Meeting_Body
REVISED
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
JUNE 15, 2017
Subject/Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
SUBJECT: STATE AND FEDERAL REPORT
RECEIVE AND FILE State and Federal Legislative Report.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Executive Management Committee
Remarks Prepared By Raffi Haig Hamparian
Government Relations Senior Director, Federal Affairs
Chairman Fasana and members of the Executive Management Committee, I am pleased to provide an update on a number of federal matters of interest to our agency. This report was prepared on June 1, 2017 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on June 15, 2017.
Trump Infrastructure Plan
President Trump has announced plans to make public, likely as early as this month, his plan to invest $1 trillion in America’s infrastructure. As shared previously with the Board last month, our agency has and will continue to work with the White House and Congressional stakeholders to ensure that our Board-approved priorities are reflected in any infrastructure plan advanced by the Trump Administration and then considered by the 115th Congress. We believe that with the passage of both Measures R and M, Metro is smartly positioned to benefit from most any infrastructure plan put forward by the Trump Administration and considered by Congress later this year.
Federal Budget for Fiscal Year 2018
Last month, the President’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2018 Federal Budget recommendations to Congress. Earlier this year, the OMB issued what was popularly known as a “skinny” budget - that offered a broad outline of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2018 priorities.
Unfortunately, the budget specified that the Administration is proposing to eliminate funding for the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant Program and the popular TIGER Grant Program. Metro has and will continue to work with our Congressional Delegation, Members of Congress, and stakeholders to build support to oppose cuts to these important programs. It should be noted that our CEO and the head of Sound Transit jointly issued a statement expressing their concern about the budget cuts and language in the budget that cited Los Angeles, Seattle and other cities - using them as examples of regions that have raised their own funds and advancing the rationale - flawed in our opinion - that these funds means that these regions no longer should rely on federal funds - especially with regard to transit projects.
Federal Grants for Fiscal Year 2017/2018
As we reported last month, we are continuing to await the Trump Administration’s decision as to how they will handle the FASTLANE Grant Program which was created as part of the freight focused funding section of the FAST Act. Metro’s FASTLANE grant applications were submitted prior to December 15, 2016 - consistent with the USDOT’s stated deadline. Because Congress did not appropriate a full year of funding for transportation projects and programs last year - this second round of FASTLANE grant funding was put on hold. Metro’s Government Relations team is continuing to work with our Planning Department to advocate for the applications that were submitted. We expect USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao to make a decision on FASTLANE grants in the coming weeks.
Most recently, the USDOT has announced a new federal funding opportunity - through the FTA - for $55 million in competitive grant funds through Low or No Emission (Low-No) Bus Program. According to the FTA, “the Low-No program supports projects sponsored by local transit agencies to bring advanced, American-made bus technologies such as battery electric power and hydrogen fuel cells into service nationwide.” We will, as we do with all federal grant opportunities, vigorously compete for these valuable federal funds.
Conclusion
Mr. Chairman - I look forward to expanding on this report at the Executive Management Committee meeting with any new developments that occur over the next several weeks.
Executive Management Committee
Remarks Prepared By Michael Turner
Deputy Executive Officer, Government Relations
Chairman Fasana and members of the Executive Management Committee, I am pleased to provide an update on a number of state matters of interest to our agency. This report was prepared on June 1, 2017 and will be updated, as appropriate, prior to the Executive Management Committee meeting on June 15, 2017.
California State Legislative Process Update
June 2, 2017 is the last day for any bills to pass out of their house of origin. The Senate Floor and Assembly heard and voted on legislation that had previously been approved in the respective policy committees. The Assembly heard and voted on over 450 bills this week. The Senate heard and dispensed of over 250 bills. Metro’s advocacy team and staff are working closely with members to communicate Metro’s Board Directed positions to authors and other members of the Los Angeles County State Legislative delegation as they decide on the fate of proposed legislation. Metro staff have been also continued to track amendments to legislation that is continuing to move forward to identify any issues that could affect the agency.
Key State Budget Issues
The California Transportation Commission is currently considering Draft Guidelines for implementing Senate Bill 1 (Beall). The guidelines will serve to communicate the State’s programmatic and funding priorities for the funding that will become available under SB 1. Funding will be allocated through a combination of formula and discretionary programs. Cities are eligible to receive a large share of funding for the repair of local streets and roads. Metro will be participating in the draft guideline discussions to ensure that the agency’s priorities for funding for transit, goods movement, highways, and active transportation are included in each phase of implementation. The CTC is hosting workshops to kick-off the stakeholder process for the guideline development for implementing the measure. Public-private partnership discussions are underway. Stakeholders have voiced their support for extending the authorization for Caltrans to utilize the P3 method to deliver highway projects; however strong opposition from the Professional Engineers in California Government continues.
California State Senate Approves SB 268 (Mendoza) Metro Board Restructuring Bill on Senate Floor
On May 31, 2017, Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) presented Senate Bill 268 on the Senate Floor for consideration. The bill was approved by a vote of 22-11. A number of Senators testified in support of the measure, stressing the importance of balanced representation in the Metro Board due to LA County’s size. The Senator continued to offer additional amendments to resolve issues with the current bill language. Metro’s Board of Directors voted on May 24, 2017 to formally oppose the measure. Staff will continue to keep the Board apprised of advocacy efforts to defeat the bill as it moves through the legislative process. The bill now moves forward for consideration in the Assembly policy committees.
California State Assembly Approves a number of Metro Supported Bills
Assembly Bill 17 (Holden), a bill that would establish a student transit pass program passed on the Assembly Floor. The bill now moves forward for consideration in the Senate. Metro’s Board of Directors formally voted to support the legislation on March 23, 2017.
Assembly Bill 695 (Bocanegra), a bill that would establish safety standards for on-track rail maintenance equipment passed on the Assembly Floor. The bill now moves forward for consideration in the Senate. Metro’s Board of Directors formally voted to support the legislation on April 27, 2017.
Staff will continue to communicate the Board’s formally adopted positions on legislation as it moves through the legislative process.
Conclusion
We will expand on this brief report at the Executive Management Committee meeting with any new developments that occur in the weeks ahead.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - June 2017 - Legislative Matrix
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Michael Turner, DEO, Government Relations, (213) 922-2122
Raffi Hamparian, Director, Government Relations, (213) 922-3769
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Pauletta Tonilas, Chief Communications Officer, (213) 922-3777
