Transit California sat down with Hillary Blackerby, Chair of the Association’s Legislative Committee.
By Arianna Smith
Managing Editor
Transit California
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Transit California: You are the new Chair of the Association’s Legislative Committee, which reviews legislation and provides technical and policy advice to the Executive Committee and Association membership. What do you see as top priorities for the Committee in 2027-28?
I’m excited to continue the work alongside our fellow Association members. Lawmakers need to hear from their constituents—and that includes the agencies who provide vital public transit service in their districts. Unfortunately, we’re up against several challenges as an industry. Many of us face not only ever-closer fiscal cliffs, but we now face the complete erosion of what has been a stable funding source in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). Previously awarded Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) funds may not materialize due to policy decisions at CARB, and Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funds seem poised to evaporate as well. Making sure that legislators and the transit riders in their districts know what is at stake has never been more important.
We will also be paying close attention to any other policy developments that impact transit—whether it’s about our workforce, our budgets, or our fleets.
Transit California: How did you get your start with the Association? What advice would you give to Association members interested in getting more involved in Committee work?
I started interfacing with the Association soon after starting at Santa Barbara MTD in 2016, which was my first time working in the transit industry. Having come here from the legislative side of things, I was heartened to see all the engagement by the membership in their Association. I eventually applied to be on the State Legislative Committee, which gave me a front row seat to see how the Association staff work at such a high level with sharp strategic skill to represent our interests. I’d recommend that members get engaged, attend any open committee meetings at the conference, and apply for a committee in your issue area.
Transit California: Having served as an expert speaker on Concurrent Session panels at the Association’s Annual Conference & Expo. What was that experience like? Beyond speaking, what value do you see in the conference, and why should members go?
I love participating in panels at our annual conference! It’s how we learn from our peers and how we share knowledge and strategy. I’ve always been struck by the generosity of transit professionals—we generally don’t compete geographically, so we’re all willing to help others facing something we’ve already faced. Aside from the engaging panels, the networking opportunities and tech tours are a great way to see what other agencies are experiencing. Building solidarity and connections with industry peers makes all of us stronger, especially when it’s time for policy and budget advocacy--and it’s always time!
Transit California: You serve as Planning and Marketing Manager at Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District, a small operator on the South Coast. Can you talk about your role there? What are some opportunities and challenges that your agency is currently facing in the year ahead?
Like so many of our peers, we are facing down a fiscal cliff in the coming years. With the 2020 census, the Santa Barbara Urbanized Area (UZA) went over 200,000 in population, thereby becoming a medium-sized UZA. Through no fault of our own, this meant our agency lost 30% of our annual Federal operating assistance as we were no longer eligible for Small Transit Intensive Cities incentive funding. Trying to fill that gap is proving challenging as we work to address it with a combination of fare increases, service reductions, and hopefully, public policy change at the Federal level. Despite these challenges, we still strive to provide safe, reliable, and robust transit service to help our community members get where they need to go.
Transit California: For many years, you have served on transportation planning and safe street committees through the City of Santa Barbara. How can transit agencies best work alongside local government committees to get the best community outcomes?
As a true transportation nerd, I volunteer on my own time to think about more than just buses! I’ve always been interested in how it all fits together as a dedicated multimodalist. It’s important to build good relationships with Public Works Departments in the jurisdictions we serve. We often lament that as transit agencies, we have no control over the public right-of-way. While that’s true, I’ve seen the importance of building trust and understanding with the planners and engineers who have the final say.
Transit California: You served as the District Director to a California State Assemblymember. How can transit agencies make the most of their connections with district office staff?
It really does help to connect with District office staff—it puts a human face on your agency, making sure they know who to contact when they have a question, helping you get that letter of support for a grant application, etc. It is often easier to get a longer meeting with staff and even the legislator in the District, as they aren’t driven by the hectic pace of the Capitol.