TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: Monthly Legislative Report
BRIEFING ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving the Monthly Legislative Report.
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 policy maker 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
On November 5, the House approved the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) which was subsequently signed into law by the President on November 15. The roughly $1.2 trillion package includes $550 billion in new spending for roads, bridges, transit, water, and other "hard" infrastructure. The five-year spending package will be paid for by tapping $210 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief aid and $53 billion in unemployment insurance aid that some states have halted, along with funding from various other smaller pots of money.
AC Transit stands to benefit from:
* A 30% increase in Urbanized Area Formula Funding for transit capital and operating assistance which will make $1.5 billion available to Bay Area transit.
* An increase in the Low/No Emission Vehicle grant program from $55 million per year to $1.12 billion per year - an astonishing 1,936% annual increase. This competitive program provides funding for the purchase of zero-emission buses as well as acquisition, construction, and leasing of the facilities that support them.
* An expanded Bus & Bus Facility Grants Program that ...
Click here for full text