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Stakeholders urge funding flexibility, equity and VMT tools at CalSTA CAPTI workshop
Summary
Breakout participants at CalSTA’s CAPTI workshop prioritized funding flexibility for transit recovery, stronger community engagement and equity practices, revisiting CalEnviroScreen for rural communities, and tools to support SB 743 implementation including a potential statewide VMT mitigation bank.
During breakout sessions at the CalSTA workshop, stakeholders identified funding flexibility, equity and implementation tools as high priorities to make the draft climate action plan operational.
Joan Chaplick of MIG summarized the three breakout tracks and the highlights participants raised. On urgent actions and pandemic impacts, groups emphasized funding flexibility and transit agency survival: “The transit agencies need help. They're in survival mode,” Chaplick said, noting suggestions for campaigns to rebuild rider confidence, fare flexibility, partnerships with local businesses, and incentives for alternative modes such as e-bikes.
Breakout participants pushing on equity urged earlier and more meaningful community engagement, language support for non-English speakers, anti-racism education for staff, and targeted funding that supports community-based organizations so they can participate fully in planning and reimbursement processes. Groups also recommended prioritizing investments that protect residents from displacement while supporting infill development and affordable housing.
Participants raised technical and policy tools to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Suggestions included state support for SB 743 implementation, exploring a statewide VMT mitigation bank, scoring and eligibility changes to prioritize low-VMT projects, and strengthening first/last-mile options. Several groups recommended revisiting how CalEnviroScreen treats rural communities so that rural impacts and benefits are better recognized in program scoring.
Other recurring suggestions included telecommuting and broadband as longer-term VMT-reduction strategies, fast-tracking projects already in planning to accelerate beneficial outcomes, and workforce development tied to electrification and a just transition for fossil-fuel workers.
Workshop facilitators said notes from 14 breakout groups will be consolidated and included in a follow-up report; CalSTA invited continued input at a joint CARB–CTC–HCD meeting on Nov. 4 and during the draft plan public-comment period planned for early 2021.
