The State of Transit, Walking and Biking in the Governor's Proposed Budget
Governor Brown recently released his proposed 2012/13 budget. Below is a summary of key items from the budget proposal related to TransForm’s legislative agenda.
Cap and Trade Revenues Best Hope in 2012 for Expanded Transit Funding
For 2012, the mechanism that appears to hold the greatest potential for bringing significant new dollars to transit is the nascent Cap and Trade Program developed by the Air Resources Board under AB 32 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Initial estimates are that the program could bring in up to $1 billion the first year and then ultimately many billions of dollars each year over time as the program expands.
In his recently released 2012/13 state budget, Governor Brown proposes allocating cap-and-trade revenues to: clean and efficient energy programs; natural resource protection; low-carbon transportation, including transit; and sustainable infrastructure development, including transportation and housing.
TransForm applauds the governor’s proposal. The only way to guarantee lower GHG emissions from the transportation sector is to reduce overall driving -- and that means giving people real travel options and linking mixed income housing and other development with enhanced transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities. As the reduction of GHG emissions from the land use and transportation sector demands long-term investments in expanded and improved transit, housing and other major infrastructure, TransForm agrees with the governor that these types of investments should be a priority in the allocation of cap-and-trade revenues.
We are working aggressively in the capitol to ensure that transit receives its fair share of funding from the cap and trade revenues.
Governor Projects Small Increase in State Transit Assistance and More Bond Funds for Transit in 2012/13
Governor Brown’s 2012/13 budget proposal shows State Transit Assistance (STA) funding for local transit agencies, derived from the sales tax levied on diesel fuel, as being projected to increase from about $400 million for fiscal year 2011/12 to a little more than $420 million for 2012/13.
This should provide a small amount of additional operations and maintenance support for agencies that are extremely cash-starved after many years of cutbacks. But this small uptick won’t make a dent in restoring the billions in transit cuts over the last decade and will not help transit agencies meet increased demand.
With regard to Prop 1A and 1B bond funds approved by the voters and available for transit, the governor is proposing potentially significant increases for the 2012/13 cycle. Unfortunately, these monies are not available for most operations and maintenance expenses, the most acute need.
Governor Proposes More Funds for Bike and Ped Facilities; Much More Needed
The governor proposes a significant increase in funding for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, from approximately $7.2 million dollars in 2011/12 to almost $12 million in 2012/13. While we appreciate that the percentage increase is significant, the actual dollar amounts being proposed are still woefully inadequate to the need. And the governor has not justified why his budget proposal leaves unspent an additional $5 million in reserves that is currently sitting in the Bicycle Transportation Account.
As more Californians are walking and biking, there is a huge demand across the state for improved sidewalks and bike lanes. There is also a huge safety need for these improvements: pedestrians and bicyclists are injured and killed at higher rates per accident than automobile drivers.
Investments in bike lanes and sidewalks are the most cost-effective transportation improvements. They are relatively inexpensive (compared to other types of transportation investments) and they provide tremendous positive returns: improved safety, better public health, and even higher property values.
TransForm is working to get all available funds allocated to bicycle and pedestrian investments in this budget cycle and also to set up year-over-year increases in allocations to speed up the transformation of local streets and roads across California to accommodate all users.
CA Transportation Commission Releases "Needs Assessment" - $142 Billion Needed to Preserve Transit for Next Decade
The California Transportation Commission recently released a Statewide Transportation Needs Assessment and the findings are sobering to say the least. Public transportation is facing a whopping $142 billion in repairs and maintenance over the next 10 years - but revenues are projected to fall far short of the need.
Increased funds are necessary to ensure that transit agencies can fully cover their costs going forward -- most urgently for operations and maintenance but also for targeted expansions to meet increased demand. It is going to take a series of challenging, major policy reforms to ensure that transit funding is fully adequate to meet the need in California for the next many decades.
Invest in Transit is a statewide campaign targeted at California's leaders to make public transportation fast, frequent and affordable. It was launched in response to crippling shortfalls for public transportation, continued state funding cuts, and a recognition that our economy, environment, and quality of life truly ride on whether or not we invest in transit now. Since 2000, billions of dollars in state transit funding have been redirected to help balance the state budget.
Invest in Transit seeks to show our leaders that individuals, businesses, and organizations across the state want to get public transportation back on track. Please sign the campaign petition today to show your support for fully funding California's transit systems.
Get More Involved
TransForm's Sacramento office is busy with activity as we ramp up our efforts to convince state leaders to support significant policy reforms to fully fund transit. Visit our Invest in Transit campaign site or contact our State Policy Director, Graham Brownstein, for more information.
