BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2796
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 27, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2796 (Bloom) - As Amended April 4, 2016
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Policy |Transportation |Vote:|16 - 0 |
|Committee: | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires, for the Active Transportation Program (ATP),
that a minimum amount of funding be set aside for planning and
non- infrastructure activities. Specifically, this bill:
AB 2796
Page 2
1)Requires a minimum 5% of funding from the statewide, small
urban and rural, and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
programs within ATP be allocated for planning and community
engagement for active transportation in disadvantaged
communities.
2)Requires a minimum 10% of the total funding available for ATP
be programmed for non-infrastructure activities, including
activities relating to Safe Routes to School.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Based on current program funding levels, this bill earmarks in
statute at least $6 million of total ATP funds for planning and
community engagement and $12 million for non-infrastructure
activities. (CTC's current program guidelines set aside 2% of
funds for planning.)
COMMENTS:
1)Background. The ATP was created by SB 99 (Committee on Budget
and Fiscal Review), Chapter 359, Statutes of 2013, by
consolidating existing federal and state programs and funding,
including the federal Transportation Alternatives Program, the
state Bicycle Transportation Account, and the federal and
state Safe Routes to School programs. AB 101 (Assembly Budget
Committee), Chapter 354, Statutes of 2013, amended the 2013
Budget Act to in part appropriate $129.4 million for the ATP.
There are three programs within the ATP for distribution of
available funds:
AB 2796
Page 3
a) 50% for statewide competitive program awarded by the
California Transportation Commission (CTC);
b) 10% for projects in small urban and rural areas, awarded
by the CTC; and,
c) 40% for projects determined by MPOs with over 200,000 in
population, and distributed to MPOs based on their relative
population.
No less than 25% of programs funds are to benefit
disadvantaged communities.
2)Purpose. According to the author, AB 2796 is intended to
address the competitive disadvantage within the ATP of
planning and non-infrastructure projects relative to
infrastructure projects. The author believes that the
importance of non-infrastructure and planning projects in
educating and encouraging biking and walking has been
overlooked. The author is attempting to reflect the volume of
applications for these activities in the minimum percentage
amounts for non-infrastructure and planning activities.
Further, the author adds that by establishing a specific
set-aside, more communities will be encouraged to apply for
grants.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 2796
Page 4