Legislation
Streetsblog California
Transportation Funding Bill Passes with Closed-Door Deals and Public Posturing
All afternoon the Senate and Assembly had hosted “debates” on the bill, but those served mainly as an opportunity for grandstanding. Most minds had been made up, and the real negotiations, to convince the few undecided votes, was going on behind closed doors.
April 7, 2017
What’s in the Gas-Tax-Raising Transportation Funding Bill?
There are a lot of good things in S.B. 1, including raising gas taxes to better reflect how much wear and tear vehicles actually impose on California roads. But then there's that dirty truck amendment.
April 5, 2017
After Years of Inaction, a Rush to Approve CA Transportation Funding Bill
A fix to a late amendment wasn't enough for environmental justice advocates, and the Republicans--well, their support is irrelevant. But the rush to pass S.B. 1 is hampering what could be a very good transportation funding bill.
April 4, 2017
Transportation Funding Bill Poisoned by Truck Amendment
A last-minute amendment exempting trucks from air quality rules threatens to poison an otherwise strong[er] transportation funding bill. The political calculus to get 2/3 vote makes this kind of amendment a risk.
March 30, 2017
California Legislative Update: Bikes, Pedestrians, Signals, Fairness
The California legislative session has begun in earnest, and it's time to take a look at some of the bills that have been introduced for this year. Below is a roundup of current bills concerned with bicycling, walking, safety, transportation, and equity.
March 3, 2017
What Are California’s Real Priorities?
Everyone agrees that transportation investment is needed. But the talk is too much about how to get the money, not enough on how best to spend the money.
March 1, 2017
Santa Monica Lawmaker Introduces Bill to End Statewide Rent Control Limitations
Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) introduced a bill that would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, the 1995 state law that weakened the strictest rent control laws in the state. The law required cities to allow property owners to raise rents on units when they were vacated, a practice that had been prohibited by strict rent control laws in Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Berkeley, Cotati, and East Palo Alto.
February 23, 2017
Bill Would Require Caltrans to Actually Follow Its Own Complete Streets Guidelines
Caltrans already has a “Complete Streets Program.” But the department too often makes moving vehicles a priority over safe and attractive infrastructure for people not sitting in a car.
February 22, 2017
New Bike Legislation that Works for Bicycle Riders
Richard Masoner at Cyclelicious has a roundup of new bicycle-related bills introduced just before California's deadline on Friday. Two are big news, including one that should clarify the rules about what the law about staying to the right actually means.
February 21, 2017
CA Transportation Funding Bill Passes its First Committee Hearing
The urgency has only increased since last year, but the only thing all participants seem to agree on is that something needs to be done.
February 15, 2017
