Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MARCH 16, 2017
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: STATE AND FEDERAL REPORT
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE State and Federal Legislative Report.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Executive Management Committee
Remarks Prepared By Raffi Haig Hamparian
Government Relations 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 February 22, 2017 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on March 16, 2017.
Trump Infrastructure Plan
Metro is working 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. This work will continue to evolve as the Trump Administration and Congress begin to engage on infrastructure plans this spring. With the passage of both Measure R and M, Metro is smartly positioned to benefit from most any infrastructure plan put forward by the Trump Administration.
Federal Budget for Fiscal Year 2018
As of the writing of this report, the Trump Administration is expected to issue a rough outline of its Fiscal Year 2018 Budget on March 13, 2017. A more detailed version of the budget is expected to be released in late April or May - which will include detailed information on the federal transportation programs that will be funded and also what amount the Trump Administration is going to recommend for our New Starts projects. We will be vigilant in carefully following this budget process to ensure that our Board-approved Federal Legislative program is advanced by this document.
Federal Grants for Fiscal Year 2017
As reported last month - Metro looks forward to aggressively seeking federal transportation grants - as authorized under the FAST Act.
Late last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the second round of 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 will continue to work with our Planning Department to advocate for the applications that were submitted. The USDOT’s announcement of FASTLANE grant awards will be made by our nation’s new USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao, who was confirmed on January 31st. At this time there is no indication of when this grant will be announced.
Federal Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2017
As Federal Fiscal Year 2016 came to a close on September 30th, Congress was unable to agree on passing a full year funding bill and instead approved a short term Continuing Resolution that will fund the Federal Government at Fiscal Year 2016 levels until April 28, 2017.
We continue to work with staffers for both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to make sure the final federal spending bill includes $100 million for the Regional Connector, $100 million for Purple Line Extension (Segment 1), and $100 million for Purple Line Extension (Section 2). The Appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2018 is not expected to begin until May of 2017, after Fiscal Year 2017 funding is completed for the remainder of the Federal Fiscal Year.
Conclusion
We will expand on this brief report at the Executive Management Committee meeting with any new developments that occur in the days ahead.
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 February 22, 2017 and will be updated, as appropriate, prior to the Executive Management Committee meeting on March 16, 2017.
California State Legislature Reviews Bill Introductions in 2017-2018 Legislative Session
The deadline for bill introductions for the California State Legislature was Friday, February 17, 2017. At the close of the bill introduction deadline, there have been 1,687 Assembly Bills introduced and 808 Senate Bills introduced (for a total of 2,495 bills). This is nearly 200 measures above the normal for the first year of the 2-year session. Staff is reviewing the proposed legislation for potential impacts to Metro programs and projects and will keep the Board apprised through the legislative session as bills move through the legislative process. A number of measures will be brought forward for consideration to the Executive Management Committee this month.
Senator Mendoza Introduces Spot Bill
Senator Mendoza (D-32) has introduced Senate Bill 268, a spot bill, which makes non-substantive changes to the statute that establishes the membership of Metro’s Board of Directors. We believe that this bill has been introduced, and will be amended to include language that could re-structure Metro’s Board of Directors. Senator Mendoza was previously unsuccessful in passing legislation in the 2015-2016 Legislative Session. Staff will continue to monitor this bill as it moves through the legislative process.
CalSTA Submits List of State's Priority Infrastructure Projects to the National Governor's Association
In February, Governor Jerry Brown submitted the State’s list of priority projects to the National Governor’s Association for inclusion in the national priority list for President Trump’s potential infrastructure spending package. The final list features priority projects that Metro submitted in response to Secretary Brian Kelly’s request for projects. Several of Metro’s top priority projects were featured in the final list. Projects included in the list included highway and bridge, rail and transit, emergency response, water and flood control, and military projects. Of the list of projects that were submitted, Metro’s priority projects included the I-710 corridor, rail expansion for the Purple Line, Airport Metro Connector, Orange Line BRT, Metro fleet replacement and modernization, and Southern California improvements for High Speed Rail. Among the projects are also two projects related to the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles. The letter and list of projects that were submitted to the National Governor’s Association highlight more than $100 billion in potential investment statewide.
Governor Brown Issues Assignment for Legislature before Spring Recess
Governor Jerry Brown has implored the legislature to act on a Transportation funding proposal prior to the April 6, 2017 Spring Recess. A number of transportation funding proposals are moving through each house of the legislature for consideration. Metro has submitted letters to the authors of Senate Bill 1 and Assembly Bill 1, communicating Metro’s Board of Director’s priorities for increased and sustainable funding for transit, a package of policy reforms and a renewed commitment to highway maintenance and capital projects.
Progress on Metro Related Legislation
We are pleased to report that Metro’s advocacy team continues to make progress to advance key transportation legislation. AB 28 (Frazier), which would extend the authority for Caltrans to act on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration, continues to move through the legislative process. Metro’s team is working closely with Chairman Frazier to move this bill as expeditiously as possible. Additionally, SB 1 (Beall), which would provide significant funding for transportation projects and services, has passed the first of 3 policy committees.
Conclusion
We will expand on this brief report at the Executive Management Committee meeting with any new developments that occur in the days ahead.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - March 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
