TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Monthly Legislative Report
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving the Monthly Legislative Report and approve legislative positions, if necessary.
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 Monthly Legislative Report helps the District track state, regional 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 revenues 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:
Federal Update
An agreement has been reached on a continuing resolution to fund the federal government for three months and averting a government shut down on October 1. Under the continuing resolution, federal agencies are funded at current levels. Final decisions on the spending bills are now on hold until after the election.
State Update
The Legislature has wrapped up the 2024 legislative session. Bills that advanced to the Governor’s desk needed to be decided upon by the Governor no later than September 30th . Attachment 3 contains details regarding the outcome of bills which the Board had acted on with a support, oppose, or watch position.
Regional Transportation Revenue Measure Update
Included as Attachment 6 to this report is the presentation from the September 23 Transportation Revenue Measure Select Committee which contains two scenarios, “Scenario 1” and the “Hybrid Scenario.” These are the same scenarios that were presented to the Board during the September 25 Board meeting. Since that date, and as of the writing of this staff report (10/9/24), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission has not released any new scenarios.
Under the scenarios discussed at the September 25th Board meeting, AC Transit’s allocations are proposed as follows:
Scenario 1
• Years 1-8: $31M/Yr
• Years 9-15: $29M/Yr
Hybrid Scenario
• Years 1-8: $54M/Yr
• Years 9-15: $39M/Yr
The next meeting of the Revenue Measure Executive Group is scheduled for October 17 and the next meeting of the Select Committee is scheduled for October 21. New proposals are expected to be released by MTC on October 14 or 15.
Given the lack of consensus at the September 23 Transportation Revenue Measure Select Committee meeting, and in an effort to maintain the viability of a future revenue measure, SFMTA has allocated their own staff resources to put together an alternate “operator” proposal to be presented at the October 21 select committee meeting as the “Bay Area Transit Regional Funding Framework.” Attachment 7 contains the details of the Bay Area Transit Regional Funding Framework.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
Ensuring favorable legislation is adopted by policymakers helps further the District’s goal of having strong public and policymaker support. In addition, providing input to the MTC staff, the Executive Group and the Select Committee will maximize the likelihood that a potential regional funding measure will be as helpful as possible to AC Transit.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
No alternatives were considered as this report provides an update of monthly legislative activities.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Staff Report No. 23-420a: Adopted 2024 Federal and State Advocacy Programs
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Federal Update
2. State Update
3. Matrix of State Legislation
4. 2024 Federal Advocacy Program
5. 2024 State Advocacy Program
6. MTC Select Committee Scenarios 9/23/24
7. Bay Area Transit Operators Partnership Funding Framework
Prepared by:
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs and Community Relations
Approved/Reviewed by:
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Click to selectAimee Steele, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer
Michael A. Hursh, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer