BOARD MEETING DATE: April 6, 2007
AGENDA NO. 43

PROPOSAL:

Authorize Transmittal of Recommendations to the California Legislature, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for Expenditure of Funds Authorized Pursuant to Proposition 1B - The Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006

SYNOPSIS:

The California Legislature is currently working on several legislative proposals to appropriate and direct the expenditure of bond funds secured by Proposition 1B. CARB is the implementing agency for the $1 billion Proposition 1B funding for air quality improvements. The California Transportation Commission is responsible for the State Transportation Improvement Program. The attached resolution provides AQMD’s recommended conditions for funding projects in the South Coast. These conditions are to be communicated to the California Legislature, CARB, and CTC to ensure that funds are expended in a manner benefiting air quality.

COMMITTEE:

Board Retreat, March 29-30, 2007, Discussed

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Approve the attached resolution expressing the AQMD’s conditions for funding projects with Proposition 1B bond funds in the South Coast District.
2. Direct staff to forward the attached resolution to the California Legislature, CARB, and CTC for consideration.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

In November 2006, California voters approved Proposition 1B – The Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006 (Bond Act of 2006), which allows the state to sell $19.9 billion in general obligation bonds to fund transportation projects to relieve congestion, facilitate goods movement, improve air quality, and enhance the safety and security of California ports. Proposition 1B allocates the $19.9 billion as follows (in millions):

• Congestion Reduction, Highway Local Road Improvements         $11,250
• Transit                                                                                      $4,000
• Safety and Security                                                                    $1,475
• Goods Movement and Air Quality                                                $3,200
  √   Trade corridors: improve movement of goods on
       highway and rail, and in ports                            $2,000
  √   Air quality: reduce emissions from goods
       movement activities                                          $1,000
  √   School bus retrofit: retrofit and replace
       polluting vehicles                                                   $200
       Total                                                              $19,925

Proposal

The California Legislature is currently working on several legislative proposals to appropriate and direct the expenditure of Proposition 1B moneys. CARB is the implementing agency for $1 billion in Proposition 1B funding for air quality improvements, much of which should be expended for projects in the South Coast District. The California Transportation Commission is the implementing agency for the State Transportation Improvement Program, the funding from which also should be largely expended for projects in the South Coast District. The attached resolution provides AQMD’s recommendations to the California Legislature, CARB, and CTC to ensure that Proposition 1B bond funds are expended in a manner benefiting air quality in the South Coast.

AQMD urges the Legislature, CARB and CTC to adopt and implement the attached resolution in the course of their disbursement of bond funds, as allocated by Proposition 1B.

Attachments  (DOC 33.5kb)
Resolution 2007-______