Transit task force pushes broader state funding options, approves a slate of recommendations and several votes

The Transit Transformation Task Force at the California State Transportation Agency on its final meeting advanced a package of recommendations urging the Legislature to create new state funding mechanisms to stabilize transit operations in the near term, increase and enhance service in the midterm and support long‑term transformation.

The task force voted to add language asking that any solution to replace fuel taxes (for example, mileage or road‑user fees) include transit operations and capital as allowable expenses and to require that such replacement mechanisms maintain funding at least at the level provided today by the sales tax on diesel fuel. Michael Pimentel of the California Transit Association moved the operations language; the motion passed in a roll‑call vote (recorded as 18 yeses). The amended motion expanding eligibility to include capital also passed (17 yeses recorded).

Members also approved a set of recommendations that would give regions and transit agencies more explicit authority to place ballot measures in their service areas (a motion to consider additional flexibility for transit agencies, regions or voters to place measures on ballots passed, 18 yeses recorded). The task force approved the Y strategy package focused on value…