TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: 2025 Federal and State Advocacy Programs
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider the adoption of AC Transit’s 2025 Federal and State Advocacy Programs.
Staff Contact:
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Strong Public and Policymaker Support
Initiative - Financial Efficiency and Revenue Maximization
The annual state and federal advocacy programs help the District track regional, state and federal legislation to ensure alignment with the District’s Strategic Plan and the specific goal of having strong public and policymaker support. Policy decisions at all levels of government can positively or negatively affect District operations and as such are important to track and influence as needed.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary or fiscal impact associated with this report.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Each year the AC Transit Board of Directors adopts advocacy programs to provide guidance for the District’s activities in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, CA to influence transit legislation, appropriations, and administrative matters at the state and federal levels. The attached draft programs for 2025 address ongoing efforts as well as developing issues for the coming year. The Legislative and Community Affairs Department solicited input from agency staff and executives to develop the attached federal and state advocacy programs. The draft program was presented to the General Manager’s Access Committee (GMAC) on September 10, 2024. Draft programs were also distributed to external advocacy groups and the District’s public transit and funding partners to solicit feedback. Staff recommends minor additions and modifications to the programs as they were overhauled and streamlined in 2024, to ensure the strategic documents provide the District greater flexibility in pursuing its policy and funding goals.
At the October 23, 2024, Board meeting, the Board was presented with the draft 2025 Federal and State Advocacy Programs. Individual Board members expressed interest in the following items being added to the 2025 State Advocacy Program.
• Support efforts to improve street safety to reduce traffic fatalities (Walsh)
• Funding for paratransit, including non-medical transportation (Shaw)
• Advocate for new and existing funding streams to support the District’s needs (McCalley)
• Reforms to the State Transportation Development Act and State Transit Assistance program (McCalley)
• Funding for BART feeder service (Syed)
• Deferral of the Innovative Clean Transportation regulation due date (Syed)
The Board can either adopt the program as presented by staff or vote to include the additional item(s). Should the Board vote to include the additional item(s), staff would incorporate the additions after Board approval.
The legislative calendars in the programs reflect projected dates and are not final. Completed calendars are expected by December 2024.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
This report is provided to recommend areas of emphasis to guide federal and state advocacy efforts.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
This report is provided based on the District’s current priorities. The Board may vote to include additional items as areas of emphasis.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Staff Report 24-535, Draft 2025 Federal and State Advocacy Programs
ATTACHMENTS:
1. FINAL DRAFT 2025 Federal Advocacy Program
2. FINAL DRAFT 2025 State Advocacy Program
3. Adopted 2024 Federal Advocacy Program
4. Adopted 2024 State Advocacy Program
Prepared by:
Maria Henderson, External Affairs Representative
Approved/Reviewed by:
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Aimee Steele, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer