Amended IN Senate June 13, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 07, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1938Introduced by Assembly Member FriedmanFebruary 10, 2022An act to add and repeal Section 13979.3 of the Government Code, relating to transportation. An act to amend Section 22358.6 of the Vehicle Code, relating to traffic safety.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1938, as amended, Friedman. Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force. Traffic safety: speed limits.Existing law establishes various default speed limits for vehicles upon highways, as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), by regulation, to require Caltrans or a local authority to round speed limits up or down to the nearest 5 miles per hour of the 85th percentile of free-flowing traffic.This bill would, if the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest 5 miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, authorize Caltrans or a local authority to lower the speed limit by 5 miles per hour from the nearest 5 miles per hour of the 85th percentile, as specified.Existing law establishes the Transportation Agency, which consists of various departments and state entities, including the California Transportation Commission and the Department of Transportation. Under existing law, the agency is under the supervision of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Transportation, who is required to develop and report to the Governor on legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long-range, and coordinated planning and policy formulation in the matters of public interest related to the agency. Existing law provides for the funding of public transit and intercity rail, including under the Transportation Development Act.This bill would require the secretary, on or before July 1, 2023, to establish and convene the Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force to include representatives from the department and various local agencies, academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations. The bill would require the task force to develop a structured, coordinated process for early engagement of all parties to develop policies to grow transit and intercity rail ridership and improve transit and intercity rail operations for users of those services. The bill would require the secretary to prepare and submit a report of findings based on the task forces efforts to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025. The bill would require the report to include a detailed analysis of specified issues and recommendations on specified topics. The provisions of the bill would be repealed on January 1, 2028.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 22358.6 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:22358.6. (a) The Department of Transportation shall, in the next scheduled revision, revise and thereafter maintain the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to require the Department of Transportation or a local authority to round speed limits to the nearest five miles per hour of the 85th percentile of the free-flowing traffic. However, in(b) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may lower the speed limit by five miles per hour from the nearest five mile per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, in compliance with Sections 627 and 22358.5 and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as it read on March 30, 2021, if the reasons for the lower speed limit are documented in an engineering and traffic survey. The Department of Transportation or a local authority may also take into consideration Sections 22353, 22353.2, 22353.3, 22353.4, 22353.5, 22358.3, and 22360, if applicable.(c) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded up to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may decide to instead round down the speed limit to the lower five miles per hour increment. A (d) In addition to subdivisions (b) and (c), a local authority may additionally lower the speed limit as provided in Sections 22358.7 and 22358.8.SECTION 1.The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a)The climate change crisis is happening now, impacting California in unprecedented ways, and affecting the health and safety of too many Californians.(b)Fifty percent of the states greenhouse gas emissions come from, or support, the transportation sector.(c)The transition to zero-emission vehicles is not enough to meet the states climate goals, with the state needing to significantly reduce vehicle miles traveled to meet its climate goals.(d)Despite efforts to reach these goals, transit use has been on the decline in California, both prior to, and because of, the COVID-19 pandemic.(e)The Legislature suspended fare box recovery ratio requirements under the Transportation Development Act because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has not put in place a strategy to improve the performance of public transit and grow public transit ridership.(f)California transit agencies need a sustainable source of funding to grow transit ridership and state oversight to ensure transit operators are providing a high-quality service that attracts a growing number of riders.SEC. 2.Section 13979.3 is added to the Government Code, to read:13979.3.(a)On or before July 1, 2023, the secretary shall establish and convene the Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force.(b)The task force shall include, but is not limited to, representatives from the University of California and other academic institutions, the Department of Transportation, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, transit agencies, bicycle and pedestrian safety organizations, transportation advocacy organizations, and labor organizations.(c)The task force shall develop a structured, coordinated process for early engagement of all parties to develop policies to grow transit and intercity rail ridership and improve transit and intercity rail operations for users of those services.(d)The secretary shall prepare and submit a report of findings based on the task forces efforts to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025.(e)The report shall include, but is not limited to, a detailed analysis of the following issues:(1)The existing funding sources for transit and intercity rail, with a breakdown of funding available for operations, rolling stock, and fixed guideways and a description of federal, state, and local funding currently used for other transportation investments that could be used for transit and intercity rail projects.(2)Existing policies on state and local metrics on transit performance.(3)Overall service provided by transit agencies, including, but not limited to, service to commuting populations and service for elderly, disabled, and other disadvantaged groups.(f)The report shall also include, but is not limited to, all of the following recommendations:(1)Recommendations on how to grow public transit use and reduce operational costs, including, but not limited to, recommendations on all of the following:(A)Consolidating transit agencies or having a network manager to coordinate transit routes.(B)Fare coordination and methods of payment for transit to make transit more accessible, including single fare payments within an established zone.(C)Increasing the frequency and reliability of transit, including a statewide technology requirement enabling real-time transit information, including arrival and departure predictions, vehicle locations, occupancy, and service alerts using the General Transit Feed Specification data format.(D)Changes to land use policies that could improve public transit use.(2)Recommendations on how to better plan and make procurements for transit and intercity rail projects, including recommendations on statewide procurement of buses and trains for transit fleets and whether to create or designate a state department to assist in planning transit projects.(3)Recommendations for replacing fare box recovery ratios required under the Transportation Development Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 99200) of Part 11 of Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code) with performance metrics that better measure transit growth opportunities and customer service opportunities, and recommendations on which state department or agency should be responsible for transit system oversight and reporting.(4)Recommendations on whether the state should create a new revenue source to pay for transit operations and projects or shift existing revenue sources towards transit operations and projects and restrict revenues from local transportation funds established pursuant to Section 29530 to transit operations.(g)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
Amended IN Senate June 13, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 07, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1938Introduced by Assembly Member FriedmanFebruary 10, 2022An act to add and repeal Section 13979.3 of the Government Code, relating to transportation. An act to amend Section 22358.6 of the Vehicle Code, relating to traffic safety.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1938, as amended, Friedman. Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force. Traffic safety: speed limits.Existing law establishes various default speed limits for vehicles upon highways, as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), by regulation, to require Caltrans or a local authority to round speed limits up or down to the nearest 5 miles per hour of the 85th percentile of free-flowing traffic.This bill would, if the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest 5 miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, authorize Caltrans or a local authority to lower the speed limit by 5 miles per hour from the nearest 5 miles per hour of the 85th percentile, as specified.Existing law establishes the Transportation Agency, which consists of various departments and state entities, including the California Transportation Commission and the Department of Transportation. Under existing law, the agency is under the supervision of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Transportation, who is required to develop and report to the Governor on legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long-range, and coordinated planning and policy formulation in the matters of public interest related to the agency. Existing law provides for the funding of public transit and intercity rail, including under the Transportation Development Act.This bill would require the secretary, on or before July 1, 2023, to establish and convene the Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force to include representatives from the department and various local agencies, academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations. The bill would require the task force to develop a structured, coordinated process for early engagement of all parties to develop policies to grow transit and intercity rail ridership and improve transit and intercity rail operations for users of those services. The bill would require the secretary to prepare and submit a report of findings based on the task forces efforts to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025. The bill would require the report to include a detailed analysis of specified issues and recommendations on specified topics. The provisions of the bill would be repealed on January 1, 2028.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Amended IN Senate June 13, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 07, 2022
Amended IN Senate June 13, 2022
Amended IN Assembly March 07, 2022
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1938
Introduced by Assembly Member FriedmanFebruary 10, 2022
Introduced by Assembly Member Friedman
February 10, 2022
An act to add and repeal Section 13979.3 of the Government Code, relating to transportation. An act to amend Section 22358.6 of the Vehicle Code, relating to traffic safety.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1938, as amended, Friedman. Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force. Traffic safety: speed limits.
Existing law establishes various default speed limits for vehicles upon highways, as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), by regulation, to require Caltrans or a local authority to round speed limits up or down to the nearest 5 miles per hour of the 85th percentile of free-flowing traffic.This bill would, if the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest 5 miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, authorize Caltrans or a local authority to lower the speed limit by 5 miles per hour from the nearest 5 miles per hour of the 85th percentile, as specified.Existing law establishes the Transportation Agency, which consists of various departments and state entities, including the California Transportation Commission and the Department of Transportation. Under existing law, the agency is under the supervision of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Transportation, who is required to develop and report to the Governor on legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long-range, and coordinated planning and policy formulation in the matters of public interest related to the agency. Existing law provides for the funding of public transit and intercity rail, including under the Transportation Development Act.This bill would require the secretary, on or before July 1, 2023, to establish and convene the Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force to include representatives from the department and various local agencies, academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations. The bill would require the task force to develop a structured, coordinated process for early engagement of all parties to develop policies to grow transit and intercity rail ridership and improve transit and intercity rail operations for users of those services. The bill would require the secretary to prepare and submit a report of findings based on the task forces efforts to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025. The bill would require the report to include a detailed analysis of specified issues and recommendations on specified topics. The provisions of the bill would be repealed on January 1, 2028.
Existing law establishes various default speed limits for vehicles upon highways, as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), by regulation, to require Caltrans or a local authority to round speed limits up or down to the nearest 5 miles per hour of the 85th percentile of free-flowing traffic.
This bill would, if the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest 5 miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, authorize Caltrans or a local authority to lower the speed limit by 5 miles per hour from the nearest 5 miles per hour of the 85th percentile, as specified.
Existing law establishes the Transportation Agency, which consists of various departments and state entities, including the California Transportation Commission and the Department of Transportation. Under existing law, the agency is under the supervision of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Transportation, who is required to develop and report to the Governor on legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long-range, and coordinated planning and policy formulation in the matters of public interest related to the agency.
Existing law provides for the funding of public transit and intercity rail, including under the Transportation Development Act.
This bill would require the secretary, on or before July 1, 2023, to establish and convene the Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force to include representatives from the department and various local agencies, academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations. The bill would require the task force to develop a structured, coordinated process for early engagement of all parties to develop policies to grow transit and intercity rail ridership and improve transit and intercity rail operations for users of those services. The bill would require the secretary to prepare and submit a report of findings based on the task forces efforts to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025. The bill would require the report to include a detailed analysis of specified issues and recommendations on specified topics. The provisions of the bill would be repealed on January 1, 2028.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 22358.6 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:22358.6. (a) The Department of Transportation shall, in the next scheduled revision, revise and thereafter maintain the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to require the Department of Transportation or a local authority to round speed limits to the nearest five miles per hour of the 85th percentile of the free-flowing traffic. However, in(b) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may lower the speed limit by five miles per hour from the nearest five mile per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, in compliance with Sections 627 and 22358.5 and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as it read on March 30, 2021, if the reasons for the lower speed limit are documented in an engineering and traffic survey. The Department of Transportation or a local authority may also take into consideration Sections 22353, 22353.2, 22353.3, 22353.4, 22353.5, 22358.3, and 22360, if applicable.(c) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded up to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may decide to instead round down the speed limit to the lower five miles per hour increment. A (d) In addition to subdivisions (b) and (c), a local authority may additionally lower the speed limit as provided in Sections 22358.7 and 22358.8.SECTION 1.The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a)The climate change crisis is happening now, impacting California in unprecedented ways, and affecting the health and safety of too many Californians.(b)Fifty percent of the states greenhouse gas emissions come from, or support, the transportation sector.(c)The transition to zero-emission vehicles is not enough to meet the states climate goals, with the state needing to significantly reduce vehicle miles traveled to meet its climate goals.(d)Despite efforts to reach these goals, transit use has been on the decline in California, both prior to, and because of, the COVID-19 pandemic.(e)The Legislature suspended fare box recovery ratio requirements under the Transportation Development Act because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has not put in place a strategy to improve the performance of public transit and grow public transit ridership.(f)California transit agencies need a sustainable source of funding to grow transit ridership and state oversight to ensure transit operators are providing a high-quality service that attracts a growing number of riders.SEC. 2.Section 13979.3 is added to the Government Code, to read:13979.3.(a)On or before July 1, 2023, the secretary shall establish and convene the Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force.(b)The task force shall include, but is not limited to, representatives from the University of California and other academic institutions, the Department of Transportation, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, transit agencies, bicycle and pedestrian safety organizations, transportation advocacy organizations, and labor organizations.(c)The task force shall develop a structured, coordinated process for early engagement of all parties to develop policies to grow transit and intercity rail ridership and improve transit and intercity rail operations for users of those services.(d)The secretary shall prepare and submit a report of findings based on the task forces efforts to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025.(e)The report shall include, but is not limited to, a detailed analysis of the following issues:(1)The existing funding sources for transit and intercity rail, with a breakdown of funding available for operations, rolling stock, and fixed guideways and a description of federal, state, and local funding currently used for other transportation investments that could be used for transit and intercity rail projects.(2)Existing policies on state and local metrics on transit performance.(3)Overall service provided by transit agencies, including, but not limited to, service to commuting populations and service for elderly, disabled, and other disadvantaged groups.(f)The report shall also include, but is not limited to, all of the following recommendations:(1)Recommendations on how to grow public transit use and reduce operational costs, including, but not limited to, recommendations on all of the following:(A)Consolidating transit agencies or having a network manager to coordinate transit routes.(B)Fare coordination and methods of payment for transit to make transit more accessible, including single fare payments within an established zone.(C)Increasing the frequency and reliability of transit, including a statewide technology requirement enabling real-time transit information, including arrival and departure predictions, vehicle locations, occupancy, and service alerts using the General Transit Feed Specification data format.(D)Changes to land use policies that could improve public transit use.(2)Recommendations on how to better plan and make procurements for transit and intercity rail projects, including recommendations on statewide procurement of buses and trains for transit fleets and whether to create or designate a state department to assist in planning transit projects.(3)Recommendations for replacing fare box recovery ratios required under the Transportation Development Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 99200) of Part 11 of Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code) with performance metrics that better measure transit growth opportunities and customer service opportunities, and recommendations on which state department or agency should be responsible for transit system oversight and reporting.(4)Recommendations on whether the state should create a new revenue source to pay for transit operations and projects or shift existing revenue sources towards transit operations and projects and restrict revenues from local transportation funds established pursuant to Section 29530 to transit operations.(g)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 22358.6 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:22358.6. (a) The Department of Transportation shall, in the next scheduled revision, revise and thereafter maintain the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to require the Department of Transportation or a local authority to round speed limits to the nearest five miles per hour of the 85th percentile of the free-flowing traffic. However, in(b) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may lower the speed limit by five miles per hour from the nearest five mile per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, in compliance with Sections 627 and 22358.5 and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as it read on March 30, 2021, if the reasons for the lower speed limit are documented in an engineering and traffic survey. The Department of Transportation or a local authority may also take into consideration Sections 22353, 22353.2, 22353.3, 22353.4, 22353.5, 22358.3, and 22360, if applicable.(c) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded up to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may decide to instead round down the speed limit to the lower five miles per hour increment. A (d) In addition to subdivisions (b) and (c), a local authority may additionally lower the speed limit as provided in Sections 22358.7 and 22358.8.
SECTION 1. Section 22358.6 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.
22358.6. (a) The Department of Transportation shall, in the next scheduled revision, revise and thereafter maintain the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to require the Department of Transportation or a local authority to round speed limits to the nearest five miles per hour of the 85th percentile of the free-flowing traffic. However, in(b) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may lower the speed limit by five miles per hour from the nearest five mile per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, in compliance with Sections 627 and 22358.5 and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as it read on March 30, 2021, if the reasons for the lower speed limit are documented in an engineering and traffic survey. The Department of Transportation or a local authority may also take into consideration Sections 22353, 22353.2, 22353.3, 22353.4, 22353.5, 22358.3, and 22360, if applicable.(c) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded up to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may decide to instead round down the speed limit to the lower five miles per hour increment. A (d) In addition to subdivisions (b) and (c), a local authority may additionally lower the speed limit as provided in Sections 22358.7 and 22358.8.
22358.6. (a) The Department of Transportation shall, in the next scheduled revision, revise and thereafter maintain the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to require the Department of Transportation or a local authority to round speed limits to the nearest five miles per hour of the 85th percentile of the free-flowing traffic. However, in(b) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may lower the speed limit by five miles per hour from the nearest five mile per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, in compliance with Sections 627 and 22358.5 and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as it read on March 30, 2021, if the reasons for the lower speed limit are documented in an engineering and traffic survey. The Department of Transportation or a local authority may also take into consideration Sections 22353, 22353.2, 22353.3, 22353.4, 22353.5, 22358.3, and 22360, if applicable.(c) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded up to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may decide to instead round down the speed limit to the lower five miles per hour increment. A (d) In addition to subdivisions (b) and (c), a local authority may additionally lower the speed limit as provided in Sections 22358.7 and 22358.8.
22358.6. (a) The Department of Transportation shall, in the next scheduled revision, revise and thereafter maintain the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to require the Department of Transportation or a local authority to round speed limits to the nearest five miles per hour of the 85th percentile of the free-flowing traffic. However, in(b) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may lower the speed limit by five miles per hour from the nearest five mile per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, in compliance with Sections 627 and 22358.5 and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as it read on March 30, 2021, if the reasons for the lower speed limit are documented in an engineering and traffic survey. The Department of Transportation or a local authority may also take into consideration Sections 22353, 22353.2, 22353.3, 22353.4, 22353.5, 22358.3, and 22360, if applicable.(c) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded up to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may decide to instead round down the speed limit to the lower five miles per hour increment. A (d) In addition to subdivisions (b) and (c), a local authority may additionally lower the speed limit as provided in Sections 22358.7 and 22358.8.
22358.6. (a) The Department of Transportation shall, in the next scheduled revision, revise and thereafter maintain the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to require the Department of Transportation or a local authority to round speed limits to the nearest five miles per hour of the 85th percentile of the free-flowing traffic. However, in
(b) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded down to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may lower the speed limit by five miles per hour from the nearest five mile per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, in compliance with Sections 627 and 22358.5 and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as it read on March 30, 2021, if the reasons for the lower speed limit are documented in an engineering and traffic survey. The Department of Transportation or a local authority may also take into consideration Sections 22353, 22353.2, 22353.3, 22353.4, 22353.5, 22358.3, and 22360, if applicable.
(c) In cases in which the speed limit needs to be rounded up to the nearest five miles per hour increment of the 85th-percentile speed, the Department of Transportation or a local authority may decide to instead round down the speed limit to the lower five miles per hour increment. A
(d) In addition to subdivisions (b) and (c), a local authority may additionally lower the speed limit as provided in Sections 22358.7 and 22358.8.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)The climate change crisis is happening now, impacting California in unprecedented ways, and affecting the health and safety of too many Californians.
(b)Fifty percent of the states greenhouse gas emissions come from, or support, the transportation sector.
(c)The transition to zero-emission vehicles is not enough to meet the states climate goals, with the state needing to significantly reduce vehicle miles traveled to meet its climate goals.
(d)Despite efforts to reach these goals, transit use has been on the decline in California, both prior to, and because of, the COVID-19 pandemic.
(e)The Legislature suspended fare box recovery ratio requirements under the Transportation Development Act because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has not put in place a strategy to improve the performance of public transit and grow public transit ridership.
(f)California transit agencies need a sustainable source of funding to grow transit ridership and state oversight to ensure transit operators are providing a high-quality service that attracts a growing number of riders.
(a)On or before July 1, 2023, the secretary shall establish and convene the Transit and Intercity Rail Recovery Task Force.
(b)The task force shall include, but is not limited to, representatives from the University of California and other academic institutions, the Department of Transportation, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, transit agencies, bicycle and pedestrian safety organizations, transportation advocacy organizations, and labor organizations.
(c)The task force shall develop a structured, coordinated process for early engagement of all parties to develop policies to grow transit and intercity rail ridership and improve transit and intercity rail operations for users of those services.
(d)The secretary shall prepare and submit a report of findings based on the task forces efforts to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025.
(e)The report shall include, but is not limited to, a detailed analysis of the following issues:
(1)The existing funding sources for transit and intercity rail, with a breakdown of funding available for operations, rolling stock, and fixed guideways and a description of federal, state, and local funding currently used for other transportation investments that could be used for transit and intercity rail projects.
(2)Existing policies on state and local metrics on transit performance.
(3)Overall service provided by transit agencies, including, but not limited to, service to commuting populations and service for elderly, disabled, and other disadvantaged groups.
(f)The report shall also include, but is not limited to, all of the following recommendations:
(1)Recommendations on how to grow public transit use and reduce operational costs, including, but not limited to, recommendations on all of the following:
(A)Consolidating transit agencies or having a network manager to coordinate transit routes.
(B)Fare coordination and methods of payment for transit to make transit more accessible, including single fare payments within an established zone.
(C)Increasing the frequency and reliability of transit, including a statewide technology requirement enabling real-time transit information, including arrival and departure predictions, vehicle locations, occupancy, and service alerts using the General Transit Feed Specification data format.
(D)Changes to land use policies that could improve public transit use.
(2)Recommendations on how to better plan and make procurements for transit and intercity rail projects, including recommendations on statewide procurement of buses and trains for transit fleets and whether to create or designate a state department to assist in planning transit projects.
(3)Recommendations for replacing fare box recovery ratios required under the Transportation Development Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 99200) of Part 11 of Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code) with performance metrics that better measure transit growth opportunities and customer service opportunities, and recommendations on which state department or agency should be responsible for transit system oversight and reporting.
(4)Recommendations on whether the state should create a new revenue source to pay for transit operations and projects or shift existing revenue sources towards transit operations and projects and restrict revenues from local transportation funds established pursuant to Section 29530 to transit operations.
(g)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.