TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: 2023 Federal and State Advocacy Programs
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider the adoption of AC Transit’s 2023 Federal and State Advocacy Programs.
Staff Contact:
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Strong Public and Policymaker Support
Initiative - Financial Efficiency and Revenue Maximization
The annual federal and state advocacy programs help 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, 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 to influence transit legislation, appropriations, and administrative matters at the state and federal levels. The attached draft programs for 2023 address on-going efforts as well as developing issues for the coming year.
Staff solicited input to develop the attached federal and state advocacy programs from staff and executives. The draft programs were presented to the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) on September 13, 2022. Draft programs were also distributed to advocacy groups and the District’s planning and funding partners to solicit feedback.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The Board was presented with the draft 2023 Federal and State Advocacy Programs on October 26th, and amendments were suggested to the State Advocacy Program. These amendments are underlined below.
1. Item #5 in the Transportation Related Advocacy focus area was updated to read, “Seek to coordinate, integrate and streamline public transit in the region.”
2. Item #16 under Transportation Related Advocacy was updated to read, “Facilitate new mobility collaborations, ‘smart cities’ initiatives, first/last mile solutions, and data sharing agreements that reduce reliance on personal vehicles and promote increased public transit ridership.”
3. For Item #17, also in the Transportation Related Advocacy focus area, the term “new mobility providers” was replaced with “transportation network companies.” It now reads, “Require transportation network companies (TNCs) to help fund local public transportation.”
4. Lastly, a new Item #12 was added to the Funding focus area, which reads, “Efforts that seek to coordinate, integrate and streamline public transit in the region.”
The attached draft programs reflect all feedback received to date and are proposed as final drafts for Board approval.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
This report is being provided to recommend areas of emphasis to guide federal and state advocacy efforts.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
This report is being provided based on the District's current priorities.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report 22-466 Draft 2023 Federal and State Advocacy Programs
2. Staff Report 21-541 2022 Federal and State Legislative Advocacy Programs
Prepared by:
Steven Jones, External Affairs Representative
Approved/Reviewed by:
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications