SACRAMENTO – California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin today issued the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the infrastructure streamlining package on July 10 as part of the 2023-24 state budget:
“I applaud Governor Newsom and legislative leaders on enacting a budget that, despite a challenging deficit, maintains critical transportation investments and includes $5.1 billion for public transit to help stave off a looming fiscal cliff. Public transportation is absolutely essential to achieving our state’s world-leading climate and equity goals, and this funding provides a vital lifeline that will give transit agencies flexibility to invest in capital projects or operations based on their needs. This much-needed relief – which follows nearly $3.5 billion in state funding just this year to expand transit and passenger rail service throughout the state – also comes with accountability measures and a new Transit Transformation Task Force. I look forward to partnering with stakeholders on implementing these key steps that will help work toward long-term financial stability and delivering a world-class transit system for the people of California.
“I’m also thrilled to see the Governor’s ambitious infrastructure permitting and project review reforms in the final budget package to help build California’s climate-resilient future faster and create hundreds of thousands of good jobs. By maintaining key state transportation investments and streamlining project delivery, California continues to be in a great position to compete for significant federal infrastructure dollars and quickly deliver projects that align with our ‘Core Four’ priorities of safety, climate action, equity and economic prosperity.”
Governor Newsom is joined by members of his administration, including Secretary
Toks Omishakin and Undersecretary Mark Tollefson, after signing the infrastructure
streamlining bill package on July 10, 2023.
Among the highlights of the 2023-24 state budget:
- $5.1 billion for public transit – $4 billion through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and $1.1 billion for a new Zero-Emission Transit Capital Program – to address short-term operations and capital needs. CalSTA will develop and administer an accountability program to govern the distribution of these funds as well as establish a Transit Transformation Task Force to develop policy recommendations to grow transit ridership, improve the transit experience and address long-term operational needs.
- Maintains and builds upon the $15 billion multiyear transportation infrastructure package agreed upon in the 2022-23 state budget – no change in the overall funding.
The full budget will be available at www.ebudget.ca.gov.
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