BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: AB 845
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Ma
VERSION: 5/10/11
Analysis by: Art Bauer FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: July 5, 2011
SUBJECT:
High speed rail bond funds
DESCRIPTION:
This bill codifies guidelines adopted by the California
Transportation Commission for the expenditure of bond funds for
conventional rail services connecting to high-speed rail trains.
ANALYSIS:
In November 2008, California voters approved Proposition 1A, the
Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st
Century of 2008 (Proposition 1A). The $9.95 billion bond
measure provides $9 billion for high-speed rail development and
$950 million for improving the safety or capacity of
conventional rail services connecting to the high-speed rail
line. Included in the connectivity funds is $190 million for
the intercity rail program managed by the Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) and $760 million for commuter rail
operators and public mass transit agencies. Proposition 1A
requires a dollar-for-dollar match from non-state funds. The
California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopted guidelines
for allocating the conventional rail funds in 2010.
The 2010-2011 state budget appropriated $101 million from
Proposition 1A conventional rail funds for the installation of
positive train control systems, a modern rail safety technology.
In addition, the 2011-2012 budget appropriates $154.3 million
for local and commuter transit operators and $108.1 million to
Caltrans for the intercity rail program.
This bill:
1.Requires the distribution of the Proposition 1A conventional
rail funds to be based on data in the National Transit
AB 845 (MA) Page 2
Database of the Federal Transit Administration.
2.Directs the CTC to accept from each eligible bond fund
recipient a priority list of projects that meet the criteria
for receiving funds, including projects that create capacity
for conventional intercity rail, commuter rail, or rail mass
transit services that connect to high-speed rail service or
funds a safety improvement.
3. Directs the CTC to require that matching funds are to be
provided from non-state funds.
4.Provides that the required match for commuter and urban rail
projects may begin with expenditures a bond fund recipient
makes on a project after the CTC adopts the program through
which the project is funded.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose . According to the author, this bill "confirms" the
guidelines upon which the CTC allocation was made for the
conventional rail fund, and ensures that the CTC implements the
vision of the voters in Proposition 1A.
2.Is this bill needed ? Typically, the Legislature does not
codify CTC guidelines. This is done for many reasons. For
example, the allocation of the Proposition 1A funds is
underway, and the existing guidelines are basically a
restatement of the terms and conditions governing the
allocation as specified in the proposition. The program is
functioning. Once the funds are allocated, the guidelines and
this bill become moot. In addition, the Legislature does not
enact CTC guidelines because on occasion the underlying federal
law changes and the guidelines may need to be amended. This
would create delay in program implementation and getting
projects out the door. Finally, the sponsor has informed the
committee that, with the enactment of the budget, the bill is
no longer necessary.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 75-0
Appr: 17-0
Trans: 14-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
AB 845 (MA) Page 3
June 29, 2011)
SUPPORT: Bay Area Rapid Transit District (sponsor)
OPPOSED: None received.