Bill Text: CA AB2796 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Active Transportation Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Senate committee without further action. [AB2796 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2796-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2796	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Low and Bloom

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to amend Section 2381 of the Streets and Highways Code,
relating to transportation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2796, as introduced, Low. Active Transportation Program.
   Existing law creates the Active Transportation Program in the
Department of Transportation for the purpose of encouraging increased
use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking,
with specified available funds to be awarded to eligible projects by
the California Transportation Commission and regional transportation
agencies. Existing law requires the commission to award 50% and 10%
of available funds to projects statewide and to projects in small
urban and rural regions, respectively, with the remaining 40% of
available funds to be awarded to projects by metropolitan planning
organizations, with the funds available for distribution by each
metropolitan planning organization based on its relative population.
   This bill would require a minimum of 5% of available funds in each
of the 3 distribution categories to be awarded for planning and
community engagement for active transportation in disadvantaged
communities. The bill would also require a minimum of 10% and a
maximum of 30% of all available Active Transportation Program funds
to be programmed for noninfrastructure purposes.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 2381 of the Streets and Highways Code is
amended to read:
   2381.  (a) The Active Transportation Program shall be funded by
state and federal funds from appropriations in the annual Budget Act.
Funds for the program shall be appropriated to the department, for
allocation by the commission. The amount to be appropriated shall
include 100 percent of the federal Transportation Alternative Program
funds, except for any federal Recreational Trails Program funds
appropriated to the Department of Parks and Recreation; twenty-one
million dollars ($21,000,000) of federal Highway Safety Improvement
funds or other federal funds; and State Highway Account funds. Future
funding may be augmented if state or federal funds increase, or if
other funding sources are identified. Funds appropriated for the
Active Transportation Program shall be distributed as follows:
   (1) Forty percent to metropolitan planning organizations in urban
areas with populations greater than 200,000, in proportion to their
relative share of population. Funds allocated under this paragraph
shall be obligated for eligible projects selected through a
competitive process by the metropolitan planning organizations in
consultation with the department and the commission and in accordance
with guidelines established pursuant to this chapter.
   (2) Ten percent to small urban and rural regions with populations
of 200,000 or less, with projects competitively awarded by the
commission to projects in those regions.
   (3) Fifty percent to projects competitively awarded by the
commission on a statewide basis. 
   (b) (1) For each of the funding distribution categories in
paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (a), a minimum of 5
percent of available funds shall be awarded for planning and
community engagement for active transportation in disadvantaged
communities.  
   (2) A minimum of 10 percent and a maximum of 30 percent of the
total funding available for distribution pursuant to subdivision (a)
shall be programmed for noninfrastructure activities, including
activities relating to safe routes to school.  
   (b) 
    (c)  For the purpose of paragraph (1) of subdivision
(a), the following shall apply in the region served by the
multicounty designated transportation planning agency described in
Section 130004 of the Public Utilities Code:
   (1) The multicounty designated transportation planning agency
shall consult with the county transportation commissions created
pursuant to Sections 130050, 130050.1, and 132800 of the Public
Utilities Code, the commission, and the department in the development
of competitive selection criteria to be adopted by the multicounty
designated transportation planning agency, which should include
consideration of geographic equity, consistent with program
objectives.
   (2) The multicounty designated transportation planning agency
shall place priority on projects that are consistent with plans
adopted by local and regional governments within the county where the
project is located.
   (3) The multicounty designated transportation planning agency
shall obtain concurrence from the county transportation commissions,
adopt the projects selected in a comprehensive program of projects,
and make funds available to selected project recipients. 
   (c) 
    (d)  The Legislature finds and declares that the program
described in this chapter constitutes a highway purpose under
Article XIX of the California Constitution and justifies the
expenditure of highway funds therefor, and all expenditures of
Article XIX funds under this program shall be consistent with Article
XIX.