Transit task force urges new state funding tools, endorses fuel‑tax replacement that covers operations and capital

The Transit Transformation Task Force voted to recommend new statewide funding mechanisms aimed at stabilizing transit operations and supporting capital projects, and urged the Legislature to ensure any replacement for fuel taxes preserve at least current support for transit.

Why it matters: Task force members and public commentators repeatedly said California’s transit agencies need stable, recurring operations funding to restore service lost during the pandemic and to meet the state’s climate and equity goals. Task force members approved language asking the Legislature to consider multiple revenue options and to ensure that any vehicle fuel‑tax replacement keeps transit funding at least at current diesel‑tax levels.

The task force’s vote followed a series of public comments urging the panel to prioritize operating funding. Adrianna Rizzo, speaking for California Electric Rail, told the panel: “Transit agencies around the state have been lurching from crisis to crisis with their fiscal cliff always on the horizon. … Operations funding is, like, the biggest thing to improve transit in the region.” Adena Levin of Seamless Bay Area echoed the point, saying earlier data “showed that California chronically underfunds transit operations compared to other states.”

CalSTA leadership framed the issue as part of a broader, multi‑year effort.…