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Commission approves short-term MAP‑21 funding plan, allocates half of FY13 local lump-sum now
Summary
The California Transportation Commission approved a short-term implementation plan for the federal MAP‑21 highway law and voted to allocate 50 percent of the Fiscal Year 2013 local-assistance lump-sum funds now while the state and regions finalize longer-term distribution rules.
The California Transportation Commission on Thursday approved a short-term plan to implement MAP‑21, the federal surface transportation reauthorization, and directed staff to allocate half of the fiscal year 2013 local-assistance lump-sum now while Caltrans and regional partners continue working on a longer-term funding split.
Rachel Falsetti, a Caltrans MAP‑21 implementation lead, told commissioners that MAP‑21 “was signed into law as of July 6, and it goes into place as of October first,” emphasizing the compressed timetable for states. Falsetti said the working group she chairs proposed a modified approach that preserves the same overall funding level for California in 2012—about $3.5 billion—and maintains funding for projects already programmed so deliveries are not interrupted.
The commission’s action directs staff to allocate 50 percent of the local-assistance lump sum (about $745,625,000 as shown in staff materials) now and to hold the remainder until later in the fiscal year, when actual delivery and obligation progress can be verified. Staff said that approach preserves programmed projects while giving the state and regions flexibility to adapt to the new federal program structure and forthcoming federal rulemaking.
Why it matters: The federal MAP‑21 law consolidates programs, emphasizes performance management, and introduces new distribution rules. States must submit implementation plans to federal agencies and complete a range of administrative tasks in the coming months; California’s near-term approach seeks to protect projects already in the State Transportation Improvement Program and avoid disruption to construction schedules.
Commissioners and regional representatives who participated in the MAP‑21 working group described the approach as a practical compromise. Will Ritter, speaking for Regional Transportation Planning Agencies, said the plan keeps “the current projects that we have programmed … funded” so delivery can proceed. Locally focused stakeholders including Safe Routes to School and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy urged the commission to preserve specialized programs in the short term; Jeanne Ward Waller and Laura Cohen, both working-group members, said the compromise maintained funding for local priorities.
The commission voted to allocate the first half of the local lump sum and approved staff’s recommendation for the near-term distribution and a process for reviewing the remainder. Commissioners and department staff said they will continue monthly working-group meetings and plan to present a long-term allocation approach before the end of the authorization period.
Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners framed the vote as a short-term, delivery-driven step rather than a permanent funding formula. Staff and region representatives agreed the allocation protects projects already programmed this fiscal year; long-term changes will require further negotiation among the state, regions and federal agencies.
What comes next: Caltrans and the regional working groups will continue technical work and stakeholder consultation on MAP‑21 implementation, and the commission expects subsequent recommendations to address long-term allocations, performance measures and any statutory changes that may be necessary.
