2012 State Policy Priority: More Transit Funding

For 2012-13, the mechanism that appears to hold the greatest potential for bringing significant new dollars to transit is the nascent Cap and Trade Program developed by the Air Resources Board under AB 32 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  Initial estimates are that the program could bring in up to $1 billion the first year and then ultimately up to $10 billion each year as the program expands.

In his 2012/13 state budget, Governor Brown proposed allocating cap-and-trade revenues to: clean and efficient energy programs; natural resource protection; low-carbon transportation, including transit; and sustainable infrastructure development, including transportation and housing.

TransForm applauds the governor’s proposal.  The only way to guarantee lower GHG emissions from the transportation sector is to reduce overall driving -- that means giving people real travel options and linking mixed income housing and other development with enhanced transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

As the reduction of GHG emissions from the land use and transportation sector demands long-term investments in expanded and improved transit, housing and other major infrastructure, TransForm agrees with the governor that these types of investments should be a priority in the allocation of cap-and-trade revenues.

TransForm has been working very closely with our partner Housing California to develop and promote a proposal to allocate a significant portion of Cap and Trade revenue to targeted transit, biking and pedestrian investments and coordinated with increased production of transit-oriented homes affordable to people with low incomes and located near jobs and other amenities.  Read our proposal for cap-and-trade revenue spending, developed with Housing California.