BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 231
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Date of Hearing: August 19, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
SB 231
(Gaines) - As Amended June 2, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill specifies that water-borne transit projects (e.g.
commuter ferries) are eligible for cap-and-trade funding under
the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program
(AHSCP) and the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP).
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Under current law, the AHSCP and the LCTOP are funded by
continuous appropriations of 20% and 5%, respectively, of annual
cap-and-trade revenues beginning in 2015-16. Based on current
estimates of cap-and-trade revenues, about $400 million will be
available to the AHSCP and $100 million will be available to
LCTOP this fiscal year. Given these significant funding levels
and the numerous other demands for cap-and-trade funds, making
commuter ferry systems eligible for these programs would likely
not create cost pressure on either program.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. The AHSCP provides competitive grants to local
agencies for projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
through land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural
land preservation. Eligible projects include infill housing
development, transit projects to support ridership (including
transit and transit stations), and active transportation
projects. Qualifying transit includes various forms of rail
service, bus service, and "flexible transit" (vanpools and
shuttle bus feeder systems).
The LCTOP provides operating and capital assistance to transit
agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve
mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged
communities. Funds are distributed on a formulaic basis to
local agencies, rather than a competitive basis. Eligible
projects include expanded, new, or enhanced transit services;
conversion or retrofit of transit vehicles and equipment to
zero-emission; expanded intermodal transit facilities; and
infrastructure to support zero-emission or plug-in hybrid
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vehicles.
2)Purpose. The Lake Tahoe Basin has a resident population of
approximately 55,000, but the area's transportation system
serves an additional 6.5 million annual visitors. The Tahoe
Basin is governed by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
(TRPA), a bi-state regional planning agency established in the
1960s. The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD), housed within
the TRPA, is seeking to develop the Crosslake Passenger Ferry,
to provide year-round, high-speed ferry service between South
Lake Tahoe and Tahoe City (North Lake Tahoe) and link with
bus, trolley, shuttle services, water taxies, and trails.
As proposed, the ferry service would make approximately eight
trips per day, carrying 120 passengers per trip, and is
expected to significantly reduce vehicle trips (both commuter
and recreational travel), reduce GHG emissions, and improve
local air quality and the lake's clarity. The TTD estimates
that the project will cost $33 million with annual operating
costs of $3.4 million.
To allow TTD to qualify for a greater range of project
funding, the author has introduced SB 231 which clarifies that
water-borne transit systems, including but not necessarily
limited to TTD's proposed ferry service, are eligible for
funding using cap-and-trade monies available through AHSCP and
LCTOP.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
SB 231
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