Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 15, 2018
Subject
SUBJECT: STATE AND FEDERAL REPORT
Action
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 Senior Director, Federal Affairs
Chair Garcetti 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 January 30, 2018 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on February 15, 2018. Status of relevant pending Federal legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix, which is updated monthly.
Trump Infrastructure Plan
It is our understanding that President Trump will, later this evening, provide a broad outline of his infrastructure plan in his State of the Union address. Full details of the Trump Administration’s infrastructure plan are set to be unveiled over the next several weeks. Last month a “leaked” draft of the plan was reported in the news that described a proposal that aims to leverage a portion of federal funding for infrastructure projects by incentivizing a greater local and state contribution to the project’s total funding. With regards to funding the plan, White House officials have suggested that nothing is off the table in terms of generating new revenue sources, but some current funding could be re-purposed to pay for some of the Administration’s legislative proposals. It will be important for Metro to ensure that funding for the current grant programs that help fund new transit projects are fully protected in any new infrastructure plan issued by the Trump Administration and later considered by the 115th Congress.
Federal Budget for Fiscal Year 2018
Congress approved a Continuing Resolution to fund the Government at Fiscal Year 2017 levels through February 8, 2018. We are working very closely with leaders in both the House and Senate to ensure that any final transportation appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2018 reflects our Board-approved Federal Legislative priorities.
White House Budget Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2019
The White House is expected to submit their annual budget recommendation for FY19 to Congress on February 12th. It is likely that the budget will again cut funding for new transit projects through the FTA’s Capital Investment Grant Program. It is unclear if the White House will recommend any new proposals to replace the eliminated funding for new transit projects.
Federal Grants for Fiscal Year 2017/2018
As we noted to Board members late last year, Metro has applied for a number of major grants this year - including an INFRA grant and a Bus and Bus Facilities grant. We will - as we always do - engage a broad array of stakeholders to ensure that our grant applications have the best opportunity of being approved by the USDOT.
Conclusion
Chair Garcetti - 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
Chair Garcetti 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 January 31, 2018 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting on February 15, 2018. Status of relevant pending State legislation is monitored on the Metro Government Relations Legislative Matrix <http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DB_Attachments/3%20-%20March%202018%20Legislative%20Matrix.pdf>, which is updated monthly.
California State Legislative Process Update
The deadline for members of the Assembly and Senate to introduce legislation is on February 16, 2018. From January 3, 2018 through January 31, 2018, the Assembly introduced 251 new bills while the Senate introduced 154 new bills. Staff is currently reviewing the legislation for potential impacts to Metro’s projects and programs. At the Regular Board Meeting in January, the Board of Directors approved Metro’s 2018 State Legislative Program, which outlines Metro’s Board legislative priorities for the year.
California Governor Jerry Brown Delivers Final State of the State Address
Marking his last year in office, Governor Brown delivered the State of the State address on Tuesday, January 23rd. In the address he touted his achievements related to the growing budget surplus and bi-partisan agreement on legislation that extended the State’s Cap-and-Trade program and addressed pension reform. In his speech he stressed the need for “greater public and private investment” to ensure that technology and innovation keeps up with the growing population of the State of California, now over 40 million. California remains the leader in the fight against climate change; Governor Brown noted that California has the nation’s most efficient cap-and-trade system and that he will be convening a UN sponsored climate summit in San Francisco. The Governor also stressed the importance of improving mobility and preserving the funding that was approved under Senate Bill 1 (Beall). The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to High Speed Rail, adding that “Another billion, with matching funds, will be invested in Los Angeles to improve Union Station as a major transportation hub…”
Senate Bill 1 Formula and Discretionary Funding Update
On January 25, 2018, the California Transportation Commission considered regional plans for programming for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) which funds state highway improvements, intercity rail and regional highway and transit improvements. Staff testified in person at the hearing to present Metro’s plans for the funding which includes investments for bus acquisition, East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor, SR-71 freeway conversion and programming for SR-138 improvements. The CTC will be considering a number of grants in the coming weeks for investments in their discretionary grant programs for highway, congested corridor, local partnership and trade corridor programs.
California Senate Bill 1 Support Update
The broad coalition of supporters of Senate Bill 1 has initiated a pro-Senate Bill 1 effort in response to the repeal initiatives. California State Leadership, including the Governor and the State’s Fix Our Roads Coalition, and labor have hosted press conferences around the State communicating the benefits of Senate Bill 1 and highlighting local needs, projects and programs to be funded under the transportation funding mechanisms outlined in the legislation.
Conclusion
We will expand on this brief report at the Executive Management Committee meeting with any new developments that occur in the days ahead.
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Michael Turner, DEO, Government Relations, (213) 922-2122
Raffi Hamparian, Senior Director, Government Relations, (213) 922-3769
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Pauletta Tonilas, Chief Communications Officer, (213) 922-3777
