State Capitol Updates
Streetsblog California
Breaking: Last-Second Bill Would Increase Active Transportation Funding
This just in: Active transportation is finally getting some love in Sacramento. A bill was introduced today to double the funding available for projects and programs that encourage people to walk or ride bikes by making streets and paths safe and comfortable for them.
September 4, 2015
Op-Ed: Transportation Funding Talks Must Include Transit, Climate Change
An op-ed piece in the Sacramento Bee this morning points out the strange disconnects in current legislative discussions on funding transportation.
September 2, 2015
Another Fact-Free Attack on California Climate Change Bills
There's been a lot of media noise about ongoing efforts to pass new climate change legislation in California before the rapidly approaching deadline. One particular op-ed in the Orange County Register adds nothing useful to the debate, but as one of several efforts lately that have been working very hard to obscure facts, it deserves a wagging finger of shame.
September 2, 2015
Opaque Process Leaves Californians in the Dark about Transportation Funding
Amid the swirling madness that is the final few weeks of the California legislative session—all bills must be voted on by September 11, or wait until next year—the question of how to raise, and spend, money on transportation is still very much up in the air. Increasingly, it looks like major decisions will be made behind closed doors and out of the public eye.
August 28, 2015
California Legislative Update: How to Fund Transportation
The legislature came back from its summer break on Monday, and has only a month to resolve some big goals before the session ends on September 11. Over 600 bills are pending in both the Senate and the Assembly, plus there are behind-the-scenes negotiations on leftover budget issues and two concurrent special sessions aimed at forging agreements on priorities and funding for transportation and health care.
August 21, 2015
#DamienTalks Episode 14: Assemblymember Richard Bloom
Today, #DamienTalks with Assemblymember Richard Bloom, who represents western Los Angeles County in the State Assembly. Bloom is on the Finance Special Session Committee in the State Assembly, meaning that for the next two and a half weeks, the Assemblymember will have a chance to weigh in on any transportation bills before they come to the full Assembly for a vote.
August 21, 2015
Senate Leader Dismisses Idea of Using Cap-and-Trade Funds for Road Repairs
At a press conference in Sacramento yesterday, Senate President Pro-Tem Kevin de Leon dismissed the idea, floated by Republican legislators and anti-tax advocates, that revenue in the state's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction fund could be used for road maintenance and repair.
August 20, 2015
Finally Transit Is Included in CA Transportation Funding Discussions
On Friday, in separate press events in Los Angeles and San Francisco, several members of the California legislature presented new bills for consideration in the ongoing legislative special session on transportation funding.
August 17, 2015
California Legislative Update
The California legislature has departed for summer break, so for the next few weeks all will be quiet in Sacramento, at least on the surface. Following are a few highlights on bills that moved through before the policy committee deadline, which was Friday.
July 20, 2015
California Legislative Update
In Sacramento, bills are beginning to move more quickly through the committee process as this week's policy committee deadline approaches. Below are highlights on some of the bills pertaining to sustainable streets issues.
July 13, 2015