Transit California sat down with Brendan Repicky, new Legislative and Regulatory Advocate for the Association.
Transit California: You joined the Association’s team as a Legislative and Regulatory Advocate in February 2025. What does this role entail?
One of the cool aspects of this job is that new things come up all the time, it’s not really ever monotonous. A lot of the work I do involves representing the Association and our Members’ interests in the State Capitol. I track bills that affect transit. I meet with staff, stakeholders, and Legislators to advocate for transit. I represent the Association at committee and budget hearings. And then more behind the scenes, I work to support our Executive Director and our Members when issues arise that affect us.
Transit California: Which Association committees do you participate in? What have you learned so far?
I have learned so much in a really short time about the nitty gritty details of what our transit agencies have to deal with every day. I primarily work with our State Legislative Committee, where I help support them as they review pieces of legislation, budget items, and other issues in front of the Legislature. I also support our Federal Legislative Committee and our Small Operators Committee.
Transit California: In June, we’re about halfway through the legislative cycle, with proposed laws approved by their House of Origin to be considered by the second house. What current bills and policies are you working to advance this session?
We have two Association-sponsored bills that we are still moving through the Legislative process, and I’m really excited about both of them. Senate Bill 71, by Senator Scott Wiener, is a great bill to help get rid of red tape around building clean transportation projects. The bill permanently exempts these projects from the California Environmental Quality Act – CEQA. I’m sure most of you are aware that CEQA is frequently used as a weapon to halt any sort of project someone might dislike. Since Senator Wiener set out to pilot this idea 5 years ago, it’s been successfully used for over 90 projects statewide. This is an example of an inarguably successful policy achievement.
We are also sponsoring Assembly Bill 394, which expands the law to protect all transit employees against battery by someone, and the bill also allows a transit agency to seek a restraining order against a perpetrator on behalf of their employee. We have all seen the increased threats and violence our transit employees are subject to on a daily basis. It’s outrageous, and I’m proud to be working on a bill to address it.
Transit California: Before arriving at the Association, you built a career in the Legislature and with the State of California. Can you tell us more about your public service?
After I graduated from UC Davis, I started working as a Legislative Assistant in the State Capitol for Assemblymember Ken Cooley, who represented eastern Sacramento County. In that role, I learned the ropes of how things happen in Sacramento. I first met and worked with the old Association Team – Josh Shaw and Matt Robinson at that point. I worked with our local transit agency, Sacramento Regional Transit. And I really developed the skills and relationships to effectively work in and around the Capitol. I eventually moved on and worked as a Legislative Director for another Member of the Assembly, and I was very excited to start working with CTA the Association in February.
Transit California: How did you first become interested in public transit as a policy area?
I’ve been taking public transit since I was a kid. We would take BART and Muni to Giants games, would ride Amtrak, and I’d take the County Connection bus home from school in Martinez, California. At UC Davis, we have an awesome student-run bus service dating back to the 1960s called Unitrans. They are actually part of the Association. I was involved with Unitrans and got to work with another of our members, Geoff Straw of San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority, back when he worked as the professional manager of Unitrans. When I moved to Sacramento and began to work in the State Capitol, I would always take Sacramento’s Light Rail or the bus to work. So, I have always had a real personal interest in our transit systems. I want them to be great because I know how amazing it is to be able to use and rely on transit. In a lot of ways, this is a dream job for me.
Transit California: What particular issue areas are you most interested in or passionate about within public transit?
Personally, I’m probably most passionate about the nexus of transit and housing/retail. I want people to build cool things adjacent to transit so that you can hop on a bus or tram or train and check out a brewery, do some shopping, go to a sporting event, and get home on public transit safely and conveniently.
Transit California: If someone would like to learn more about you or the initiatives you are involved with, what is the best way to connect with you?
Send me an email at Brendan@caltransit.org! I’m always available to connect.