Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
JUNE 16, 2016
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: STATE AND FEDERAL REPORT
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE State and Federal Report.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Executive Management Committee
Remarks Prepared By Raffi Haig Hamparian
Government Relations Director, Federal Affairs
Chairman Ridley-Thomas and members of the Executive Management Committee, I am pleased to provide an update on a number of federal affairs of interest to our agency. This report was prepared on June 3, 2016 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting.
Federal Grants for Fiscal Year 2016
I am pleased to share with you that Metro is pursuing a number of grants authorized by the FAST Act and/or backed by the Federal Fiscal Year 2016 transportation appropriations bill adopted by the U.S. Congress late last year. As I shared with the Board last month, Metro has submitted applications for the FASTLANE Grant program and TIGER Grant program to the U.S. Department of Transportation for their consideration. The projects submitted by our agency for these grants were outlined in a Board Box issued by our Chief Executive Officer in March.
Metro’s Government Relations team will continue to actively seek Congressional support for our grant applications.
Federal Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2017
Most recently, the U.S. Senate moved this May to approve the Federal Fiscal Year 2017 Transportation - HUD Appropriations Bill. We are pleased that the bill - as drafted - includes robust funding for Metro’s New Starts projects. Specifically, the bill provides $100 million for the Regional Connector, $100 million for the Purple Lines Extension Phase 1, and lastly the bill states that $250 million will be available for California’s three New Starts projects that are awaiting Full Funding Grant Agreements.
Over in the U.S. House or Representatives, the FY2017 Transportation-HUD Bill has been advanced through the Appropriations Committee and is waiting to be considered on the full floor of the House. Included in the House THUD bill is $100 million for the Regional Connector, $100 million for Purple Line Extension Phase 1, and $100 million for Purple Line Extension Section 2. The House bill diverged, albeit slightly, from the Senate bill by specifically assigning the full funding amount for Westside Purple Line Extension Section 2. We will continue to work closely with our Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation as the Federal Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations process develops.
Federal Regulations
We continue to work with our colleagues in the planning department by commenting on federal rules and regulations being issued by the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, among other agencies. Our comments on federal rules and regulation are governed and guided by the policies outlined in our Board-approved 2016 Federal Legislative Program.
I look forward to expanding on this brief report at the Executive Management Committee meeting with any new developments that occur in the days ahead.
This concludes my remarks before the committee. I would welcome the opportunity to answer any questions from you Mr. Chairman or from members of this committee.
Executive Management Committee
Remarks Prepared By Michael Turner
DEO, Government Relations, State Affairs
Chairman Ridley-Thomas and members of the Executive Management Committee, I am pleased to provide an update on a number of state affairs of interest to our agency. This report was prepared on June 3, 2016 and will be updated, as appropriate, at the Executive Management Committee meeting.
California State Legislative Budget Committees Consider Transportation and Cap and Trade Proposals
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee voted to deny the Governor's transportation funding proposal without prejudice. The effect of this is to force the consideration of the Governor's transportation funding proposal in the policy committee process, along with Senator Transportation and Housing Committee Chairman Beall's comprehensive bill (SB 1X1) in the Senate and Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman Frazier's comprehensive bill (AB 1591) in the Assembly. Chairman Frazier has indicated that he will soon introduce an amended version of his transportation funding proposal.
The committee also voted to approve a cap and trade expenditure plan revised in small ways from the Governor's budget proposal. The amount remains $3.1 billion. This includes significant funds not appropriated in the 2015-16 session. The subcommittee proposal:
• Switches the $100million proposed "low carbon road program" to active transportation;
• Moves $30 million from the Dept. of Community Services and Development Energy Efficiency and Weatherization program to the Enhanced Fleet Modernization Program; and
• Dedicates some of the $400 million Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program to certain unnamed grade separation projects.
The Budget Bill must be passed by midnight on June 15.
California Appropriations Committees Act on the Suspense File, Senate and Assembly Floor Actions Update
California State Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees met to address a number of bills that were held on suspense. After a lengthy Appropriations Committee hearing process, the Senate considered nearly 200 bills and the Assembly heard over 300 bills earlier this week as a final step before bills move to the opposite house for consideration.
Bills that were held in Appropriations Committees include: SB 951 (McGuire) which would establish a transit pass program for veterans, AB 2742 (Nazarian) which would extend the authorization to use Public Private Partnerships in California to the year 2030, and AB 2014 (Melendez) which would require Caltrans and the Department of Finance to regularly report certain data on the Freeway Service Patrol Program.
At the Senate Floor Hearing on Thursday, June 2nd, Senator Tony Mendoza requested to move SB 1472 to the Senate Inactive File. The bill was recently amended in the Senate Appropriations Committee to add 8 seats to Metro’s Board of Directors.
The Senate Floor voted 25-9 to move SB 824 (Beall) which would make changes to transit agencies ability to apply funds to operations and programs with more flexibility under the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program. The bill moves on to the Assembly for consideration.
The Assembly Floor moved AB 2222 (Holden) which would authorize the use of cap and trade funds to subsidize student transit passes for low-income students. The bill moves on to the Senate for consideration.
California State Legislative Calendar Update
July 1 is the last day for policy committees to meet and report bills, Summer Recess begins upon adjournment provided the Budget Bill has been passed.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - June 2016 - 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
