State Transportation Funding

Public Transportation Across California Suffers After Years of Stolen Funding

Since 2000, billions of dollars in state public transportation funds have been redirected for other uses through the state budget process. Today, there is a crisis in public transportation funding that ripples across California.

The 2009-2010 state budget reached a new low when the State Legislature and Governor eliminated the State Transit Assistance (STA) fund entirely. STA funds are the only source of state funding for public transportation operations, which help agencies pay for the fuel, maintenance, and workers needed to operate our trains, buses, and ferries.

Now, public transportation service is being cut and fares raised across the state. As less people can rely on public transportation to get to work and other places, more are turning to their cars. This is a top reason that regions do not believe they will be able to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets.

A Ray of Hope in the Courts

The California State Supreme Court recently upheld a state appeals court's opinion that the previous year's raids on public transportation funds were illegal and needed to be repaid.

But our anti-transit Governor has proposed a way of thwarting the Court: simply eliminating the source of state funds for public transportation and local road repairs, the 6% sales tax on gas.

Enough is Enough: We're Fighting Back for State Public Transportation Funds

With our new Sacramento satellite office as our base, TransForm is building a movement to get state funding for public transportation restored, permanently protected and eventually increased.

We can't win world-class public transportation in California without it.

Get Involved

Have questions or want to to join our movement for state public transportation funding as either an individual or organization? Contact Nick Caston, TransForm's State Transportation Advocate.