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED IN
THE GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET.
IN OUR REPORT. WE IDENTIFY
SEVERAL PROGRAMS WHERE
ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS COULD BE
REASONABLE EITHER TO SUSTAIN A
DIFFERENT MIX OF SOLUTIONS
ACROSS THE BUDGET, BOTH WITHIN
TRANSPORTATION OR ANOTHER AREAS,
OR ALSO TO ADDRESS THE MUCH
LARGER BUDGET PROBLEM. THESE
PROGRAMS EITHER HAVE SIMILAR
EFFORTS. UM, AND FUNDING BEING
PROVIDED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL
THROUGH I J. THEY HAVE
CONTINUOUS APPROPRIATIONS THAT
COULD COVER OUT YOUR COST OR NEW
PROGRAMS THAT LIMITED OUTCOMES.
FOR INSTANCE, THE CLEAN
CALIFORNIA LOCAL GRANT PROGRAM
IS, UM HAS FUNDING OF $100
MILLION AGREED TO IN THE BUDGET
HERE. IT HAS TWO YEARS WORTH OF
PROJECTS FROM PREVIOUS
AUGMENTATIONS THAT ARE WORKING
TOWARDS THE COMPLETION DATE OF
JUNE 2024. THE LEGISLATURE COULD
WAIT UNTIL THOSE PROJECTS ARE
COMPLETED. SEE WHAT OUTCOMES ARE
AND SEE WHETHER I'M AN
ADDITIONAL AUGMENTATION IS
WARRANTED, SO REDUCING THE
AMOUNT IN THE BUDGET WOULD
PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL BUDGET
SOLUTIONS WITH THAT. ENDS MY
COMMENTS HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT. I WANT TO POINT
OUT THAT TWO YEARS OF HAVING
SURPLUSES, UM, THE L A O HAD ONE
ROLE. BUT NOW THAT WE'RE IN
BUDGET DEFICITS, THE ONLY L A O
HAS I THINK OF MORE CRITICAL
ROLE FOR THE LEGISLATURE, AND
IT'S IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE MANY OPTIONS AND CREATIVE
OPTIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT DO WE
DO WITH WITH THE VARIOUS CUTS
THAT WE HAVE? MOVING FORWARD. UM
WITH THAT BEFORE I GO TO MEMBER
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. WE'VE
HAD A REQUEST FROM A MEMBER S A
LI FOR A COURTESY OF LETTING HIM
ASK A QUESTION BECAUSE HE NEEDS
TO LEAVE THEM AND UNLESS ANY
MEMBERS HAVE THE SAME SIMILAR
KIND OF SITUATION, AND I'LL LET
MR ESSAY THE ASK IS ONE QUESTION
OF THE UNDER SECRETARY AND THEN
WE'LL MOVE ON. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. APPRECIATE YOU
ACCOMMODATING ME. UM I WANTED TO
ASK A QUESTION TO THE
UNDERSECRETARY FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. IS
THAT MR IS IT TOUGH SON? THAT'S
CORRECT. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE, SO I REPRESENT A COMMUTER
DISTRICT. MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN
MY DISTRICT HAVE TO TRAVEL 30
PLUS MILES, EITHER FROM
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TO ORANGE
COUNTY OR LA COUNTY FOR WORK
EVERY DAY. THERE'S VERY LIMITED
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND OFTEN
THEY'RE FORCED TO GET ON THE 15
AND 91 EVERY MORNING, AND IT
TAKES ABOUT TWO HOURS TO GO EACH
DIRECTION. AND UNFORTUNATELY NOW
THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE THEY HAVE
IS TO USE TOLL ROADS WHICH CAN
COST UP TO $25 IN ONE DIRECTION,
WHICH I THINK IS VERY UNFAIR TO
PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT. UM I
ONLY RAISED THIS TO BRING TO
YOUR ATTENTION. WE DELIVERED A
LETTER YESTERDAY YOUR OFFICE AND
I'M HOPING YOU'LL GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT. ON
THE 15 FREEWAY. THERE IS A
PROPOSED PROJECT FOR THE I 15
QUARTER OPERATION PROJECT TO ADD
AN AUXILIARY LANE FROM CALCUTTA
, WYRICK, AND IT'S TOTALLY
FUNDED AND WOULD BE BUILT BY THE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION. AND IT'S ADDING LESS
THAN A MILE OF ROAD FOR AN OX
LANE TO EASE THE CONGESTION. THE
PROJECT WAS DENIED BY YOUR
AGENCY DUE TO, UH, AIR QUALITY
RULE. AND I'M JUST SIMPLY ASKING
YOU, PLEASE, FOR THE SAKE OF MY
CONSTITUENTS IF YOU'LL REVISIT
THAT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IT
IS ADDING AN ENORMOUS BOTTLENECK
AND TONS OF CONGESTION AND
PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE FOR RELIEF.
SO I JUST IT'S MORE OF AN ASK IF
YOU JUST WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE
LETTER AND POSSIBLY, UM, WORKED
WITH MY OFFICE ON THAT. GREAT
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AND
WE ARE DEFINITELY HAPPY TO TAKE
A LOOK AT THAT. AND, YOU KNOW,
UM YEAH, I KNOW THERE ARE, YOU
KNOW, OBVIOUSLY ERIC QUALITY
KIND OF CHALLENGES IN THE IN THE
REGION. BUT YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY
. OUR TEAM WILL TAKE A LOOK AT
THE LETTER AND WORK WITH YOUR
OFFICE ON IT. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. YOU WILL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS?
YEAH. ULSTER. GO AHEAD, MR
CONNELLY. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, AND THANK YOU PANEL.
JUST A FEW FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.
CAN CALTRANS PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE AN UPDATE ON THE LAST
ROUND OF RCP PROJECT AWARDS?
WHEN THE NEXT ROUND WILL BE
AWARDED AND HOW MUCH FUNDING WAS
REQUESTED OUT OF THE 3.65
BILLION. AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS.
SURE THANK YOU. FOR THE
QUESTION. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SO WE
ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE 2023 T RCP GRANT AWARD CYCLE
AND THUS FAR WE HAVE AWARDED
OVER $2.5 BILLION TO EXISTING TO
RCP PROJECTS. SO THE REMAINING
UM THE REMAINING 1.2 BILLION
WILL BE COMMITTED AND AWARDED TO
PROJECTS AND WE EXPECT THE AWARD
ANNOUNCEMENTS TO COME BY THE END
OF APRIL. GREAT CAN YOU ALSO
DISCUSS UM OF THE GENERAL FUND
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS, WHICH
PROGRAMS HAVE ACTUALLY NOT BEEN
AWARDED? AND HOW MUCH GENERAL
FINDER WOULD THAT INCLUDE, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE LAO MENTIONED CLEAN
CALIFORNIA. AH AS AN EXAMPLE OF
HOW MUCH IS NOT BEEN AWARDED OUT
OF THAT PROGRAM. CERTAINLY. SO,
UM, WE'VE WE'VE COMMITTED TO
FUNDING OR ARE CURRENTLY IN THE
PROCESS OF COMMITTING FUNDING
FOR THE TRC P PROGRAM. THE
IMPORTANT FREIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM AND THE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, SO THAT
LEAVES THE CLIMATE ADAPTATION
PROGRAM, THE HIGHWAYS TO
BOULEVARDS PROGRAM AND THE CLEAN
CALIFORNIA PROGRAM WITH FUNDING
YET TO BE AWARDED, HOWEVER,
WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN THE GRANT
CYCLES AND WE INTEND TO MAKE
THOSE AWARDS BY THE END OF THE
CALENDAR YEAR. GREAT THANKS. AND
FINALLY, UM, AS WE KNOW, AND AS
IT WAS NOTED BY THE L A. OH, THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSALS TO
MAKE FUNDING CUTS SUBJECT TO A
TRIGGER MEANING. IF THERE ARE
MORE FUNDS AVAILABLE, THE
FUNDING WOULD BE RESTORED. THE
22 BUDGET ACT ALSO INCLUDED
TRIGGERS. UM CAN THE
ADMINISTRATION STATE WHETHER THE
TRIGGERS FROM THE 22 BUDGET ACT
WERE RESTORED IN THE GOVERNOR'S
JANUARY BUDGET. SO STEVE WELLS
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, SO I
BELIEVE SO THE LAST SET OF
TRIGGERS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN
THE BUDGET. UM YOU KNOW FOR
TRANSPORTATION WERE ORIGINALLY
WHEN WE HAD THE TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM THERE WAS INCLUDED
TRIGGERS THAT BASICALLY THERE
NEEDED TO BE A LEGISLATIVE
ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN BY OCTOBER
OF THAT YEAR. UM THERE WAS NO
LEGISLATIVE ACTION TAKEN. I MEAN
, NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED. AND
THEN, UM, WE THREW A B 1 80 IS
WHEN WE REPLACED THE TWO POINT
OR 3.3 BILLION THAT WAS SUBJECT
TO THE TRIGGERS. WE REPLACED
THAT WITH 5.4 BILLION, UM, WHICH
INCLUDED INCREASING THE AMOUNT
FROM THE T R. C P FROM THE TWO
BILLION THAT WAS ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED AND INCLUDED IN THE
BUDGET TO 3.65 BILLION, WHICH IS
THE 3.65 BILLION THAT WE'VE
AWARDED IN THIS FIRST YEAR CYCLE
. UM THAT ALSO INCLUDED THE
EIGHT THE ONE POINT OH
5,000,000,080 P, WHICH IS, UH,
THE OF THE 1.7 BILLION THAT WE
ARE DOING IN THIS YEAR'S CYCLE.
THAT'S THE FULL AMOUNT THAT
WE'RE FUNDING. UM IT ALSO
INCLUDED THE $200 MILLION FOR
CLIMATE ADAPTATION TO 350
MILLION FOR GRADE SEPARATIONS
AND 150 MILLION FOR HIGHWAYS
BOULEVARDS, SO ALL OF THOSE
THINGS WERE ADDED AND
SUPPLEMENTED TO THE ORIGINAL 3.3
THAT WAS SUBJECT TO THE TRIGGERS
THAT WE HAD BEFORE, SO THAT'S
ALL OF THOSE THINGS. UM
ESSENTIALLY ARE PART OF UM,
ALREADY APPROPRIATED FUNDING AND
TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT FUNDING
UM THAT'S YOU KNOW, WE WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT, UM ARE PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS INCLUDE THE SWAPPING
OF THE SHH FOR THE CLIMATE
ADAPTATION AND THE SWAPPING OF
THE SHH FOR THE 80 P TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE
GONE OUT TO ON THIS YEAR CYCLE
IN THE 2023 CYCLE CAN BE FULLY
FUNDED. RIGHT? THANKS. ANY OTHER
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I HAVE A
COUPLE OF THEM FOLLOW UP
QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL,
APPRECIATE THE ANSWER ON THE
TRIGGERS REGARDING
TRANSPORTATION. HOW ABOUT THE
TRIGGERS IN THE OTHER AREAS OF
THE BUDGET, CAN YOU RESPOND OF.
I'M I'M I'M UNAWARE. I MEAN, I
DON'T KNOW OF WHAT THE OTHER
AREAS ARE, AND, UM, I COULD
CHECK WITH MY OTHER COLLEAGUES
AND GET BACK TO YOU. YOU COULD
DO THAT AND GET BACK TO US. WE
WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. L A OH,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S. I BELIEVE MOST
OF THE TRIGGERS ARE IN THE
CLIMATE, SPACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
SPACE, HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION. SO THOSE ARE
GOING TO BE THE THREE MAIN, UM,
POLICY AREAS WHERE THERE ARE
TRIGGER RESTORATION PROPOSALS
AND DO YOU DO YOU KNOW THE
ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION AT THIS
POINT IN TIME? UM NO. DON'T HAVE
A RESPONSE TO THAT ONE. SORRY WE
WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. I
THINK I'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF
A DISCONNECT BETWEEN LÀ ABOUT
PORTS UNDID AND YOUR ANSWER
ABOUT PORTS, BING. SO CAN YOU
CLARIFY ON PORTFOLIO HAVE THE
DOLLAR'S BEEN AWARDED YET IMPORT
FUNDING? SURE SO WE'VE ACTUALLY
STARTED OUR IMPORTANT FREIGHT
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT CYCLE AND
WE'VE MADE THE $1.2 BILLION
AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS AND WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF
REVIEWING THE COURT APPLICATIONS
. WE INTEND TO MAKE ALL OF THE
AWARDS BY THE END OF MARCH OR
THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. OKAY, SO
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AWARDED YET,
RIGHT? GREAT. THANK YOU. AND
THEN P I D FUNDING OF BUT ELIO,
WHAT ARE RESPOND TO THAT FOR
THIS, OKAY? RACHEL AYLA'S WITH
THE L. A. OH I THINK JUST ON
THIS POINT ON THE PORTS THEY
HAVEN'T BEEN AWARDED YET. BUT AS
YOU JUST HEARD THERE IN THE
PROCESS OF AWARDING THE FUNDING,
EVEN THOUGH THE AUTHORITY TO
SPEND THE FUNDING HAS NOT YET
BEEN GRANTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
UNTIL THE NEXT BUDGET ACT, SO
THAT'S REALLY THE BASIS BEHIND
OUR RECOMMENDATION OF, UH OF
DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION NOT
TO PROCEED WITH AWARDING FUNDING
THAT THEY DON'T YET HAVE THE
AUTHORITY FROM THE LEGISLATURE
TO SPEND. GREAT THANK YOU FOR
CLARIFYING THAT. APPRECIATE IT.
UM WITH THE P I D FUNDING. UM IT
ONLY INCLUDES THE 50 POSITIONS
AND WHICH IS FEWER THAN THE
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS IN 2019
2020 21 22, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
A MINIMUM OF $2 BILLION IN NEW
HIGHWAY DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS. THE FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTION IS ACTUALLY HAVE THE
STAFF THAT YOU NEED AND THE
RESOURCES ALLOCATED FOR THE P
IEDS. THAT WAS SO THAT YOU CAN
BUILD THE PROJECTS. THANK YOU
FOR THE QUESTIONS AND REMEMBER,
I WILL DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUE
STEPHEN KECK OVER AT CALTRANS.
NEW CHAIR. SO I COULD. WE SHOULD
HAVE DITCHED FINANCES. UM GOOD
MORNING. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
STEPHEN CHECK WITH CALTRANS. I'M
THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WITH
REGARD TO THE PINS ARE PROPOSAL
FOR THIS YEAR IS PART OF OUR
BIANNUAL SORRY BY ANY ALL ZERO
BASED BUDGET FOR PAGE UM, WE DID
AN OUT OF CYCLE AUGMENTATION TO
OUR PIT WORKLOAD LAST BUDGET
YEAR WHEN I J CAME ALONG AND
PROVIDED AS ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
AT THAT TIME MOVE REQUESTED 50
ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ABOVE OUR
BASELINE AT THAT POINT, WHICH
WAS 370 POSITIONS. SO THIS, UH,
THIS CURRENT AIR REQUEST OF 420
WE BELIEVE IS THE APPROPRIATE
WORKLOAD FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
DELIVER ALL THE PIGS. UM
IMPORTANT NOTE MOST OF THE
GENERAL FUND FUNDING THAT'S
COMING TO THE DEPARTMENT WILL
NOT REQUIRE. PITT'S ERCP, FOR
EXAMPLE, DOESN'T REQUIRE PAGE
FUNDING GOING TO LOCAL AGENCIES
THAT WILL BE USED OFF THE STATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM WILL NOT REQUIRE
PERIODS. SO A LOT OF THE MONEY
THAT CALIFORNIA'S RECEIVING, WE
WON'T HAVE TO DO PIGS FOR HIS
OFFER. EXCUSE ME. WE'VE ALSO
CHANGED THE WAY THAT WE DO KIDS.
AND NOW LOOK AT A MULTI ASSET OF
APPROACH. WHEN WE GO TO DO A
PROJECT. WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING
AT PAVEMENT ANYMORE. WE'RE
LOOKING AT PAVEMENTS, SIDEWALKS,
BRIDGE RAIL EVERYTHING ALL AT
ONCE, AND THAT'S REALLY ALLOWED
US TO DO MORE WITH THE RESOURCES
THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. GREAT.
THANK YOU. HOW MANY OF THE
PITTSFORD POSITIONS ARE VACANT
AT THIS POINT IN TIME. YEAH, SO
PIT WORKLOAD IS A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT THAN PROBABLY ALMOST
ANYTHING YOU'RE GONNA HEAR THIS
YEAR OR ANY OTHER YEAR WHEN WE
DO PAGE. IT'S A
MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH. SO
WE MIGHT HAVE AN ENGINEER WHO
NORMALLY WOULD WORK ON PROJECT
SPECIFIC WORK. DO A PID FOR A
WEEK OR TWO WHERE THE REST OF
THE TIME THEY'RE DOING SOME
OTHER WORK WE MIGHT HAVE RIGHT
AWAY. AGENTS ALSO CONTRIBUTING
TO THAT PAGE, WHERE THEY MIGHT
OTHERWISE BE ACQUIRING PROPERTY.
SO THAT TIME THAT THEY WORK ON A
PAGE THEY CHARGED, TWO ARE PAID
WORKLOAD OVERHEAD, NOT OVERHEAD
OR TO OUR PIG WORKLOAD BUCKET.
AND THAT ADDS UP TO WHAT YOU
MIGHT CONSIDER TO BE FILLED
POSITIONS. BUT THERE ISN'T A
PERSON WHOSE JOB IT IS JUST TO
SIT THERE AND DO KIDS ALL DAY
LONG. SO I COULDN'T TELL YOU IN
THE CURRENT YEAR WHAT OUR
ULTIMATE RESULT WILL BE UNTIL
AFTER THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT
GENERALLY, UM, UM, WE UTILIZE. 3
23, 43 2300 AND 40 P. Y S IN THE
LAST YEAR EQUIVALENCE POSITION
EQUIVALENCE IN THE LAST YEAR,
UM, TO DO THE WORK LOAD. THAT'S
HOW MANY YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK
LOAD OR THAT'S HOW MANY ARE
VACANT. NO I'M SORRY, YES, 340
YEARS ABOUT HOW MANY WE HAVE
BURNED UTILIZED LAST YEAR. DOES
THAT COMPARE TO 2015 AND 16 JUST
TO GIVE US AN IDEA IN 2015 16
HAVE THAT NUMBER THINK 319 WAS.
IT WAS A NUMBER IN THAT YEAR.
THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
AND ANY OTHER MEMBERS BEFORE WE
MOVE ON TO ISSUE TO CHEER TEAM.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR JUST TO
FOLLOW UP ON THE CHAIRS.
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE REPORT
AND FREIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM. CAN YOU ARTICULATE
UNDER WHOSE AUTHORITY YOU ARE
GIVEN TO INITIATE THE GRANT
PROGRAM? THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. 13. SO WE SET UP THIS
PROGRAM CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY
THAT WE AWARD ALL OF THE OTHER
LARGE TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS, AND WE
MADE THE DECISION TO MAKE THAT
FUNDING AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT
POSITIONS THE STATE TO LEVERAGE
AND MAXIMIZE THE FEDERAL FUNDING
THAT'S AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT
THESE PROJECTS. UM AND SO AND
THAT WAS THE REASON WE SET IT
UP. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE FINANCIAL
AUTHORITY. TO INITIATE THE
PROGRAM. SO WHO GAVE YOU THE
AUTHORITY TO DO IT? HMM. SO WE,
UM. BASED ON THE BUDGET
AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD WITH THE
LEGISLATURE. ALEJO'S SAYING THAT
MONEY IS NOT THERE. THE FUNDING
HASN'T BEEN APPROPRIATED. THAT'S
CORRECT. SO HOW CAN YOU INITIATE
A PROGRAM WHEN THE FUNDING
HASN'T BEEN APPROPRIATED? HMM. I
JUST SEE WELLS DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. UM, I THINK, AND THIS
IS HOW MANY OTHER HOW MANY OF
THE PROGRAMS ARE INITIATING?
WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY TO
GRANT? I CAN SAY THAT'S THAT'S I
MEAN, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF
THE, UM THE ISSUE WHEN WE START
TALKING ABOUT GENERAL FUND
VERSUS, UM YOU KNOW OUR NORMAL
OPERATING WITH S H A. AND UH,
YOU KNOW, OUR STATE HIGHWAY
ACCOUNT MONEY AND R S P ONE
FUNDS WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SO WE
HAVE A STREAM OF REVENUE AND
THEN BECAUSE PROJECTS TAKE A
LONG TIME TO INITIATE AND THEY
TAKE A LONG TIME TO YOU KNOW, TO
PLAN TO ORGANIZE THAN THEN THE
AWARD IS MADE, AND THEN IT TAKES
MULTIPLE YEARS TO LIQUIDATE. UM
THE PROCESS IS TO YOU KNOW, LOOK
AT A FOUR YEAR PLAN. LOOK AT HOW
MUCH MONEY WE'RE GONNA HAVE
AVAILABLE AND THEN START THE
PROCESS OF SAYING THIS IS GOING
TO BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE IN ORDER
IF WE WERE TO WAIT AS IT IS,
WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS, THE
LONGER YOU WAIT, THE MORE THE
PROJECT COSTS AND THEN AGAIN
JUST DELAYED AND UTILITIES SO I
THINK WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE
PORTS PROGRAM USING SORT OF THE
STANDARD TRANSPORTATION. PROCESS
WHICH IS TO LOOK AT, UH,
ANTICIPATED FORWARD. FUNDS START
THE PROCESS OF REQUESTING WHAT
WE BELIEVE WILL BE AVAILABLE. UM
BUT THEN YOU KNOW, NOT PROMISING
THE FUNDS. THE FUNDS ARE ALWAYS
CONTINGENT UPON THEM. THEY'RE
BEING ACTUALLY APPROPRIATED BY
THE LEGISLATURE. NOW ARE THESE
THIS IS GENERAL FUND MONEY OR
THE STATE. HOW IT CAN MONEY. I'M
SORRY. ONE THING THAT'S THAT'S
THE NORMAL PROCESS. NOW IN THE
IN THE CASE OF THE OF THE PORTS
MONEY, THIS IS GENERAL FUND
MONEY, BUT THE PROCESS THAT WAS
USED TO GO OUT FOR PROJECTS WAS
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME TYPE OF
PROJECTS PROCESS THAT WE USE FOR
ALL OF THE TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS. STEP SHOP. T R C P 80
P ALL OF THOSE TO DO FORWARD
LOOKING, AND THEN WE GO OUT FOR
A CALL FOR PROJECTS AGAINST A
FORWARD LOOKING, UH, CALENDAR OF
AVAILABLE REVENUES. SO YOU'RE
TELLING ME THIS IS AN AGENCY
THAT UM INITIATES. FUNDING GRANT
PROPOSALS. UM, TRADITIONALLY
WITHOUT ANY FUNDING AUTHORITY. B
INITIATE THE PROCESS OF CALLING
FOR PROJECTS OF PLANNING FOR
PROJECTS BASED ON PLAN AVAILABLE
REVENUE. BUT ALL OF THE PROJECTS
ARE THEN SUBJECT TO THE REVENUE
THE YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATION BY
THE LEGISLATURE. SO I MEAN,
THAT'S THAT'S YOU KNOW, LOCALS
OR WHERE THAT'S WHY WE YOU KNOW
WHEN WE HAVE SWINGS UP AND DOWN,
YOU KNOW THAT'S THAT'S PART OF
THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS. BUT
WE DO NOT. YOU KNOW, WE DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL THERE'S $100 MILLION
AVAILABLE AND THEN SET ASIDE
$100 MILLION FOR PROJECT THAT
MIGHT LAST, YOU KNOW, SIX OR
SEVEN YEARS BEFORE IT GETS DONE
FROM THE PLANNING PROCESS TO THE
END PROCESS WE ANTICIPATE AND
THEN PLAN ON A YEAR BY YEAR
BASIS BASED ON THE FUNDING
AVAILABLE, WHICH AGAIN IS EASIER
TO DO. AS WE ANTICIPATE, YOU
KNOW, GASOLINE TAX MONEY IS VERY
RELIABLE. VERY EASY. UM YOU KNOW
, AND THAT'S WHERE WE YOU KNOW,
WE SAW GENERAL FUND. THIS IS AN
AUGMENTATION. THAT'S WHY WE'RE
FOCUSING IT ON, YOU KNOW, ONE
TIME PROCESS PROJECT PROJECTS.
UM BUT THEN, AS PART OF THE
PROCESS OF, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT
FOR AWARDS. UM AT THE POINT AT
WHICH THE FUNDING IS MADE
AVAILABLE. UH UM. YOU KNOW, WE
WOULD TRADITIONALLY HAVE ALREADY
AVAILABLE TO US WHAT PEOPLE
WOULD WANT TO DO WITH IT. AND SO
THAT'S YOU KNOW, THE AGENCY HAS
MADE THE CALL FOR PROJECTS TO
SAY HEY, ON THIS $1 BILLION.
WHAT? WHAT DO YOU GUYS YOU KNOW,
WHAT'S THE PROJECT OF IT? WHAT
PROJECTS? WOULD YOU GUYS APPLY
THAT TO UM, AND AGAIN, THE
AWARDS HAVEN'T BEEN MADE, AND
THEN TO THE EXTENT THAT THE
AWARDS ARE MADE, YOU KNOW ALL OF
OUR AWARDS WHEN WE MAKE THE
WORDS ARE CONTINGENT UPON LET'S
SAY APPROVAL OF FUNDING. GOT IT,
SO I'LL GO AHEAD. I'M A YEAH, I
WAS JUST GOING TO ADD. YOU KNOW,
WHILE AN AWARD MAYBE MADE
ULTIMATELY THE CASH WILL NOT BE
AVAILABLE UNTIL THAT
APPROPRIATION IS MADE IN THE
LATTER YEAR AND OFTENTIMES WITH
THESE LARGE SCALE PROJECTS THAT
TAKE MULTIPLE YEARS, THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR THE UPFRONT
COMMITMENT. UM, NOT NECESSARILY
THE CASH. UM AND THAT WILL HELP
US, YOU KNOW? POSITION YOU KNOW
, A PROJECT THE STATE, UM TO
POTENTIALLY DRAW DOWN FUTURE
FEDERAL FUNDS BECAUSE OF THAT
COMMITMENT OF THOSE SAVE
RESOURCES. SO I'M GONNA ASK L L
SO WHY? WHY DID YOU HIGHLIGHT
THIS ONE? PROGRAM THE DEPARTMENT
SAYING THIS IS THEIR MODUS
OPERANDI. YEAH, I THINK THE
DISTINCTION HERE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S IS THAT
GENERALLY WITH TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS ADMINISTERED BY THE
STATE. UM THESE COME FROM
GASOLINE, DIESEL AND A COUPLE OF
VEHICLE FEES AND THOSE MONEYS
ARE GENERALLY APPROPRIATED
ANNUALLY IN THE BUDGET, EXT.
SOME ARE CONTINUOUSLY
APPROPRIATED SO THAT REVENUE
STREAM IS STEADY AND CONSISTENT
. SAME WITH FEDERAL FUNDS. THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES A
FIVE YEAR SPENDING ACT. AND THE
STATE HAS ITS KNOWN RESOURCES ON
WHAT IT CAN GO OUT AND AWARD. I
THINK THE DISTINCTION HERE WITH
THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS THAT
IT'S A GENERAL FUND AUGMENTATION
. UM THE UM AL STOBER STEVE 600
MILLION IN THE CURRENT YEAR THAT
IT'S CURRENTLY AWARDING, AND
THEN IT HAS 600 MILLION AGREED
TO IN THE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET
HERE. SO THEY'RE TRYING TO
ADVANCE THAT 600 MILLION BUDGET
YEAR TOWARD IN THE CURRENT YEAR
. I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE DRAW
THE DISTINCTION OF THAT. HEY,
THIS FUNDING HASN'T BEEN
APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE
, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO
ACCELERATE THE 600 MILLION,
WHICH PUTS THE LEGISLATURE IN A
DIFFICULT POSITION IF THEY'VE
AWARDED AND PROMISED THIS
FUNDING TO LOCAL AGENCIES AND
THE SAME TIME THE LEGISLATURE'S
DEALING WITH THE BUDGET PROBLEM.
SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK FOR
ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS TO CLOSE
THE BUDGET GAP, AND THE AGENCY
HAS ALREADY AWARDED PROJECTS
THAT PUTS YOU ALL IN A DIFFICULT
POSITION, BECAUSE THEN YOU WOULD
HAVE TO LOOK AT CUTTING FUNDING
THAT HAS BEEN PROMISED LOCAL
AGENCIES WHEN THE DEPARTMENT'S
HAVEN'T HAD THE AUTHORITY TO
AWARD THAT FUNDING. OKAY, BUT
THE DEPARTMENT SAYING THAT THIS
IS HOW THEY GENERALLY DO
BUSINESSES YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS
THE ONLY AREA THAT'S A GENERAL
FUND APPROPRIATION. ALL THE
OTHER AREAS ARE SPECIAL FUNDS.
GENERALLY WITH THE SPECIAL FUNDS
THAT ARE APPROPRIATED EACH
ANNUAL YEAR AND THROUGH CASH
MANAGEMENT, THE UM DEPARTMENT
AWARDS PROJECTS OUT ON A ROLLING
BASIS. IT LOOKS AT ITS WINDOW OF
WHEN APPROPRIATIONS WILL BE
COMING IN AND BEGINS TO AWARD
PROJECTS AND USES ITS CASH
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO ENSURE
THAT APPROPRIATED FUNDS ARE
GOING TO AWARDED PROJECTS. I
THINK THAT DISTINCTION HERE IS
THAT THIS IS GENERAL FUND IN
QUITE UNIQUE, SO THEY'RE
EMPLOYING STRATEGIES THAT
NORMALLY WORK WITH CONSISTENT,
UM, SPECIAL FUNDS AND FEDERAL
FUNDS TO GENERAL FUND, WHICH
DOESN'T NECESSARILY LINE UP WITH
HOW THE YOU KNOW THE LEGISLATURE
APPROPRIATES THIS GENERAL FUND,
AND I THINK THE ISSUES
HIGHLIGHTED EVEN MORE GIVEN THAT
WE'RE IN A BUDGET PROBLEM. WE'RE
ON THIS ON THE SPECIAL FUND
SIDE. WE'RE NOT SEEING, YOU KNOW
A DIP IN REVENUES WHERE IT
CAUSES THAT CONCERN, BUT THEN
GENERAL FUND SIDE I THINK THAT'S
WHERE THE DISTINCTION IS. I
FORGET LAST YEAR, BUT IF YOU
COULD UM REFRESH MY MEMORY IS
FROM DID WE DID WE WHEN WE PASS
THE BUDGET ACT LAST YEAR? NO, WE
DID. WE DID A NUMBER OF
APPROPRIATIONS THAT WERE
PERCEIVED AS MULTI YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T REALLY DO
MULTI YEAR BUT THERE'S THE
INTENTION WAS WHEN WE PASS THE
BUDGET LAST YEAR WAS THAT PART
OF OUR AGREEMENT LAST YEAR? UH
YEAH, I'M PAGE 16 IT OUTLAYS.
THE MULTI YEAR AGREEMENT OF HOW
THE FUNDING WOULD BE SPENT. UM
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
CHART UNDER THE SUPPLY CHAIN
PACKAGE, THERE'S THE PORTANTINO
RATE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, AND
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S 600 MILLION
IN THE CURRENT YEAR 600 MILLION
IN THE BUDGET HERE, SO YOU KNOW,
BASED ON WHAT HAS BEEN PASSED IN
EACH BUDGET ACT ADMINISTRATION
ONLY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SPEND
THAT INITIAL 600 MILLION IN THE
CURRENT YEAR. THAT BUDGET YOUR
FUNDING THAT 600 MILLION IS
STILL WAITING FOR APPROPRIATION
. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM I ALSO
JUST WANTED TO JUST SORT OF
REITERATE, JUST GOING BACK TO
THE BROADER ISSUE OF THE
GOVERNORS JANUARY PROPOSAL. UM
JUST WANT TO REITERATE THE
CHAIRS, CONCERNS, I THINK AROUND
THE TRANSPORTATION, UM CUTS. UM
WE, UH WE THOUGHT VERY, VERY
HARD ABOUT THE NEED TO INVEST IN
A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE. I THINK
THERE'S A CONCERN THAT THE
AGENCY ITSELF HAS NOT CAUGHT UP
TO CALIFORNIA'S VISION OF
TRANSPORTATION THAT WHILE THE
AGENCY IS CALLED AGENCY FOR
TRANSPORTATION IS VERY MUCH
FOCUSED ON ROADS. AH AND CARS
AND HAS NOT CAUGHT UP ON TRANSIT
HAS NOT CAUGHT UP ON ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION, AND WE THOUGHT
THAT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WERE
MADE LAST YEAR WAS JUST
BEGINNING TO START TO TRY TO
EVEN SOME OF THAT. I DON'T THINK
THAT FOR MOST OF THOSE, MOST OF
US WHO LIVE IN HEAVILY URBANIZED
AREAS I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE
THAT WE CAN SORT OF AH, BUILD
OUR BUILD ENOUGH ROADS TO REALLY
MOVE THE POPULATION AS WE GROW
AS A STATE. AND SO I THINK THE
CONCERNS IS ONE OF THE MAIN
REASONS ONE OF THE MAIN ECONOMIC
DRIVERS FOR ALLOWING US TO GROW
INCREASE POPULATION WILL REALLY
BE DOING SIGNIFICANT
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS ON
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AS WELL AS
ON PUBLIC TRANSIT. JUST SAYING
THAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP YOU
KNOW, REPAVING ROADS AND HOPING
THAT YOU KNOW, GRIDLOCK AND
INCREASED CAR TRAFFIC WILL ALLOW
OUR ECONOMY TO GROW. WE THINK
THAT'S JUST NOT A RECIPE FOR
SUCCESS OVER THE NEXT 50 TO 100
YEARS, SO WE'RE VERY, VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL WILL BE OBVIOUSLY
DISCUSSING THAT AS WE GO AND
FINISH OUR JUNE BUDGET, BUT JUST
WANTED JUST REITERATE THAT FOR
THE RECORD THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD SAY IS
THAT YOU KNOW, FIRST OFF, YOU
KNOW, IMMENSE APPRECIATION FOR
THE TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE THOSE
APPROVED LAST YEAR THAT REALLY
FITS IN WITH A LOT OF THE IDEALS
AND YOUR CALIFORNIA CITY
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY, AS WELL
AS CALTRANS HAS IN TERMS OF KIND
OF MOVING TOWARDS A MULTIMODAL
FUTURE. OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
FOR TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO GUIDE
US AS WE MOVE FORWARD,
TRANSITIONING MORE AS YOU
MENTIONED AWAY FROM JUST PULLING
IT SOLELY FOCUSING ON HIGHWAYS
TO LOOKING AT MORE MULTIMODAL
OPTIONS. I THINK WITH A
CHALLENGING BUDGET OBVIOUSLY
COMES WITH CHALLENGING DECISIONS
. UM YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY WE AT LEAST KNOW
WHAT THOSE OUT YOUR FORMULA
DOLLARS WANTED TO INCLUDE THE
TRIGGER LANGUAGE THAT THE HAD
MENTIONED TO JUST SHOW THAT THAT
IS STILL A PRIORITIES SHOULD
REVENUES BECOME AVAILABLE THAT
WILL GO BACK INTO THOSE
TRANSLATED AND INTERCITY RAIL
PROGRAMS. SO VERY, VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED UNDER SECTOR IS
COMMENTS. I GUESS I WOULD SAY IF
IT'S A PRIORITY THAT IT
SHOULDN'T BE PART OF A TRIGGER.
PRIORITIES AREN'T PART OF A
TRIGGER THERE IN THE IN THE
PROPOSAL, SO THAT'S HOW WE WOULD
SO IF WE'RE GONNA PRIORITIZE
TRANSIT. UH I CAN'T. I CAN'T SAY
THAT I WOULD PRIORITIZE TRANSIT
IN IT FOR IT TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN
A TRIGGER SO. I WOULD LIKE TO
FOLLOW UP BY JUST TRYING TO
CLARIFY HOW OFTEN HAVE WE USE
THIS ADVANCED TECHNIQUE. THIS
ADVANCED FUNDING TECHNIQUE WITH
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. WE
NORMALLY DON'T HAVE GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS TRANSPORTATION'S BUDGET,
SO IT'S FAIRLY AND I'VE BEEN
DOING IT FOR 15 YEARS NOW AND
YOU KNOW, VERY SMALL LITTLE
GENERAL FUND, SOMETIMES AN
OPERATIONAL THING, BUT AS FAR AS
LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE,
GENERAL FUNDS JUST NOT PART OF
OUR SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
THAT WE HAVE SO L A L POINTING
THIS OUT THERE POINTING OUT
SOMETHING THAT'S UNPRECEDENTED
GENERALLY FOR THE STATE BEFORE
FOR TRANSPORTATION. YES. THIS
LEVEL OF GENERAL FUND. UM UM,
COMMITMENT IS UNPRECEDENTED, AND
I WOULD ECHO THE SAME THING THAT
MR ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S TING HAS HAS
JUST JUST BROUGHT UP WHILE WE
HAVE CUTS. LIKE I SAID, WELL, WE
HAVE WELL, WELL WELL. THE BUDGET
PROPOSALS CUTS ON THE TRANSIT
SIDE WE ARE DOING THIS PRE
AUTHORIZATION OF THE GENERAL
FUNDING THAT IS NOT ASSURED YET
BY THE LEGISLATURE, SO SUDDENLY
REMEMBER, FRIEDMAN THANK YOU. I
WASN'T TRYING TO WAIT UNTIL THE
END. I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK.
BUT THE CHAIR IS PUSHING ME TO.
SO UM, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND LAO
FOR THE ANALYSIS, AND I DO THINK
THAT IN A VERY DIFFICULT BUDGET
YEAR, THERE ARE A LOT OF CUTS
HERE THAT ARE PRUDENT. SO I MAY
BE ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE, UM,
INVOLVED IN THIS TO SAY THAT I
DO APPRECIATE THE WORK, AND I
THINK THAT THERE'S A BALANCE
HERE OF SHIFTING FUNDS OF
LOOKING AT WHAT'S ACTUALLY READY
TO GO FORWARD AND SAYING, IF
IT'S NOT READY, WE'RE GONNA PUSH
THAT OFF INTO LATER YEARS, AND I
DO THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR AND
THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE MADE
THEIR VALUES CLEAR THROUGH
CAPITAL T. AND THROUGH THIS
BUDGET, AND CERTAINLY THROUGH
THE BUDGET ALLOCATIONS THAT WERE
MADE LAST YEAR. UM AND I VERY
MUCH AGREE WITH THE DIRECTION I
WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, THOUGH
, THAT WHILE CAPTAIN HE IS A
WONDERFUL GUIDING DOCUMENT, WE
STILL HAVE A LOT OF FUNDING
FORMULAS THAT ARE BASED ON KIND
OF THE OLD WAY OF DOING
BUSINESS. A BULK OF OUR FUNDING
STILL DOES GO INTO HIGHWAY
CAPACITY. INCREASING PROJECTS.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW. LAST YEAR,
I DID TWO BILLS TO TRY TO ALIGN
OUR FUNDING FORMULAS WITH CAPT.
I WITH THE GOVERNOR'S VISION,
AND I WASN'T SUCCESSFUL IN ONE
CASE IN GETTING THEM THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE OTHER ONE IT
WAS VETOED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS
CODIFYING THE ADMINISTRATION'S
OWN GOALS. UM I FOUND THAT VERY
DISAPPOINTING AND I THINK IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYONE FROM OUR M P.
O S AND THE GROUPS THAT ARE
PLANNING OUR PROJECTS ALL THE
WAY UP TO C T. C AND THAT, UM,
ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH
THAT THAT DIFFERENT MOBILITY
FUTURE WITH THOSE ALTERNATE
MOBILITY TYPE FUTURE PROJECTS
THAT THEY MAY BE ON THE BOOKS.
FOR M P. O S, BUT THEY'RE NOT
NECESSARILY RISING TO THE TOP OF
THE PRIORITY LIST, AND NOR ARE
THEY RECEIVING THE BULK OF
FUNDING. SO I DO THINK THIS YEAR
GOING FORWARD. IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE DO TAKE A VERY
HARD LOOK AT THE PROJECTS THAT
ARE BEING FUNDED, AND I
UNDERSTAND THERE'S LEGACY
PROJECTS, BUT JUST BECAUSE WE'VE
BEEN WORKING ON SOMETHING FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS DOESN'T MEAN
THAT IT'S THE RIGHT PROJECT NOW.
YOU KNOW, CARB HAS BASED THEIR
EMISSIONS GOALS FOR THE STATE ON
A 25% REDUCTION IN BMT, BUT WE
DON'T HAVE A CLEAR ROADMAP AS TO
HOW WE GET THERE. SO WE HAVE GOT
TO CHANGE WHAT WE'RE PUTTING OUR
FUNDING INTO, AND THAT MEANS
ALLOWING US TO CHANGE ALL OF
THOSE FORMULAS AND ALL THOSE
DIRECTIONS AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL
. I'VE MET WITH THE M POS. THEY
BRING UP A LOT OF LOCAL BARRIERS
TO MOVING TOWARDS PROJECTS THAT
GIVE US THE BMT. REDUCTIONS THAT
WE'RE LOOKING FOR. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THAT,
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE ALLOW THIS LEGISLATURE TO DO
MORE AGGRESSIVE WORK
LEGISLATIVELY TO ALIGN WITH
THOSE GOALS. SO, YES, I'M MAKING
A PITCH FOR MY LEGISLATIVE
PACKAGE THIS YEAR. IN THIS SPACE
, I HOPE THEY RECEIVE A BETTER
FATE. UM BUT I DO THINK THAT IF
WE ARE NOT IN ALIGNMENT WE MAY
NOT END UP WITH THE KIND OF
QUALITY PROJECTS THAT WE WANT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. SENATOR
MEMBER KING JUST 111 FINAL LIST
OF QUESTIONS ON SO I KNOW THAT
YOU'VE MENTIONED MENTIONED THE
600 MILLION THAT'S BEEN ALREADY
STARTED TO BE INITIATED UNDER
600 MILLION FOR THE PORTER
FREIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
HAVE YOU ALSO INITIATED? UM
PROPOSALS FOR THE TERSE IP AND
THE CLEAN CALIFORNIA LOCAL GRANT
PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION SEARCHING. YES. WE'RE
CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF, UM,
INITIATING THE GRANTS FOR THE
TRC P AWARDS. SO WE'VE WE'VE
ALREADY AWARDED OVER 2.5 BILLION
OF THOSE AWARDS TO EXISTING
PROJECTS. I MEAN, THE ONES THAT
PART. PART OF THE AGREEMENT WAS
THE TWO BILLION FOR 23 24. THE
100 MILLION FOR 23 24. SO JUST
LIKE YOU ALREADY GOING FOR THE
600 MILLION IN IMPORTANT FREIGHT
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. ARE YOU
DOING THE SAME FOR THOSE OTHER
TWO PROGRAMS? NO WE'RE NOT
CURRENTLY DOING THE SAME FOR
THOSE PROGRAMS AND THAT FUNDING
WAS REALLY RESERVED TO BE
DISTRIBUTED IN FORMULA BASIS BY
THE LOCALS. SO WE DIDN'T WE
DIDN'T TOUCH THAT PROGRAM. THOSE
THOSE FUNDS THOSE FUNDS WOULD
HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED IN THE
FUTURE TO RCP GRANT. PROCESS I
SEE SO BECAUSE THEREBY FORMULA
YOU DIDN'T FEEL THE NEED TO AND
INITIATED INITIATE THE PROGRAM.
THE AUTHORITY WAS REALLY FOR THE
LOCALS TO, UM, MAKE THOSE
DECISIONS SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO
TOUCH THAT. OKAY? OKAY I'LL JUST
MAKE A COMMENT. UM, YEAH, I
AGREE. WITH EVERYTHING MR. QUITE
MENTIONED ON THE POPULATION BASE
. IT'S DISTRIBUTED ON A FORMULA
BASIS, SO THERE'S REALLY NOTHING
TO AWARD ONCE THE FUNDING
BECOMES LIVE. IT GETS SENT OUT
TO THE LOCALS TO PROPOSE
PROJECTS. I WILL NOTE FOR THE
CLEAN CALIFORNIA LOCAL GRANT
PROGRAM. UM CALTRANS ADMINISTERS
THIS PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE
STARTING TO SOLICIT APPLICATIONS
WITH THE INTENT TO AWARD FUNDING
IN THE BUDGET YEAR. UM, SO
THAT'S A DISTINCTION THERE. I
THINK WITH IMPORTANT
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, THEY'RE
AWARDING FUNDING IN THE CURRENT
YEAR THAT'S PLANNED FOR THE
BUDGET HERE. CALTRANS IS
SOLICITING APPLICATIONS WITH THE
INTENT TO AWARD IN THE BUDGET
YEAR. SO THEN WHY? WHY WOULD YOU
AWARD PROGRAMS AND NOT WAIT TILL
JULY. 1ST, I GUESS. SO WHEN WE
AWARD THE PROGRAM FUNDING, WE'RE
NOT ANTICIPATING THE
EXPENDITURES TO COME IN FOR
SEVERAL FISCAL YEARS. THERE ARE
SEVERAL STEPS THAT THEY NEED TO
TAKE THE AGENCIES NEED TO TAKE
IN ORDER TO START DRAWING DOWN
THIS FUNDING. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU
REPEAT THAT? I'M JUST TRYING TO
PROCESS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. ONE
OF THE THINGS I CAN. I WOULD
LIKE TO ADD ON THE PORK FUNDING,
AND SO ON THE ON THE CLEAN
CALIFORNIA FUNDING, WE'RE NOT
REALLY USING THAT TO LEVERAGE
ANY FEDERAL FUNDS. BUT ON THE
COURT FUNDING, THERE IS A TIMING
ISSUE. WE NEED TO HAVE THE WE
BASICALLY NEED TO TELL THE FEDS.
HEY, LOOK, WE'VE GOT 1.2 BILLION
AVAILABLE. GIVE US HOWEVER MUCH
MONEY WE'RE ASKING WHAT DATE IS
THAT? WE HAVE TO LET THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT NOW. THAT ONGOING I
BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NO FOES
CURRENTLY. YEAH THERE'S A
VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT THE
STEAK AND LEVERAGE AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL THOSE WILL ROLL
OUT AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE
YEAR. THE IMPORTANT
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM IS DEADLINE BEFORE JUNE.
IS THERE A DEADLINE BEFORE JUNE
30TH. SO UM, THERE ARE PROGRAMS
THAT WILL BE ROLLING OUT THIS
SPRING IN WHICH A LOT OF THE
PORT UM, PROJECT DEADLINE BEFORE
JUNE. 30TH THERE IS YES. FOR
WHICH PROGRAM UM SO THE PORT'S
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM. UM I BELIEVE THE RAISED
PROGRAM. THERE'S A NUMBER OF
FEDERAL PROGRAMS. I DON'T HAVE
THOSE YOU KNOW, IN FRONT OF ME
RIGHT NOW, IN TERMS OF THE
TIMELINES. BUT ALL OF THOSE WILL
BE ROLLING OUT THIS SPRING, WITH
DEADLINES LIKELY BEFORE JUNE,
OKAY, IF YOU COULD GET THAT
HAPPY TO DO SO WOULD APPRECIATE
THAT. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO
POINT OUT THAT, UM, I AM VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE PORTAL
STRUCTURE PROGRAMS, BUT I'M ALSO
SUPPORTIVE OF MAKING SURE THAT
WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN THAT
AWKWARD SITUATION OF HAVING THEM
BE AWARDED IN THE LEGISLATURE.
POTENTIALLY DECIDING THAT THERE
ARE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE
HAVE. SO BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM
TWO, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THE
FACT THAT ITEM TO I THINK VERY
MUCH RELATES TO THE CONVERSATION
WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE
WE HAVE WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
THE FISCAL CLIFF. THE TRANSIT
FISCAL CLIFF THAT IS OUT THERE.
UH AND SO THIS THIS ISSUE IN
TERMS OF YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE
DOING WITH THE TER CP FUNDING.
UM, IS. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO HAVE A VERY ROBUST
CONVERSATION ABOUT TRANSIT AND
GETTING ALIGNED WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION WILL BE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT FOR THEM FOR THE
HEALTH OF TRANSIT AGENCIES HERE
IN CALIFORNIA. AND SO THE
COMMENTS AND THAT IN THE
CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD HERE
ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND
PRIORITIES WILL CERTAINLY
TRANSLATE OVER THAT. SO WE LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON
ALL OF THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD,
BUT PARTICULARLY THE ISSUES THAT
WERE RAISED HERE TODAY, SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM ISSUED
TO WE'RE GOING TO DO VOTE ON THE
VOTE ONLY ITEMS WHAT WE STILL
HAVE. STILL HAVE EVERYBODY HERE.
NO IT'S VOTE ONLY ITEMS EXCEPT
FOR VOTE ON THE ITEM NUMBER
THREE, WHICH WE WILL COVER
LATER. GO AHEAD. COLORADO. THANK
YOU. SO WE NEED A MOTION FOR
THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR
CONNELLY. SECONDED BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REVIS. BENNETT.
YES, I CONNOLLY SALIH FRIEDMAN.
GARCIA. PATERSON READ US. ALL
RIGHT. WE ARE READY TO MOVE TO,
UH, ITEM TWO. ISSUE TWO FOR US
AND. WE HAVE NEW PANELISTS THAT
WANT TO COME UP.
SO BEFORE WE BEGIN THIS UM, I DO
WANT TO START WITH A FEW
COMMENTS. UM THE FISCAL CLIFF
THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
AMONGST OTHER THINGS AS WE TALK
ABOUT TRANSIT IS IN MY
PERCEPTION TRULY A REALLY
SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH VERY
CHALLENGING AND NO OBVIOUS
SOLUTIONS FOR US AT THIS POINT
IN TIME, UM IT TODAY WE'RE NOT
GOING TO BE MAKING ANY
DECISIONS. BUT WHAT WE DO WANT
TO DO IS TRY TO MAKE SURE WE USE
THIS HEARING TO ESTABLISH FROM
THE LEGISLATORS PROSPECT FROM
THE ASSEMBLY'S POSITION. WHAT'S
THE PROCESS WE'RE GOING TO USE
TO TRY TO GATHER ALL THE DATA
THAT WE NEED? MAKE SURE THAT WE
CLEARLY LOOK AT ALL OF THE
SOLUTIONS OUT THERE THE
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
VARIOUS SOLUTIONS AS WE TRY TO
FRAME THIS ISSUE FOR HEALTHY
DISCUSSION ON OUR PART FOR THOSE
PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING AND
AREN'T AWARE OF WHAT WE MEAN.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FISCAL
CLIFF. THE FISCAL CLIFF IS A
SERIOUS, UH, DEFICIT IN THE
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
BUDGETS OF MANY OF THE TRANSIT
AGENCIES AND THE IMPORTANT
TRANSIT AGENCIES HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, UH, UP TO THIS POINT
IN TIME THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
HAS FUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR
TRANSIT AGENCIES, BUT HAS NOT
FUNDED OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE AND THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA IS NOW GETTING
REQUESTS TO FUND OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS A
SIGNIFICANT PRECEDENT. UH IN
TERMS OF THAT REQUEST, UM JUST
TO SET THE SCENE, RIDERSHIP IN
TRANSIT WAS DROPPING BEFORE
COVID. RIDERSHIP PLUNGED DURING
COVID AND RIDERSHIP HAS NOT
BOUNCED BACK VERY MUCH SINCE
THEN, AND IT IS A COMBINATION OF
PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF TRANSIT.
NOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE
LOS ANGELES TIMES HAD A VERY
SIGNIFICANT ARTICLE JUST
YESTERDAY ABOUT METRO RIDERSHIP.
AND REMOTE WORK AND CHANGES IN
LIFESTYLES. AS WE GO FORWARD, I
THINK THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION
THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED AS WE
MOVE FORWARD IS THIS DROP IN
RIDERSHIP TEMPORARY OR IS IT
PERMANENT BECAUSE THAT
INFLUENCES ALL KINDS OF
DECISIONS AS WE GO FORWARD,
WHETHER THOSE THOSE TWO THINGS
AND THOSE DECISIONS LEAD I MEAN
THAT THAT QUESTION THEN LEADS TO
MANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT ARE
OUT THERE. WHAT'S WHAT'S WHO HAS
? WHAT LONG TERM RESPONSIBILITY
? UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FUNDING
OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AS
WE GO FORWARD. UM WHAT IS THE
ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS? THESE
TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES VERSUS
THE ROLE OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT
, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AND
DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE THE
TRANSIT ISSUES THAT GO FORWARD.
AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I
THINK THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
IS THAT THE IN GENERAL AS
TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES IN A SOCIETY
THE RATE OF CHANGE INCREASES IN
IN A SOCIETY AND THAT RATE OF
CHANGE MEANS THAT AS A TRANSIT
SYSTEM HAS TO ALSO BE FLEXIBLE
AND BE ABLE TO CHANGE WITH
CHANGES IN LIFESTYLES AND
CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY AS THEY GO
FORWARD. TRYING TO PUT THAT ALL
TOGETHER WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT THIS FISCAL CLIFF IS
GOING TO BE A GENUINE CHALLENGE
AS WE GO FORWARD, SO THANKS FOR
INDULGING ME WITH THAT SORT OF
OVERVIEW. UM BUT I DO I'VE
MENTIONED HAVE BEEN MENTIONING
TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THE ASSEMBLY
THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A
DIFFICULT ISSUE THAT WE NEED
EVERYBODY TO WEIGH IN. WE NEED
STAKEHOLDERS TO BE CREATIVE AS
THEY THINK ABOUT THEIR SITUATION
AND WHAT THEY CAN DO AS THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE WRESTLES WITH THIS THIS
BIG CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF ALL OF
US HERE IN CALIFORNIA. SO WITH
THAT APPRECIATE THE PANEL BEING
THERE AND IF THE PANELISTS WILL
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AS THEY
BEGIN THEIR COMMENTS, AND WE'LL
START OFF, I BELIEVE WITH THE
TRANSIT ASSOCIATION. ALRIGHT,
WELL, GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MICHAEL
PIMENTEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE CALIFORNIA TRANSIT
ASSOCIATION. I JUST WANT TO
START OFF BY THANKING YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU
TODAY. TO TALK THROUGH THE
OPERATIONAL FUNDING CHALLENGES
FACED BY MY CALIFORNIA TRANSIT
AGENCIES IN MY MEMBERSHIP MORE
BROADLY, AND BEFORE I JUMP INTO
MY REMARKS, I JUST WANT TO NOTE
FOR THE RECORD THAT OUR
ASSOCIATION IS A NON PROFIT
TRADE ORGANIZATION THAT
REPRESENTS HERE IN SACRAMENTO.
MORE THAN 220 MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS
CALIFORNIA'S TRANSIT INDUSTRY
AND THAT DOES INCLUDE 85
TRANSITIONAL AGENCY MEMBERS, I
THINK AS I LOOK AROUND EVERY ONE
OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE
HAVE MEMBERSHIP WITHIN MY
ASSOCIATION. AND SO THE STAFF
REPORT, I BELIEVE, DOES IT A
GOOD JOB OF SETTING THE STAGE
FOR THIS TOPIC, AND IT DOES SO
BY MAKING REFERENCE TO THE
RECENT JOINT HEARING OF THE
ASSEMBLY AND SENATE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES THAT
WAS FOCUSED ON REBUILDING
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP, AND I WANT TO
THANK CHAIR FRIEDMAN FOR HAVING
BROUGHT THAT FORM TOGETHER. NOW
SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL I
PRESENTED AT THAT HEARING ON
BEHALF OF MY MEMBERS TO DISCUSS
THE CHALLENGES FACED BY MY
INDUSTRY, THE EXTERNAL AND
INTERNAL FACTORS. CREATING THESE
CHALLENGES AND OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING
OUR SHORT TERM NEEDS, WHILE WE
AS AN INDUSTRY BUILT INTO LONG
TERM SUSTAINABILITY. NOW IN MY
TESTIMONY THIS MORNING, I'LL
REEMPHASIZE SEVERAL OF THE
CRITICAL MESSAGES I DELIVERED AT
THAT JOINT HEARING BUT ALSO WANT
TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO VARIOUS OF
THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE
PRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORT
FOR TODAY'S HEARING WILL BEGIN
WITH, I THINK THE TOPIC THAT IS
ON EVERYONE'S MIND, WHICH IS
WHAT IS THE NEED FOR THE
INDUSTRY WITH REGARDS OPERATIONS
FUNDING. NOW BASED ON A SURVEY
WE CONDUCTED FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP
IN JANUARY OF 2023, WE ESTIMATE
THAT THE OPERATIONS FUNDING
SHORTFALL FACED BY CALIFORNIA
TRANSIT AGENCIES IS AT LEAST $6
BILLION IN POSSIBLY AS MUCH AS
$8 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS. AS WE PREVIOUSLY
BROADCAST. THESE REPORTED
SHORTFALLS ARE DRIVEN BY A
VARIETY OF FACTORS, INCLUDING
FIRST LOW TRANSIT RIDERSHIP,
WHICH I'LL JUST REFLECT AS A
FUNCTION OF CHANGE, COMMUTE
PATTERNS. RIDER SAFETY CONCERNS,
AS WAS NOTED IN THE START OF
THIS HEARING, AS WELL AS OUR
STATE'S HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS, ALL OF THESE COMBINED
AGAIN HAVE INFLUENCED LOAD. LOW
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP AND HAVE
REDUCED FARE REVENUES NOW ALSO
WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE ALSO
SEEN INCREASED OPERATIONAL COST
DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND
THIS IS DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY A
TIGHT LABOR MARKET. HERE WE SEE
THAT WORKERS HAVE A BARGAINING
ADVANTAGE THERE. THEY'RE
UTILIZING THAT BARGAINING
ADVANTAGE TO GET HIGHER WAGES
AND WE'RE HEARING ROUTINELY OF
AGENCIES THAT ARE ENTERING INTO
THREE OR FIVE YEAR CONTRACTS
THAT HAVE WITHIN THEM INFLATORS
OF 20 TO 30% IN THAT TIME FRAME.
NOW I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE
ARE ALSO FACING THE HIGH COST OF
FUEL. AND THIS IS JUST A RESULT
OF SUPPLY SHOCKS, I THINK HAVE
INFLUENCED ALL OF OUR DAILY
LIVES, AND THEY ARE ALSO HAVING
AN IMPACT ON THE MARKETS THAT
ARE AGENCIES PULL FROM BUT I
ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE
ARE FACING INCREASED COSTS FOR
CAPITAL. A LOT OF THIS IS BEING
DRIVEN BY THE SUPPLY CHAIN
ISSUES THAT ARE WELL NOTED
ACROSS VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES AS
WELL AS INFLATION, AND THEN
FINALLY WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THE
REALITY THAT WE ARE ADOPTING
CLEANER, MORE EXPENSIVE TRANSIT
VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES. THIS IS
BEING DRIVEN BY MANDATES HERE AT
THE STATE LEVEL. THE REALITY IS
THAT ALL THOSE TECHNOLOGIES COST
WELL MORE THAN THEIR INTERNAL
COMBUSTION ENGINE COUNTERPARTS,
AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT. OUR SURVEY
DATA SHOWS THAT PROJECTED
FUNDING SHORTFALLS INCREASE OVER
TIME AND ARE INVERSELY RELATED
TO THE DEPLETION OF FEDERAL
COVID RELIEF FUNDS. AND SO FOR
SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, OUR
DATA SHOWS THAT 46% OF OUR
SURVEY RESPONDENTS WILL FULLY
EXPAND THEIR FEDERAL COVID
RELIEF BY THE END OF THE NEXT
FISCAL YEAR. THAT WOULD BE
FISCAL YEAR 23 24, THEN ANOTHER
10% WILL BE FULLY EXPANDING
THEIR RELIEF BY THAT FOLLOWING
STATE FISCAL YEAR FISCAL YEAR.
24 25 NOW. THIS DEPLETION OF
RELIEF FUNDS BY MOST AGENCIES IN
THAT STATE FISCAL YEAR, 23 24
LEADS TO WHAT IS A FIVEFOLD
INCREASE IN OUR PROJECTIONS FOR
THE STATEWIDE OPERATIONS NEED
BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 23 24 24 25.
AND I ALSO WANT TO NOTE AND I
THINK THIS MUCH IS CRITICAL THAT
THE PROJECTED FUNDING SHORTFALLS
THAT WERE PRESENTED IN OUR
SURVEY DO ACCOUNT FOR THE
CHANGES TO TRANSIT SERVICE AT
AGENCIES IMPLEMENTED DURING THE
HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE
FACTORS IN FACT, THERE IS IN THE
RESTORATION OF SERVICE THAT WILL
BE NECESSARY TO MEET GROWING
DEMAND AS THAT DEMAND BEGINS TO
RETURN. NOW WHILE THESE
SHORTFALLS ARE WITHOUT A DOUBT,
STAGGERING, ALSO WANT TO OFFER
SOME BROADER CONTEXT AND HERE
EMPHASIZE THAT WE IN CALIFORNIA
ARE NOT ALONE AND FACING THESE
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
. NEW YORK MTH CHICAGO TRANSIT
AUTHORITY SEPTA IN PHILADELPHIA
AND WALMART AND D. C. SOME OF
THE NATION'S HISTORICALLY MOST
PRODUCTIVE TRANSIT SYSTEMS ALL
FACE NEAR TERM OPERATIONS,
FUNDING SHORTFALLS, AND IN FACT,
IN A RECENT LETTER TO U. S DOT
SECRETARY PETE BUDDHA JUDGE
THESE WHAT WE CALL LEGACY
SYSTEMS ARE JOINED BY SEVERAL
CALIFORNIA TRANSIT AGENCIES
NOTED, AND HERE I QUOTE DIRECTLY
FROM THE LETTER. THE PROSPECT OF
REVENUE DEFICITS IN THE COMING
YEAR MAY FORCE OUR AGENCIES TO
MAKE DRASTIC SERVICE CUTS AND
LAY OFF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS TO AVOID THESE DRACONIAN
MEASURES. WE ARE DISCUSSING NEW
REVENUE STREAMS WITH OUR STATE
AND LOCAL LEADERS. NOW THE
OPERATIONS FUNDING CRISIS IS
REACHING A FEVER PITCH
NATIONWIDE, AND TO THAT END,
PRESIDENT BIDEN DID REFERENCE IT
WITHIN HIS PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR
24 FEDERAL BUDGET AND INCLUDED
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW THE
STATES AND HOW THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT APPROACH THIS NOW
HIGHLIGHT THIS NATIONAL PICTURE
TO PROVIDE SOME BALANCE IN THIS
CONVERSATION. I THINK AS WE GO
OUT, WE MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS
WE MEET WITH LEGISLATORS.
OFTENTIMES THERE'S THIS
CONSIDERATION THAT THERE'S
SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL ABOUT
CALIFORNIA TRANSIT AGENCIES THAT
WE HAVE NOT RECOVERED TRANSIT
RIDERSHIP THAT WE HAVE THESE
HIGH COSTS AND AGAIN AS I'M
ATTESTING TO. THESE ARE
CHALLENGES THAT EXIST ACROSS THE
NATION. BECAUSE OF THESE LARGER
EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT ARE
INFLUENCING IN OUR INDUSTRY.
NOW, IN MY TESTIMONY FOR THE
JOINT HEARING, I DIDN'T FOCUS
MUCH OF OUR DISCUSSION ON THE
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT WE THINK
THE STATE SHOULD BE IN A
POSITION OF PROVIDING THIS YEAR
AND JUST REITERATE SOME OF THOSE
POINTS. WE ARE CALLING ON THE
LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION
AND PROVIDE SHORT TERM BUT ALSO
MULTI MULTI YEAR TRANS
OPERATIONS FUNDING IN THIS
FISCAL YEAR 23 24 BUDGET TO
ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE FUNDING
SHORTFALLS FACED BY OUR AGENCIES
AND TO SUPPORT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF ARRAY OF
RIDERSHIP, RETENTION AND GROWTH
STRATEGIES ARE NEAR TERM STATE
REQUESTS IS TWO PRONGED BECAUSE
WE RECOGNIZE THAT EACH TRANSIT
AGENCY HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS, BUT
ALSO BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE PUBLIC
EXPECT FOR US TO ADAPT TO
OVERCOME. THE FACTORS LIKE
SAFETY THAT ARE CURRENTLY BUT
DOUBLING OUR INDUSTRY. NOW
UNFORTUNATELY, AS I JOIN YOU
TODAY, I'M NOT PREPARED TO
IDENTIFY THE VARIOUS SPECIFIC
FUNDING SOLUTIONS. WE'RE ASKING
THE LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER, BUT
I DO WANT TO JUST KNOW WE ARE
MEETING ON A WEEKLY BASIS WITH A
DIVERSE CROSS SECTION OF OUR
MEMBERSHIP TO TRY TO ARRIVE AT
WHAT I'VE BEEN DESCRIBING HIS
BUDGET CONSCIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS
BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, AND
HERE WE ARE JUST RECOGNIZING THE
GENERAL FUND PICTURE. THE
REALITY THAT YOU MAY NOT BE IN A
POSITION TO PROVIDE US WITH
GENERAL FUND SUPPORT. HOW CAN WE
GET CREATIVE WITHIN AN EXISTING
FUNDING PARTS TO DELIVER THE
NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY THE
NECESSARY SUPPORT TO CARRY US
FORWARD AND I'LL NOTE THAT
WITHIN THIS CONTEXT ARE OUR
NORTH STAR IS POLITICAL
VIABILITY, RECOGNIZING THAT WE
WANT TO TURN OVER A PROPOSAL
THAT HAS RECEPTION THAT CAN BE
SOMETHING THAT IS IN FACT
IMPLEMENTED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
I ALSO WANT TO SIGNAL OUR
INTERESTS AND BEGINNING A
DISCUSSION THIS YEAR WITH THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION ON ADDRESSING THE
LONG TERM OPERATIONS FUNDING
NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AS AN
INDUSTRY AND DRIVING OUR
INTEREST IN THIS DISCUSSION, OR
THE FOLLOWING THE REALITY THAT
EVEN WITH PROGRESSIVE
IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SERVICES, WE
MAY STRUGGLE WITH TRANSIT
RIDERSHIP FOR YEARS TO COME, BUT
ALSO OUR EXPERIENCE THAT YEAR
OVER YEAR INCREASES IN
OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL COSTS ARE
OUTPACING. THE FUNDING STREAMS
THAT WE HAVE, AND THEN FINALLY
WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE
STATES PUSH TO ELIMINATE THE USE
OF DIESEL FUEL FROM ALL MOBILE
SOURCES, AND WE WOULD ARGUE THAT
IT'S A GOOD THING. WILL
UNFORTUNATELY ERODE THE STATE
TRANSIT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OVER
TIME, WHICH IS LARGELY RELIANT
ON SALES TAX ON DIESEL FUEL, SO
WE NEED TO BE THINKING AHEAD
ABOUT HOW THESE TWO DYNAMICS
MEAT. NOW WE EXPECT THAT FOR
BOTH OF THESE DISCUSSIONS,
WHETHER THEY'RE THE SHORT OR THE
LONG TERM, WE AS AN INDUSTRY
WILL NEED TO COME TO THE TABLE
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
LEGISLATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AND
OPERATIONAL CHANGES TO ENSURE
THAT WE DELIVER A MORE
EFFICIENT, EQUITABLE AND
ULTIMATELY MORE FINANCIALLY
STABLE TRANSIT NETWORK AND OUR
COMMITMENT TO THIS WORK IS
REFLECTED IN OUR RECENTLY
ADOPTED STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 23 TO
2028. AND DEMONSTRATED, I THINK
BY OUR TRACK RECORD OF
SPONSORING OR SUPPORTING STATE
LEGISLATION TO ACCELERATE, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE DELIVERY OF CAPITAL
CAPACITY BUILDING ZERO MISSION
AND TRANSIT PRIORITIZATION
PROJECTS ARE FOCUSED ON
INCREASING TRANSIT EFFICIENCY,
EXPANDING FAIR FREE AND
DISCOUNTED FARE PROGRAMS. AND
THEN, YES, ADDRESSING SAFETY ON
OUR SYSTEMS NOW ABOUT TO WRAP UP
RECOGNIZE I'VE GONE PROBABLY
WELL OVER TIME. BUT HERE I WANT
TO JUST NOTE THAT AS I CONCLUDE
THIS OBSERVATION ABOUT STATE
SUPPORT ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR CERTAIN
OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS IN
THEIR CERTAIN CERTAIN
RECOMMENDATIONS ALREADY COME
FORWARD FROM MY MEMBERSHIP, OF
COURSE, AN INTEREST IN
INCREASING SERVICE LEVELS. THAT,
OF COURSE, WILL REQUIRE SOME
ADDITIONAL FUNDS, SO WE'RE
IMPROVING TRANSIT FREQUENCY AND
ULTIMATELY, THE ATTRACTIVENESS
IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICE
RESTRUCTURING, WHICH I THINK HAS
BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION HERE
WE HAVE SEEN IN AGENCIES
IMPLEMENT WHAT WE CALL COPPER,
COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL
ANALYSES THAT BETTER ALIGN THEIR
SERVICES TO WHERE DEMAND IS
TODAY. IN THOSE SYSTEMS
GENERALLY FIND THAT THE
RIDERSHIP HAS REBOUNDED WITH A
FASTER CLIP. AND THEN FINALLY
HAVE A FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTED, UH
, TARGETED FAIR FREE PROGRAMS.
NOW WITH ALL THAT SAD, I DO WANT
TO JUST RESPOND TO FINAL THEME
IN THE STAFF REPORT, AND HERE
MAKE CLEAR THAT OUR INDUSTRY
DOES SEE A PATH FORWARD AND
SEEKING ADDITIONAL SELF HELP AS
A COMPLEMENT TO OUR WORK HERE AT
THE STATE LEVEL. YOU ALL
UNDERSTAND WELL THAT THERE ARE
SOME PRACTICAL CHALLENGES TO
SELF HELP ONE OF THEM BEING THE
VOTE THRESHOLD WE HAVE HAD
AGENCIES AND AS RECENTLY AS THIS
LAST YEAR WENT OUT TO THE BALLOT
DIDN'T SECURE THE NECESSARY VOTE
THRESHOLD, THEREFORE, DON'T HAVE
RESOURCES IN HAND TO DO THAT
SELF HELP, AND I'LL COMMENT HERE
THAT ONE OF THE FIRST FORMAL
ACTIONS YOU TOOK AS AN
ASSOCIATION. I THINK THE THIRD
OR FOURTH TIME WAS TO SUPPORT
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AGUIAR-CURRY.
THEY SAY ONE WHICH WOULD LOWER
LOWER THAT VOTE THRESHOLD FOR
CAPITAL PROJECTS. THE IDEA HERE
IS THAT WE RELIEVE SOME CAPITAL
PRESSURE. WE PROVIDE SOME
FLEXIBILITY TO USE SOME OF THOSE
MONIES FOR OPERATIONS. AND THEN
FINALLY, ON THE FEDERAL SIDE.
WE'RE NOW JUST BEGINNING TO
EVALUATE THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL. BUT WE WOULD JUST
OBSERVE THAT ONE OF THE CORE
RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH IS TO FLEX
URBANIZED AREA TRANSIT CAPITAL
FUNDS TO OPERATIONS. WOULD
REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
AUTHORIZING STATUTE. AND THAT'S
THE IDEA AND ASK YOU TO REPEAT
THAT BECAUSE I MISSED THAT. SURE
THING REAL QUICK. GO GO BACK
ABOUT ONE MINUTE IN YOUR YEAH.
AND SO HERE I'M JUST
ACKNOWLEDGING ONE OR SUPPORT FOR
SELF HELP WERE GOING TO POSITION
OURSELVES AGAIN TO LOWER THAT
VOTE THRESHOLD AND THEN ON THE
FEDERAL SIDE AND PRESENT THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET DOES INCLUDE
A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS ONE
OF THEM IS TO ALLOW FOR AGENCIES
TO FLEX THE CAPITAL FUNDS THAT
THEY RECEIVED TOWARDS OPERATIONS
. JUST NOTE FOR YOU THAT THAT
WOULD REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO
STATUTE IN THIS DIVIDED CONGRESS
THAT MAYBE A HIGH BAR TO MEET
AND SO THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS
FOR TODAY. I KNOW THAT WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE A ROBUST
DISCUSSION, LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT ROBUST DISCUSSION AND AGAIN
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AND FOR
GOING WELL OVER MY TIME. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU
TAKING PLENTY OF TIME BECAUSE WE
NEED TO PICK YOUR BRAIN PRETTY
WELL HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO
START WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
TING. SORRY I HAVE TO RUN
SOMEONE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS
BEFORE THE REST OF THE PANEL
GOES TO SUGGEST TO MR PIMENTEL.
SO A COUPLE OF THINGS, UM THE
FEDS WERE THE ONES DURING COVID
TO DO THE OPERATIONAL BAILOUT.
WAS THERE A REASON WHY THAT WAS
UNSUCCESSFUL? AND I GOT A NUMBER
OF QUESTIONS. IF YOU COULD JUST
BE BRAVE WITH YOUR ANSWERS, YES.
SO ON ON THE SUPPORT THAT WAS
PROVIDED BY THE FEDS. I WOULD
JUST NOTE THAT THAT WAS
SUCCESSFUL AND PROVIDING US WITH
THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEEDED TO
KEEP SERVICES ONLINE. BUT WHAT
IT DIDN'T CONTEMPLATE WAS THAT
RIDERSHIP WOULD CONTINUE TO BE
AS LOW AS IT IS, FOR AS LONG AS
IT IS PROVEN TO BE. AND SO IT
WAS INTENDED TO THE SHORT TERM
RUNWAY. GIVE AGENCIES ABILITY TO
RIDE THE WAVE. BE ABLE TO SEE
FOLKS COME BACK TO THE
WORKPLACE, RIGHT TRANSIT
SERVICES AGAIN, AND THAT JUST
HAS NOT THAT FUNDAMENTAL
ASSUMPTION HAS NOT MATERIALIZED
AND MADE IT CHALLENGING FOR US
TO CONTINUE TO LIVE ON PAST THAT
FEDERAL LEAVE. GREAT THANK YOU.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I'M A HUGE
SUPPORTER OF TRANSIT. I THINK
THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE
AGENCIES CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE
. I THINK THE QUESTION IS JUST
AT WHAT RIDERSHIP LEVEL CAN THEY
CONTINUE TO OPERATE? TRANSIT
RIDERSHIP? UNFORTUNATELY. WAS ON
THE DECLINE EVEN BEFORE COVID.
SO WHAT? WHAT I HAVEN'T HEARD,
AND I'LL JUST SAY MORE FROM THE
BAY AREA. THE BAY AREA OPERATORS
IS WHAT DOES RIDERSHIP LOOK LIKE
OVER THE NEXT A COUPLE OF YEARS
BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS EVEN IF WE
DID DO ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE.
DOES THAT JUST PUSH THE CLIFF
OUT A YEAR? OR TWO YEARS. OR
DOES IT ACTUALLY GET THEM TO
WHERE THEY ARE STABILIZED THE
CHALLENGE WITH THE REQUEST, AS
HAS BEEN PRESENTED AS THERE
HASN'T BEEN AGAIN YOU MENTIONED
THERE'S BEEN NO NUMBER YOU'VE
PRESENTED. THERE'S NO NUMBER
PRESENTED THAT GETS THEM TO
FISCAL STABILITY. SO WE'VE DONE
THIS. I'LL JUST SAY, FOR
EXAMPLE, WE'VE DONE THIS FOR
HEART FOR HOSPITALS. WE DID IT
WHERE WE YOU KNOW, BUILD A
HOSPITAL OUT. YEAR, TWO YEARS.
TWO YEARS LATER, THEY JUST
CLOSED. SO WHAT DID WE GAIN FROM
JUST KEEPING IT OPEN FOR THOSE
TWO YEARS? MY BIGGER CONCERN IS
THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC
INVESTMENT AND ALL OF YOUR
AGENCIES SUCH AS SEE THEM. NOT
BE ABLE TO OPERATE WOULD BE
FAIRLY CATASTROPHIC. I THINK YOU
KNOW, I WOULD JUST NOTE ON ON
THIS FRONT THAT ONE OF THE
FEATURES OF THE FEDERAL
INVESTMENT THAT WAS PROVIDED WAS
AN ESSENCE REQUIREMENT THAT
AGENCIES DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY
WERE MAINTAINING THEIR WORKFORCE
AND MAINTAINING THEIR SERVICE
LEVELS. AND SO I THINK THERE
HAVE BEEN BROADER QUESTIONS AS
TO WHY DIDN'T THE AGENCIES
DURING THE PANDEMIC DO MORE TO
REALLY RESTRUCTURE THEIR
SERVICE? TO BE CLEAR THAT WOULD
MEAN CUTTING WHAT COULD BE TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS, IN
CONTRAST TO THE REQUIREMENTS
THAT WERE BUILT INTO THE RECEIPT
OF THOSE DOLLARS, THE FEDS DID
NOT DECIDE TO GIVE TRANSIT
AGENCIES. YOU KNOW THE RELIEF
FUNDS WITH AN EYE OF JUST
SUPPORTING TRANSIT SYSTEMS. IT
WAS A JOBS PROGRAM. AND SO I
WOULD JUST STIPULATE THAT IF WE
MOVE PAST THAT FEDERAL RELIEF,
WE BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT STATE
RELIEF. THE AGENCIES HAVE A BIT
MORE DISCRETION AS TO WHAT
FLEXIBLE APPROACHES THEY MIGHT
PURSUE. I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST
THAT THE BEST AND FIRST OPTION
SHOULD BE SHEDDING OF WORKFORCE
. IT IS CERTAINLY THE LAST
OPTION OF OPTION OF LAST RESORT
, BUT I THINK THERE WILL BE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT
AGENCIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
MAKE IN WHAT ADDITIONAL RUNWAY
THEY RECEIVE, POTENTIALLY FROM
THE STATE TO BUILD INTO THAT
LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY. I
THINK THE CHALLENGES ARE SAID
YOU'RE ASKING US TO MAKE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS, AND THERE'S
NO UM THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT
DECISIONS MADE BY THE AGENCIES.
SO YOU CAN'T EXPECT US TO MAKE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS IF YOUR
AGENCIES ARE WILLING TO MAKE
THEM AS WELL. IN FACT, GOING
BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT SELF
HELP THERE. I DON'T KNOW. I'M
NOT AWARE, AT LEAST IN THE BAY
AREA, MAYBE IN OTHER PARTS OF
THE STATE OF ANY TRANSIT AGENCY
LOOKING AT 2024. REVENUE
MEASURES. SO HOW? I MEAN, HOW DO
YOU PLAN EVEN IF WE GIVE YOU A
LITTLE MORE? ONE RUNWAY. HOW DO
YOU PLAN AND AGAIN EVEN IF THE
REVENUE MEASURE PASSES IN 2024,
YOU DON'T GET THE MONEY. THE
NEXT DAY. IT TAKES TIME TO WRAP
IT UP. TAKES TIME TO GO COLLECT
IT. SO MAYBE YOU GOT A ONE OR
TWO YOUR RUNWAY. SO HOW DO YOU
EVEN IF WE CAN GIVE YOU A LITTLE
BIT OF RUNWAY? HOW HOW DO YOU
PLAN ON SUSTAINING YOURSELF AND
THAT'S WHERE WE SEE AS PART OF
THIS CONVERSATION. THE NECESSARY
FLIPSIDE OF FUNDING, WHICH IS
THE REFORMS CONVERSATION. AROUND
HOW DO WE MAKE OPERATIONAL
IMPROVEMENTS? AND WE WOULD
IMAGINE THAT, YOU KNOW AND WE
WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT THIS WOULD
NECESSARILY BE A BLANK CHECK
THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME FORM OF
, YOU KNOW, CLEAR DIRECTION FROM
THE LEGISLATURE ON IMPROVEMENTS
THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN
ORDER FOR US TO GET INTO THAT
MORE STABLE FOOTING, AND I KNOW
THAT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY
ANSWERING YOUR YOUR QUESTION
ABOUT YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE HAVE
THAT THAT GUARANTEE? BUT I DO
KNOW THAT WE AS AN INDUSTRY WANT
TO ENGAGE IN THAT CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF REFORMS CAN
BE REALIZED, MENTIONED, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT FOCUS ON
CONFERENCE COMPREHENSIVE
OPERATIONAL ANALYSES THAT
AGENCIES HAVE CONDUCTED IN AN
IMPLEMENTED FOR AGENCIES THAT
HAVE DONE THAT I'LL TAKE, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE SAN MATEO COUNTY
TRANSIT DISTRICT. THEY'RE AT A
RIDERSHIP LEVEL OF ROUGHLY 80%
OF THEIR PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS,
AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE
RESTRUCTURED THEIR SERVICE IN A
WAY WHERE IT NOW MEETS WHERE THE
DEMAND IS. THEY MAY NOT HAVE
COMMUTERS ANYMORE, BUT THEY MAY
HAVE OTHER TYPES OF WRITERS THAT
CAN BE RUN TO THE FOLD. WE SEE
THAT AS BEING PART OF THE
CONVERSATIONS, BUT AGAIN, I KNOW
THAT I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION
A BIT OF A ROUNDABOUT WAY. BUT
THAT'S THE TYPE OF WORK THAT WE
WE'D LIKE TO CONDUCT. BUT THAT
WILL REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL
TIME IN ORDER FOR US TO BUILD
INTO IT. WELL LET ME ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION WITH A VERY SPECIFIC
ANSWER, BECAUSE I TEND TO WORK
IN SPECIFICITY. IF YOU COME TO
US WITH THE PROPOSAL TO SAY,
GIVE US MONEY AND THEN TELL US
WHAT TO DO. I WILL NOT SUPPORT
THAT PROPOSAL. BECAUSE THAT
MEANS YOU HAVEN'T DONE YOUR
WORK. YOU'RE NOT PREPARED TO
ACCEPT THE MONEY. YOU'RE NOT
DEMONSTRATING THAT YOU HAVE
THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
SUSTAIN YOUR OPERATIONS, AND
THAT WOULD MEAN ANOTHER
CONVERSATION A YEAR LATER FOR
MORE MONEY. SO I THINK. YOU NEED
TO GET TO WORK. YOU MEANT YOU
MENTIONED YOU'VE BEEN MEETING
WEEKLY. AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND
EVEN AFTER ALL THE WEEKLY
MEETINGS BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A
DISCUSSION FOR MONTHS NOW, THIS
IS NOT LIKE THIS HAPPENING, YOU
KNOW? FEW DAYS AGO. YOU. IN YOUR
OPERATORS NEED TO COME TOGETHER
WITH THE PLAN. EACH OF THEM
ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO
SUSTAIN THE OPERATIONS AND WHAT
THEY NEED FOR HELP. THE REQUEST
FOR CONVERTING CAPITAL. Tð
OPERATING DOESN'T WORK IN OUR
STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE A GAME
LIMIT. SO BECAUSE OF OUR
SPENDING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS
. WE WERE RIGHT UP AGAINST OUR
GANG LIMIT, AND BECAUSE OF THAT
, IT'S NOT EASY FOR US TO JUST
SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO FLIP
THAT SWITCH, SO I DON'T KNOW
THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A
REQUEST THAT WE COULD, UH, WE
COULD GO WITH SO AGAIN, UM YOU
KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO SEE HOW
HOW YOU'RE GOING TO HELP
YOURSELVES. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
ASK YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO
HELP? CEMETERY IS NOT THE BEST
EXAMPLE BECAUSE, SAY, MATTEL, WE
WORKED VERY, VERY HARD TO GET A
LOCAL TAX MEASURE PASSED A
COUPLE YEARS AGO, SO THEY'RE IN
A MUCH DIFFERENT FISCAL
SITUATION THAN ALL THE
OPERATORS, AT LEAST IN MY
REGION. RIGHT. AND SO I THINK,
UH, YOU ASKING FOR MONEY? JUST
PUT YOU IN LINE WITH EVERYONE
ELSE IN THE STATE. IT'S NOTHING
UNIQUE ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW IF YOU
POUR ON SUB ONE. THOSE ARE MUCH
HARDER CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE
THOSE ARE PEOPLE WITHOUT FOOD
WITHOUT HEALTHCARE HOMELESS.
FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES WHO
DON'T GET CARE FOR THEIR FOR
THEIR LOVED ONES. SO THIS IS A
VERY DIFFERENT IF YOU WANT TO GO
COMPETE WITH THEM. GOOD LUCK.
RIGHT SO YOU BETTER COME
TOGETHER WITH A MUCH MORE
THOUGHT OUT PLAN, HOW YOU'RE
GOING TO WORK AND OPERATE THIS
AND WHAT YOU SPECIFIC NEED FOR
HELP. JUST ASKING US AND SAYING,
HEY, WE NEED HELP, AND WE NEED
MONEY. THAT'S NOT A VERY
SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY, AND IT'S
SOMETHING THAT I COULD SUPPORT.
YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELL TAKEN,
AND IT'S CERTAINLY A MESSAGE
WILL TAKE BACK TO MY MEMBERSHIP
IN OUR CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS.
HOPEFULLY THEY'RE WATCHING YES,
BASED ON SOMETHING THAT CHAIR
TING JUST SAID, WHICH I THINK
WAS ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON BY THE
WAY AND I SHARE HIS FEELINGS
ABOUT THIS. WHAT IF WE TAGGED?
STATE FUNDING TO RIDERSHIP. IF
YOU HAVE YOU DON'T INCREASE YOUR
RIDERSHIP. YOU DON'T GET MONEY.
IF YOU INCREASE RIDERSHIP WE
FUNDED. I MEAN FUNDING BASED ON
POPULATION IN THIS SENSE,
DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE. WE
SHOULD BE FUNDING PROJECTS THAT
ACTUALLY SERVE THE MOST NUMBER
OF PEOPLE AND WE'VE SEEN SOME
AGENCIES PUT FOCUS ON INCREASING
RIDERSHIP, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S VERY SPOTTY ACROSS THE
STATE, AND THERE ARE OTHER
AGENCIES THAT DON'T SEEM TO BE
PUTTING MUCH FOCUS ON INCREASING
RIDERSHIP. I THINK THE CHALLENGE
WITH WITH THAT AS AN APPROACH,
IS THAT IT? IT IGNORES AND PART
THE REALITY THAT SO MUCH OF WHAT
WE HAVE LOST IN TRANSIT
RIDERSHIP IS NOT NECESSARILY THE
RESULT OF OPERATIONAL DECISIONS
AT THE AGENCIES HAVE MADE THERE
ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY ISSUES THAT ARE
PUSHING PEOPLE OUT OF URBAN
CENTERS INTO SUBURBAN AND
EXURBAN PARTS OF THE STATE.
THOSE ARE OFTEN TIMES NOW LOST
TRANSIT RIDERS. THERE'S A
COMMUTE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE
FACED WITH. SO THAT BUT THEN IF
YOUR OPERATORS ARE JUST OFFERING
A SERVICE AND DECIDING. OKAY
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DO A
SERVICE AND WHOEVER COMES COMES
OH, WE CAN'T SUPPORT THAT
EITHER. I MEAN, THE FACT THAT
YOU'RE SAYING OH, WELL, ALL
THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND
IT'S NOT OUR OPERATORS FAULT.
WELL THEN, THEN I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE WE SHOULD FIRE ALL THEIR
MANAGEMENT BECAUSE THEN WHY DO
WE NEED MANAGEMENT THEN? BECAUSE
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE RUNNING
SOMETHING THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
THINKING ABOUT RIDERSHIP
SUPPOSED TO THINK ABOUT
OPERATIONS? WHY DO WE NEED ANY
OF THEM? THEY ALL GET PAID
REALLY WELL. SO MY SUGGESTION
HERE IS NOT TO EVADE WHAT IS THE
NEED FOR THERE TO BE A FOCUS ON
RIDERSHIP IMPROVEMENT, BUT YOU
COULD SEE A RIDERSHIP INCREASED.
BUT YOU COULD ALSO THEN SEE
RIDERSHIP DECLINES THAT ARE
RELATED TO EXTERNAL FACTORS AND
IT BECOMES YOUR OPERATORS NEED
TO LOOK WITHIN AND THEN YOU NEED
TO COME BACK. THANK YOU. DOES D
O F OR L A OH, HAVE ANY COMMENTS
ON THIS ISSUE? YEAH, OKAY. HMM.
LET'S GO. OKAY? GOING WHEREVER
YOU LEFT IT. YEP WE DON'T HAVE
ANY DIRECT COMMENTS TO THIS
INFORMATIONAL ITEM. BUT THERE
ARE MANY OPTIONS IN FRONT OF THE
LEGISLATURE THAT EACH COMMIT
TRADEOFFS. WHETHER THAT'S YOU
KNOW, LOOKING WITHIN THE GENERAL
FUND THAT IS AVAILABLE WITHIN
TRANSPORTATION AND PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY OR
WHETHER THAT'S PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY WITHIN
THE STATE'S CURRENT PROGRAMS
THAT SUPPORT TRANSIT AGENCIES.
BUT ALL OF THOSE COME WITH TRADE
OFFS. NO IMMEDIATE
RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS POINT,
BUT HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE
COMEDIAN STAFF AND ONGOING AND
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AROUND
THIS ISSUE. GREAT. IN MARCELLUS
, ANOTHER SECRETARY WITH CALISTA
. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT YOU
KNOW, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE
ARE TRACKING VERY CLOSELY HAPPY
TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON
ANY POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. WELL I
REALLY WELCOME THAT WE WILL NEED
TO WORK. TRULY COLLABORATIVELY.
I THINK, UH, ACROSS THE STATE
WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS
FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
LEGISLATURE, UH, AND TRANSIT
AGENCIES AND THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT SAYS CERTAINLY I
THINK THIS IS THIS IS A LONG
TERM PROBLEM, AND IT'S A SHORT
TERM PROBLEM, AND WE SHOULD.
PROBLEM THAT'S ONE OF ONE OF MY
CONCERNS IS I DON'T WANT US TO
JUST LOOK AT A SHORT TERM FIX
THAT HAS NO RELATION TO THE LONG
TERM ISSUES OUT THERE MUCH MORE
INTELLIGENT FOR US TO DO THAT.
AND SO I KNOW ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
FRIEDMAN HAS A QUESTION, BUT I
HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FOR
YOU AFTER SHE FINISHES GO AHEAD.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S. WELL THANKS.
SO I DO THINK THAT JUST TO PICK
UP I DO THINK THAT MORE OF A
FOCUS NEEDS TO BE PUT ON
INCREASING RIDERSHIP AND PUTTING
TRANSIT WHERE THE RIDERSHIP IS.
IT'S CERTAINLY A CHICKEN AND EGG
KIND OF PROBLEM, BUT WE'VE SEEN
SOME TRANSIT AGENCIES FOCUSING
ON THAT VERY THING AND CHANGING
THEIR SERVICE BASED ON CHANGING
RIDERSHIP NEEDS, MAKING THEIR
SERVICE MORE FLEXIBLE, UM,
MAKING SURE THAT THEY ADDRESS
PARTICULARLY NEEDS LIKE THE
DISABLED COMMUNITY WOMEN
WRITERS. AND THEIR PARTICULAR
CONCERNS. BARRIERS THAT KEEP
PEOPLE OUT OF TRANSIT, WHETHER
IT'S PERCEPTION OF SAFETY, UM,
CONVENIENCE. UH UM. WHETHER
TRANSIT SERVICING YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO DON'T DRIVE THAT SORT OF
THING, AND THEN OTHERS CONTINUE
TO OPERATE THE SAME FIXED ROUTES
THEY'VE ALWAYS OPERATED. THE
QUESTION OF WHAT KIND OF TRANSIT
WORKS IN DIFFERENT AREAS WITH
THAT CHANGING POPULATION. IS IT
BUS? RAPID TRANSIT ISN'T MORE
LIGHT RAIL. WHAT GIVES US WHAT
JUST SOUNDS GOOD. AND WHAT
ACTUALLY GIVES US THE INCREASED
RIDERSHIP. AND I DO THINK THAT,
UM, IT MAY BE PRUDENT TO FIX TO
TRY TO CONNECT FUNDING TO
RIDERSHIP AT THIS POINT AND TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR AGENCY IS
ALSO HAVE A REAL PLAN WHEN THEY
COME TO US, AND THAT THEY'RE
ABLE TO ARTICULATE HOW WHATEVER
FUNDING THEY'RE PROPOSING, OR
THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING
DIRECTLY CONNECTS TO RIDERSHIP
IS VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK
TRANSIT IS REALLY, REALLY
CRUCIAL BECAUSE YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE MOVING
FURTHER INTO THE SUBURBS BECAUSE
OF HOUSING. THAT'S ALSO A
FUNCTION OF THE FAILURE OF
TRANSIT IN OUR URBAN AREAS TO
SERVICE OUR POPULATION AND ONE
OF THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE ARE
MOVING AWAY. IS BECAUSE THE
RELUCTANCE TO BUILD HOUSING IN
AN URBAN SETTING OFTEN COMES
BACK TO THE LACK OF TRANSIT AND
COMMUNITIES FEELING THAT IF THEY
ADD MORE RESIDENTS OR MORE
HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS THAT IT
WILL INCREASE CONGESTION. AND
PARKING ISSUES IN THEIR OWN
COMMUNITIES. AND SO THERE'S A.
IGNORING OF THE CONGESTION TOLL
TAKEN BY COMMUTERS, PARTICULARLY
LONG YOU KNOW, THE LONGER
DISTANCE COMMUTERS. BUT THAT'S
ALSO BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE
REALISTIC AND CONVENIENT TRANSIT
FOR THOSE SAME RESIDENTS WITHIN
THEIR COMMUNITIES, SO IT BECOMES
THIS REALLY VICIOUS CIRCLE OF
PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO ADD A
HOUSING BECAUSE OF THE
CONGESTION IMPACTS. AND THEN
PEOPLE MOVING FURTHER AWAY,
WHICH JUST INCREASES CONGESTION
INCREASES VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED
AND CERTAINLY INCREASES MISERY
FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED. SO IT'S
THOSE. FOCUS ON WHAT ACTUALLY
WORKS TO GIVE PEOPLE MOBILITY
OPTIONS IN THE URBAN SETTING.
THAT'S GOING TO PREVENT THAT
KIND OF SPRAWL. AND I DO THINK
THAT AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT
THAT. AND I C L A METRO TRYING
TO DO MORE WITH BUS, RAPID
TRANSIT AND OTHER THINGS AND
THEY'RE MICRO MOBILITY PROGRAMS.
BUT THIS IS REALLY WHAT HAS TO
BE THE FOCUS WITH REAL METRICS
OF WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT
WORKING. AND I DO THINK THAT THE
LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO HEAR FROM
THE AGENCIES ABOUT BARRIERS TO
DEPLOYING THAT KIND OF TRANSIT
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT
REEVALUATING WHETHER SOME OF THE
FIXED REAL, FOR INSTANCE, IS
REALLY THE BEST USE OF MONEY. IS
THAT BRINGING THE WRITERS IN OR
IS IT MORE OF THE URBAN MOBILITY
AND, UM UNDERSTANDING THROUGH.
REALLY RIGOROUS DATA WHERE OUR
INVESTMENTS ARE GOING AND WHAT
DIVIDENDS THEY'RE PAYING OFF AND
ALSO ALLOWING FOR YOUR WRITERS
TO DICTATE. YOU KNOW, EVEN
SIMPLE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN
OTHER AGENCIES DO IN OTHER
STATES, AND I DON'T THINK I'VE
EVER SEEN IT IN CALIFORNIA, LIKE
AFTER NINE O'CLOCK, ALLOWING
RIDERS TO BE PICKED UP ANYWHERE
ALONG THE BUS ROUTE AND DROPPED
OFF ANYWHERE ALONG THE BUS
ROUTE. WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A
BUS STOP. THERE'S A BILL BY
ISAAC BRIAN ABOUT STREET ABOUT
FURNITURE, YOU KNOW, AND
AMENITIES FOR BUS STOPS, AND I
KNOW THAT IT'S EXPENSIVE AND
DIFFICULT, BUT PEOPLE AREN'T
GONNA TAKE TRANSIT IF THEY HAVE
TO STAND IN THE SUN OR IF THERE
IS NO PLACE FOR AN ELDERLY
PERSON TO SIT UM, HOW ARE WE
GETTING PEOPLE TO THOSE BUS
STOPS IF THE SIDEWALKS ARE
BROKEN OR DON'T EXIST, I MEAN,
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT FIT
INTO THE SYSTEM THAT BECOME REAL
BARRIERS. AND WHAT WE'RE LEFT
WITH. CERTAINLY IN LOS ANGELES
IS A SYSTEM THAT CAN TAKE 2 TO 4
TIMES LONGER THAN DRIVING. WHO
WOULD DO THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY
OTHER OPTION? SO WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT THAT THE TOTALITY OF THOSE
SYSTEMS IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO
GET RIDERSHIP ON, AND WE NEED
OUR CITIES AND OUR MPS TO
COOPERATE, THEY NEED TO PUT
FUNDING INTO SUPPORTING TRANSIT
. IT'S NOT JUST THE AGENCIES
THEMSELVES. IT'S HOW ARE CITIES
DESIGNING AROUND THEIR BUS STOPS
AND AROUND THEIR TRAINS? UM
WHAT'S THE ROLE OF CARS IN THESE
AREAS? AND YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE
WORK ON REMOVING CARS FROM
TRANSIT AREAS? BUT IF WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TRANSIT QUARTERS
THAT SUPPORT MORE HOUSING IT ALL
NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER, SO I
THINK THAT THIS IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. FOR HOUSING. FOR
EQUITY FOR CLIMATE AND SO, UM,
SO I DO THINK IT DESERVES THE
BUDGET THAT THAT YOU'RE ASKING
FOR, BUT I DON'T YET SEE THE
COORDINATION IN TERMS OF
ACTUALLY GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE
SYSTEM AND REIMAGINING THE
SYSTEM SO THAT IT WORKS REALLY
IN CONCERT WITH ALL OF THOSE
OTHER THINGS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE
EQUITY PIECE, THEN WHY? NO SUCH
A LITTLE FOCUS ON YOU KNOW, HOW
DO YOU GET A HANDICAPPED PERSON?
EVEN TO THOSE STOPS, YOU KNOW?
AND HOW DO YOU HAVE AN ELDERLY
PERSON? YOU CAN HAVE THEM. SIT
ON THE GROUND AT A BUS STOP. YOU
KNOW, I DON'T SEE IT ALL KIND OF
ALWAYS WORKING TOGETHER AS WELL
AS IT SHOULD. AND IT'S NOT ALL
YOUR ISSUE. UM I THINK WE'VE
KNEECAPPED OUR AGENCIES BECAUSE
WE'RE EXPECTING YOU TO OPERATE
FROM FARE BOX RETRIEVAL. WE
DON'T SUPPORT YOU IN A REALLY
RIGOROUS WAY LIKE WE SHOULD BE
SUPPORTING ELECTRIC CARS, WHICH
FEED INTO ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS.
IN SOME WAYS, I MEAN, IT'S
IMPORTANT, BUT YOU KNOW, JUST
GETTING MORE CARS OUT THERE IS
NOT GOING TO HELP WITH ALL OF
THESE ISSUES. UM AND YET WE
THINK NOTHING OF, YOU KNOW,
PUTTING A TON OF MONEY INTO
THAT, BUT PUTTING YOU KNOW THAT
KIND OF MONEY INTO TRANSIT, YOU
KNOW? I THINK BECOMES MORE
DIFFICULT, BUT WE'VE KNEECAPPED
OUR AGENCIES BECAUSE WE DON'T
ALWAYS THINK ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO
BRING MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM. AND
WE ALL KNOW THAT ANOTHER
COUNTRIES, FOR INSTANCE,
DEVELOPMENT AROUND STATIONS AND
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. POWERS
THEIR SYSTEM AND FUNDS THEIR
SYSTEMS, BUT WE DON'T ENCOURAGE
YOU OR ALLOW YOU IN SOME CASES
TO DO THAT, AND WE NEED TO HEAR
FROM THE AGENCIES AND HAVE THEM
THINK ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO
BUILD STATIONS THAT GENERATE
REVENUE? TO PUT INTO THE SYSTEM.
HOW HOW DO WE MAKE USE
SUSTAINING? BECAUSE I AGREE WITH
CHAIR TING THAT THIS CAN'T BE.
WE GIVE YOU MONEY THIS YEAR YOU
COME BACK AND ASK FOR MONEY AND
WE GIVE YOU MONEY NEXT YEAR, THE
SYSTEM LIMPS ALONG. HOW DO WE
PUT YOU ON A REAL PATH TO
SUSTAINABILITY GOING INTO THE
FUTURE? THAT'S BEYOND FAIR BACKS
BOX BEYOND SALES TAX. CAN YOU
BECOME A REVENUE GENERATOR AND
I'D LIKE TO SEE A LOT MORE
THOUGHT GOING TO THAT. HOW CAN
WE LEVERAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE CAPITAL FOR PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS? UM, TO
SUPPORT ALL OF THIS. UM. SO YOU
KNOW, WE'RE NOT OBVIOUSLY NOT
GOING TO ANSWER THAT HERE. WE'RE
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO EVEN
ANSWER IT THIS YEAR, BUT WE
SHOULD START THINKING ABOUT WHAT
DO WE NEED TO DO LEGISLATIVELY
TO REMOVE BARRIERS AND I'VE
HEARD FROM SOME FROM THE M P O
S, BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE A
TRANSIT AGENCY REALLY COME IN
AND SAY, HEY, IF YOU COULD
CHANGE THIS THIS AND THIS, WE
CAN NOW BRING COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENT INTO OUR TRANSIT
STATIONS, AND WE COULD GENERATE
REVENUE. WE NEED TO HEAR MORE OF
THAT. UM IN TERMS OF THE SECTION
ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND SERVE AND
SERVICING HOMELESSNESS. I
ACTUALLY DON'T WANT TO BE GIVING
OUR TRANSIT AGENCIES A LOT OF
MONEY TO DEAL WITH, UM, ON
HOUSED WRITERS IN THEIR SYSTEM.
I DON'T WANT TO STAND UP ALL NEW
HOMELESSNESS AGENCIES WITHIN THE
CONFINES OF LA METRO AND BART.
WE HAVE HOMELESS PROVIDERS IN
OUR URBAN CENTERS. THEY'RE NOT
SERVICING TRANSIT RIGHT NOW. SO
I'M DOING LEGISLATION THIS YEAR
TO COMPEL THEM TO GO AND SERVICE
TRANSIT. IT'S A START, BUT WE
NEED TO COORDINATE THOSE EFFORTS
. IT SHOULDN'T BE YOUR JOB TO
START A WHOLE HOMELESSNESS
AGENCY UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF
TRANSIT AGENCIES, AND I DON'T
WANT TO SEE BUDGET ITEMS TO DO
THAT. WE SHOULD BE GIVING THAT
MONEY TO OUR HOMELESS PROVIDERS
WHO ACTUALLY HAVE THE MANPOWER
AND THE EXPERTISE TO DO THAT.
AND THEN GET YOU GUYS TO WORK
TOGETHER SO THAT THEY'RE ON YOUR
SYSTEM WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT
LIABILITY OR ACCESS OR ANYTHING
ELSE. DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO
FOSTER THOSE COOPERATIONS, BUT I
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE
SPENDING MONEY TO SET TO STAND
UP ENTIRELY NEW HOMELESS
PROVIDERS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF
AGENCIES THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO
RUN BUSSES RUN TRAINS BUT NOT
NECESSARILY OFFER HELP TO
SOMEONE IN THEIR SERVICE AND
WITHIN THEIR THEIR SYSTEM. UM I
DO HAVE ONE QUESTION JUST ABOUT
THE D, A LAW THAT ALLOWS
LOCALITIES TO DIVERT LOCAL
TRANSPORTATION FUNDS THAT ARE
USED FOR TRANSIT TO STREET AND
ROADS. IF THERE'S AN UNMET
TRANSIT NEED, I THINK THAT'S
UNDER THIS SECTION. AND I WONDER
HOW THAT'S DEFINED AND HOW THAT
MONEY GETS USED. I'M JUST A
LITTLE WORRIED THAT THAT'S A WAY
OF TAKING MONEY OUT OF TRANSIT
SYSTEMS JUST TO GO TO KIND OF
TWO ROADS AGAIN. YEAH. SO IF I
MAY JUST BEFORE I TOUCH ON THAT
SPECIFIC QUESTION, I DO WANT TO
JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH
YOU ON THE TRANSIT
TRANSFORMATION TASK FORCE
CONCEPT. I WANT TO JUST RELAY
THAT YOU'RE FROM MY MEMBERSHIP.
THERE'S A STRONG INTEREST IN
SEEING IF WE CAN HAVE THAT TYPE
OF FRANK CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND OFTEN
IMPEDE TRANSIT SUCCESS AND ONE
OF THE FIRM RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
THAT WE'VE OFFERED HER STAFF
ALREADY, AND I THINK WE WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE A FULL CONVERSATION
WITH YOU DIRECTLY ON ON. THIS IS
THE IDEA OF HAVING A GREATER
FOCUS ON CONVENING THE CEOS OF
GENERAL MANAGERS OF TRANSIT
AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE FOR
WHAT WOULD BE AN UNFETTERED
CONVERSATION SEPARATE FROM THAT
BROADER CONVERSATION WITH
ACADEMICS, TRANSIT ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS, LABOR ORGANIZED
ORGANIZATIONS, ETCETERA, BECAUSE
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, SOME OF THE
TOPICS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING
ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME SOME
IMPACTS ON SOME OF THOSE OTHER
INTERESTS AND WANT TO MAKE SURE
YOU NEED US TO JUST I'M JUST
CURIOUS. WHY WOULD YOU NEED US
TO CONVENE YET? CAN'T YOU ALL DO
THAT YOURSELF? I WOULD SAY THAT
WE HAVE CONVENED THAT AND WE
ROUTINELY PROVIDE ADVICE THROUGH
THE SPONSORED BILL PACKAGES THAT
WE PURSUE AND JUST TO REFLECT ON
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WOULDN'T
ACKNOWLEDGE ARE FAIRLY
SUBSTANTIAL WORK THAT WE'VE DONE
OVER THESE PAST FEW YEARS
WORKING WITH SENATOR SCOTT,
WINNER TO HOLY REVAMP SEQUEL TO
FOCUS ON TRANSIT PRIORITIZATION
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS FOR A
LONG TIME. A HOLY GRAIL OF FOCUS
FOR TRANSIT AGENCIES. THAT WAS
WORK THAT WE DID TO IDEA AND
PURSUE THAT. THE IDEA OF
FOCUSING ON FORWARD FACING
CAMERAS AND CLEARING TRANSIT,
ONLY LANES AND MAKING SURE THAT
THEY'RE EFFICIENT AND THAT WAS
MET WITH SOME STRONG OPPOSITION
BY THE FOLKS IN PUBLIC SAFETY,
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME IT
AND DELIVER THAT TYPE OF
SUCCESS. AND SO I WOULD JUST
REFLECT IN OUR LEGISLATIVE
PROGRAM ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. WE
ARE DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK. BUT
WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING HERE IS
THAT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH
CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE AS AN
INDUSTRY AS AN ASSOCIATION TO
PUT FORWARD BUILD IDEAS IN A
GIVEN YEAR. AS I DO A CALL FOR
PROPOSALS, I PROBABLY GET A
DOZEN PROPOSED. WE CAN MAYBE
MOVE FORWARD WITH THREE OR FOUR
IN A YEAR. BUT WE CAN HAVE A
CANDID CONVERSATION WITH THE
LEGISLATURE AND IF ANY MEMBER
WANTS TO TAKE UP THOSE PROPOSALS
AND MAKE IT AN AUTHOR SPONSORED
PROPOSAL, WE WOULD ENDORSE THAT
. AND SO I THINK THERE WERE A
VARIETY OF THINGS THAT WE CAN
PURSUE ON THIS FRONT, BUT ALSO
JUST WANTED TO REFLECT THAT
WITHIN THAT CONVERSATION, I
MEAN, THERE'S JUST A FEW THINGS
LIKE THAT. COME TO MIND ALREADY.
I MEAN LOCAL CONTROL WE TALKED
ABOUT HOUSING, LOCAL CONTROL IS
SOMETHING THAT HAS IMPEDED THAT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT, YOU
KNOW, TRANSIT NEEDS TO BE MORE
ROBUST TO ATTRACT HOUSING. THERE
IS A REALITY THAT IF YOU'VE GOT
INDIA'S INTERESTS THAT ARE
OPPOSED TO TRANSIT GENERALLY OR
OPPOSED TO LOW INCOME FOLKS
LIVING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS
GENERALLY. THAT FOCUS ON TRANSIT
IS PERHAPS MORE OF A SECONDARY
OR TERTIARY CONSIDERATION IN
THAT CONVERSATION, AS OPPOSED TO
THE PRIMARY, AND SO IN ANY CASE,
I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, SIGNAL
OR INTEREST TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT TO YOUR
QUESTION ON ON TV, A UNDER THE
CURRENT STRUCTURE, YOU'RE RIGHT.
THERE IS AN ABILITY TO CONSIDER
WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ANY ON
TRANSIT NEEDS THAT CAN BE, UH,
THAT CANNOT BE REASONABLY MET IF
JURISDICTION FINDS THAT THERE
ARE NO UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS THAT
CAN BE RECENTLY THAT THEY CAN
USE THOSE MONIES FOR STREETS AND
ROADS. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS
THAT PASS ON WHETHER OR NOT WE
WOULD LOOK TO RECONSIDER. THAT
IS THE POLICY AT THAT POINT IN
TIME, THE ANSWER WAS GENERALLY
NO. AND I THINK YOU KNOW THE
REALITY IS THAT IT'S A DIFFICULT
CONVERSATION TO HAVE HERE IN
SACRAMENTO FOR ALL THE INTERESTS
THAT ARE REFLECTED IN IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS, BUT, YOU KNOW,
CERTAINLY, AS A LEGISLATURE
MOVES FORWARD, WE THINK IT IS
CERTAINLY THE PROBLEM OF THEM TO
CONSIDER. WHAT IS THE VALID
APPROACH FOR FUNDING
TRANSPORTATION MORE GENERALLY,
WHETHER IT'S LOCAL STREETS AND
ROADS OR PUBLIC TRANSIT. THAT'S
NOT ME ENDORSING A CHANGE IN
POLICY, BUT JUST REFLECTING THAT
IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT SEEMS
JERMAINE WELL, THANK YOU. AND I
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE WORK
THAT YOU'VE ALL DONE ON.
REMOVING THOSE BARRIERS TO
MAKING TRANSIT OPERATE. WELL,
I'M ON YOUR SIDE WITH ALL OF
THIS. I'M ASKED. I GUESS I'M
THINKING MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF HOW WE
REIMAGINE THE WAY THAT WE CAN
FUND TRANSIT, ESPECIALLY IF
WE'RE REALLY GOING TO CONSIDER
FREE TRANSIT IN THE FUTURE, AND
AGENCIES ARE GOING TO CONSIDER
THAT AND I WOULD ALWAYS BE HAPPY
TO TRY TO CONVENE WHATEVER
DISCUSSION YOU THINK WOULD BE
HELPFUL, BUT IT'D BE GOOD TO
FIND SO YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
REMOVING THOSE BARRIERS LIKE YOU
SAID FOR GETTING BUS, RAPID
TRANSIT DEPLOYED ON HAVING
CAMERAS THAT YOU CAN GET ALL
THOSE CARS FROM PARKING IN THE
BUS LANES. EVERYTHING ELSE I. I
THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR
OR HAVE YOU THINK ABOUT GOING
INTO THE FUTURE IS HOW CAN WE
GET MORE REVENUE INTO THE
SYSTEM? THAT'S BEYOND FAIR BACK
BOX? YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD IF YOU
WERE TO REIMAGINE WHAT STATIONS
LOOK LIKE IF YOU WERE TO
REIMAGINE HOW TRANSIT INTERACTS
WITH COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW WHAT
WOULD IT BE? AND HOW CAN WE HELP
? TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT
LOCAL CONTROL AND YOU KNOW, I
LIVE IN A COMMUNITY. I REPRESENT
A COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN FIGHTING
A BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT NOW
FOR, LIKE, THREE YEARS. UM SO I
TOTALLY UNDERSTAND HOW
FRUSTRATING A LOT OF THESE
CONVERSATIONS CAN BE. AND I
WOULD SUPPORT EFFORTS TO TRY TO
FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT EASIER AND
REMOVE THOSE, YOU KNOW, REMOVE A
LOT OF THOSE BARRIERS AS WE GO,
AND I ALWAYS HAVE, YOU KNOW WHEN
GOING INTO THE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES. UM, BUT. UNLESS WE
THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A
DRAMATIC CHANGE IN RIDERSHIP.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START
THINKING ABOUT OTHER WAYS OF
FUNDING OUR SYSTEMS. IT'S YOU
KNOW, AND AS YOU SEE, WE CAN'T
HAVE THIS CONVERSATION EVERY
COUPLE OF YEARS AND WE CAN'T
HAVE IT EVERY TIME THERE'S AN
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. WE HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE TRANSIT.
UM FIVE FINANCIALLY HEALTHY AND
ALSO ESSENTIAL EVEN MORE
ESSENTIAL TO EVERYBODY, AND I
KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT YOUR JOB
IS. AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU
ALL WORK ON. I'M HERE TO HELP. I
KNOW CHAIR KING IS HERE TO HELP.
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE WE ARE JUST AS
FRUSTRATED AS YOU TO HEAR IT TO
SEE THE FISCAL CLIFF LOOMING. WE
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. SO, UM
I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
YOUR AGENCIES AND YOU WHO ARE
THINKING OUT OF THE BOX. I GUESS
I'M ASKING ALL OF THEM TO THINK
IF THE STATE IS NOT GOING TO BE
THERE WHO'S GONNA BE THERE TO
HELP MAKE THIS REAL AND THEN
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT
THAT? BECAUSE I AM NOT A
TRANSPORTATION EXPERT. YOU KNOW,
I DON'T DO THIS FOR A LIVING
EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOU GUYS DO SO
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP RELYING ON
YOU TO BRING US THOSE IDEAS. YOU
KNOW, I APPRECIATE THAT, AND
JUST MAYBE JUST REFLECT ON THE
GENERAL SENTIMENT. OF COURSE, WE
SEE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN
YOUR TENURE HERE IN THE
LEGISLATURE. APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK THAT FOCUS ON PUBLIC
TRANSIT AND WOULD JUST EMPHASIZE
THAT I MADE A VAGUE ALLUSION TO
A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE JUST
ADOPTED TO BE CLEAR THAT FOCUS
OF THAT STRATEGIC PLAN AS TOP
PRIORITIES. HOW DO WE BUILD INTO
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING? HOW DO WE
BUILD INTO A NETWORK THAT IS
SAFER? MORE EFFICIENT? AND WE
HAVE BROKEN DOWN THAT WORK INTO
A SERIES OF TASK FORCES AND
SUBCOMMITTEES TO DEVELOP
RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE ARE
THINGS SOME OF THEM ARE ARE
GOING TO BE OPERATIONAL THINGS
THAT WE CAN UH, DISTRIBUTE
AMONGST OUR MEMBERSHIP AS THINGS
LIKE BEST PRACTICES. SOME OF
THEM ARE GONNA BE LEGISLATIVE
AND REGULATORY AND FOR THOSE
THAT MAY BE SPONSORED
LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING
TO PURSUE AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND
SOME RECEPTION HERE IN THE
LEGISLATURE SO WE CAN MAKE SOME
CONTINUED PROGRESS, BUT JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONTINUED STEADFAST SUPPORT FOR
THE INDUSTRY. APPRECIATE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FRIEDMAN'S
ELOQUENCE ON. MANY OF THE ISSUES
I WAS GOING TO BRING UP SO
YOU'VE SAVED ME SOME OF THAT
TIME IN TERMS OF THAT, UM I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PULL IT
TOGETHER. I THINK IT'S GOING TO
BE REALLY EASY FOR US TO PICK A
SPOT HERE. A SPOT THERE WERE
GOING TO WORK ON THIS WORK ON
THAT. AND IN AT THIS MOMENT, I
DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE WE
NEED TO GO. I THINK WE HAVE TO
BEGIN THE PROCESS. WE WON'T. WE
WON'T COMPLETE IT THIS YEAR, BUT
WE HAVE TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
THE TRUE REIMAGINING OF TRANSIT.
WHAT ARE THE TRANSIT? OPTIONS
OUT THERE THE TRUE OPTIONS OUT
THERE, AND THAT MEANS EVEN
LOOKING AT HOW THE AGENCIES ARE
PULLED TOGETHER, ETCETERA, IF
YOU WANT IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT
REIMAGINING REVENUE, AND WE WANT
TO LOOK AT REIMAGINING DELIVERY
OF SERVICE. EVERYTHING YOU KNOW
HAS HAS TO BE ON THE TABLE.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO
DO. YOU KNOW FOR PEOPLE THAT YOU
KNOW, ARE NECESSARILY IN AN
AGENCY TO BE THAT OPEN. BUT WHAT
I WANT US TO FIGHT IS JUST
EMERGE TO COME UP WITH A QUICK
SOLUTION THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE
THAT. AND SO WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE AGENCY'S
SORT OF COMMITMENT TO TRYING TO
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, AND I
APPRECIATE SORT OF THE
COLLABORATION THAT WE'RE TRYING
TO ESTABLISH THAT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FRIEDMAN WAS
REFERRING TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
TENG, ETCETERA. I THINK ONE OF
THE REAL CHALLENGES IS, YOU
KNOW, TRY TO BRING WHEN YOU HAVE
THIS SPIRIT WHEN WE HAVE IN A
DEMOCRACY, YOU HAVE DISPERSED
POWER. AND THE PROBLEM WITH THIS
FIRST POWER IS IT'S HARD TO GET
IT ALL COORDINATED. WHEN YOU
HAVE TO DO HARD THINGS. WE HAVE
HARD THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO,
I THINK YOU'VE IDENTIFIED JUST
EVEN SOME OF THE PROBLEMS YOU
KNOW THAT ARE OUT THERE. WE HAVE
TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY ON THAT
SAME PAGE AND WE WILL USE MORE
THAN THIS HEARING TO BE ABLE TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN. SO UM, I WOULD
LIKE TO ASKED FOR A COUPLE OF
THINGS HERE AT THE BEGINNING,
AND ONE IS WE NEED A LIST. OF
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE
CHALLENGES THAT WE SHOULD
CONSIDER. AND THE REASON FOR
THAT IS, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST
POINTED OUT DIESEL FUNDING
RIGHT? AS WE'RE GOING TO RAMP
DOWN DIESEL REVENUE BECAUSE
WE'RE GOING TO RAMP DOWN THE USE
OF DIESEL IF THAT'S BEEN A
FUNDING SOURCE, SO IF YOU COULD
HELP US I WANT US TO. ACTUALLY I
WILL BE TASKING L A OH, QUITE
FRANKLY, AT THE END OF THIS, WHO
IS THE AGENCY THAT THE ASSEMBLY
HAS TO DO THIS TO COMPILE THIS
LIST? BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
YOUR HELP. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE
ADMINISTRATION'S YOU KNOW,
EXPERT ADVICE ON THIS ALSO, BUT
I WANT TO TEST THE L A. OH WHAT
ARE ALL THE ISSUES THAT NEED TO
BE CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, IN
TERMS OF REIMAGINING REVENUE?
WHAT ARE THE ALL THE ISSUES TO
BE CONSIDERED IN TERMS OF
OPTIONS AND SOLUTIONS? CREATIVE
SOLUTIONS FOR DELIVERY OF
SERVICE. WHAT ARE THEY ALL THE
ISSUES IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING
FLEXIBILITY, YOU KNOW, AS WE GO
FORWARD, UM AND WE NEED THAT SO
THAT A YEAR FROM NOW WE CAN SAY
WELL, WE'VE WE'VE ADDRESSED THIS
PART. BUT WE STILL HAVE THESE
ISSUES. YOU KNOW, COMING UP SO
THAT WE DON'T JUST TAKE THIS,
YOU KNOW, MADE A POTSHOT SORT OF
APPROACH IN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE RAISED THE
QUESTION AND THAT IS IF IN FACT
TRANSIT AGENCIES REPRESENTING
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ESSENTIALLY
ARE COMING TO THE STATE AND
ASKING FOR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS
RIGHT AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE
DECLINING FOR GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS, AND AT A TIME WHEN WE
RECOGNIZE AND WE'VE ALWAYS
RECOGNIZED WE HAVE SUCH
VARIABILITY IN OUR GENERAL FUND
REVENUE RIGHT THAT WE'VE ALWAYS
TRIED TO FOCUS ON ONE TIME
MONEY'S MONEY FOR PROJECTS
VERSUS OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE. UM AND THAT AS L A
OH, POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW THAT
THERE IS A HEALTHY WE CAN HAVE
HEALTHY BUDGETING WHEN WE HAVE
STEADY FUNDING STREAMS GENERAL
FUND HAS GENERALLY NOT BEEN THAT
HEALTHY, STEADY FUNDING STREAM.
SO BUT IF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
THROUGH THE TRANSIT AGENCIES ARE
ASKING US TO DO THAT, WHAT OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DOING FROM A
GENERAL FUND STANDPOINT TO
SUPPORT OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE? AND WHAT SHOULD
THEIR ROLE BE IN TERMS OF
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FROM
FROM A GENERAL FUND STANDPOINT?
I'M SURE THAT YOU REALLY EASY
ISSUE AND YOU'LL GET A QUICK
NOBODY WILL WILL WILL COMPLAIN
ABOUT THAT. IT IS TRANSIT IS
VERY MUCH A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, DELIVERY OF
SERVICES TO THEIR PEOPLE, AND I
THINK IT'S A FAIR QUESTION FOR
US TO ASK IN TERMS OF THAT, AS
WE TRY TO PULL TOGETHER ALL OF
THIS. ALL OF THESE REIMAGINING
OF THE OPTIONS. SO ONE QUESTION
I HAVE IS DO YOU KNOW AT THIS
POINT IN TIME TO WHAT EXTENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE USING
GENERAL FUNDS AND SUPPORT
TRANSIT IN GENERAL, I DON'T
THINK IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
, BUT MAYBE I'M WRONG. YES I
DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TOTALLY OUT
OF TURN WITHOUT YOU KNOW FULL
VISIBILITY INTO WHAT THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING, BUT JUST
WANT TO REFLECT ON THE FACT THAT
FOR MANY OF THE AGENCIES IN THE
STATE THEY ARE ESTABLISHED VIA
STATUTE, A SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND
SO THEY DON'T HAVE THAT DIRECT
NECESSARY NECESSARY TIE WITH THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. AND I WOULD
SUGGEST THAT FOR THOSE SPECIAL
DISTRICTS, THE ANSWER IS
PROBABLY VERY LIKELY THAT
THEY'RE RECEIVING, YOU KNOW
LITTLE TO NO SUPPORT FROM THEIR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. FOR THOSE
THAT ARE OUTFITS OF
MUNICIPALITIES SAY SAN FRANCISCO
M TO L E D O T. I KNOW FOR A
FACT. THAT S F M T A WITHIN THE
YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY STRUCTURE
HAS HAS ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE, THERE'S
GOING TO BE SOME COMMITMENT FOR
SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
RECOGNIZING THE NEEDS THAT THE
AGENCY HAS. BUT YOU KNOW, KNOW
THAT SFM TIAS CHALLENGES ARE
STILL FAIRLY FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT
, BUT BEYOND THAT, WITHOUT YOU
KNOW, VENTURING INTO CONJECTURE
WOULD PROBABLY DEFER TO A LATER
TIME TO PROVIDE YOU WITH
RESPONSE TO THAT, BUT THAT'S
CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE MAY BE
ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER. THE LIST
OF AGENCIES THAT ARE MUNICIPAL
MUNICIPALLY OPERATED IS FAIRLY
DEFINED. WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET
SOME SOME CLEAR, UM CLEAR. READ
ON WHAT? WHAT THEIR SUPPORT IS
LOOK LIKE SAME THING WITH THE
QUESTION ABOUT TO WHAT EXTENT IS
TRANSIT FUNDING BEING USED FOR
ROADS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE NOT
IDENTIFIED TRANSIT NEEDS. WE
OBVIOUSLY STATEWIDE HAVE A HUGE
TRANSIT NEED RIGHT FOR OPERATION
AND MAINTENANCE IN THE TURN
AROUND AND SAY, WELL, SOME OF
THOSE TRANSIT DOLLARS ARE GOING
FOR ROADS AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
. UM, BECAUSE IN THAT PARTICULAR
AREA, THEY DON'T HAVE IT WHEN WE
WHEN WE STATEWIDE HAVE THIS HAVE
THIS CHALLENGE OUT THERE. SO
QUITE A BIT AND WE COULD WE
COULD GO ON FOR A LONG TIME
ABOUT ALL THE OPTIONS, BUT I
WILL BE AT THE END OF THE
HEARING, REINFORCING MY REQUEST
FOR L A. OH AND I'D LIKE TO ASK
YOU TO WORK WITH THE TRANSIT
ASSOCIATION. TO THE EXTENT THAT
THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ALSO AND WITH
THE SENATE BUT I WOULD LIKE US
TO HAVE OPTIONS ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES THOSE OPTIONS
ISSUES AND OPTIONS AND
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
THOSE THAT IS ALMOST A DOCUMENT
THAT WE CAN PUT OUT TO THE WHOLE
PUBLIC AND SAY, OKAY, HOW CAN WE
IMPROVE ON THIS DOCUMENT? WHAT
ELSE DOES NEED TO BE CONSIDERED?
WHAT ARE THE OTHER? I THINK
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING
TO GET THE REAL CREATIVITY THAT
WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SHORT
TERM SOLUTIONS THAT FLOW INTO A
BETTER LONG TERM SOLUTION AS WE
GO FORWARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THAT. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS BY ANY OF THE
STAKEHOLDERS HERE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS. MR KHAN
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S COMMENT. THANK
YOU CHAIR AND REALLY APPRECIATE
THE DISCUSSION THIS MORNING.
PROBABLY MORE COMMENTS, BUT
THERE MIGHT BE A QUESTION OR
TWO, UH, EMBEDDED WITHIN. AS
WELL AND I'LL JUST STAYED UP
FRONT. I AM ONE OF SEVERAL
LEGISLATORS WHO WROTE A LETTER
AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, JUST
FLAGGING. THE IMPORTANT FINDING
FINDING SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC
TRANSIT. IT'S ONE OF THE TWO
FEATURES OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET
THAT UH, ARE PROBLEMATIC TO ME
ONE AND WE TALKED ABOUT OUR LAST
WEEK IN THIS SUBCOMMITTEE IS
AROUND CUTS TO OUR AMBITIOUS
CLIMATE PLANNING THAT WERE
UNDERTAKEN AS A STATE. THE
SECOND IS AROUND PUBLIC TRANSIT
AND, AS HAS BEEN NOTED, SYSTEMS
AROUND THE STATE ARE FACING A
FISCAL CLIFF. RIGHT NOW. UM. AT
THE SAME TIME, I THINK IT THAT
THE MESSENGER HEARING CLEARLY
TODAY IS AND IT IS UNPRECEDENTED
FOR THE STATE TO EVEN BE
CONTEMPLATING PLAYING A ROLE
AROUND OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE. I'LL TALK ABOUT WHY
I THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE
RIGHT NOW. BUT AT THE SAME TIME
, THE FACT IS, IS THAT TRANSIT
NEEDS TO UNDERGO A
TRANSFORMATION RIGHT NOW, THINGS
ARE NOT GOING TO BE BUSINESS AS
USUAL. WE'RE SEEING THAT NOW, I
THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
REASONS OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF
LOCAL TRANSIT AGENCIES THAT ARE
BRINGING US TO THE POINT WHERE
AT WHETHER YOU LOOK AT IT BOTH
SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM. THE
DRYING UP OF SUBSTANTIAL FEDERAL
RELIEF MONEY. THAT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW, UM, ISSUES RELATING
TO RIDERSHIP, AND WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP COMING BACK TO THAT,
WHETHER IT'S DIRECTLY TIED TO
FINDING OR CERTAINLY AT A
MINIMUM IS A KEY FACTOR IN OUR
EVALUATION. OF FINDING WE'RE
SEEING SOME BRIGHT SPOTS. I
MEAN, ONE THING I'LL SAY
LOCALLY. AND I REPRESENT A
COUPLE OF COUNTIES IN THE BAY
AREA IS A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL
ARE USING TRANSIT TRANSIT
DEPENDENT RIDERS, SENIOR
STUDENTS. THOSE WHO DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE ANY OTHER
OPTIONS. IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT
IN THE BAY AREA AH, THE AGENCY
THAT IS ACTUALLY LEADING THE WAY
IN RIDERSHIP. RECOVERY IS MORE
IN TRANSIT, A LOCAL AGENCY AND
IT'S NOT THAT UNUSUAL. WITH
OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES WHERE
RIDERSHIP DIDN'T DROP OFF THAT
MUCH AT ALL. DURING THE DURING
THE COVID CRISIS AND IS ACTUALLY
RECOVERING. FAIRLY QUICKLY. ON
THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE SYSTEMS
THAT ARE RELYING ON COMMUTERS
THAT HAVE TAKEN A SUBSTANTIAL
HIT. AND THE QUESTION IS, IS
THAT RIDERSHIP COMING BACK? I
TEND TO BELIEVE YES, BUT IT'S
GOING TO HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL
. YOU ARE SEEING CONGESTION BACK
ON OUR ROADWAYS NOW ALMOST UP TO
PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS, IF NOT AH,
GETTING TO THAT POINT ARE READY.
AH BUT FOLKS ARE STILL STAYING
AWAY SUMMER WORKING AT HOME OR
THEY'RE SHIFTING SHIFTING
PATTERNS AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE
LIVING AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE
WORKING. THERE'S HAVE TO ALL BE
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. BUT THE
AGENCIES THAT ARE ARE DOING WHAT
THEY NEED TO DO ARE BEING
INTENTIONAL AROUND. HOW DO YOU
GET THAT RIDERSHIP BACK ONE.
CONCEPT THAT I KNOW THE
LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT
AND CERTAINLY REGIONALLY HAS
BEEN EXPLORED AROUND THE STATE
IS SEAMLESS MOBILITY IN THE BAY
AREA THROUGH EMPTY C, WHICH I
SERVED ON BEFORE GETTING ELECTED
TO THE LEGISLATURE. THERE'S THE
TRANSIT TRANSFORMATION ACTION
PLAN. THEY CAUSE OUT SEVERAL
STRATEGIES, INCLUDING FARE
INTEGRATION. HOW CAN WE MAKE UH
FAIR SYSTEMS AROUND THE REGION
DOVETAIL MORE SEAMLESSLY? WAY
FINDING AND BETTER CUSTOMER
INFORMATION, ACCESSIBILITY
IMPROVEMENTS AND CREATING A
TRANSIT NETWORK. TO EASE
RIDERSHIP. BART IS ON ITS KNEES
. IN MANY WAYS. THAT'S THE
CANARY IN THE COAL MINE RIGHT
NOW, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY
SYSTEM. GORDON GATE TRANSIT IN
MY DISTRICT, WHICH RELIES ON
MORE DISCRETIONARY RIDERSHIP.
COMMUTERS UH, THAT IS STILL
HURTING AT THIS POINT. SO I
AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES. I
THINK, UM LOCAL AGENCIES HAVE TO
STEP UP. WE HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING
AT WAYS OF NOT JUST IMPROVING
RIDERSHIP. BUT ALSO OTHER
SOURCES OF REVENUE, POTENTIALLY
THINKING CREATIVELY. AROUND OUR
SYSTEMS. UM AND I THINK
OTHERWISE. IT'S GOING TO BE A
TOUGH SELL, SO I THINK BOTTOM
LINE IS WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT
THERE IS AN ONGOING NEED FOR
TRANSIT THAT EXISTS NOW, UM I
BELIEVE THERE'S A PATHWAY
FORWARD FOR MORE DISCRETIONARY
RIDERSHIP SYSTEMS TO INCREASE
RIDERSHIP, BUT IT'S GOING TO
HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL. WE HAVE
TO KEEP IN MIND THAT, UM, TRAMP
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS A KEY
COMPONENT OF OUR CLIMATE
SOLUTIONS AS WELL. SO THAT'S
SOMETHING I HAVE IN MIND ALSO.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A LONG
WINDED WAY OF ASKING A COUPLE
QUESTIONS. UM HOWARD TRANSIT
AGENCIES CONTINUING TO WORK TO
BUILD RIDERSHIP. HOW THAT
CONTINUE. WHAT STEPS ARE
AGENCIES TAKING TO ADDRESS THE
FISCAL CLIFF? ESPECIALLY LIKE
MID AND LONGER TERM BEYOND THIS
IMMEDIATE 123, OR TIMEFRAME AND
CRISIS THAT WE'RE NOW FACING.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, IN A
MEASURABLE WAY. HOW DOES IT
RELATE WITH OUR AMBITIOUS
CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS AS A STATE
AS WELL AND AGAIN? WE TALKED
ABOUT THAT. LAST WEEK ALSO, SO I
THINK THINGS ARE BEING DONE OUT
THERE. BUT AND I THINK, UM AGAIN
AS CONGESTION RETURNS, THERE
WILL BE AN ONGOING MARKET FOR
PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR ALL THE
REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED,
BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING
AT, PARTICULARLY IF WE TAKE THIS
STEP OF GENERAL FUND MONIES
TOWARD OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE. TO BE LOOKING AT
MEASURABLE WAYS THAT THIS
SYSTEMS ARE IMPROVED AND
REIMAGINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CONNOLLY AND
I'M GOING TO TAKE IT TO YOUR
QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO TAKE
THEM AS RHETORICAL RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE
ANSWERS AND REINVEST THEM
MULTIPLE TIMES. BUT GO AHEAD AND
JUST RESPOND TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE
A FEW THINGS. AND I THINK TO THE
FINAL POINT THAT YOU MADE WITH
REGARDS TO WHAT ARE OUR AGENCIES
DOING TO INCREASE OR RETAIN
WRITERS? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
OUR SURVEY DID ASK FOR WAS
PLEASE IDENTIFY WITH STRATEGIES
YOUR AGENCIES PURSUING TO
INCREASE AND RETAIN RIDERSHIP.
WE HAVE A CASCADING CHART OF THE
VARIOUS STRATEGIES AT AGENCIES
HAVE PURSUED. I'LL NOTE THAT THE
MOST POPULAR OPTION THAT FOLKS
COULD PRESUME THEY COULD SELECT
. FEW WERE THE PURSUIT OF
INTEGRATION OR COORDINATION WITH
NEARBY AGENCIES. YOU SEE THAT,
OF COURSE IN THE BAY AREA. A
SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS ARE
HAPPENING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
. THE INCREASES IN SERVICE
LEVELS WHICH AGAIN WE'VE GOT TO
TALK ABOUT HEADWAYS AND
FREQUENCY OF SERVICE AS A WAY OF
HAVING A VERY MATERIAL IMPACT ON
YOU KNOW, AM I GOING TO WAIT FOR
THAT BUS FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES
OR ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES THAT
THAT PRESENTATION REALLY MATTERS
TO WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE RIDES
PUBLIC TRANSIT? THEY ARE
IMPLEMENTING REAL TIME
INFORMATION THROUGH GFS, WHICH
MEANS I LOOK ON MY PHONE. I CAN
SEE THAT THAT BUS IS COMING IN
5, 10, 15 OR 30 MINUTES. MAKE A
DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT
I'M GOING TO RIDE AND THEN ALSO
A FEW OTHER POPULAR OPTIONS.
IMPLEMENTING CONTACT LIST FAIR
PAYMENT SYSTEMS. SOME OF THEM
ARE BEING USED THROUGH MOBILE
APPS. APPLE FOR EXAMPLE, ALLOWS
YOU TO ADD A TAP CARD IN THE L.
A AT A CLIPPER CARD IN THE BAY
AREA. AGENCIES LIKE MONTEREY
SALINAS TRANSIT ARE ALLOWING YOU
TO USE A CREDIT CARD IN YOUR
WALLET. SIMPLY TAP ONTO THEIR
BUS AND RIDE THEIR SYSTEM. AND
THEN, FINALLY THAT
IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICE
ANALYSIS AND RESTRUCTURING WOULD
HAVE BEEN REFERRING TO AS A
COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL
ANALYSIS. ARE THE TYPES OF
THINGS THAT AGENCIES ARE
PURSUING. BUT I ALSO WANT TO
JUST REFLECT ON JUST THIS
CONCEPT OF SEAMLESSNESS WITHOUT
A DOUBT HAVING A MORE INTEGRATED
CONNECTED NETWORK MAKING WAY,
FINE, CONSISTENT MAKING FOR
PAYMENT SYSTEMS CONSISTENT, ARE
GOING TO BE AN ADVANTAGE TO
PUBLIC TRANSIT. BUT I ALSO WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IT IS BY NO
MEANS A PANACEA TO THE CRISIS
THAT WE ARE FACED WITH. IN
ADVANCE OF THIS HEARING OF
PULLED THE RIDERSHIP NUMBERS
FROM OTHER AGENCIES THAT YOU
WOULD UH, WOULD ARGUE ANYONE
WOULD ARGUE HAVE SEAMLESS
SYSTEMS LIKE NEW YORK AND TO
THEIR RIDERSHIP LEVELS CURRENTLY
AT 83% OF THE PRE PANDEMIC LEVEL
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY IS
THAT 64% OF PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS
WILL MARA IS AT 60% OF PRE
PANDEMIC LEVELS. ALL THOSE
SYSTEMS HAVE ONE UNIFIED THAT
WORK. FOR THE ENTIRE REGION THAT
THEY SERVE. AND YET THEY COMPARE
FAIRLY FAVORABLY IN TERMS OF
RIDERSHIP. GROWTH TO L. A METRO
AT 74% SFM T AT 73% AND SO
AGAIN, JUST WANT TO SUGGEST THAT
WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON A NATIONAL
LEVEL REFORMS ARE NECESSARY AND
THINGS THAT WE WANT TO LEAN INTO
WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS
REFLECTIVE OF BROADER EXOGENOUS
FACTORS THAT ARE LIMITING THE
UPTAKE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT. IF
YOU'RE NOT GOING INTO THE OFFICE
FIVE DAYS A WEEK OR GOING IN TWO
DAYS A WEEK YOU'RE TAKING
PERHAPS FOR COLLECTIVE TRIPS, AS
OPPOSED TO 10. AND THAT MUCH IS
SOMETHING THAT DOES UNDERGIRD
WHAT IS CHALLENGING THE
TRANSITION. THE FINAL POINT I
WANT TO MAKE HERE IS THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON
TRANSFORMATION TRANSFORMATION
COMMUNITY NUMBER OF THINGS. ONE
IS CHANGES TO THE SYSTEMS
THEMSELVES, BUT ONE OF THE AREAS
WHERE WE HAVE REALLY BEEN DRIVEN
TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES HAS BEEN
ON THE VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES THAT
WE'RE USING. AND SO I DO WANT TO
JUST REFLECT WHAT WE SUPPORT
CARBON, ITS REGULATIONS TO
TRANSITION US TO CLEANER
TECHNOLOGIES. I WOULD BE REMISS
AND ALSO NOT NOTING THAT THAT
TRANSITION IS GOING TO COST
POTENTIALLY TENS OF BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS. AND FOR THOSE
INVESTMENTS. AND THE STAFF TIME
AND RESOURCES THAT THOSE
TRANSITIONS TAKE THAT IS MOVING
THE AGENCY'S EYES OFF OF
OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS IN ONTO
CLEANER VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES
JUST TO GIVE YOU A REFLECTION OF
WHAT THAT MEANS. A BUS TODAY.
CNG COSTS ABOUT 506 $100,000. A
ZERO MISSION BUS. ABOUT A
MILLION DOLLARS PLUS AND SO THAT
IS ADDITIONAL CAPITAL RESOURCES
STAFF NEEDS TO LEARN HOW TO
OPERATE THOSE TECHNOLOGIES THEY
HAVE TO BUILD IN TRANSITION
PLANS, ETCETERA. THAT'S TIME AND
RESOURCES NOT TO SUGGEST THAT
OUR SUPPORT FOR THAT HAS WEEKEND
THAT TRANSITION BUT JUST WANT TO
REFLECT THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF
COMPLICATING FACTORS IN
COMPLICATING CHARTERS. THAT MAKE
IT HARD FOR WE AS AN INDUSTRY TO
BE FOCUSED SQUARELY ON RIDERSHIP
AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
I'M REFLECTING THAT IN THAT
CONVERSATION AND A MILLION
DOLLAR BUS THAT DOES NOT HAVE
VERY MUCH RIDERSHIP ON IT IS
VERY HARD TO JUSTIFY AS A AS AN
INVESTMENT, EVEN A $500,000 BUS.
YOU KNOW IT, YOU KNOW, AT THE
SAME TIME. ALL OF THIS, I THINK
SPEAKS TO THE POINT THAT I WANT
TO WANT TO END WITH WHICH IS THE
CREATIVITY SHOULD SHOULD KNOW.
NO LIMITS AT THIS POINT IN TIME
IN TERMS OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO
GO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE
NATIONWIDE CHANGES THAT HAVE
HAPPENED, UH THE ONLY WAY WE CAN
COME UP WITH A LONG TERM
SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM AND
REVENUE AS WE HAVE TO BE
CREATIVE ABOUT. HOW DO WE
MAINTAIN THAT FLEXIBILITY TO
ADJUST AND FLEXIBILITY SHOULD BE
VERY BROADLY INTERPRETED AS
WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL HAVE WE
WILL BE LEAVING THIS OPEN. UH
AND I WILL REITERATE TO REQUEST
OF THIS COMMITTEE. UH FOR LAO TO
REALLY COME UP WITH A SPECIFIC
SET OF ISSUES OPTIONS THAT THEY
HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION. AND WITH THE
TRANSIT PROVIDERS TO LET US SORT
OF CORRAL THIS ISSUE AS BEST WE
CAN AS WE MOVE FORWARD. UM AND
WE WILL TRY TO DO THIS AS
PUBLICLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE
GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM ALL
THE STAKEHOLDERS. SO THANK YOU
MEMBERS. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT
. THIS IS JUST TOOK SOME TIME.
BUT IT'S A IT'S AN ISSUE THAT
JUSTIFIES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF TIME AND PASS OUR
APPRECIATION BACK TO THE
AGENCIES THAT YOU REPRESENT THAT
HAVE ALREADY COME TOGETHER AND
STARTED. WORKING ON THIS AND I'M
SURE THEY SORT OF FELT LIKE THEY
WERE DOING IT IN ISOLATION. BUT
THAT ISOLATION HOPEFULLY WILL BE
DECREASING AT THIS POINT IN TIME
AS WE ALL BECOME PARTNERS IN
TRYING TO SOLVE THIS. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. GREAT.
THANK YOU. AND THANKS FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING HERE
AND LAO. UM I DO WANT TO GO BACK
TO VOTE ONLY SO THAT WE CAN ADD
MEMBERS WISHING TO ADD ON AND
THAT WOULD BE TO ALL OF THE VOTE
ONLY ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM THREE.
COULD WE CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?
SALLY. BYE. GARCIA. ALRIGHT WE
WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE.
AND ASK THE FOLKS DO. JUST GREAT
TALK.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, UM
STEPHEN KICK CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER FOR THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
PRESENTING ITEM NUMBER THREE
PULLED FROM THE VOTE ONLY
AGENDA. AH THIS IS EVERY QUEST
FOR A ONE PERMANENT POSITION FOR
$1.7 MILLION. FOR TRAFFIC
OPERATIONS TO RECONFIGURE UP TO
6000 TRAFFIC SIGNALS FOR A
LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL. AND
THEY'RE LEADING PEDESTRIAN
INTERVAL IS A INTERVAL WHERE A
SIGNAL WILL WAIT. 3 TO 7.
SECONDS AFTER GIVING THE GO
AHEAD, WALK SIGNS BEFORE IT
GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT TO A
VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE SAME
DIRECTION, AND THAT REALLY
INCREASES SAFETY FOR THE
PEDESTRIAN AS IT ESTABLISHES
THERE RIGHT AWAY IN THE IN THE
IN THE CROSSWALK. THIS UH,
RECONFIGURATION OF OUR OF OUR
SIGNALS, AS REQUIRED BY ASSEMBLY
BILL 22 64, WHICH REQUIRES US TO
UPDATE THESE SIGNALS, WITH HIS
LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL IN
CERTAIN AREAS WITH VERY HIGH
CONCENTRATIONS OF PEDESTRIANS OR
BICYCLISTS. UM SO THAT IS
BASICALLY A SUMMARY OF OUR
REQUEST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? OKAY. GREAT. L A OH!
UM THANK YOU. SO REMEMBER, UM,
WE WERE JUST LIKE TO NOTE FOR
THIS PROPOSAL. THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED A
BUDGET AUGMENTATION THAT TIES TO
THE ORIGINAL. UM PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT WHEN THE BILL WAS
MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE
POLICY PROCESS WITHIN THE
PROPOSAL, THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE
TO THAT WOULD BETTER ALIGN
ACTIONS WITH WHAT WAS INTENTION
OF THE OF IN THE BILL. THE
REASON FOR THE DISCREPANCY AS WE
UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT AT THE
TIME THAT THE ANALYSIS WAS DONE,
IT WAS CALTRANS UNDERSTANDING
THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO UPDATE
THESE SIGNALS ANYTIME THAT THE
SIGNALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,
BUT THE BILL, UM ACTUALLY
REQUIRES CALTRANS TO MAKE THESE
ADJUSTMENTS ANYTIME THEY DO ANY
WORK ON THE SIGNAL, SO THE
SIGNALS WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED
AT A MUCH FASTER RATE, SO THE
SECOND ALTERNATIVE WITHIN THEIR
PROPOSAL BETTER LINES WITH THE
INTENT OF THE BILL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ANY MEMBER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS, RIGHT? SO WE WILL
TAKE A MOST ENTERTAINING MOTION
ON THE SIDE OF OH, WE'RE
RECOMMENDING THAT WE HOLD THE
ITEM OPEN. ACTUALLY GIVE STAFF
MORE TIME WITH THIS ITEM. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT NOW WE
WILL GO. TO I AM. THAT PHOTO. SO
NOW WE'RE GOING TO ITEM THREE,
WHICH IS RESOURCES FOR
HOMELESSNESS IN THE STATE RIGHT
AWAY. THANK YOU. REMEMBER
STEPHEN CHECK AGAIN WITH WITH
CALTRANS. SO THIS ITEM INCLUDES
TWO OF OUR BUDGET CHANGE
PROPOSALS AND I'LL BRIEFLY
DESCRIBE EACH ONE. THE FIRST IS
A REQUEST FOR THREE EXCUSE ME
FOR A THREE YEAR LIMITED TERM
GENERAL FUND INCREASE OF $5.8
MILLION FOR 30 POSITIONS AND
THEY SEVEN POSITIONS FOR TWO
LIMITED TERM YEARS TO SUPPORT
OUR EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THE STATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM. THIS INCLUDES
OUR ENCAMPMENT COORDINATORS,
WHICH ARE VERY HIGHLY
SPECIALIZED POSITIONS THAT ACTS
AS CONDUIT BETWEEN THE PERSONS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THE
COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY
SHELTER IN BETWEEN CAL TRAINS IN
THE LOCAL AGENCIES WHO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO THEIR CITIZENS. UH
THE SECOND OF THE TWO PROPOSALS
IS A REQUEST FOR A TWO YEAR
LIMITED TERM INCREASE OF $20.6
MILLION FROM THE STATE HIGHWAY
ACCOUNT TO FUND THE REMOVAL OF
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL FROM
ENCAMPMENT STATEWIDE. UM THESE
RESOURCES ALLOW FOR US TO COME
IN AFTER WE HAVE CLEARED IN
ENCAMPMENT. TO MAKE THAT AREA
SAFE FOR THE TRAVELING PUBLIC.
WHETHER THEY'RE PEDESTRIANS,
BICYCLES, MOTORISTS. WE NEED TO
ENSURE THAT THAT RIGHT AWAY IS
SAFE FOR THEM SO OFTEN TIMES WE
NEED TO UTILIZE A HAZARDOUS
WASTE FROM REMOVAL CONTRACT. TO
SAFELY REMOVE TRANSPORT AND, UM
. THANK YOU DISPOSED. THAT'S THE
WAY I CAN THINK OF IN DISPOSED
OF THE OF THE HAZARDOUS WASTE.
SO THOSE TWO COMBINED THEY'RE
RELATED BUT WANT THEIR
INDEPENDENT AS WELL. ANYBODY
ELSE FROM MINISTRATIONS SIDE?
NOTHING. DAD. GREAT. HELLO. YES
WE HAVE NO CONCERN WITH ITS THIS
PROPOSAL. UM AS THE
ADMINISTRATION MENTIONED THAT
THESE ARE LARGELY CONTINUATIONS
OF PREVIOUS AUGMENTATIONS AND,
UM INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS ON THE STATE RIGHT
AWAY IS AN ISSUE THAT CALTRANS
MIND ITSELF MORE INVOLVED IN AND
THESE ARGUMENTATION SEEMED
REASONABLE. COUPLE OF QUICK
QUESTIONS. I'M GONNA TRY TO MOVE
THIS HEARING ALONG WITH BIN AT
THIS SOMETIME. BUT HOW DOES
CALTRANS WORK WITH THE LOCAL
AGENCIES ON THE CONTINUOUS
CONTINUOUS CONTINUUM OF CARE? UM
WHEN THE PEOPLE CLEARLY THE
ENCAMPMENT AND THEN HOW MUCH
SHOULD NOTICE OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS GIVEN WHEN AN
ENCAMPMENT IN THE STATE RIGHT
AWAY IS BEING MOVED. CERTAINLY,
UM SO. THE WHOLE ROLL OF THESE
COORDINATORS IS TO ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF THE PERSONS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BY
GETTING THE LOCAL AGENCIES
INVOLVED. SO THE ANSWER YOUR
SECOND QUESTION FIRST. UM WHEN
WE CAN WE OFFER A TWO WEEK
NOTICE TO OUR LOCAL AGENCIES AND
ALSO TO THE PERSONS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS WEEK NOTICE PRIOR
TO POSTING THE REQUIRED 48 HOURS
TO VACATE POSTING BEFORE WE DO
THE CLEANUP. UM TO ANSWER THE
FIRST QUESTION. SECOND WE
COMMUNICATE WITH THEM TO
COORDINATE SITE VISITS WITH THE
LOCAL AGENCIES PROVIDING
SERVICES TO THE SITE. WE INTEND
TO CLEAN UP. TWO WEEKS IN
ADVANCE. IF WE CAME, WE SCHEDULE
CHP AND MAINTENANCE STAFF TO
ESCORT SOCIAL SERVICES, FOLKS
TO, UM TO THE SITE AS WELL. WE
NOTIFY AND COORDINATE WITH OUR
PARTNERS IN THE LOCAL SOCIAL
SERVICES, CONTINUUM OF CARE. UM
AND ANY OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES,
INCLUDING SOMETIMES LOCAL POLICE
, FIRE AND OTHER AREAS THAT NEED
TO BE INVOLVED. THAT'S REALLY
ARE. THE ROLE THAT WE'RE TAKING
ON IS TO COORDINATE THESE
SERVICES SO THAT, UM, WHEN WE DO
NEED TO REMOVE THESE PERSONS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT
THEY HAVE THOSE SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO THEM. UM YOU KNOW,
IT'S AN ISSUE. THAT'S WE HAVE
WRESTLED WITH 20 YEARS AS A
COUNTY SUPERVISOR, IS YOU? WE
CLEAR AN AREA WE DEAL WITH THE
WHOLE ISSUE OF THE WAIST AND
TRYING TO GET PEOPLE LOCATED
ETCETERA. AND THEN SIX MONTHS
LATER, WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM
AGAIN. WHAT IS CALTRANS POLICY
AFTER THEY CLEAR AN AREA TO TRY
TO KEEP THE AREA CLEAR? YEAH
THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION, AND
WE SEE THE SAME THING. SO FIRST
WE, UM THE WHOLE ROLL OF THESE
COORDINATORS IS TO TRY TO
PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING
RIGHT SO THAT YEAH, WE CAN GET
FOLKS INTO SOME SORT OF HOUSING.
BUT SECONDLY, WE ALSO WE DO
SOMETIMES ENHANCED PATROLS AND
ESPECIALLY A VERY POPULAR SITE
WILL HAVE CHP DO ENHANCE PATROLS
OUR OWN FOLKS WHO GO OUT THERE
AND THESE COORDINATORS THEY MAKE
CONTACT WITH A CAMPSITE THAT
THEY SEE BEGINNING TO CROP BACK
UP AGAIN AND SAY, HEY, THERE'S
THESE OTHER SERVICES AVAILABLE
IN THAT KIND OF CONTACT IS HOW
WE DEAL WITH THAT. BUT
ULTIMATELY WE NEED ALL THESE
SERVICES. TO DO THEIR PART AS
WELL. RIGHT, SO OUR ROLE IS THE
SAFETY OF THE STATE HIGHWAY
SYSTEM. AND REALLY THESE
COORDINATORS HELPED US TO GET
THOSE SERVICES IN PLACE. BUT
BEYOND THAT, YEAH, IT'S A
PROBLEM WE DEAL WITH AS WELL
BECAUSE YOU COULD DO A GREAT JOB
WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE.
IT'S IN NEW PEOPLE THAT START TO
BE THERE ON OUR EXPERIENCE HAS
BEEN IF YOU DON'T GET ON IT
RIGHT AWAY. ONCE THE ENCAMPMENT
GETS BUILT UP, IT'S MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO DO THE
CLEARING WHERE IT IS THAT YOU
HAVE DECIDED TO DO THAT. AND IT
BRINGS UP THE WHOLE FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTION OF YOU KNOW WHAT'S
WHAT'S THE STATE'S ROLE ONCE YOU
KNOW ONCE WHAT MUCH PEOPLE ARE
MOVED, AND ONCE THOSE
ENCAMPMENTS COMMON STUFF AND IF
WE IF WE HAD AN EASY SOLUTION TO
THIS, WE WOULD I'LL BE JUMPING
ON IT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
MEMBERS ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR GO
AHEAD ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REVIS
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. YOU KNOW, I
APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT
CALTRANS, UM DOES TO ENSURE YOU
KNOW THAT OUT ON HOUSED
INDIVIDUALS AT HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENTS ON, YOU KNOW, STATE
RIGHT OF WAY. OF OUR OFFERED THE
SERVICES AND THE NECESSARY
RESOURCES RIGHT BEFORE CLEANUP.
UM AND REPAIRS ARE CONDUCTED ON
THE STATE PROPERTY. BUT I HAVE
CONCERNS THAT OUR STATE IS
SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TO CONDUCT THESE
CLEANUPS. UM YET WE CONTINUE TO
SEE ENCAMPMENTS RETURN. UM, AND
TO THESE SAME SITES OFTEN, YOU
KNOW, I SEE IT ALL THE TIME IN
MY DISTRICT ON MY FREEWAY EXIT
TO MY HOME SOMEWHERE. AND THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT MY DISTRICT
OFFICE WORKS ON THE YOU KNOW,
THE MAJORITY OF THE SERVICES
THAT WE PROVIDE IN MY DISTRICT
OFFICE IS CONTACTING CALTRANS
DISTRICT SEVEN. BECAUSE WE GET
SO MANY CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS
. PROBABLY THAT THIS IS THE
PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE
AND IN MY DISTRICT THAT IN TERMS
OF THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE
RECEIVE THEM. AS LEGISLATORS. WE
ARE CURRENTLY, UH, FOCUSED ON
LOCAL. YOU KNOW THE FUNDING THAT
GOES OUT? UM TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND PUTTING IN
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES. YOU
KNOW, FOR THE FUNDS THAT WE
PROVIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
WORK ON HOMELESSNESS. UM AND SO
, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT DO WE
HAVE THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY
MEASURES WITHIN OUR SYSTEMS
WITHIN OUR TRANSIT AGENCIES AND
CALTRANS? BECAUSE THESE ARE WE
BEING EFFECTIVE WITH THESE STATE
DOLLARS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE DO
CLEAN UP THE ENCAMPMENT, AND
THEN IT COMES BACK, RIGHT? SO
ARE WE NOT? ARE WE IS THERE ARE
THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE MORE
EFFECTIVE, RIGHT? AND I KNOW
THAT SOME OF IT RELIES ON OTHER
SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT YOUR
ENCAMPMENT COORDINATORS WORK
WITH. UM BUT IF, AS THE STATE
WE'RE GOING TO BE HARD AND PUT
IN MORE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES
TO OUR COUNTIES IN OUR CITIES
AND OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE, I
THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR OWN
THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE
PROVIDING WHETHER THEY'RE
EFFECTIVE OR NOT, UH, YOU KNOW,
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A
CHP ENCAMPMENT. PATROL PROGRAM
THAT WOULD PATROL THESE
ENCAMPMENTS AFTER IT'S BEEN
CLEAN. HOWEVER I HEAR THAT CHP
IS NO LONGER PATROLLING THESE
SITES BECAUSE THE FUNDING FOR
THIS PILOT PROGRAM RAN OUT. UM
SO ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, CAN
WE DIRECT SOME OF THESE
BEAUTIFICATION FUNDS TO THE
ENCAMPMENT PATROL PROGRAM. UM
AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE
DOING? UM TO ASSURE THAT OUR
CURRENT PROCESS WITH THE
ENCAMPMENT COORDINATORS AND
CLEANING OUT THESE ENCAMPMENTS
IS EFFECTIVE. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION, AND FOR PART OF THAT,
I'LL DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUE. UM
FIRST I WANT TO SAY THESE ARE
NOT BEAUTIFICATION FUNDS NOT TO
BE CONFUSED WITH THE CLEAN
CALIFORNIA EFFORTS THAT ARE ALSO
GOING ON. THIS IS FOCUSED JUST
ON IN CLEARING ENCAMPMENTS THAT
ARE A DANGER TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT IS OUR DUTY TO PERFORM. UM
AND REALLY YOU HIT. THE MAIN
ISSUE RIGHT ON THE HEAD. IT'S
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS THE SAFETY
OF THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM. OUTSIDE
OF OUR CONTROL ARE THE ENTIRE
ISSUE OF PERSONS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS LIKE THEY NEED A
PLACE TO GO. AND THE BEST WAY
THAT WE CAN HANDLE THAT IS TO
PROVIDE THIS COORDINATION WITH
LOCAL AGENCIES. WHO ARE
RECEIVING FUNDING. TO PROVIDE
ALTERNATE HOUSING. WITH REGARD
TO THE CHP QUESTION OF DEFER TO
MY COLLEAGUE. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. KEITH DUNCAN, CALTRANS
CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER, WE ARE
ENGAGING WITH CHP IN RELATION TO
THAT CONTINUATION OF THE PILOT.
WE DO HAVE EXISTING OF FUNDS FOR
CHP DOES PROVIDE PATROLLING
FIRST SAFETY FOR HIGHWAY AS WELL
AS OUR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. BUT
WE ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE
DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM TO SEE WHAT
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO TO
CONTINUE WITH THAT PILOT, AND
THOSE CONTINUED FOLLOW UP
VISITS. SO THOSE SITES IS IT A
FUNDING ISSUE? THAT'S WHAT I WAS
TOLD THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING
FOR THAT TO CONTINUE THAT PILOT
PROGRAM. WHAT PART OF IT IS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS IT? IS
IT TRULY A FUNDING ISSUE AS WE
CAN AS THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE
THIS IS JUST AS PART OF OUR
HOMELESSNESS, ENCAMPMENT
COORDINATOR EFFORT. THIS IS JUST
WORK TWO YEARS INTO THIS PROGRAM
CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, CONTINUE TO
LEARN, AND THAT'S PART OF ALSO
WORKING WITH CHP AND OTHER
PARTNERS. AND THAT'S PART OF
ALSO WORKING TO EXPAND WHETHER
IT'S POLICY RELATED, ADAM OR IF
IT ISN'T JUST THE FUNDING
RELATIONS. WE ARE FINDING
LOOKING INTO THAT, AND ONCE WE
FIND THAT THE SOLUTION THAT
WOULD DEFINITELY BE COMING BACK
TO THE LEGISLATURE. IF IT IS A
NEED FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES,
WE WOULD PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL
AND BRING THAT TO THE
LEGISLATURE. AND HOW ARE WE
MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THIS PROBLEM? YOU KNOW WHAT
METRICS HAVE YOU PUT IN PLACE OR
DO PLAN TO YEAH, THAT'S A
ANOTHER VERY GOOD QUESTION. SO
AT THIS POINT, ESPECIALLY TWO
YEARS INTO THIS, AS WAS
MENTIONED, UM WE ARE MORE
QUALITATIVE THAN QUANTITATIVE.
IF YOU WILL, UM SO AGAIN QUALITY
QUALITATIVE, RIGHT? SO WHAT
WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE IS, UH, A
GREATER ACCEPTANCE TO OUR
PRESENCE. WE'RE SEEING MUCH
GREATER COORDINATION WITH OUR
LOCAL AGENCIES. UM FOR EXAMPLE,
IN THE LATEST ROUND OF
CALIFORNIA INTERAGENCY COUNCIL
ON HOMELESSNESS IS THE LATEST,
UH RONDO GRANT FUNDING SAW HUGE
INCREASES, SO AS WE'RE GETTING
OUT THERE AND EDUCATING LOCAL
AGENCIES, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY CAN
DO AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. WE'RE
SEEING MUCH GREATER INTEREST IN
LOCAL SIDE AND IN WORKING WITH
US. UM WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY
GREAT SUCCESSES. THE WOOD STREET
ENCAMPMENT IN OAKLAND IS ONE
WHERE THERE'S A HUGE ENCAMPMENT
OVER 200 INDIVIDUALS. UM WE
WORKED VERY WELL WITH THE CITY
OF OAKLAND AND THE COUNTY OF
ALAMEDA. WE WERE ABLE TO CLEAR
OUT THAT ENCAMPMENT OF MORE THAN
200 INDIVIDUALS LIVING THERE
4000 CUBIC YARDS OF TRASH AND
DEBRIS MORE THAN 400 DERELICT
VEHICLES WERE REMOVED. AND TO
ANSWER ANOTHER PART OF YOUR
QUESTION. WE ALSO AFTER CLEARING
THE ENCAMPMENT INSTALLED MORE
THAN 4000 FT, LINEAR FEET OF
MITIGATION MEASURES TO HELP
PREVENT THIS FENCING THINGS OFF
PUTTING UP BARRIERS TO ACCESS.
UM TO TRY TO KEEP THESE, UH,
THIS PARTICULAR SITE FROM COMING
BACK. IN THE FUTURE. WE'RE ALSO
LOOKING TO GET INFORMATION FROM
OUR PARTNERS WHO WHO PERFORM
SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS ABOUT
THE NUMBER OF SITE VISITS THAT
THEY'RE MAKING. LIKE WHO'S
COMING OUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT WERE OFFERED SERVICES WHO
ACCEPTED THOSE SERVICES, NOT WHO
BUT HOW MANY ACCEPTED THOSE
SERVICES. UM HOW MANY WERE
OFFERED SHELTER AND WHO TOOK UP
THAT OFFER? THOSE ARE METRICS
THAT WE DON'T TRACK, BUT WE ARE
NOW WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL
PARTNERS TO CONSOLIDATE THAT TO
PROVIDE BETTER ANSWERS TO YOU
AND OTHERS. NO THAT'S GREAT. YOU
KNOW, THE ULTIMATE GOAL RIGHT IS
THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE
HOUSED RIGHT AND NOT JUST
REMOVED FROM THE STATE RIGHT OF
WAY. THAT'S PART OF IT, BUT WE
WANT THEM TO BE HOUSED AND STAY
HOUSED. AND WHAT THE REASON I'M
ASKING YOU THESE QUESTIONS
BECAUSE IF WE SEE THE SAME
PEOPLE RETURN AFTER THEY'VE BEEN
REMOVED RIGHT FROM THE RIGHT OF
WAY ON SOME OF THESE HIGHWAYS,
AND SO WE'RE IF WE'RE JUST
CONTINUING TO DO THAT, AND
SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
SOME CASES AND SEEING THE PERSON
COME RIGHT BACK TO THE SAME
LOCATION OFTEN, UM AND I KNOW
THAT CALTRANS ISN'T A HOMELESS
PROVIDER, BUT WE NEED TO WORK
BETTER WITH OUR LOCAL HOMELESS
PROVIDERS, SO THAT DOESN'T
HAPPEN. BUT HOW I WANT TO KNOW
HOW THAT IS BEING IDENTIFIED,
RIGHT? I MEAN, I CAN SEE IT
RIGHT THERE. BACK THE SAME
INDIVIDUAL IS BACK. AND WHAT IS
THAT FEEDBACK? HOW DOES THAT
FEEDBACK GET? TO THE HOMELESS
PROVIDER. RIGHT THAT THEY'RE
BACK AT THE SAME LOCATION. ARE
WE GOING TO JUST IS THIS GOING
TO BE A CONTINUOUS CYCLE OF
SPENDING OF STATE DOLLARS SO
THAT THE INDIVIDUALS ARE BACK?
AND YOU KNOW WHY ISN'T WHATEVER
SERVICE THAT WAS OFFERED TO THAT
INDIVIDUAL. UH WHY HASN'T THAT
WORKED RIGHT? YEAH. SO THE FIRST
PART OF YOUR QUESTION ABSOLUTELY
AGREE THIS REQUEST IS LIMITED
TERM IN THE HOPES THAT WE
EVENTUALLY START TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM. WE DON'T NEED THIS
LEVEL OF INVESTMENT. UM
SECONDLY, UM NO. OUR FOCUS AGAIN
IS CLEARLY ENCAMPMENTS FOR
SAFETY REASONS. WE REALLY NEED
TO RELY ON THE LOCAL SOCIAL
SERVICES TO DO THAT
IDENTIFICATION. HEY WE GAVE YOU
A CONTACT TWO WEEKS AGO. WHY ARE
YOU OUT HERE AGAIN? UM, UM, IN
PARTICULAR. UM. WE DON'T KEEP
DATA ON WHO IS REMOVED RIGHT
THAT WE DON'T FEEL THAT THAT IS
APPROPRIATE FOR CAL TRAINS TO DO
WHO KEEPS THAT DATA WHO IS
TRACKING THAT? IS THAT THE
LOCALS AGAIN? THAT WOULD BE OUR
LOCAL PARTNERS WHO ARE OFFERING
THESE SERVICES? WHAT WE DO,
THOUGH, IS WE KEEP IN CONSTANT
CONTACT WITH THESE LOCAL
SERVICES. SO THAT WHEN AND IT
CAME, IT DOES CROP UP AGAIN.
WE'RE HAVING THAT THAT CONTACT
WITH THE PERSONS ON SITE IN
WHICH SOCIAL SERVICES HEY, THIS
IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND WE GO
THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WE CAN'T
FORCE AN OUTCOME. RIGHT BUT WE
CAN COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS WITH
THE EFFORTS OF THE LOCAL
AGENCIES. I'M GONNA WAIT. MY
OVERALL CONCERN IS THAT OUR
SUCCESS IS BEING DEFINED AS YOU
KNOW THAT WE HAVE REMOVED THE
ENCAMPMENT OFF THE RIGHT OF WAY
AND NOT WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL
IS HOUSED AND WILL NOT RETURN
AND IS AND I KNOW THAT LIKE YOU
SAID, YOU'RE NOT TRACKING THAT.
BUT WE NEED SOMEONE THAT IS THAT
IS IN CHARGE BECAUSE WE ARE
SPENDING TOO MUCH. STATE FUNDS
ON THIS AND NOT GETTING A
SUCCESSFUL RESULT. I'M GONNA ADD
JUST A LITTLE BIT AFTER YOU KNOW
, WORKING AS COUNTY SUPERVISOR,
THERE IS ACTUALLY NOW A STATE
MANDATED REPORTING SYSTEM THAT
THE HOMELESS PROVIDERS INNER
EVERYBODY INTO SO IT IS THE
PROVIDERS THAT THAT CALTRANS
WOULD BE COORDINATING WITH ARE
THE ONES THAT WOULD KNOW. HEY,
THIS IS THE SAME PERSON THAT WE
HAD THREE WEEKS AGO. OR OR
WHATEVER, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE
TRYING TO COORDINATE THOSE
SERVICES. IT'S THE EXACT NAME OF
IT. IT'S I H S S OR SOME SOME
PROGRAM. LIKE LIKE THAT, THAT
THAT IS OUT THERE. I THINK THE
KEY FROM OUR EXPERIENCE I JUST
WANT TO EMPHASIZE WAS THE PLACES
THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL, HAD A
REGULAR PATROL. AND WHEN THE
FIRST ENCAMPMENT GOT THERE, THEY
WERE ON THAT FIRST ENCAMPMENT,
BECAUSE IF YOU TO ONCE IT'S
BUILT UP, AND SO IF YOU HAVE
IDENTIFIED A PLACE THAT IS FOR
SAFETY REASONS NEEDS TO BE
CLEARED. WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE
REFERRING TO. THEN YOU HAVE THE
YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAKE SURE YOUR PATROL IT OFTEN
ENOUGH THAT WHEN THAT FIRST
ENCAMPMENT GETS THERE, YOU GET
THEM ALERTED RIGHT AWAY. SO YOU
DON'T HAVE YOU DON'T ATTRACT
EVERYBODY ELSE, AND THAT'S
THAT'S BEEN THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL
SOLUTION THAT I HAVE SEEN. I
KNOW ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FRIEDMAN
WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT CLOSE.
YEAH MIKE COMMENTS HAVE OF YOU
AS A MEMBER OF THIS BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE. OUR RESPONSIBILITY
IS THE EFFECTIVENESS
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE STATE
DOLLARS THAT GO TO TOWARDS YOUR
PROGRAM AND SO I DO EXPECT US TO
TRACK. UH THESE DOLLARS ON
WHETHER THEY'RE EFFECTIVE, RIGHT
AND NOT JUST TRACK YOU KNOW THE
X NUMBER OF HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS
HAVE BEEN CLEARED WITHOUT
KNOWING WHETHER THEY'RE BACK.
RIGHT SO I DON'T COUNT THAT AS
BEING EFFECTIVE AND I KNOW IT'S
CHALLENGING, BUT WE ARE
APPROVING THESE HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENT. CLEAN UP DOLLARS AND
FROM WHERE I SIT. THAT'S WHAT
I'M LOOKING AT. FOR YOU. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. REMEMBER
REMEMBER, FRIEDMAN? SURE JUST A
COMMENT. UM I DON'T THINK THAT
IT SHOULD BE CALTRANS JOB TO BE
OFFERING HOMELESS SERVICES OR
TRACKING INDIVIDUALS. BUT I DO
THINK IT IS YOUR JOB TO
COORDINATE VERY EFFICIENTLY WITH
LOCAL HOMELESSNESS PROVIDERS. UM
AND I THINK IT'S GOTTEN BETTER.
BUT WE HAVE HAD IN MY OFFICE.
SOME EXPERIENCES TRYING TO HELP
FOSTER SOME OF THAT COORDINATION
AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
AGENCIES AND NOT WITH
UNSOPHISTICATED SMALL AGENCIES.
BUT WITH CITY OF LOS ANGELES WE
SPENT QUITE A WHILE TRYING TO
HELP CITY OF L. A GET AN
ENCAMPMENT CLEARED UNDER A
HIGHWAY IN THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES IN HOLLYWOOD. AND WHAT
WAS FRUSTRATING TO LA WHERE TWO
THINGS AND I'M JUST TELLING THIS
TO YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION. ONE
WAS THAT IT SEEMED THAT THERE
WERE BOTH AGENCIES WERE POINTING
FINGERS AT EACH OTHER AS TO WHO
SHOULD PAY. UM THE CITY OF L. A
AT THAT POINT FELT THAT CALTRANS
WAS NOT BLOCKING THE AREA
SUFFICIENTLY. SO IT WAS SORT OF
INVITING PEOPLE TO COME. AND
THEY FELT THAT CALTRANS SHOULD
MAKE THE INVESTMENTS TO SORT OF
PHYSICALLY WALL OFF SOME OF
THESE AREAS. AND THAT THEY
SHOULD BE PAYING TO HAVE THE
ENCAMPMENT REMOVED. I THINK
HEALTH TRANSPOSITION WAS CITY
BALLET PEOPLE. IT'S YOUR JOB.
YOUR PROBLEM YOU SHOULD BE
PAYING. THAT WAS FRUSTRATING FOR
US TO NAVIGATE. THAT SHOULDN'T
HAPPEN THERE. THIS SHOULD ALL BE
UNDERSTOOD AND WE SHOULD BE
WORKING TOGETHER. IT'S ALL
TAXPAYER MONEY. THE RESIDENTS
DON'T CARE WHO'S PAYING. THEY
JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT
THERE ANYMORE. AND THEN SECONDLY
, CITY OF LA FELT LIKE THE
ACTUAL CLEARING PROCESS WAS
GOING TO TAKE TOO LONG. AND THAT
THEY WEREN'T BEING GIVEN. YOU
KNOW, SORT OF ACCESS AND RIGHT
OF WAY PERMISSION. THEY WERE
FINE WITH GOING AND CLEARING
THEMSELVES, BUT BECAUSE IT MAY
BE A LIABILITY THAT CALTRANS
WASN'T ALLOWING THEM TO ENTER
THE PROPERTY, SO MY POINT IS
NOT. I HAVE NO DOG IN THE HUNT
AS TO KIND OF WHO WAS RIGHT OR
WRONG. IT TOOK US MAYBE NINE
MONTHS TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE THIS
OUT. AND I, YOU KNOW, I FEEL
VERY STRONGLY THAT I KNOW THAT
IT'S THE COOPERATION IS SPOTTY
ACROSS THE STATE THAT SOME
PLACES HAVE SEEMED TO HAVE A
KIND OF TOGETHER MORE THAN
OTHERS. WE NEED TO HAVE A COKE
COHESIVE COOPERATION PLAN IN
PLACE WITH EVERY AGENCY IN THE
STATE SO THAT THIS NEVER HAS TO
REACH MY OFFICE OR ANY
LEGISLATOR'S OFFICE THAT
RESIDENTS DON'T GET FRUSTRATED
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE COUNCIL
MEMBERS TELLING RESIDENTS. HEY
THAT'S CALTRANS PROBLEM, OR
CALTRANS, TELLING RESIDENTS.
THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM. IT'S A
CITY'S PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT IN
MANY OF OUR AREAS, AND I ONLY
KNOW LOS ANGELES THAT BETWEEN
MANY AGENCIES WHETHER IT'S
CALTRANS OR ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS, OR L, A, YOU KNOW
LHASA, HOMELESS PROVIDERS AND
OTHERS. THERE'S A REAL LACK OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH SOME OF THE
PARTICULARLY THE MULTI
JURISDICTIONAL AREAS WHO IS THE
LEAD AGENCY WHOSE ULTIMATE
RESPONSIBILITY IS WHETHER IT'S
ALLOWED TO HUNGER WASH WHERE
YOU'VE GOT THREE OR FOUR
AGENCIES. WHETHER IT'S CALTRANS,
WHERE YOU HAVE TWO OR L. A RIVER
WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE CALTRANS
AND ARMY CORPS AND CITY OF L. A.
THERE'S THIS VERY FRUSTRATING
PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE LITERALLY
MOVE ACROSS THE STREET, WHERE
THEY FEEL THE OTHER AGENCIES
RESPONSIBILITY, AND THEN IT
TAKES ANOTHER NINE MONTHS TO GET
THAT DEALT WITH. SOMETIMES WE'RE
LHASA DOESN'T FEEL THAT THEY CAN
OR SHOULD BE OFFERING SERVICES
BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER AGENCY OR,
YOU KNOW, FEDERAL AGENCY.
RESIDENTS DON'T CARE THEY JUST
WANT TO DEALT WITH. SO I THINK
WE ALL NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME
HOPEFULLY KIND OF FIGURING OUT
WHO IS THE LEAD AND MAKING SURE
THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE MONTHS AND
MONTHS AND MONTHS TO GET THINGS
DEALT WITH. AND I DO THINK THAT
THE ISSUES THAT UM UH
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REVIS FOR
SPRINGING UP ABOUT HOW DO WE
MAKE SURE THAT WE GET PEOPLE
INTO COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES SO
THEY DON'T END UP BACK IN THAT
LOCATION AGAIN? THAT'S ANOTHER
SIDE OF IT THAT WE HAVE
DEFINITELY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THESE ARE
MANIFESTING MORE ON THIS SORT OF
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
THAN IN OTHER PLACES, WHETHER
IT'S UNDER HIGHWAYS OR IN
RIVERBEDS. UM WE SEE A LOT OF
THESE ENCAMPMENTS, UM, GROWING
AND WHATEVER THE AGENCY'S ROLE
IS WITH THE PROVIDERS, UM, NEEDS
TO BE. WE NEED TO GET ALL THAT
IN PLACE. IT CAN'T BE SPOT, YOU
KNOW? DONE ON THE SPOT BY SPOT
BASIS. WE NEED A SORT OF A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF
COOPERATION, AND I'M YOU KNOW,
I'M HAPPY TO HELP. I KNOW
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REVIS, YOU KNOW
, AND SHE'S THE CHAIR OF THE L.
A CAUCUS, SO SHE'S REALLY
IMPORTANT IN THIS SPACE TO HELP
COORDINATE THE IN FACT, I WOULD
SAY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REVIS IS
REALLY YOUR GO TO FOR THANK YOU
ALL OF THIS COORDINATION
EFFORTS, BUT I WOULD JUST SAY, I
THINK IT'S GETTING BETTER, BUT
WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW. IT JUST
SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A FRUSTRATING
SOMETIMES BUREAUCRATIC LACK OF
RESPONSIBILITY, TAKING THANK YOU
. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR LAST
COMMENT BY A SENATE MEMBER RIVAS
CARPET. UH THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FRIEDMAN. UM I
JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I
DIDN'T WANT TO SUGGEST THAT
CALTRANS SHOULD BE LEADING THIS
EFFORT. BUT AS YOU CAN TELL, AS
LEGISLATORS WERE VERY FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UM,
AND YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE IS
ACCOUNTABILITY. UM AND THAT YOU
SHOULD HAVE CLEARER DATA. RIGHT
ON HOW THESE FUNDS ARE BEING
USED. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY FINAL
COMMENTS, RIGHT? THANK YOU ALL
WE'RE GONNA HOLD THIS ITEM OPEN.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
OUR OTHER ITEMS, SO WE'RE GOING
TO GO TO THE ISSUE FOR HIGHWAY
MAINTENANCE SAFETY PROGRAM. UM,
AND IF. STAFF THAT THIS
PARTICIPATING ON THIS WILL
APPROACH AND MR KECK, I THINK
YOU'RE GOING TO KICK THIS OFF
AGAIN. VERY GOOD. UM BRIEFLY AS
YOU CAN. ABSOLUTELY THIS ONE
CALTRANS IS REQUESTING FOUR YEAR
LIMITED TERM FUNDING OF $48.4
MILLION.38 POSITIONS FROM OUR
STATE HIGHWAY ACCOUNT TO
CONTINUE AND TO EXPAND OUR HMM.
FOR SAFETY PILOT PROGRAM. THIS
PROGRAM SUPPORTS OUR GOAL OF
REACHING ZERO FATALITIES AND
SERIOUS INJURIES ON THE STATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM BY 2050. UH THIS
IS A CONTINUATION OF OUR CURRENT
PILOT, AND THE DEPARTMENT IS
PLANNING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
SCALABILITY OF OUR PILOT PROGRAM
. THE IMPACTS OF ADDING SAFETY
SCOPE TO H M SORRY TO HIGHWAY
MAINTENANCE WORK. UM AND REALLY
LOOKING MORE AT THE BENEFITS OF
THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE
PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE US
SOME TIME TOGETHER GATHER SAFETY
DATA ON THOSE FIRST TWO YEARS.
SO AGAIN, AN X AN EXPANDED PILOT
FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. L A OH, NO
CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSAL AS
THE ADMINISTRATION MENTIONS
AUGMENTATION OF A PREVIOUS PILOT
, AND WE THINK IT'S REASONABLE
TO USE THE PILOT TICKET OUT
SAFETY PROJECTS QUICKER. GREAT.
LET'S SEE HERE. OBJECTIONS WILL
MOVE ON. GREAT THAT'S GOOD
REQUEST IS TO HOLD. THIS ITEM
OPEN ALSO WERE AT ITEM FIVE
VARIOUS POSITIONS FOR GROWTH. MR
KECK. UH ITEM FIVE IS THREE
SEPARATE BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS
, WHICH WERE VERY BRIEFLY GO
THROUGH. THE FIRST IS A
PERMANENT INCREASE OF 23. A HALF
POSITIONS AND $4.4 MILLION FOR
OUR ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM.
REALLY? THIS PROGRAM HASN'T SEEN
A GROWTH DESPITE THE ENTIRE
DEPARTMENT GROWING QUITE A BIT
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE
HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ON THE
ADMINISTRATION SIDE. THIS IS TO
PROVIDE SERVICES FOR HUMAN
RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY FOR
PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING AND
OTHER AREAS WHERE WE'RE REALLY
STARTING TO FALL BEHIND. THIS
SECOND ITEM IS A REQUEST OF NINE
PERMANENT POSITIONS IN $1.3
MILLION FOR OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
EFFORTS STATEWIDE. UH THIS WILL
HELP US TO ADDRESS UH UM
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS
REQUESTS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL
LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS. AND THE
THIRD REQUEST IS A PERMANENT
INCREASE OF 17 POSITIONS AND
$3.4 MILLION FROM THE STATE. HOW
WE ACCOUNT FOR OUR LEGAL PROGRAM
TO ADDRESS INCREASED LEGAL
WORKLOAD IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY,
ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISHING A NEW
CENTRAL VALLEY LEGAL OFFICE. L
A. OH, NO CONCERNS WITH THE
PROPOSAL, THE AUGMENTATION
SEEING REASONABLE GIVEN THE
WORKLOAD. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
JAMES MOORE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. THAT THING THAT
HAPPENED HERE ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS?
OKAY, THERE ARE NONE. THE
RECOMMENDATION IS TO HOLD THIS
OVER ITEM OPEN. NEXT ISSUE. SIX
SO THE NEXT ITEM IN OUR FINAL
ITEM IS A REQUEST FOR $1.3
MILLION.08 PERMANENT FULL TIME
POSITIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW
TRANSPORTATION WILDLIFE
CONNECTIVITY REMEDIATION PROGRAM
CREATED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 23 44.
THIS BILL REQUIRES US TO
ESTABLISH THIS PROGRAM IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
FOR THE PURPOSES OF INCREASING
CONNECTIVITY FOR ACROSS OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR
WILDLIFE. I'LL JUST END THERE.
IT'S A TRAINER. OKAY L A OH, NO
CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSAL OF
THE AUGMENTATION ALLOWED THE
ADMINISTRATION THE COMPLETE
ACTIVITIES UNDER A B 23-14 FOR
THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NOTHING TO ADD. UM THE
COMMITTEE WILL HOLD THIS ITEM
OPEN, BUT THE SUBCOMMITTEE MAY
WISH TEST CALTRANS TO EXPLAIN
WHY THEY NEED A POSITIONS OR
LIKE DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT? YES
CERTAINLY. SO I BELIEVE THE
QUESTION WRITTEN. THE AGENDA IS
WHY IT WAS GREATER THAN WAS
IDENTIFIED, AND OUR ORIGINAL
ANALYSIS OF THE BILL. OUR
ORIGINAL ANALYSIS OF THE BILL
INDICATED THAT WE WOULD NEED
MINOR RESOURCES FOR THIS
PROGRAM. AND I THINK WHAT WE
HAVE IS A, UM AND ON OUR PART,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PROGRAM
THAT IS 11,000 FULL TIME
EQUIVALENT POSITIONS. SO WHEN WE
SAID A MINOR INCREASE EIGHT
POSITIONS FOR US IS VERY MINOR
INCREASE FOR THIS WORKLOAD. UM
WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN
CONSULTATION WITH, UM WITH FISH
AND WILDLIFE ON THE AMOUNT OF
WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED.
WE'VE GOT OUR WORKLOAD ANALYSIS
INCLUDED WITH WITH OUR BCP.
EIGHT IS DEFINITELY THE RIGHT
NUMBER. OH WELL, WE RECOMMEND
THAT WE HOLD THIS ITEM OPEN AND
WE NOW GO TO ITEM EIGHT CAPITAL
OUTLAY PROPOSALS. THANK YOU,
GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU, SIR.
LUZ RIVAS. OH, DID I GO TOO? DID
I GO TO EIGHT? I'M SORRY. I
MEANT TO GO TO SEVEN. MY
APOLOGIES. WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD
ENOUGH CHAIRS UP HERE FOR SEVEN
AND EIGHT PANELISTS. ALRIGHT,
ALRIGHT, THERE WE GO. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I'M MITCH WEISS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION. I'M HERE WITH MY
COLLEAGUE PAUL CALUSINSKI. I
THOUGHT WE'RE OFF THE HOOK FOR A
MINUTE. I RECOGNIZE WE'RE ONE OF
THE THINGS STANDING BETWEEN YOU
AND LUNCH, SO I'LL DO MY BEST TO
BE BRIEF, ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT MY
STRONG SUIT. THIS REQUEST IS FOR
200,000 FOR PER DIEM ADVISORY
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMPENSATION
AND THERE'S A COMPANY TRAILER
BILL LANGUAGE THAT WOULD
AUTHORIZE US TO MAKE THIS
COMPENSATION. THIS NEED WAS
RECOGNIZED AS WE WORKED WITH
CALTRANS IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY IN FORMING
AN EQUITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND
THIS FUNDING WOULD ALLEVIATE THE
BURDEN FOR PEOPLE SERVING ON
SUCH A COMMITTEE AND COMPENSATE
MEMBERS FOR THEIR EXPERTISE. THE
COMMITTEE WILL HELP US IN EQUITY
ISSUES RELATED TO
TRANSPORTATION, PLANNING AND
PROGRAMMING. AND THIS IS SIMILAR
TO WHAT'S ALREADY IN STATUTE FOR
THE AIR RESOURCES BOARD, THE
ENERGY COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION. ELIO NO
CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSAL WE
FIND THAT IT ALIGNS WITH, UM,
SIMILAR ACTIVITIES AND STATUTORY
AUTHORITY THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS
HAVE. GREAT. THANK YOU. ANY
QUESTIONS? WE'RE GOING TO HOLD
THIS ITEM OPEN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. AND, UH, NOW,
ITEM EIGHT. ALRIGHT. CAST OF
THOUSANDS.
YEAH, WELL, THERE'S A FEW OF US
LET'S START 1ST 1ST. PULL THE
OTHERS UP FROM THE FRONT ROW HAS
HAS NEEDED RIGHT. ALRIGHTY
CAPITAL OUTLAY PROPOSALS SO GOOD
AFTERNOON. SURE BET IT AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF MY NAME IS
LEE SCOTT. THANK YOU. AH UM MY
NAME IS LEE SCOTT, CHIEF BUDGET
OFFICER HERE AT DMV WITH ME
TODAY IS DIRECTOR STEVE GORDON.
I'LL BE HAVE THREE ISSUES ON THE
AGENDA, LIKE PROVIDE A QUICK
OVERVIEW OF THEM. DEVIOUS
REQUESTING 2,458,000 FROM THE
GENERAL FUND TO FUND THE
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA PHASE FOR
THE CONTINUING DMV. TÌM OFFICE
AND COMMERCIAL DRIVE TEST CENTER
REPLACEMENT PROJECT. THAT'S THE
FIRST ONE THE SECOND IS THE
INGLEWOOD ON SITE REPLACEMENT
PROJECT DNB QUESTING TO REVERT
20,928,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND
AND REPLACE IT WITH FUNDING FROM
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS
CONSTRUCTION FUND. FOR THE
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED CONSTRUCTION
PHASE OF THE INGLEWOOD FIELD
OFFICE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE ONSET
REPLACEMENT FACILITY WILL COMPLY
WITH CURRENT BUILDING CODES, AND
IT'S TENDERLY SCHEDULED FOR
OCTOBER. 2023. AND THE LAST ITEM
HERE WITH US AT DMV IS THE SAN
FRANCISCO ON SITE REPLACEMENT
PROJECT GMBH REQUESTING
41,654,000 TO FUND THE DESIGN
BUILD PHASE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO
FIELD OFFICE ON SITE REPLACEMENT
PROJECT. UTILIZING LEAST REVENUE
BONDS. THE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
PHASE WAS FUNDED IN FISCAL YEAR
21 22 FOR 2.5 MILLION WE'RE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
FOR THESE THREE SPECIFIC CAPITAL
CLUB. IT'S YELLOW. THANK YOU,
RACHEL MAILERS WITH THE L A. OH,
SO, ESSENTIALLY THE PROPOSALS
BEFORE YOU ARE SWITCHING THE
FUNDING SOURCE FOR THESE CAPITAL
OUTLAY PROJECTS FROM THE GENERAL
FUND TO LEASE REVENUE BONDS.
THERE ARE TRADEOFFS WITH THAT,
OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THAT INCURS
DEBT SERVICE. BUT GIVEN THE
CONDITION OF THE GENERAL FUND,
THERE'S CERTAINLY AN ARGUMENT
FOR THAT. I THINK OUR CONCERN IS
THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AN
IDENTIFIED WHAT FUND SOURCE WILL
BE USED TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE
FOR THOSE LEAST REVENUE BONDS.
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU
BORROW MONEY. YOU KNOW HOW
YOU'RE GOING TO PAY IT BACK, BUT
IN PARTICULAR HERE BECAUSE THE
TWO SOURCES REALLY HAVE TRADE
OFFS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, THE
TWO POTENTIAL SOURCES THE MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCOUNT IS WHAT HAS
TRADITIONALLY BEEN USED, AND
THERE'S A REAL POLICY RATIONALE
FOR USING THAT BECAUSE DRIVERS
ARE PAYING FOR THE SERVICES THAT
THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.
BUT THAT FUND HAS A STRUCTURAL
IMBALANCE AND IS PROJECTED TO
HAVE DEFICITS IN THAT YEAR'S
EVEN WITHOUT THIS ON THE OTHER
HAND, THE GENERAL FUND YOU'RE
GETTING INTO SOME, UH
UNPRECEDENTED POLICY ISSUES OR
LARGELY UNPRECEDENTED IN USING
GENERAL FUND GENERAL TAX DOLLARS
TO FUND THESE SERVICES AND ALSO
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME
ISSUES WITH THE GENERAL FUND
HEALTH, SO WE REALLY ARE
RECOMMENDATION TO YOU IS
IDENTIFY WHICH FUNDS SOURCE
YOU'RE GOING TO USE FOR PAYING
THE DEBT SERVICE BEFORE YOU DO
THIS. WE THINK THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL OF
LET'S JUST WAIT AND SEE WHEN THE
DEBT SERVICE COMES, DO WHAT
FUNDS SOURCE WILL USE. PRECLUDES
YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES TO
THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCOUNT IF YOU
WANT TO USE THAT SOURCE AND
GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES OR
BUILD IT INTO YOUR MULTI YEAR
GENERAL FUND, UH, PLANS IF YOU
WANT TO USE THE GENERAL FUND, SO
THAT'S OUR OVERALL
RECOMMENDATION. REALLY IF YOU'RE
GOING TO TAKE THIS AT LEAST
REVENUE APPROACH. IDENTIFY WHAT
FUN SOURCE YOU WOULD USE. THANK
YOU FOR THAT INPUT. APPRECIATE
IT. GO AHEAD. PERFECT HELLO?
RANDY KATZ DEPARTMENT FINANCE.
WE SUPPORT UM DM VÆ AND CHP S
WHEN THEY COME UP THEIR FACILITY
PROJECTS. WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE
LEGISLATURE. THE L. A S PROPOSAL
ABOUT SPECIFYING THE FUND SOURCE
FOR WHICH THAT SERVICE WOULD BE
PAID. DOES SERVICE ON THESE
BONDS WOULD BE FOR 25 YEARS, SO
IT WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT UH,
HAVING US LOCKED INTO A SPECIFIC
FUNDS SOURCE FROM 26 27 OR 27 28
THROUGH THE 20 FIFTIES. UM OUR
PROJECTIONS ONLY GO OUT THREE OR
FOUR YEARS, MUCH LESS THE NEARLY
30 YEARS OF BOND FUNDS. SO I
HAVING US LOCKED IN RESTRICTS
BOTH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND THE
LEGISLATURE'S FLEXIBILITY TO
CHOOSE WHAT IS THE BEST ONE
SOURCE FOR ANY GIVEN YEAR. WE
WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT ANYTHING
THAT PRECLUDES USING GENERAL
FUND AS A BACKSTOP COULD RISK
MAKING THE BONDS MORE EXPENSIVE.
ELIO WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT?
YEAH I THINK OUR RECOMMENDATION
IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT YOU LOCK
YOURSELF IN AND WOULDN'T HAVE
FLEXIBILITY. IT'S JUST REALLY
HAVING A PLAN. WHAT IS YOUR
PLAN? IF YOU'RE GOING TO BORROW
THESE MONIES? WHAT IS YOUR
INTENTION FOR WHICH FUNDS
SOURCE? AND ARE THERE STEPS YOU
WANT TO TAKE RIGHT NOW, FOR
EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO USE THE
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCOUNT, ARE THERE
STEPS YOU WANT TO TAKE TO MAKE
THAT AN OPTION BECAUSE OF THE
EXISTING FENCE SOURCE, SO IT'S
REALLY NOT LIMITING FLEXIBILITY,
NOT LOCKING IN. BUT HAVING A
PLAN THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. YOU WANT
TO RESPOND TO THAT? UM SURE,
IT'S TRYING TO GET YOU OUT OF
HERE SOON. UM IT'S THE BEST WAY
FOR US TO GET TO WHAT WE EXACTLY
SO IT'S AGAIN OUR CONCERNS ABOUT
LIMITING FLEXIBILITY. WE WOULD
ALSO NOTE THAT FOR THESE
PROJECTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 25
YEAR OR SO IN DEBT SERVICE.
WHICH IS FAIRLY SMALL POTATOES
AND THE REALM OF ALL THE OTHER
PRESSURES THAT AFFECTS ALL
RIGHT. THANKS A LOWER THRESHOLD
FROM MULTI YEAR THANKS A LOT.
WE'LL END THE BACK AND FORTH
THERE ON ON THAT MEMBERS. ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, RIGHT?
OKAY. ALRIGHT WE'RE GONNA HOLD
THIS ITEM OPEN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. GENTLEMEN WE ARE AT ISSUE
NINE WIRELESS MOBILE VIDEO,
AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS AND BODY
WORN CAMERAS STATEWIDE
IMPLEMENTATION. ASSUME THE
HIGHWAY PATROL WILL BEGIN THIS
PRESENTATION. YES, SIR. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
BRANDON JOHNSON, WITH THE
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL WITH
ME TODAY. I HAVE LIEUTENANT
CALEB ROCK WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE
UNIT. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU TODAY
TO DISCUSS THE CALIFORNIA OUR
PATROLS PROPOSALS. THE
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL'S
REQUESTING 11 PERMANENT
POSITIONS AND A MULTIYEAR BUDGET
AUGMENTATION FROM THE NBA TO
EXTEND THE W M BARS. THAT'S OUR
WIRELESS MOBILE VIDEO AUDIO
RECORDING SYSTEM PROJECT AND
IMPLEMENT BODY WILL WARREN
CAMERAS STATEWIDE. THIS
PROPOSAL. REQUEST A ONE TIME
BUDGET AUGMENTATION OF 9.8
MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 24.
9.9 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 24
25. 4.9 MILLION ONGOING BUDGET
AUGMENTATION BEGINNING IN FISCAL
YEAR 25 26 THE REQUESTED 11
POSITIONS WILL ALLOW FOR PROPER
MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT AND
OVERSIGHT OF THE BODY WORN
CAMERA PROGRAM. AND DEPARTMENTAL
COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS
OF THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS
ACT. AND OTHER STATURE COURT
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE TO THE
PUBLIC. MANY HIGH PROFILE
NATIONAL EVENTS HAVE CREATED A
GROWING PUBLIC EXPECTATION FOR
USE OF BODY WORN CAMERAS BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. USE OF
THIS TECHNOLOGY IS CRITICAL TO
MEET THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATION
FOR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY. WE
BELIEVE THE USE OF BODY WORN
CAMERAS CAN INCREASE PUBLIC
TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE
POLICE. THE PILOT WAS
OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE IN FAVOR
OF THE USE OF BODY WORN CAMERAS.
NOT ONLY WAS THE FEEDBACK FROM
THE PUBLIC POSITIVE BUT OUR
OFFICERS WERE IN FAVOR OF THE
EQUIPMENT AS WELL. KNOWING THEIR
INTERACTIONS WERE IN THE PUBLIC
VIEW AND RECORDED MOST
ENFORCEMENT CONTACTS MADE BY
MEMBERS OF THE CSP INVOLVED
VEHICLES AND RECORDED BY THE IN
CAR WN BARS SYSTEM. THE PRE STOP
OBSERVATIONS CAPTURED USING AN
IN CAR CAMERA SYSTEM ARE
INVALUABLE IN PROVIDING
TRANSPARENCY AND DOCUMENTING THE
CIRCUMSTANCES AND EVENTS LEADING
UP TO ENFORCEMENT CONTACTS. THE
USE OF BODY WORN CAMERAS
PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL VIEW OF
AN OFFICER'S CONTACT WITH THE
PUBLIC, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS
CAPTURED ON THE IN CAR CAMERA
SYSTEM. THIS PROJECT WILL
GREATLY BENEFIT THE CHP'S
EFFORTS FOR INCREASED
ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND
IMPROVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS. IF
APPROVED, THIS PROPOSAL WOULD
PROVIDE A BODY WORN CAMERA FOR
EVERY UNIFORM CH PATROL
EMPLOYEE. ADDITIONALLY EACH CHP
PATROL VEHICLE WILL BE EQUIPPED
WITH ONE DOCKING STATION WHERE
THE BODY WORN CAMERAS WILL BE
SYNC WITH THE IN CAR CAMERA
SYSTEM. NGUYEN SINK. THE BODY
WORN CAMERA FOOTAGE IS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE IN CAR
CAMERA FOOTAGE. WITH THE STATE
WIDE BODY WORN CAMERA
IMPLEMENTATION. THE DEPARTMENT
IS REQUESTING AUTHORITY FOR 11
NEW POSITIONS TO SUPPORT THE
INCREASE IN WORKLOAD AND STAFF
WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEW
PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY A PORTION
OF THE FUNDING WILL PROVIDE
ESSENTIAL VIDEO REDACTION
SOFTWARE LICENSES NEEDED TO
REDACT NECESSARY INFORMATION
FROM THE CAPTURED FOOTAGE PRIOR
TO RELEASE OF THE INFORMATION
SUBJECT TO P R. A. WE ARE
RESPECTFULLY ASKING FOR YOUR
SUPPORT ON THIS PROPOSAL, AND
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. ANY
OTHER PRESENTATIONS FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION. MANIFEST GREAT.
HELLO WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS
WITH THE PROPOSAL SEEMS LIKE IT
WOULD BE A GO A LONG WAY TO
INCREASING TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. WE WOULD JUST
NOTE THAT THIS IS PROPOSED TO BE
FUNDED OUT OF THE MOTOR VEHICLES
ACCOUNT, WHICH, AS I NOTED, IS
PROJECTED TO HAVE A STRUCTURE.
IT CURRENTLY HAS AN OPERATING,
UH, IMBALANCE AND IS PROJECTED
TO HAVE A DEFICIT IN THE FUTURE
YEARS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING
YOU'LL HAVE TO CONFRONT,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ADDING
ADDITIONAL COSTS. QUICK
QUESTION. WHAT IS THE OFFICIALS
AND POLICY OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR
THE OFFICERS IN TERMS OF THE
WEARING OF THE OF THE OF THEIR
BODY WORN CAMERA. SO THE
DEPARTMENT POLICY REQUIRES
SPECIFIC MANDATORY ACTIVITIES
THAT THE OFFICERS MUST ACTIVATE
THE CAMERA. IT INCLUDES
ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT, VEHICLE
SEARCHES AND INVENTORIES. AH,
ASSISTING DISABLING MOTORIST.
CONFRONTATIONAL INTERACTIONS
WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND
SEARCHES. DEPARTMENT POLICY ALSO
DEFINES OPTIONAL ACTIVATIONS,
WHICH INCLUDE PRE ENFORCEMENT
STOP ACTIVITIES AND OBSERVATIONS
SUCH AS PACING, SPEED VIOLATORS
OR SUSPECTED. DO I DRIVERS THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, AND YOU SHOULD
STRONG ACCEPTANCE BY BY THE
OFFICERS VERY MUCH. SO, YES,
THEY SUPPORT YOU KNOW THIS ISSUE
WHEN IT WHEN CAMERAS FIRST CAME
OUT, THERE WAS SKEPTICISM ON THE
PART OF MANY OFFICERS. BUT I
HAVE SO MANY OFFICERS NOW TELL
ME CAMERAS HAVE BEEN THE BEST
THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM IN
TERMS OF PROTECTING THEM FROM
ALLEGATIONS, ETCETERA AS IT GOES
FORWARD, SO, UM WE'RE GONNA HOLD
THAT ITEM OPEN. ALSO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. WE ARE
NOW GOING TO MOVE TO PUBLIC
COMMENT. NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
SO WE'RE ACCEPTING PUBLIC
COMMENT AT THE END OF THE
HEARING, BOTH IN THE HEARING
ROOM AND ON THE PHONE AGAIN. THE
PHONE NUMBER? UM TO CONNECT TO
THE COMMITTEE IS ON THE WEBSITE
SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE SCREEN. IF
YOU'RE WATCHING OVER THE
INTERNET, THE NUMBER IS 877692.
PUBLIC ACCESS CODE IS 131. 5447
. AND WE'LL START WITH PUBLIC
TESTIMONY HERE IN THE ROOM
WELCOME. ALL THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO ONE
MINUTE IF YOU'RE BRIEFER THAN
THAT, NOBODY WOULD BE UNHAPPY.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING CHAIR
BENNETT AND MR GARCIA JENNIFER
FEARING ON BEHALF OF THE
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION AND
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN
SUPPORT OF ISSUES SIX PCP FUNDS
, CALTRANS TO ADD NEW POSSESSION
POSITIONS THAT WE HEARD ARE
NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT LAST YEAR'S
23 44, WHICH WAS AUTHORED BY
YOUR COLLEAGUE MS FRIEDMAN, AND
THAT WOULD REQUIRE CALTRANS AND
CITY FW TO WORK TOGETHER TO
ESTABLISH AN INVENTORY OF
WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY NEEDS AND
PERFORM ASSESSMENTS TO IDENTIFY
POTENTIAL BARRIERS ON THE STATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM. OKAY WITH THE
RECENT NEWS OF THE STATE'S
AGREEMENT WITH BRIGHT LINE TO
BUILD AND MAINTAIN THREE NEW
WILDLIFE CROSSINGS IMMINENTLY
ALONG THE NEW RAIL LINE, AND I
15 A NEW, AMBITIOUS
PHILANTHROPIC EFFORT TO RAISE
500 MILLION FOR NEW WILDLIFE
CROSSINGS AND THE FIRST BOBCAT
USING THE UNDER CROSSING ALONG
HIGHWAY 17. THERE IS A LOT OF
POSITIVE MOMENTUM BEHIND
CALIFORNIA'S EFFORTS, SO WE URGE
YOU TO APPROVE THESE POSITIONS
AND WE APPRECIATE CULTURE FANS
ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS WORK. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR. BENNETT UH, NOT
SO MANY MEMBERS. BUT MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. SO MUCH FOR YOUR
COMMENTS IN THIS HEARING EARLIER
WERE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
SUPPORT FOR TRANSIT. I'M REBECCA
LONG WITH THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, WHERE
THE REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY FOR
THE NINE COUNTY BAY AREA AND WE
FACE A SIGNIFICANT FISCAL CLIFF
IN THAT REGION. UM I WANTED TO
JUST HIGHLIGHT YOU KNOW THE
CLIMATE AND EQUITY IMPACTS FOR
THE REGION. WE CANNOT ACHIEVE
THE STATE MANDATED CLIMATE GOALS
IN OUR REGION WITHOUT A ROBUST
VIABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM, SO THAT
IS HUGE CONCERN, AND THEN I DID
JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF
QUICK POINTS. UM A COUPLE OF
TIMES IN THE HEARING, IT WAS
MENTIONED THAT THE STATE DOES
NOT CURRENTLY PROVIDE TRANSIT
OPERATING ASSISTANCE, BUT THAT'S
ACTUALLY NOT CORRECT. THERE IS
ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS
PROVIDED IN STATE TRANSIT
OPERATIONS, BUT IT'S NOT FROM
THE GENERAL FUND, AND WE WOULD
SUBMIT THAT FINDING A MULTIYEAR
SOLUTION WHICH WE ENTIRELY AGREE
WITH YOU. WE NEED A SHORT TERM
SOLUTION, ALBEIT MULTI YEAR AND
WE NEED A LONGER TERM SOLUTION,
BUT WE DO THINK WHAT WOULD BE
PREFERABLE IS LOOKING TO SOURCES
OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND. UM,
SUCH AS SPECIAL FUNDS AND THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE
WILL, UM YOU CAN SETTLE, SETTLE.
SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A QUICK
PAUSE HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO ASK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GARCIA. DO YOU?
PROJECT. DIDN'T YOU HAVE ALREADY
VOTED ALREADY? THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL RIGHT, GREAT. WE'LL GO BACK
TO BACK TO OUR SPEAKER HERE.
GREG AND JULIA. TRY AND FIT THIS
IN STEVE WALK ON BEHALF OF THE
ALAMEDA CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT
DISTRICT, THE ELEMENT OF COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, THE
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE DISTRICT, THE
NAPA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY AND THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF COORDINATE
TRANSPORTATION WERE ENCOURAGED
BY THE COMMENTS YOU MADE AND
OTHERS MADE REGARDING THE
TRANSIT OPERATION FUNDS, AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ON
THAT AND MAINTAINING THE
COMMITMENT FOR THE TOURIST
CAPITAL FUNDS. ON ANOTHER ISSUE
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PORT AUTHORITIES
. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINING
THAT FUNDING COMMITMENT THAT'S
IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. THESE
ARE FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED
FOR LEVERAGING FEDERAL FUNDS,
AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THE
FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COULD BE
USED FOR THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. YES
DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE. MY NAME IS SOPHIA
AFRICA. I'M A POLICY ADVOCATE
WITH THE COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR
AND WE URGE YOU TO RESTORE THE
ORIGINAL ALLOCATION TO THE
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM HAS FUNDED OVER 800
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. YET THE
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD CUT THIS
PROGRAM BY 200 MILLION ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM ADVANCES
OUR STATE TOWARDS ACHIEVING
MULTIPLE CLIMATE AND AIR
QUALITY. MANDATES PASSED BY THE
LEGISLATURE BY ENCOURAGING
CALIFORNIANS TO WALK AND BIKE
INSTEAD OF DRIVING. THEREFORE,
WE ASKED, THE FUNDING IS
COMPLETELY RESTORED DURING
ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION FROM THE
STATE HIGHWAY CAMP FUNDS. WE
ALSO ASKED THAT THE LEGISLATURE
RESTORED THE TWO BILLION CUT TO
THE TRANSIT AND THEIR CITY RAIL
CAPITAL PROGRAM. INVESTING IN
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION'S ONE OF
THE MAIN WAYS WE CAN INCREASE
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP. WHICH IS
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN MAY
WHEN MANY TRANSIT AGENCIES ARE
FACING A FISCAL CLIFF BY MAKING
TRANSIT, MORE RELIABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE MODE OF
TRANSPORTATION. WE CAN ALSO HAVE
MORE EASILY MEET OUR CLIMATE AND
AIR QUALITY MANDATES THROUGH THE
REDUCTION OF VEHICLES, MILES
TRAVELED AND GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS CAUSED BY TRANSIT
RIDERS. THAT'S WE ASKED THE
LEGISLATURE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. FOR THE BENEFIT OF
SPEAKERS. WHEN YOU HEAR THAT
BUZZER THAT IS THE ONE MINUTE
MARK, PUSH ONE MORE SECOND. JUST
KIDDING. HI MARK WATTS,
REPRESENTING TWO CLIENTS FIRST
METROLINK. I JUST WANT TO LINE
MY COMMENTS WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM EMPTY SEE ON
THEIR BEHALF. MY SECOND CLIENT
IS TRANSPORTATION CALIFORNIA
WE'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY.
DEVELOPING FUNDING SOLUTIONS,
INCLUDING FUNDING FOR TRANSIT,
SO I'M GOING TO PUT THAT UP
FRONT. OUR MAIN CONCERN TODAY IS
THE BACKFIELD WAS STATE HIGHWAY
ACCOUNT FUNDS CUTS. AND WE THINK
THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A LOT
OF I J FUNDING COMING IN, AND
OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING COMING
IN. WE THINK IT'S KIND OF
SUPPLANTING AND WE DON'T KNOW
HOW LONG OR THERE'S GONNA BE AN
EXTENSION BY J. SO IT AMOUNTS TO
SUPPLANTING AND I THINK UM, WE
THINK IT WILL SIMPLY ADD TO THE
TENURE. HIGHWAY STATE MANAGEMENT
PLAN, WHICH IS ALREADY GOT A
HUGE SHORTLY SHORTFALL OF $14
BILLION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HIGH CHAIR
BENNETT. MY NAME IS ELI LIPPMAN
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MOVIE
LA, A TRANSIT ADVOCACY GROUP,
AND WE ALIGN WITH METRO LINCOLN
MTC SUPPORTING OPERATIONS
FUNDING TO KEEP TRANSIT FREQUENT
AND RELIABLE, BUT WE CANNOT FEEL
EMPTY SEATS. SO WE ARE HERE
TODAY IS PRIMARY SPONSORS OF 86
10 AND 18 1919 FOR FAIR FREE
STUDENT TRANSIT. WE HAVE 20
STUDENTS FROM SAN FRANCISCO,
SACRAMENTO, PLASTER COUNTY L, A.
AND SAN DIEGO REQUESTING $94
MILLION IN THIS BUDGET TO
SUPPORT FAIR FREE STUDENT
TRANSIT. YOU ALL WORKED ON
VISIONARY CLIMATE LEGISLATION,
ESPECIALLY YOU, MR GARCIA.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REVIS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FRIEDMAN AND
YOU'VE ALSO SPOKEN IN OUR PANELS
AT SOME POINT, AND WE'D LOVE TO
HAVE YOU THIS IS A BIG
INVESTMENT IN CLIMATE. LET'S BE
REAL. EVERY BILL WE HAVE
SUPPORTED IS LONG TERM PLANNING
AND LAND USE CHANGES THAT WILL
TAKE DECADES. WE NEED SOLUTIONS
TODAY. THAT'S WHAT CARBS SAID.
WE NEED TO REDUCE THE. 25% BY
2030. THIS IS GOING TO RESULT IN
VM T REDUCTIONS THIS YEAR. 239
MILLION MILES IS OUR ESTIMATE IN
THE FIRST YEAR AND NEARLY TWO
BILLION IN FIVE YEARS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH THAT FUNDING. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS BILL IN
HERNANDEZ, POLICY ADVOCATE WITH
MID CITY CANADA ORGANIZATION IN
SAN DIEGO 10 YEARS AGO, MOTHERS
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND
A LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD OF SAN
DIEGO BEGAN PROPOSING THAT
ACCESS TO RELIABLE
TRANSPORTATION WOULD CHANGE THE
LIFE OF THEIR KIDS. SO THEY
BEGAN ADVOCATING FOR NO COST
TRANSIT PASSES FOR THEIR
STUDENTS. AND AS OF 10 YEARS
LATER, AS THE MAY 2022, WE
LAUNCHED A PILOT PROGRAM IN SAN
DIEGO. WE ARE ASKING THE STATE
TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FUNDING.
THE LOCAL AGENCIES ARE WILLING
TO MATCH BUT MANY, LIKE SO MANY
OTHER CITIES LIKE SAN DIEGO WILL
NEED A STATE IN ORDER FOR THE
FUNDING TO CONTINUE AND NOT
LEAVE THE STUDENTS WITHOUT
TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
FREEDOM. MARTINEZ AND I'M WITH
MID CITY CAN I HAVE BEEN A
TRANSIT WRITER MY WHOLE LIFE
STARTING SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ALL THE WAY TO COLLEGE. I AM
CURRENTLY A COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENT IN SAN DIEGO. AND AS A
LOW INCOME STUDENT, I CANNOT
AFFORD A CAR OR THE MYRIAD OF
EXPENSES THAT COME WITH OWNING
ONE. SO I RELY ON THIS PROGRAM.
I RELIED ON IT IN HIGH SCHOOL,
AND I DIDN'T HAVE IT. THAT'S WHY
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO ALLOCATE
$94 MILLION TO FUND OUR YOUTH
TRANSIT PASSES ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS I NEED THIS PROGRAM IN HIGH
SCHOOL, AND I DIDN'T HAVE IT. SO
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE ADVOCATING
FOR IT. MTS ARE AN INCREASE OF
106% OF RIGHTS TAKEN BY YOUTH
WHICH EQUALS 60 SORRY, 600,000
WRITES THAT MONTH. WE NEED THE
STATE'S FUNDING TO MAKE SURE
THAT THESE NEW YOUTH WRITERS CAN
CONTINUE TO RIDE WITH US. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HI MY
NAME IS OMAR. FEDERICO I'M FROM
SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO. AND I'M A
LIFELONG TRANSIT RIDER. THE BUS
IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ME
ACCESSING SPACES THAT HAVE
ALLOWED ME TO BECOME THE FIRST
IN MY FAMILY TO ENTER
UNIVERSITY. WHAT MANY TRANSIT
AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE
SEEN NEGATIVE FISCAL IMPACTS DUE
TO DECREASES IN RIDERSHIP AFTER
THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC SANDAL HAS
ACTUALLY SEEN AN INCREASE IN
RIDERSHIP, ESPECIALLY AMONGST
YOUTH. DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF OUR
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM. PILOT
PROGRAM, THEN NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUAL YOUTH WRITERS
INCREASED FROM 16 K FROM BEFORE
THE PROGRAM TO 47 47 K. THE
NUMBER OF YOUTH WRITERS TRIPLED
IN LESS THAN A YEAR, AND MANY
YOUTH LIKE ME WILL CONTINUE TO
NEED TO UTILIZE TRANSIT AS WE GO
INTO ADULTHOOD. WE NEED MORE
PEOPLE OUT OF CARS, AND I'M
TRUMP ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
TO MEET OUR CLIMATE GOAL. THE
STATE NEEDS TO ALLOCATE 94
MILLION TO CONTINUE PROGRAMS
LIKE OURS. WE NEED STATE DOLLARS
TO CONTINUE OUR SAN DIEGO
PROGRAM, WHICH WILL RUN OUT OF
LOCAL FUNDING NEXT YEAR. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON SHARE. MY NAME IS MIKE
BORISOV. I'M A STUDENT AT
GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND
I'M ALSO THE EX OFFICIAL
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSIONER FOR
THE CITY OF GLENDALE STUDENTS
ARE TODAY'S WRITERS AND
TOMORROW'S RIDERSHIP. WE NEED TO
REDUCE THE AVERAGE VEHICLES
MILES DRIVEN IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA BY 25% BY 2030.
THAT'S NOT PROCRASTINATING ON
THIS ISSUE. THIS IS IMMEDIATE
RIDERSHIP, THE EASIEST TYPE OF
LOW HANGING FRUIT. TRANSIT
RIDERSHIP IS A CORE PILLAR AND
UPHOLDING A CLEAN, EQUITABLE AND
SUSTAINABLE CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE
LESS THAN A DECADE TO REACH OUR
CLIMATE TARGET GOALS. LET'S
START WITH A STRONG SWING THIS
LEGISLATIVE CYCLE SUPPORT FAIR
FREE TRANSIT FOR STUDENTS ACROSS
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS PEARL SUNKEN ME AND I
AM A STUDENT LEADER REPRESENTING
CAL POLY POMONA AND WANT TO
TOUCH UP UPON THE NEED FOR A B
610, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE PROVIDE
A FREE BUS TRANSIT PASS FOR ALL
CALIFORNIA STUDENTS OF FREE
TRANSIT PASS WOULD PROMOTE
STUDENT SUCCESS AND RETENTION
STUDENTS CAN UTILIZE THEIR TIME
IN THE BUS TO CATCH UP WITH
WORK. FOR A STUDENT THAT LIVES
IN LOS ANGELES AND GOES TO
SCHOOL AND CAL POLY POMONA.
THAT'S 2 TO 3 HOURS OF VALUABLE
TIME THAT COULD BE SAVED. THEY
DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW TO
GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL, WHICH IS
REQUIRED BY LAW. FOR THOSE UNDER
18. IT'S A BASIC NEED FOR THOSE
WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR
AND IT LOWERS VEHICLE EMISSIONS
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED AND
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, WHICH
FOLLOWS CALIFORNIA'S GOALS.
THAT'S A REDUCTION OF 105,600
METRIC TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS AND 239 MILLION MILES
IN A YEAR EQUIVALENT OF TAKING
22,000 CARS OFF THE ROAD. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO MY NAME IS
LAURA. LIKE CLAXTON. I AM A
PERSONAL PRODUCT OF THE PUBLIC
TRANSIT SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY THE
FOOTHILL TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE
SENIOR REAL VALUE AS A STUDENT
AT CAL POLY POMONA UNIVERSITY. I
HAVE BEEN A LOT OF MANY
OPPORTUNITIES. BUT I'VE ONLY
BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
LEADERSHIP ON CAMPUS BECAUSE OF
MY ACCESS TO FREE TRANSIT PAST.
I LIVED SIX MILES AWAY FROM CAL
POLY COMMUTER SCHOOL. BUT IT IS
CREAM IS IT IT IS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO REACH THE SCHOOL
SAFELY, BY OTHER MEANS, LIKE
BIKES AND SCOOTERS. PRICES ARE
HIGH, ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS
THAT HAVE AUTOMOBILES THAT HAVE
TO PAY FOR MAINTENANCE, GAS AND
OTHER EXPENSES LIKE ANNUAL
PARKING PASSES, COSTING $462
ANNUALLY. 33% OF STUDENTS AT CAL
POLY FIRMANDO THAT HAVE REGULAR
ACCESS TO A VEHICLE USED PUBLIC
TRANSIT STUDENTS WANT TO BE
MINDFUL NOT ONLY OF THEIR
EXPENSES, BUT THEIR ACTIONS
REGARDING STUDENT SUSTAINABILITY
AND REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS. FOR OTHERS, THE VILLA
ABILITY TO PURCHASE OF
AUTOMOBILE IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE
WHILE PAYING FULL TIME TUITION,
TRANSIT COSTS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. DEAR MEMBERS OF
THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE. MY NAME
IS HEATHER BRANT. I'M A FULL
TIME CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENT STUDENT, PARENT
AND MOTHER OF THREE CURRENTLY
SERVING AS THE CSF STUDENT
CHANCELLOR. AND DELEGATE ON
BEHALF OF MY COLLEGE WITHIN THE
SS TRIPLE C STUDENT SENATE FOR
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES. I
AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE A V 1919
WAS VETOED DUE TO, UH, FUNDS NOT
BEING PUT IN THE BUDGET, TRANSIT
ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY IS A
BASIC NEED AMONG CALIFORNIA
STUDENTS WERE ASKING FOR YOUR
HELP TO REMOVE BARRIERS IN
ACCESSING EDUCATION BY INVESTING
$94 MILLION IN TRANSIT. AND US
IN US AND OUR FUTURES THROUGH
THE SUPPORT OF A B 6 10. THIS IS
AN EQUITY ISSUE WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT WHO HAS ACCESS AND
WHO DOES NOT WHO CAN AFFORD IT,
AND WHO CANNOT WE HAVE SEEN THAT
THROUGH DATA THAT WENT SUPPORTS
ARE IN PLACE THROUGH TRANSIT.
PAST PROGRAMS. GRADUATION RATES
INCREASE AS MUCH AS 27% HAS
SHOWN HIS REAL SHOWN WITH REAL
HONDO COLLEGE IN WHITTIER,
CALIFORNIA. IT WOULD ALSO HELP
GROW ENROLLMENT COMING OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC. LET US HELP
REBUILD TRANSIT RIDERSHIP AND BE
A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO SOME
OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE HEARD
TODAY. THANK YOU. I'M TALL.
GREETINGS MY NAME IS TREASON.
ROBINSON I'M A COMMUNITY. I'M A
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT FROM
FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE. I REPRESENT
THE STUDENTS OF THE LOS RIOS
COMMITTEE COLLEGE DISTRICT AS A
STUDENT TRUSTEE. SO I UNDERSTAND
THAT INVESTING IN STUDENTS IS
IMPORTANT. AT THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM. UNMET
FINANCIAL NEEDS ARE THE LARGEST
BARRIER FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS SEEKING TO ATTAIN THEIR
EDUCATIONAL GOALS. 86 10 WOULD
SAVE LOW INCOME AND WORKING
INDIVIDUALS $288 ANNUALLY A YEAR
OR SO. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE
HIGHLY REPRESENTED IN OUR SYSTEM
AND THE STATE OF HOUSING
INFLATION TO OTHER MACRO AND
MICRO ECONOMIC EFFECTS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT THESE
INDIVIDUALS. THAT ARE HIGHLY
REPRESENTED IN OUR SYSTEM. SO I
COME TO YOU ALL TO SAY PLEASE
SUPPORT MAYBE 6 10. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DON'T
FORGET TO PULL THAT MICROPHONE
DOWN. THANK YOU. YES I KNOW. UM
MY NAME IS ALICIA. KNOCK BALL
AND I AM A STUDENT AND PART OF
THE ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY UP
FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE. UM I'M HERE
TO ASK YOU TO BUDGET $94 MILLION
FOR 86 10. MY COLLEGES WITHIN
THE LIST. REYES DISTRICT, WHICH
HAS FOUR MAIN CAMPUSES, PLUS
SATELLITE CAMPUSES FOR ALL FOUR
COLLEGES, WHICH IS A LOT OF
PLACES THAT STUDENTS MAY NEED TO
TRAVEL TO. MANY STUDENTS TAKE
CLASSES AND ALL FOUR OF THESE
CLASS CAMPUSES OR JUST TWO OF
THEM. WHATEVER THE SITUATION MAY
BE, THEY NEED PUBLIC TRANSIT.
NOT ALL STUDENTS CAN AFFORD CARS
AND HAVING FREE PUBLIC TRANSIT
SYSTEMS WOULD ALLOW THE STUDENTS
TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND
ENSURE A FUTURE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE. I'M
HECTOR THAT DESMOND STUDENTS,
CHRISTIE OF CERRITOS COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT
OF A B 6 10 ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
HOLDEN BOERNER, HORVATH, FONG
AND PELLERIN ARE ASKING THE
STATE TO INVEST $94 MILLION THIS
YEAR TO IMPLEMENT A FAIR FREE
STATEWIDE STUDENT TRANSIT PASS
PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP
CALIFORNIA DEMONSTRATE HOW WE
CAN HELP ACHIEVE OUR EDUCATION,
ANTI POVERTY, CLIMATE AND
TRANSIT GOES TOGETHER. THIS
ULTIMATELY WILL REDUCE VEHICLE'S
MILEAGE TRAVELED BY 2200 AND 39
MILLION MILES IN ONE YEAR AND
ALMOST TWO BILLION OVER THE
COURSE OF FIVE YEARS, UM,
ULTIMATELY REDUCING GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS BY OVER 105,000
METRIC TONS AND ONE YEAR AS WELL
. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT
CAREFREE STUDENT TRANSIT
PROVIDES ACCESSIBLE AND
EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO THE FOREFRONT
OF STUDENT NEEDS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HI MY NAME IS
CONTINUE, AND I'M A STUDENT AND
SENATOR CSF. AND I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE TOPIC THAT AFFECTS
MANY OF US HERE. THE COST OF
TRANSPORTATION AS A COLLEGE
STUDENT, WE KNOW THAT GETTING
AROUND CAN BE REAL FINANCIAL
BURDEN. MANY OF US ARE ALREADY
JUGGLING THE COST OF TUITION AND
TEXTBOOKS AND RAN AND OTHER
EXPENSES AND ADD INTEREST
TRADITION BECAUSE OF THAT CAN BE
OVERWHELMING. UH FOR EXAMPLE,
I'M ORIGINALLY FROM MONGOLIA,
MONGOLIA. ALL PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
FOR FREE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS,
WHICH CAN BE A SOLUTION FOR, UH,
SOME ISSUES FACED BY MONGOLIANS.
SO ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS IS
INCREASED TAXES TO EDUCATION BY
ELIMINATING THE COST OF
TRANSPORTATION, MAKING TRANSIT.
AH FOR FREE FOR A COLLEGE
STUDENTS CAN REMOVE ONE MORE
BARRIER THAT PREVENTS STUDENTS
FROM ATTENDING CLASSES AND
STUDYING AT THE LIBRARY OR THE
PARTICIPATING IN EXTRA
ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. HI THERE. MY NAME IS
THEO SLBM, A FORMER TRUSTEE AT
CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO
AND A COACH OF THE SAN FRANCISCO
TRANSIT RIDERS, AND I WAS SO
EXCITED TODAY TO BE LISTENING TO
YOU TALKING ABOUT REIMAGINING,
UM, TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE
REALLY, IT'S ALL ABOUT FUNDING.
IT'S ALL ABOUT FUNDING, AND
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY
BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED FUNDING
TO MAKE THAT TRULY ACCESSIBLE,
AFFORDABLE. TRANSPORTATION SAFE
THAT WE'RE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT
TODAY WE ARE ASKING YOU TO
INVEST. NOT VERY MUCH MONEY. $94
MILLION TO SAVE CALIFORNIA
FAMILIES 375 MILLION. THAT'S A
THREE TIME RETURN ON YOUR
INVESTMENT. THAT IS A VERY GOOD
BUT I CAN'T FIND AN INVESTMENT
THAT GOOD THESE DAYS. THAT IS A
VERY GOOD INVESTMENT TO MAKE AND
YOU WILL BE DEALING. YOU WILL BE
HELPING SUPPORTING AT A MINIMUM
1.3 MILLION STUDENTS FROM K
THROUGH 12 COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
YOU SEE NCSU SYSTEM. PLEASE
CONSIDER FUNDING THIS. THANK
YOU. MR CHAIR MEMBERS, ANDREW
ANTHONY ON BEHALF OF THE PORTS
OF LOS ANGELES TO THANK THE
GOVERNOR FOR SUSTAINING THE
SUPPLY CHAIN INVESTMENT AT 1.2
BILLION. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE VIP AWARDS SOON AND THEN
ON BEHALF OF L, A METRO, WE
THANK THE CHAIR AND SAT FOR
TEEING UP A CONVERSATION ABOUT
TRANSIT OPERATIONS. WE ARE
IMPLEMENTING LOCAL SOLUTIONS. I
KNOW THAT WAS PART OF THE
DEBATE. AND THE LINE OF
QUESTIONING IN THIS SUBCOMMITTEE
EARLIER TODAY ON THE GROUND, BUT
THE STATE HAS BEEN A PARTNER. TO
ACHIEVE THE STATE'S CLIMATE
GOALS AND ALSO BMT REDUCTION
GOALS, AND WE'RE IN TOUGH TIMES
SO WE SHOULD APPROACH THE
PROBLEM TOGETHER AS FAR AS
FINDING A SOLUTION THERE. WE
ACTUALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
FOR THE AWARD FROM CYCLE SIX
FROM T, R. C P AND THOSE DOLLARS
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
SUSTAINING THE $4 BILLION. THAT
WAS PART OF THE BUDGET AGREEMENT
AND THIS LAST ROUND AS PART OF
AN OVERALL STRATEGY TO MAKE SURE
WE STAY ON TRACK WITH OUR
TRANSIT GOALS, ESPECIALLY FROM
THE OPERATIONS PERSPECTIVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS DAN SHAW
WITH OMNI GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
ON BEHALF OF THE PORTS OF LONG
BEACH. WE'LL MAKE THIS QUICK,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND TO
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR FOR
HISTORIC ADVANCEMENTS LAST YEAR
TO PORTS IN RESPONSE TO AN
UNPRECEDENTED CONGESTION AND
SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, SO WE ASK
THAT YOU MAINTAIN THAT FUNDING
IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. UM WE
WANT TO DO OBVIOUSLY DO AS MUCH
AS WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THE
RESILIENCY OF PORTS. TO AVOID
FUTURE SUPPLY CHAIN CONGESTION.
FINALLY WE'RE CURRENTLY FACING A
SLOWDOWN IN TRADE DUE TO
LINGERING PANDEMIC IMPACTS IN
THE BROADER MAGNET,
MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, SO
NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THESE
INVESTMENTS TO KEEP CALIFORNIA
REPORTS COMPETITIVE. UH AND TO
ASSERT OUR TRADE LEADERSHIP IN
THE IN THIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS
AND REST RAMIREZ ON BEHALF OF
THE TRANSBAY JOINT POWERS
AUTHORITY. FIRST OF ALL, WOULD
LIKE TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION
AND LEGISLATURE FOR INCREDIBLE
INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL YEARS, BUT WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT PROPOSED CUTS TO
THE PLANNED FUNDING. FOR THE
TRANSIT INTERCITY RAIL CAPITAL
PROGRAM BY $2. BILLION T. J P. A
IS TASKED WITH DELIVERING THE
DOWNTOWN RAIL EXTENSION PROJECT
, AND THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY
IN THE FEDERAL TRANSIT
ADMINISTRATION'S CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH
IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE UP TO 50%
OF THE PROJECT COST. THE TRC P
PROGRAM IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF NON
FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS. CUTS ARE
MADE OF THIS PROGRAM. WE
REALISTICALLY FACE YACHT, THE
POSSIBILITY OF NOT MEETING THE
LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENTS, UM AND
SUBJECT OURSELVES TO FURTHER
COST CALCULATION. WHICH FOR D TX
IS ABOUT $300 MILLION ANNUALLY,
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
CLOSELY WITH YOU ALL THE
ADMINISTRATION AND OTHERS. TO
ENSURE THAT CURRENT AND FUTURE
PLANNED FUNDING REMAINS INTACT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN AND
MEMBERS MOIRA TAP ON BEHALF OF
THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY. UM WE ARE VERY
GRATEFUL FOR THIS REALLY
THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION ON TRANSIT
OPERATIONS. WE TOO, ARE
APPRECIATIVE OF THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR
MAINTENANCE OF $2 BILLION OF THE
TRC P FUNDING, BUT BUT ARE
CONCERNED WITH THE $2 BILLION
PROPOSED CUT TO T R. C. P MOSTLY
AT THIS LATE HOUR, WE WOULD
ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THE TRANSIT
ASSOCIATIONS COMMENTS, BUT JUST
TO UNDERSCORE TWO POINTS VERY
QUICKLY. ONE IT WAS MENTIONED
THAT NOT ALL TRANSIT AGENCIES
ARE THE SAME. THAT IS VERY TRUE
. OUR AGENCY WE ARE BACK TO
ABOUT 80, OR 90% OF RIDERSHIP,
PRE COVID, BUT WHAT WE DO SEE IS
LONG TERM OPERATIONAL ISSUES, SO
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT SHORT
TERM, AS WELL AS LONG TERM
ISSUES AND IN TRANSIT OPERATIONS
AND THEN SECONDLY, WE THINK IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUALLY
LOOK AT TRANS AT OUR OUR ROUTES
AND OUR USABILITY. UM WE HAVE A
ROBUST SYSTEM WITHIN OUR AGENCY
TO ALWAYS LOOK AT IT. WE LOOKED
AT IT AND COVID AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ALWAYS REVIEW OUR
ROUTES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBER,
DAVID MARTIN WAS CITY COLLEGE OF
SAN FRANCISCO. I'M HERE IN
SUPPORT TO FREE TRANSIT FOR
STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, WITH EVERY SINGLE
COST ASSOCIATED WITH EDUCATION
RISING OVER THE LAST DECADE, WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE AND OPEN UP A
WINDOW FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
AND THE ABILITY TO CHASE THEIR
DREAMS, SO PLEASE CONSIDER
FUNDING FREE TRANSIT FOR
EDUCATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
AND MEMBERS DOING THAT GREAT ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA. I WANT TO
ALIGN MY COMMENTS WITH ALL THE
STUDENTS YOU HEARD TODAY. THEY
CAME HERE TO SACRAMENTO TO
REALLY SHOW YOU ALL THAT THE
TIME IS NOW TO SUPPORT FREE
TRANSIT FOR OUR STUDENTS ACROSS
THE STATE. IT COULDN'T BE MORE
CLEAR. WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT A
B 6 10 BY SEPTEMBER, HOLDEN AND
ALSO TO ALLOCATE THE THAT THE
NECESSARY FUNDING TO FINALLY GET
THIS DONE RIGHT THIS TIME
AROUND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON.
I KNOW LUNCH IS VERY SOON. MY
NAME IS ANGELICA CAMPUS. I'M A
STUDENT AT CITY COLLEGE OF SAN
FRANCISCO. I'M ALSO A LIFELONG
WRITER AND ACTUALLY A LIFELONG
WRITER OF MANY SYSTEMS THAT ARE
IMPACTED BY THE FISCAL CLIFFS
THAT WE MAY BE FACING WITH OUR
AGENCIES SUCH AS BARTON SFM TA.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
THAT WE $94 MILLION TO THIS
PILOT PROGRAM A K A. B A B 6 10
BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND
OUR CO BENEFITS WHEN WE PROVIDE
FREE FUNDING FOR STUDENTS, MORE
STUDENTS WILL GO TO SCHOOL, BE
ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND MORE
WELL, MORE TRANSIT AGENCIES WILL
HAVE MORE WRITERS POTENTIALLY
LONGER IN THE LONG RUN WITH A B
6 10. WE HAVE DONE 94 MILLION
YOU MAY SEE UP TO I BELIEVE IT'S
99% INCREASE WITHIN TWO YEARS.
UM AND I CAN'T. I'M LOSING THE
OTHER NUMBER FOR WHAT INCREASE
OF RIDERSHIP WOULD LOOK LIKE IN
10 YEARS. BUT THERE IS STUDIES
SHOWING THAT THERE WOULD BE AN
INCREASE. AND OF COURSE, WE'RE
HERE TODAY ASKING FOR THAT
FUNDING BECAUSE WITH ASSEMBLY
BILL 1919. IT DID HAVE THE
SUPPORT OF THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW
TURN OUR TESTIMONY TO THE PHONES
AND OPERATOR, IF YOU WILL. OPEN
UP THE PHONE LINES. UM WE'RE
ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENTS. UM,
ONE MINUTE. AN OPERATOR, YOU MAY
BEGIN. THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE A
PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE ONE AND
ZERO. WE DO HAVE, UM COMMENTS
FROM MINUS SEVEN. PLEASE GO
AHEAD. AFTERNOON MR CHAIR
MEMBERS GRAHAM OF THE
CALIFORNIAN CITY TRANSPORTATION
YESTERDAY REPRESENTING
CALIFORNIA'S EIGHT LARGEST
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
AND OR PUBLIC, WHERE DEPARTMENT
IN REFERENCE TO ISSUE NUMBER ONE
SPECIFICALLY LIKE TO REGISTER
SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING FUNDING
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS
AT THE LEVEL OF THE YEAR. 2021
2016 BUDGET WHAT WE UNDERSTAND
THE CURRENT BUDGET OUTLOOK IS
HIGHER INVESTMENT IN THE
ESSENTIAL TO CITIES DELIVERING
MISTAKE SEVERAL CLIMATE
MOBILITY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND
EQUITY OBJECTIVE. HE URGES THE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXUS LINE. 32,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON
. UM AUDREY WRITE A CHECK FROM
CRUZ STRATEGIES ON BEHALF OF THE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF GOVERNMENT GAG WITH
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED THE
PROPOSED CUTS IN THE GOVERNOR'S
JANUARY BUDGET FOR
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS BE
MAINTAINED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
TRUTH, SHIPS AT P AND 50 GRADE
SEPARATION PROGRAMS WERE HOPING
TO MAINTAIN THEIR FUNDING LEVELS
ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU AND WE'LL GO TO
LINE 33. GOOD AFTERNOON GYM
MEMBER STEVE CRUZ, REPRESENTING
THE CITY OF SAN JOSE, AND OTHERS
WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT
FOR MAINTAINING GENERAL FUND FOR
CHURCH TRANSIT FUNDING AND
RESPECTIVELY OPPOSED BUDGET
ACTION TO CUT TRANSIT FOR
FUNDING, PARTICULARLY CAPITAL
PROGRAMS. UM WE WERE, UH, ONE OF
THE PROJECTS IN PARTICULAR THAT
WOULD BENEFIT WOULD BE BARK TO
SILICON VALLEY. UM AND IT'S IN A
POSITION TO LEVERAGE NEARLY $5
BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING, SO
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN WORK
WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO MAINTAIN
THAT FUNDING MANY BUDGET THANK
YOU. THANK YOU NEXT WEEK. BOOK
HOTEL LINE, 37. GOOD AFTERNOON
CABINET MEMBERS. ALEX WALKER,
MANAGER GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AT
PHYSICAL BARRIER TRANSIT
DISTRICT OR BART. THANK YOU FOR
COVERING ISSUE TO TODAY IN THE
TEARING. WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A
DIFFICULT BUDGET, ALICE. WE HOPE
WE CAN AGREE ON KEEPING TRACI
FUNDS AS THE PREVIOUS LEVEL AND
JUST WANT ALSO MENTIONED, UM,
THAT YOU KNOW, WHILE WE ARE
GOING TO BE SEEN BY 2026 PICKLE
YEAR $3 MILLION A YEAR DEFICITS
WE ARE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO TRY
TO MAKE OUR FEDERAL FRIENDS LAST
LONG AS POSSIBLE THAT ARE HIRING
FREEZE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WE'RE TAKING EFFICIENCIES. UM
BUT WITH HIGH FIXED COSTS, WE
HAD A SLASH SERVICE TO REALLY,
UM, AFFORD MUCH MORE IN THE WAY
OF BARS. SAVINGS SO WE REALLY DO
APPRECIATE THAT THIS WILL BE A
SHORT TERM. UH FIXED TO TRY TO
GET US TO A LONGER TERM
REIMAGINING OF OUR PHYSICAL
STRUCTURE. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR
SUPPORT IN THAT EFFORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU THE NEXT LINE.
43, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR, REMEMBERS KIRK
BLACKBURN CALLING IN ON BEHALF
OF THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENT, STANDING ON ISSUES
ONE AND TWO. STANDING IS
SUPPORTIVE OF THE COMMENTS OF
THE CALIFORNIA TRANSIT
ASSOCIATION AND URGES
SUBCOMMITTEE TO MAINTAIN FUNDING
FOR THE TRC P AT THE CURRENT
LEVELS. ALSO IT'S TRANSIT AGENCY
SPACE SIGNIFICANT OPERATING
SHORTFALLS OVER THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS. STANDARD ONCE UNDERSCORE
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING
FUNDING FOR TRANSIT OPERATIONS.
AND FINALLY I WANT TO STRESS THE
IMPORTANCE OF EXTENDING
STATUTORY RELIEF FOR TRANSIT
AGENCIES THROUGH FISCAL YEAR
2024 20 TWICE. THANK YOU. AND
NEXT WE GO TO LINE 48, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS LORD,
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION POLICY
DIRECTOR FOR STRONGLY SUPPORTS
THE REQUEST THAT THE STATE TAKE
ACTION TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE
PUBLIC TRANSIT. WE AREN'T
SEEKING A BAILOUT, BUT A BRIDGE
TO HELP TRANSIT SURVIVED THE
FISCAL CRISIS AND TRANSITION TO
A THRIVING, FINANCIALLY STABLE
BUSINESS MODEL, WITH STRATEGIC,
SUSTAINED AND COORDINATED EFFORT
. WE HEAR THE CALL FOR REFORMS
AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND HAS BEEN
VOCAL IN OUR ADVOCATE OUR
ADVOCACY FOR THESE TWO, BUT
THERE IS SIMPLY NO PATH.
DEFINING ADJUST ABILITY FOR
TRANSIT, LET ALONE IMPROVEMENT
IF CALIFORNIA'S LARGEST SYSTEM
SLIPPED INTO A DEATH SPIRAL OF
EVER DEEPER SERVICE PRESENT IN
THIS REPAIR THIS FUNDING FOR
OPERATIONS IS ABSOLUTELY URGENT
AND ESSENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE
TRANSIT IN THIS STATE. STATE
FUNDING MAKES UP ONLY A SMALL
PORTION OF THE OPERATING FUNDING
FOR THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE MOST IN
NEED. TODAY CONSIDER THAT STATE
FUNDS ACCOUNT FOR ONLY 9% OF
MEANIES OPERATING BUDGET. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU LINE 46. PLEASE
GO AHEAD. YES HELLO. MY NAME IS
PHILIP AND I'M A RESIDENT OF
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA AND WITH
THE MOST RECENT ATMOSPHERIC
RIVER AND THE ONE LAST JANUARY
CATASTROPHE CATASTROPHE IS HERE
AND ABSOLUTELY BE FUNDING
TRANSIT. WITH 94 MILLION FROM A
B 6 10 TO ENABLE CALIFORNIA
STUDENTS UTILIZED TRAFFIC
TRANSPORTATION. PRODUCED CARBON
EMISSIONS BY TAKING CARS OFF THE
ROAD AND FUTURE PROOFING OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE. WE CANNOT ALLOW
OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS TO FALL INTO THE BEST
VIRAL AND WE NEED TO HELP
ADDRESS THAT FISCAL QUESTION. SO
PLEASE FIND PUBLIC TRANSIT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BUT 9 47,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON
. THIS IS PETER STRAUSS ON THE
BOARD OF THE SENTENCE. ISCO
TRANSIT RIDERS AND I'M CALLING
IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION SPENDING
AND PRETTY WELL ALIGNED WITH THE
COMMENTS OF THE SPEAKER. I'LL
SPEAK ON ITEMS, ISSUES ONE AND
TWO ON THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL WERE PARTICULARLY
CONCERNED THAT REDUCING TRANSIT
FUNDING IS DEFINITELY A STEP IN
THE WRONG DIRECTION. WITH
RESPECT TO ISSUE TOO. I WILL
ASSERT THAT TRANSIT IS
FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND PEAK
RIDERSHIP TO DOWNTOWN HAVE
PLUMMETED AS THE PARADIGM
SURROUNDING OFFICE WORK HAS
CHANGED. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE
NUMBERS, OTHER POPULATIONS
CONTINUE TO RIDE AND DEPEND ON
TRANSIT FOR ALL THOSE NON
DOWNTOWN NON OFFICE TRIPS. BUT
TRANSIT NEEDS A NEW FISCAL MODEL
TO REFLECT THOSE CHANGES AND
RIGHT NOW REQUIRES STATUS
ASSISTANCE UNTIL THE NEW
RESOURCES ARE PUT IN. PLACE YOUR
SUPPORT FOR TRANSIT OPERATIONS
SPENDING AND CONTINUING TRANSIT
VITALITY IS URGENTLY REQUESTED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND LINE.
11, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
AFTERNOON, REMEMBERS 11, RISKING
STATE AREA COALITION AND THE
SURVIVING PRICE. POLLUTION ON
TO, UM 13 OF THE COMMITTEE AND
THE ASSEMBLY TO SUPPORT
OPERATING FUNDING FOR PUBLIC
TRANSIT STATE WILL NOT MEET OUR
CLIMATE GOALS OR HOUSING GOALS
OR EQUITY GOALS THAT WE DO NOT
KEEP PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
RUNNING. THE UM THINK OF THREE
GROWING RIDERSHIP IS CRITICAL.
AND HERE IN THE BAY AREA THIS
WEEK, UM ONE OF OUR RIDERSHIP,
GROWTH STRATEGIES AND ALL
AGENCIES PAST THE SHOWING A 40%
40% INCREASE IN TRANSIT RIDERS.
FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T ALL
AGENCIES TAX. STRATEGIES TO
REGROW RIDERSHIP WILL DIFFER BY
REGION, BUT THAT INVESTMENT IS
ABSOLUTELY THAT COULD KEEP THE
SERVICE RUNNING AND TO IMPLEMENT
THE STRATEGIES THAT RIDERSHIP.
THANK YOU. AND LINE 36. PLEASE
GO AHEAD. HI GOOD AFTERNOON
SHARE BENEFIT MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, ANDREW SAUL WITH THE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION. JUST CALLING ON
ISSUE ONE. I'D LIKE TO ECHO THE
COMMENTS OF THE SPEAKERS BEFORE
ME AND SHARE OUR SUPPORT FOR
MAINTAINING PREVIOUSLY APPROVED
FUNDING LEVELS FOR THE T I R C P
PROGRAM. WE DO KNOW THAT THIS
COMMITTEE AND THE LEGISLATURE AT
LARGE AS WELL AS THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS TO TAKE A
HARD LOOK AT SPENDING WITH THE
PROJECTED DEFICIT NEXT FISCAL
YEAR. HOWEVER WE DO SUPPORT THE
RESTORATION OF THE PROPOSED $2
BILLION IN CUTS TO THIS PROGRAM
, WHICH ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
, PARTICULARLY AT THE STATE,
PRIORITIZES INVESTMENT AND
CLEANER AND SAFER AND MORE
EQUITABLE. MOST OF
TRANSPORTATION. SO WITH THAT,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LINE.
16, PLEASE GO AHEAD. HELLO GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIRMAN AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MAYA WALKER. AND I'M DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC AFFAIRS HERE THROUGH
COLLEGE. AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM
OUR STUDENT TRUSTEE, HECTOR LÀ.
DESMOND JUST TESTIFIED BEFORE
YOU CERRITOS COLLEGE SUPPORTS
THE $94 MILLION TO FUND THIS
YEAR FOR FREE STUDENT TRANSIT
THAT HAS BEEN ENVISIONED UNDER A
B 6 10. THE DATA SHOWS THAT
THERE'S AN INCREASE IN
RECRUITMENT RETENTION FOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS AT A
TIME WHEN OUR CAMPUSES ARE
ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH
ENROLLMENT. WE KNOW FOR SURE
THAT IT'S REAL COLLEGE. WE'VE
SEEN THE BENEFITS OF MAKING IN
PUBLIC TRANSIT. FREE AND
AVAILABLE TO OUR STUDENTS WE
HAVE ABOUT 1200 STUDENTS WHO ARE
USING OUR FREE METRO PATH AND
THAT GIVES THEM ACCESS TO MASS
TRANSIT TO SCHOOL AND WORK. WE
WANT TO SEE MORE STUDENTS HAVE
THIS BENEFIT. SO AGAIN, WE
SUPPORT FUNDING FOR A B 16 AND
ASK THE COMMITTEE TO FUND FREE
TRANSIT FOR STUDENTS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. 9 39, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. THIS IS EMILY LUBER
WITH BARRY, A COUNSEL TO
REPRESENT OVER 300 MAJOR
EMPLOYERS ACROSS THE BAY AREA,
AND WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE ASK
FOR OPERATING FUNDING. TO MAKE
SURE OUR TRANSIT AGENCIES DO NOT
HIT THIS IMPENDING FISCAL CLIFF.
WE KNOW THAT HOW PUBLIC TRANSIT
IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR STATE EQUITY
AND CLIMATE GOALS, BUT IT'S ALSO
THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR ECONOMY.
RESIDENTS OF ALL INCOME LEVELS
DEPEND ON TRANSIT, ACCESS THEIR
JOBS AND PROVIDING COMFORTABLE
AND CONVENIENT TRANSIT OPTIONS
IS REALLY CRITICAL TO OUR
ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN
WORKERS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE A
WORLD WHERE THESE OPERATORS AND
REQUIRED TO MAKE SUCH SEVERE
SERVICE CUTS THAT THEY'RE NO
LONGER A VIABLE COMMUTE OPTION
FOR PEOPLE. THAT WE KNOW WE NEED
TO SAVE TRANSIT. NOW BY COVERING
THE SHORTFALL. WE ALSO STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE COMMENTS MADE BY
MEMBERS EARLIER IN THE HEARING.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELP TO
WORKING TO BUILD THESE SYSTEMS.
INTO A BETTER SERVICE THAT
PROVIDES SAFER CLEANER, MORE
RELIABLE TRAVEL OPTIONS WITHIN A
MORE SEAMLESS AND INTEGRATED
NETWORK. IMPROVEMENTS TO REGROW
RIDERSHIP WILL HELP ENSURE THAT
THE SYSTEMS ARE MORE SUSTAINABLE
GOING FORWARD. THEY WON'T BE
COMING BACK WITH THIS ASKING A
FEW YEARS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TO BUILD THAT
BETTER SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE.
THANKS VERY MUCH. LINES. 34,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI MY NAME IS
AMY THOMPSON AND THE
TRANSPORTATION POLICY MANAGER
WITH TRANSFORM TRANSFORMED,
PROMOTES WALKABLE COMMUNITIES
WITH EXCELLENT TRANSPORTATION
CHOICES TO CONNECT PEOPLE ABOUT
INCOMES. OPPORTUNITY MAKE
CALIFORNIA AFFORDABLE AND HELP
SOLVE OUR CLIMATE CRISIS. THAT'S
A TRUST TODAY. TRANS AGENCIES
ARE IN CRISIS AND I APPRECIATE
THE URGENCY. 72% OPERATIONS
SUPPORT IN THE COMING YEARS. AND
MANY WILL BE FORCED TO MAKE
SERVICE THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD IF
WE DON'T INVEST IN TRANSIT IN
THE SHORT TERM, WHILE WE FIGURE
OUT A LONG TERM FUNDING MODEL,
WE WILL BE INCREASES IN TRANSIT
ISN'T AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE. WE
HOPE THAT THAT INCLUDES IN THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET. SOME OPERATIONS
SUPPORT WILL NOT COMPROMISING
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS. HARD
DETERMINED THAT WE NEED TO
DOUBLE TRANSIT SERVICE ACROSS
THE STATE TO REDUCE DRIVING AND
COMBAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS. IT'S
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND BOTH
CLIMATE AND EQUITY STEWARDS TO
EXPAND PUBLIC TRANSIT TO BE THE
MOST COMFORTABLE, RELAX DOUBLE
AND SAFE TRAVEL OPTIONS.
COMPLIMENTARY TO TRANSIT IS
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND WE
WALK A LITTLE LIKABLE,
ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES WITH
FREQUENT AND FAITH CONNECTIONS
TO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ESSENTIAL
SERVICES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. YOUR TIME IS UP. LINE. 41,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. HELLO SARAH
BENNETT AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MANY LOOK LAST YEAR AND THE
TRAINING AND POLICY MANAGER AT
THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
ASSOCIATION OF OVER 300
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO
SERVE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WORK
TO CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY,
AND SOCIAL EQUITY AND LOW AND
MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES. I'M
HERE TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE
SUPPORT FOR THE DMV NOW STUFF
SORT OF TERMINAL PROGRAM. THIS
PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO
LATINOS AND IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA
APPROXIMATELY 303 113,000
LATINOS USED THE SERVICES
OFFERED AT THE KIOSK ANNUALLY
AND HELP IMMIGRANT AND WORKING
LOW INCOME. DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
HAVE ACCESS TO BUY ODM SERVICES
WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR OWN
COMMUNITIES AND HELPS NAVIGATE
ANY LANGUAGE OR TECHNOLOGY
BARRIERS. AH THE CHAOS INCLUDES
OVER FIVE LANGUAGES AND THERE
ARE 364 KEPT AND RETAIL AND.
LINE. 35, PLEASE GO AHEAD. YEAH.
AFTER HEARING THAT MAYBE I'M JP
ROSE. HUNDREDS OF DIVERSITY. WE
STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEM SIX TO
HELP FUND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
A P 20. WHAT YOU PULLED ACTION
TO ADDRESS WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY
IS CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF
CALIFORNIA ECOSYSTEM. CALIFORNIA
SUICIDE ICONIC SPECIES LIKE THE
MOUNTAIN LINE ARE THREATENED
WITH LOCAL EXTINCTION TO DUE TO
THE LACK OF WILDLIFE CROSSING.
CAR STRIKES ALSO KILLED. ONCE
PER WEEK IN CALIFORNIA. THE GOOD
NEWS IS THAT WILDLIFE CROSSINGS
WORK? IN STATES THAT HAVE BUILT
THEM THEY'RE GOING TO REDUCTIONS
IN VEHICLE WILDLIFE COLLISIONS
LASTED 98% CROSSINGS ARE ALSO
COST EFFECTIVE AND CAN BE A
SENATOR FITTING AND EXISTING
CULVERT WILDLIFE FRIENDLY. 18 23
44 IS A WIN FOR PEOPLE IN OUR
ENVIRONMENT SUPPORT ITEMS SIX TO
HELP THEM IMPLEMENT THE LAW.
THANK YOU. LINE 51, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. HI GOOD AFTERNOON,
REMEMBERS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
A COMMENT AGAINST PUBLIC
SERVICES IN BART AND SUPPORT
FUNDING FOR TRANSIT AGENCIES.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE BAY
AREA, PARTICULARLY BART IS AN
ESSENTIAL PART OF A HEALTHY AND
THRIVING BARRIER TO JUST CLIMATE
CHANGE. IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
CHOICE AND JUST BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO DRIVE A
CAR. I THINK PART WEEKLY, AND SO
MANY OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
REDUCING THE FREQUENCY OF BART
TRAINS WILL ERODE TRUST IN THE
SYSTEM AND PUSH MORE BEAR AND MY
BIRTHDAY TURNED TO CARS FOR
TRANSIENT, WHICH WILL INCREASE
TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION AND MOVE
US AWAY FROM CLIMATE GOALS. ALSO
I AM JUST A RESIDENT OF CAN
FRANCISCO NOT ASSOCIATED WITH
ANY GROUP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
LINE. 9 40, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
AFTERNOON MY NAME IS JASON BAKER
WITH THE SILICON VALLEY
LEADERSHIP GROUP WE REPRESENT
ABOUT 350 TECH INNOVATION
ECONOMY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE
NIGHT IN COUNTY BAY AREA,
SUPPORT, MORE FUNDING FOR
TRANSIT OPERATIONS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING TO ALLOW
FRIENDS TO SURVIVE ITS CURRENT
CHALLENGES, AND BECAUSE YOU NEED
TO BE A KEY WAY FOR COMING TO
CALIFORNIA TO MEET ITS CLIMATE,
JOBS AND QUALITY OF LIFE GOALS.
CONNECTING PEOPLE HELPING HUMANS
MOVE WITHIN BETWEEN CITIES, UH,
TO ACCESS JOBS AND HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND ALL THE THINGS THEY
NEED TO LIVE WORK AND PLAY. THE
FUNDAMENTAL FUNCTION OF
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
ONE OF THE BEST, MOST EFFICIENT,
CLEANEST WAVES. WE HAVE TO
CONNECT PEOPLE. WE'VE HAD
SUCCESS IN THE BAY AREA,
ATTRACTING BUSINESSES TO DEVELOP
INVEST NEAR TRANSIT. THAT'S
BETTER FOR PLANNING BETTER FOR
POLLUTION BETTER FOR JOBS IN THE
ECONOMY. BUT BUSINESSES CAN ONLY
MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS BASED ON
THE STATE AND THE REGION'S
COMMITMENT TO HIGH QUALITY
PUBLIC TRANSIT. NOW IS NOT THE
TIME TO RETREAT FROM THAT
COMMITMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE WE
FOUND READY TO EMERGE FROM THIS
CRISIS WITH A BETTER TRANSIT
SYSTEM TO CONSERVE OUR NEEDS.
LYING 38, PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI
JARED TOUCHES CAUGHT BY THANKS
FOR BEING HERE. CHAIR BENNETT
FIRST WANT TO THANK THE MEMBER
KING AND FREEMAN FOR YOUR
EARLIER COMMENTS ON THE NEED TO
ADEQUATELY FUND ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION AND FOR
QUESTIONING OUR STATUS QUO
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND THE
MINIMUM WE SHOULD HOPE THE
LEGISLATURE RESTORES THE CUT TO
THE TPP, WHICH THE LEGISLATURE
APPROVED LAST YEAR. MOREOVER WE
SHOULD WE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL
, ONGOING AND CONSISTENT FROM
THE STATE HOWIE ACCOUNTS IN
ORDER TO MEET THE STATE POLICY
VOTE. BUT WE MUST DO MORE THAN
JUST A SINGLE FUNDING PROGRAM
FOR EVERY TRANSPORTATION 3% OF
OUR STREET CONTRIBUTION BUDGET
REQUESTED FEATURE PRIORITIZE
FUNDING FOR COMPLETE STREET
INFRASTRUCTURE BY THE FUNDS ARE
GOING TO HAVE A CAPACITY
EXTENSION PROPOSAL DRAMATIC
BECAUSE WE HAVE GAS EMISSIONS IN
THE PRAYER FOR PARADISE PRODUCTS
THAT THEY CAN HIRE MACHINES
PREDICTED BECOME THIS QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BLIND
10, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
AFTERNOON SHARE. BENNETT AND
MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN TODAY AND
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
FRIEDMAN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION
IMPACTS TO WILDLIFE AND NOT
BRING MAYBE 23 44. MY NAME IS
MARY GALLOWAY, THE CALIFORNIA
PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR WILD, UM,
NETWORK. MY FATHER WON T THREE
NONPROFIT, WHICH HELPED ORGANIZE
THE FINAL LETTER WITH ALMOST 100
ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORTIVE
ISSUES. SIX. WHICH PROVIDES
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
IN CALTRANS, WITH NEW POSITIONS
NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT LAST YEAR'S
PAST A B 23 44. THIS LEGISLATION
REQUIRED AGENCIES WORK TOGETHER
TO IDENTIFY AND IMMEDIATE
POTENTIAL WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY
BARRIERS ON THE STATE HIGHWAY
SYSTEM. CALIFORNIA'S EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE SAFETY FOR PEOPLE AND
WILDLIFE. THIS FEELS LIKE
COLLABORATION ACROSS THE STATE
TO PLAN AND CONSTRUCT WILDLIFE
CROSSINGS. BUT STATE AGENCIES
NEED ADEQUATE STAFFING TO ENSURE
THESE EFFORTS ARE SUCCESSFUL.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING TO APPROVE
THIS IMPORTANT SUPPOSED TODAY.
LINE. 28, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
AFTERNOON. DEAR BENNETT MEMBERS
AND OTHER LISTENERS AND JACK
MCCARTY, SENIOR TRANSPORTATION
ADVOCATE TO ENERGY C I IN
REGARDS TO ISSUES ONE AND TO THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC SECTOR HAS A
LONG AND STARTED LEGACY OF
DISINVESTING IN PUBLIC TRANSIT
IN CALIFORNIA, HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE A NEW PATH
THAT SHARES RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE STATEWIDE TRANSIT NETWORK
THE SAME WAY THAT STATE ONCE
COMMITTED TO BUILDING OUT AND
MAINTAINING THE STATE HIGHWAY
NETWORK. THERE'S MUCH COME WITH
INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY TO
TRANSIT AGENCIES BUT ALSO TO AND
FROM THE STATE WHOSE INVESTMENTS
IN ROAD AND HIGHWAY EXPANSION
DRAMATICALLY UNDERMINED THE
TRANSIT INDUSTRIES. FINANCIAL
STABILITY FOR 70 YEARS. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL
INCREASES CALTRANS FUNDING BY
FIVE BILLION YEAR OVER YEAR,
WHICH IS ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE
STATE TO USE FLEXIBLE FEDERAL
PLANS INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR.
80 PNTR RCP SPENDING AND COVER
THE TRANSIT OPERATIONS FISCAL
CLIFF GAP WITH EVEN WITH OTHER
EVEN MORE FLEXIBLE GENERAL
FUNDS, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE
SPENDING LEVELS LIKELY TO BE
SUSTAINED FOR THE NEXT 3.5 YEARS
OF FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE LAW
SUPPORT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND ATTENTION. CHAIR BENNETT.
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE IN THE
COMMENT. QUÊ. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. APPRECIATE IT, AND IT'S
BEEN A LONG TESTIMONY AND WE
WILL NOW ADJOURN. BUT WE HAVE A
LOT OF WORK TO DO AHEAD OF US.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.