CalACT | California Association for Coordinated Transportation

• Support local efforts to increase revenue for public transportation.

State Issues:

• Funding:
  1. Protect existing transit and paratransit funding.
     • Oppose the transfer of Public Transportation Account (PTA) funds to the General Fund, and the expenditure of PTA funds for purposes other than public transit.
     • Oppose the use of bond funds to supplant PTA capital funds.
     • Support the appropriation of PTA, State Transit Assistance (STA) and Spillover funds pursuant to existing law for the operation of urban and rural transit systems.
  2. Continue support for protection of Proposition 42 funding.
  3. Support restoration of and a statutory firewall for the Spillover Account funds for public transportation.
  4. Support legislation that provides correlating operating funds to accompany bond capital purchases.
  5. Sponsor and/or support legislation that creates additional state funding for public transportation for all users.
  6. Ensure that the final regulations for Proposition 1 B implementation allows the use of bond funds for the purchase of the entire range of public transit vehicles, including paratransit vehicles that may have a life of two years and are necessary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. At a minimum, bond requirements should meet FTA standards for vehicle purchases. Ensure that Prop 1 B Implementation guarantees a minimum of $50,000 each for small rural counties.
  7. Support funding for transit equipment and operations for security and emergency planning and adequate reimbursement for disaster operations and assistance.
• Coordination:
  1. Support the use of Medi-Cal funds as reimbursement for transit passes and for reimbursable non-emergency transportation by MediCal recipients.
  2. Advocate for MediCal policies that promote the use of transit/paratransit as Medicaid providers and reimbursement for transportation costs at an equivalent rate to private providers for paratransit trips.
  3. Advocate for coordination among human service, social service, school and public transportation funding and programs.
  4. Support legislation that creates an interagency statewide task force to coordinate various funding sources for transportation including schools, human services and others.
  5. Encourage legislation to require private transportation providers improve accessibility to match public transit standards.
• Fight Global Warming and Reduce Greenhouse Gases
  1. Support legislation that increases transit funding that will allow them to purchase alternative fuel vehicles and reduce green house gases. Examples of fees are:
     • User fees for single cars on public highways, such as vehicle miles traveled or fuel fees
     • Creation of High Occupancy Toll Lanes
  2. Support legislation that provides tax incentives for people who use public transit instead of a personal vehicle.
• Operations:
  1. Protect the availability of free flowing HOV lanes for public transit and paratransit vehicles.
  2. Support efforts to mitigate sudden changes in costs for energy, insurance and meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
  3. Monitor changes and improvements to regulations for transit, paratransit and van operations.
  4. Support efforts to identify, prevent and eliminate service gaps in intercity/interregional transit services that shall include supporting measures that provide services to the public they have paid for.
• Other:
  1. Ensure First Responders include public and paratransit operators in Emergency Evacuation planning efforts and ensure avenues for receipt of disaster assistance reimbursement.
  2. Monitor regulatory and legal issues and advocate on behalf of members to overcome interpretations that hinder service delivery, coordination and funding.

Federal Issues:

• Develop a legislative platform for the 2009 Reauthorization of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act, A Legacy for Users (SAFETEALU).
• Promote legislation and policies that support coordination between all federal agencies. Coordination includes blending or co-mingling of funding sources to support transportation.
• Advocate for Medicaid policies that promote the use of transit as Medicaid providers and
• reimbursement for transportation costs at an equivalent rate to private providers for paratransit trips.
• Amend the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board guidelines to adjust the standard for slope on low floor, ramp-equipped vehicles for non-curbed street use. Encourage federal guidelines to improve usability of low floor bus ramps in all terrains without curbs.
• Oppose any changes in Department of Transportation (DOT) American’s with Disabilities (ADA) regulations or interpretations without full public notice and comment.
• Support legislation that provides tax incentives for people who use public transit instead of a personal vehicle.