Transit California sat down with Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect Monique Limón, representing California Senate District 21.
Transit California: You served in a key legislative leadership role in the negotiations for the reauthorization and updates to the Cap-and-Trade (now Cap-and-Invest) program and funds. Tell us about your work as a joint author of SB 840, the measure that reauthorized the program’s expenditure plan, and about your biggest takeaway as Chair of the Senate Working Group on Cap-and-Trade?
Under the direction of Pro Tempore McGuire, I chaired the Senate Working Group on reauthorizing Cap and Invest. I worked with Senators to determine our priorities in reauthorization, including how we could ensure the program is meeting the intent of the legislature. We started meetings in October of 2024, the process included gathering information, conversations with stakeholders, and many hours of internal discussions. My most important takeaway from this role has been the importance of Cap and Invest, both in California but also across the world. A big part of the conversation was focused on ways we could use Cap and Invest to achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets in our state. We also wanted to ensure that we could connect with other Cap and Invest systems in North America, like Washington and Canada.
Transit California: During Cap-and-Invest negotiations, you strongly supported the successful effort to set aside $125 million out of $1 billion in annual discretionary spending for free transit passes in 2026-27. Why is this fund so important to California transit riders, and what do you want to see from this program?
The lack of transportation has a devastating ripple effect across a person’s life. It affects their ability to get to work, school, pick up children, and get groceries, making transportation a crucial piece in the success of our state. This fund is important because it could provide an option for people to have access to our public transportation system.
Transit California: You have a great deal of experience leading on policies of importance to public transit, including through your current service as Chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which considers issues related to greenhouse gas emissions, and your membership on the Senate Transportation Committee. How does public transit fit into your view of California environmental policy and your interests for California’s transportation network?
With 39% of our greenhouse gas emissions coming from transportation, public transit plays a crucial role in environmental policy. Access to public transit allows for people to rely less on their cars and helps us reduce our emissions. In the Senate Transportation Committee, we often get bills that have been additionally referred to the Natural Resources or Environmental Quality Committees. This allows us to discuss both the environmental impacts of a bill while also considering the transportation benefits it may bring.
Transit California: Before your service as a state elected official, you worked in higher education, including at UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College. In your experience, what role can transit play in the lives of California’s higher education students?
Public transit plays a huge role in the lives of higher education students. Many students often do not have access to a vehicle and rely heavily on public transit. Facilitating access to transportation for students can help with their attendance in their classes, allow them to access essential services, help them get groceries, and ultimately address their everyday needs.
Transit California: You have served as the Vice Chair of the bipartisan Legislative Women’s Caucus, which champions public policies that can improve the lives of California women and children. What would you tell women entering the field of transit, or those considering this path, about your work and their role?
Women’s perspectives are crucial to the success of our state. Women in this field help bring a different lens that allows us to approach our transit issues in ways that are not typically heard or seen. Similarly, a family’s access to transit is incredibly important as many parents rely on public transit for their children to attend school, to get to and from work, and even to get around the city.
Transportation is an area of ongoing growth and challenges, and it is critical that we have diverse voices in decision-making rooms.
To women in the field, California needs you. We are grateful for all that you do to keep mobilizing our state.