Rules Committee advances Jason Elliott and Zahara Mann to California Transportation Commission; senators probe funding, climate resilience and equity

The California State Senate Rules Committee voted 5-0 on March 12 to advance the nominations of Jason Elliott and Zahara Mann to seats on the California Transportation Commission (CTC), sending both appointments to the full Senate for confirmation.

Both nominees described priorities they would bring to the commission. Elliott emphasized integrating transportation planning with housing, economic development and environmental goals and said he would press for recommendations that balance revenue options with cost controls. Mann highlighted community engagement, climate action, sustainability and equitable service for urban, suburban and rural communities.

Why it matters: Senators used the hearing to press nominees on the commission’s role in addressing a multi‑hundred‑billion‑dollar gap in projected transportation needs over the next decade, the slow growth in added lane miles, the rising costs of mitigation and construction, and how to balance investments between urban centers and rural areas that face long travel distances and limited infrastructure.

Key points from nominees and senators - Funding gap and priorities: Elliott and Mann acknowledged a large projected shortfall in transportation funding over the next decade and said the commission’s role is to analyze options and provide a menu of recommendations to the Legislature and governor. Both called for a two‑pronged approach of seeking revenue solutions while pursuing cost controls and prioritization.

- Lane miles and mitigation costs: Senators noted only modest increases in new lane miles statewide (550 lane miles from Feb. 2018 to Feb. 2023 cited during the hearing) and asked how the state can add capacity while meeting environmental mitigation requirements. The nominees reiterated the “fix it first” emphasis on maintenance and preservation and said project selection should aim to meet multiple policy goals (housing, climate, economic development) where possible to increase value.

- Equity and rural concerns: Multiple senators stressed that rural areas face higher per‑capita infrastructure burdens — longer travel distances, higher costs, and greater vulnerability to climate impacts — and asked how any new revenue or policy should avoid unduly burdening rural residents. Nominees said the commission must weigh distributional impacts and ensure stakeholder engagement across regions before making recommendations.

- Climate resilience: Senators asked how the commission would prioritize projects that address climate risks such as coastal roadway failure, flood-prone corridors and wildfire evacuation routes. Elliott and Mann said climate resilience must be coordinated across state agencies and funding sources; both urged cross-agency planning and increased funding for resilient infrastructure.

Public support and endorsements Several transportation, construction and labor groups spoke in support of the nominees during the hearing, including representatives from the Self Help Counties Coalition, the State Building Construction Trades Council, the California Building Industry Association, LA Metro, the California Transit Association and several labor organizations. Speakers praised the nominees’ experience and urged confirmation.

Votes and next steps Vice Chair Grove moved for both nominations to be advanced; the committee recorded a final 5-0 roll-call vote to move Jason Elliott and Zahara Mann to the Senate floor for final confirmation.

Ending Committee members urged the nominees to follow through on data and planning coordination and said they look forward to working with them if confirmed. The committee recessed to executive closed session after finishing votes on the day’s calendar.