**STATEMENT**
(Sacramento, CA) – California Transit Association Executive Director Michael Pimentel issued the following statement today regarding the public transportation funding in the Legislature’s budget:
“The Legislature has listened to our calls for support to address the most urgent funding needs of California’s transit agencies. Today, as agencies recover from the pandemic and reform their operations to regain riders and build for the future, funding from the State of California, as identified in the Legislature’s plan, will be crucial to keeping millions of Californians across the state moving – to their jobs, school, grocery stores, and loved ones.
“The Legislature’s plan restores the $2 billion transit capital commitment included in the 2022 budget agreement and provides $1.1 billion in flexible funding to prevent service cuts and job losses at agencies statewide. While we continue to review the plan and observe that the funding will not address the full near-term funding need of California’s transit agencies, we believe the plan represents real, measurable progress toward saving our systems. We are thankful for legislative champions like Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), Assembly Budget Committee Chair Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Senate Budget Committee Chair Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), and Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) who have worked tirelessly to prevent cuts and protect progress at one of the most pivotal points in our collective history.
“In the weeks ahead, we look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature and Administration to finalize a budget that preserves our public transportation network, supports the growth and expansion of our systems to meet the needs of generations to come, and that continues to support our industry’s transition to zero-emission technologies. We remain committed to working with the Legislature and the Administration in the months and years ahead to further support California’s transit agencies and to address the full balance of their near-term and long-term needs. With the release of the Legislature’s plan, it’s clear that leaders from across California – from state legislators and members of Congress to environmental, labor, social justice, business, and transportation organizations – all agree – we must save public transit.”
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The California Transit Association (Association) is the leading advocacy organization and champion for public transit in California. The Association’s more than 220 member organizations include transit operators, commuter rail agencies, transit support groups, national and international transit suppliers, and government agencies. With a motivated and informed membership base, the Association actively engages State decision makers to shape transit-friendly policy, secure increased transit funding and promote the benefits of a balanced transportation system. The Association represents transit's interests before the California State Legislature, the Governor and regulatory agencies on the local, state and federal levels.