CHAPTER 1. General Duties and Powers [13975 - 13987]
( Heading of Chapter 1 added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 1404. )
There is in the state government the Transportation Agency. The agency consists of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the California Transportation Commission, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Transportation, the High-Speed Rail Authority, and the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 250. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)
The agency is under the supervision of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Transportation. He or she shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Governor.
The annual salary of the secretary is provided for by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 11550) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of this code.
As used in this part, “agency” and “secretary” refer to the Transportation Agency and the Secretary of Transportation, respectively, unless the context otherwise requires.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 252. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)
Before entering upon the duties of his office the secretary shall execute an official bond to the state in the penal sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties.
(Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 138.)
The secretary has the power of general supervision over, and is directly responsible to the Governor for, the operations of each department, office, and unit within the agency. The secretary may issue such orders as the secretary deems appropriate to exercise any power or jurisdiction, or to assume or discharge any responsibility, or to carry out or effect any of the purposes vested by law in any department in the agency.
(Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1153.)
The Secretary of Transportation shall advise the Governor on, and assist the Governor in establishing, major policy and program matters affecting each department, office, or other unit within the agency, and shall serve as the principal communication link for the effective transmission of policy problems and decisions between the Governor and each such department, office, or other unit.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 253. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)
The Secretary of Transportation shall exercise the authority vested in the Governor in respect to the functions of each department, office, or other unit within the agency, including the adjudication of conflicts between or among the departments, offices, or other units; and shall represent the Governor in coordinating the activities of each such department, office, or other unit with those of other agencies, federal, state, or local.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 254. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)
(a) The Transportation Agency shall prepare a state freight plan. The state freight plan shall comply with the relevant provisions of the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141. The agency shall develop a state freight plan that provides a comprehensive plan to govern the immediate and long-range planning activities and capital investments of the state with respect to the movement of freight.
(b) (1) The agency shall establish a freight advisory committee consisting of a representative cross section of public and private sector freight stakeholders, including representatives of ports, shippers, carriers, freight-related associations, the freight industry workforce, the California Transportation
Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Public Utilities Commission, the State Lands Commission, the State Air Resources Board, regional and local governments, and environmental, safety, and community organizations.
(2) The freight advisory committee shall do all of the following:
(A) Advise the agency on freight-related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs.
(B) Serve as a forum for discussion for state transportation decisions affecting freight mobility.
(C) Communicate and coordinate regional priorities with other organizations.
(D) Promote the sharing of information between the private and public sectors on freight issues.
(E) Participate in the development of the state freight plan.
(c) The state freight plan shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(1) An identification of significant freight system trends, needs, and issues.
(2) A description of the freight policies, strategies, and performance measures that will guide freight-related transportation investment decisions.
(3) A description of how the state freight plan will improve the ability of California to meet the national freight goals established under Section 167 of Title 23 of the United States Code.
(4) Evidence of consideration of innovative technologies and operational
strategies, including intelligent transportation systems, that improve the safety and efficiency of freight movement.
(5) In the case of routes on which travel by heavy vehicles, including mining, agricultural, energy cargo or equipment, and timber vehicles, is projected to substantially deteriorate the condition of roadways, a description of improvements that may be required to reduce or impede the deterioration.
(6) An inventory of facilities with freight mobility issues, such as truck bottlenecks within California, and a description of the strategies California is employing to address those freight mobility issues.
(7) A description of needed infrastructure, projects, and operations for the deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and the development of freight corridors identified pursuant to
Section 14517.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5, the state freight plan shall be submitted to the Legislature, the Governor, the California Transportation Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and the State Air Resources Board on or before December 31, 2014, and every five years thereafter. The state freight plan shall be submitted pursuant to Section 9795.
(e) The state freight plan required by this section may be developed separately from, or incorporated into, the statewide strategic long-range transportation plan required by Section 135 of Title 23 of the United States Code.
(f) The freight rail element of the state freight plan may be developed separately from, or incorporated into, the state rail plan prepared by the Department of Transportation pursuant to Section
14036.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 769, Sec. 2. (SB 671) Effective January 1, 2022.)
The secretary shall develop and report to the Governor on legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long-range, coordinated planning and policy formulation in the matters of public interest related to the agency. To accomplish this end, the secretary may hold public hearings, consult with and use the services and cooperation of other state agencies, employ staff and consultants, and appoint advisory and technical committees to assist in the work.
(Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 138.)
With respect to coordinated planning and policy formulation in transportation and housing policies, the secretary shall be responsible for resolving significant policy conflicts among state, local, and federal housing plans and programs and state, local, or federal transportation plans and programs which impede effective implementation of state housing or state transportation policy.
(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1066.)
(a) The secretary, on behalf of the agency, and any department, office, or other unit within the agency with the authority to implement transportation projects, may assume responsibilities under the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq.) and other federal environmental laws, pursuant to Section 327 of Title 23 of the United States Code, for any railroad, public transportation, or multimodal project.
(b) Before assuming the responsibilities set forth in subdivision (a) through execution of a memorandum of understanding between the State of California and the federal government, the secretary shall submit a copy of the draft memorandum of understanding to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. Execution of the
memorandum of understanding shall occur no sooner than 30 days after the secretary provides the draft memorandum of understanding to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, or whatever lesser time after that notification that the chair of the joint committee, or the chair’s designee, may determine.
(c) The State of California consents to the jurisdiction of the federal courts with regard to the compliance, discharge, or enforcement of any responsibilities assumed pursuant to subdivision (a).
(d) In any action brought pursuant to the federal laws described in subdivision (a) for a project for which responsibilities have been assumed pursuant to subdivision (a), no immunity from suit may be asserted pursuant to the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, and any immunity is hereby waived.
(e) No
responsibility assumed pursuant to subdivision (a) may be delegated to any political subdivision of the state, such as a county, or its instrumentalities.
(f) This section does not affect the obligation of the secretary and all departments, offices, and other units within the agency to comply with state and federal law.
(g) Nothing in this section is intended to repeal or modify Section 820.1 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(h) This section shall not be construed as changing the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(i) This section shall remain in effect only until December 31, 2033, and as of that date is repealed.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 58, Sec. 1. (SB 146) Effective July 10, 2023. Repealed as of December 31, 2033, by its own provisions.)
(a) On or before January 1, 2024, the agency shall establish and convene the Transit Transformation Task Force.
(b) The task force shall include, but is not limited to, representatives from transit operators, both small and large operating in urban and rural jurisdictions, the Department of Transportation, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation planning organizations, transportation advocacy organizations with expertise in public transit, labor organizations, academic institutions, the Senate Committee on Transportation, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and other stakeholders, as appropriate, at the discretion of the agency. Transit operators included on the task force shall include a mix of
agencies that provide bus-only service, rail-only service, ferry-only service, and multimodal service.
(c) The task force shall develop a structured, coordinated process for engagement of all parties to solicit and develop policy recommendations to grow transit ridership and improve the transit experience for all users of those services.
(d) The agency shall, in consultation with the task force, prepare and submit a report of findings and policy recommendations, including identifying where statutory changes would be needed to implement recommendations, based on the task force’s efforts to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before October 31, 2025. The report shall identify the financial and technical feasibility of those recommendations.
(e) The report shall include, but is not
limited to, and to the extent feasible, a detailed analysis of the following issues:
(1) The services provided by transit agencies and the demographics of transit ridership, with detail on services provided, including persons with disabilities, or specific populations like low-income individuals and students.
(2) Existing funding sources for transit with a breakdown of funding available for capital and operations, including any constitutional and statutory limitations on these existing funding sources.
(3) The use of moneys from local transportation funds established pursuant to Section 29530 for other modes, such as streets and roads.
(4) The cost to operate, maintain, and provide for the future growth of transit systems for the next 10 years.
(5) The costs and operational impacts associated with federal, state, and local mandates, including, but not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132) and the State Air Resources Board’s Innovative Clean Transit regulations (Article 4.3 (commencing with Section 2023) of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations), to the extent feasible.
(6) Workforce recruitment, retention, and development challenges, impacting transit service.
(7) Existing policies on state and local metrics to measure transit performance.
(8) State and local policies that impact service efficiency and transit ridership, including, but not limited to, transit prioritization on roads, land use, housing, and pricing
policies.
(9) Identification of state departments and agencies that have responsibility for transit system oversight, grant administration, and reporting.
(10) Information on how transit agencies modified their services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting drop in ridership and revenue.
(11) The division of transit funding between capital and operations.
(f) The report shall also include, but is not limited to, recommendations on the following:
(1) How to improve mobility and increase ridership on transit, including, but not limited to:
(A) Service and fare coordination or integration between transit
agencies.
(B) Coordinated scheduling, mapping, and wayfinding between transit agencies.
(C) Providing a safe and clean ride for passengers and operators.
(D) Increasing the frequency and reliability, through strategies that include, but are not limited to, the sharing of real-time transit information such as arrival and departure times and predictions, service alert data, and transit prioritization on roads.
(E) Strategies to provide first- and last-mile access to transit.
(F) Strategies to achieve fleet and asset management goals and needs, including funding approaches.
(2) Changes to land use, housing, and pricing policies
that could improve public transit use.
(3) Strategies to address workforce recruitment, retention, and development challenges.
(4) Reforming the Transportation Development Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 99200) of Part 11 of Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code), including, but not limited to, replacing the fare box recovery ratios and efficiency criteria with performance metrics that better measure transit operations.
(5) Identification of the appropriate state department or agency to be responsible for transit system oversight and reporting.
(6) New options for revenue sources to fund transit operations and capital projects to meet necessary future growth of transit systems for the next 10 years.
(7) The potential of transit-oriented development and value capture of property around transit stations as a source of sustainable revenue for transit operations.
(g) The task force may consult with the California Transportation Commission to use its work on the needs assessment prepared pursuant to Section 14518 regarding the identification of future transit capital and operational needs. The task force may use data provided pursuant to Section 13987 to inform the analysis.
(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 54, Sec. 1. (SB 125) Effective July 10, 2023. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, by its own provisions.)
(a) (1) Consistent with, and subject to the requirements of, any memorandum of understanding between the state and federal government, the secretary, upon the request of a local or regional agency with the authority to implement transportation projects, may assume responsibilities under the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq.) and other federal environmental laws, pursuant to Section 327 of Title 23 of the United States Code, for any railroad, local public transportation, or multimodal project implemented by the requesting local or regional agency.
(2) For purposes of this section, “local or regional agency” includes, but is not limited to, a city, county, city and county,
special district, or joint powers authority.
(b) The secretary shall report to the transportation policy committees of the Legislature regarding which local or regional agencies requested that the secretary assume the authority under the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq.) by December 31, 2033.
(3) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(c) Before assuming the responsibilities set forth in subdivision (a) through execution of a memorandum of understanding between the State of California and the federal government, the secretary shall submit a copy of the draft memorandum of understanding to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. Execution of the memorandum of understanding
shall occur no sooner than 30 days after the secretary provides the draft memorandum of understanding to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, or whatever lesser time after that notification that the chair of the joint committee, or the chair’s designee, may determine.
(d) The State of California consents to the jurisdiction of the federal courts with regard to the compliance, discharge, or enforcement of any responsibilities assumed pursuant to subdivision (a).
(e) In any action brought pursuant to the federal laws described in subdivision (a) for a project for which responsibilities have been assumed pursuant to subdivision (a), no immunity from suit may be asserted pursuant to the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, and any immunity is hereby waived.
(f) No responsibility assumed pursuant to
subdivision (a) may be delegated to any political subdivision of the state, such as a county, or its instrumentalities.
(g) This section does not affect the obligation of the secretary and all departments, offices, and other units within the agency to comply with state and federal law.
(h) Nothing in this section is intended to repeal or modify Section 820.1 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(i) This section shall not be construed as changing the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(j) This section shall remain in effect only until December 31, 2033, and as of that date is repealed.
(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 58, Sec. 2. (SB 146) Effective July 10, 2023. Repealed as of December 31, 2033, by its own provisions.)
For the purpose of administration, the secretary shall review the organization of the agency and report to the Governor on such changes as he deems necessary properly to segregate and conduct the work of the agency.
(Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 138.)
The secretary and any other officer or employee within the agency designated in writing by the secretary shall have the power of a head of a department pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 11180) of Chapter 2, Part 1, Division 3, Title 2 of the Government Code.
(Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 138.)
Whenever a power is granted to the secretary, the power may be exercised by such officer or employee within the agency as designated in writing by the secretary.
(Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 138.)
The secretary shall conduct a program relating to the medical aspects of traffic injury and accident control.
(Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 138.)
In order to ensure that Section 10240.3 of the Business and Professions Code and Sections 327, 22171, and 50333 of the Financial Code are applied consistently to all California entities engaged in the brokering, originating, servicing, underwriting, and issuance of nontraditional mortgage products, the secretary shall ensure that the Director of Consumer Affairs or the Commissioner of Real Estate and the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation coordinate their policymaking and rulemaking efforts.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 452, Sec. 185. (SB 1498) Effective January 1, 2023.)
(a) The secretary shall coordinate with the Department of Transportation and the California Transportation Commission to identify available funding in state transportation programs in existence as of January 1, 2024, including, but not limited to, competitive grant programs administered by the agency, the Department of Transportation, or the California Transportation Commission, that may be used to support grade separation projects that were previously awarded funding from Cycle 6 of the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code) and the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program established pursuant to Section 2196.2 of the Streets and Highways Code but had that funding reverted pursuant to the Budget Act of 2024.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the agency shall prioritize, and may directly allocate, funding identified pursuant to subdivision (a), as available and appropriate, for grade separation projects described in subdivision (a) that are at risk of losing or failing to secure federal and local funding commitments, or that are at risk of approved project schedule delays, or both.
(c) (1) The secretary shall report to the Legislature, on or before April 30, 2025, on any funding that the secretary identified for impacted grade separation projects pursuant to subdivision (a).
(2) The secretary shall submit the report required pursuant to paragraph (1) in compliance with Section 9795.
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 53, Sec. 2. (AB 173) Effective July 2, 2024.)
(a) Subject to the appropriation of funds for the purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2) in the Budget Act of 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, or 2027, the agency shall develop and administer an accountability program related to the distribution of funds from the following sources:
(1) Funds appropriated to the agency in the annual Budget Act from the General Fund and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for purposes of the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program
(Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code) for allocation pursuant to Section 99313 of Public Utilities Code.
(2) Funds appropriated to the agency in the annual Budget Act from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and the Public Transportation Account for purposes of the Zero-Emission Transit Capital Program (Part 6 (commencing with Section 75260) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code) for allocation pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 99312.1 of the Public Utilities Code.
(b) (1) The agency shall, in consultation with transportation planning agencies, county transportation commissions, transit development boards, and transit operators, develop guidelines aligned with the legislative intent described in subdivision (d) of Section 75226 of, and subdivision (f) of Section 75260 of, the
Public Resources Code for the administration of the funding described in subdivision (a).
(2) The guidelines described in this section shall be exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1).
(3) Before adopting or modifying the guidelines pursuant to paragraph (4), the agency shall adopt draft guidelines, post those draft guidelines on its internet website, and conduct at least one public workshop or hearing on the draft guidelines. This section does not preclude the agency from conducting additional public workshops or posting informal draft guidelines to inform guideline development before the adoption
of final guidelines.
(4) (A) The agency shall adopt the final guidelines governing the distribution of funds for the 2023–24 fiscal year on or before September 30, 2023.
(B) The agency may modify the guidelines adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) for the distribution of funds for the 2024–25 fiscal year no later than September 30, 2024.
(C) The agency may modify the guidelines adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) for the distribution of funds for the 2025–26 fiscal year no later than September 30, 2025.
(D) The agency may modify the guidelines adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) for the distribution of funds for the 2026–27 fiscal year no later
than September 30, 2026.
(E) The agency may modify the guidelines adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A) for the distribution of funds for the 2027–28 fiscal year no later than September 30, 2027.
(c) (1) (A) A regional transportation planning agency may only receive an allocation of funds in the 2023–24 fiscal year from the funding sources described in subdivision (a) if both of the following conditions are met by December 31, 2023:
(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the regional transportation planning agency submits, and the agency approves, a regional short-term financial plan for immediate service retention consistent with the adopted guidelines and the requirements set forth in subdivision (e). If a regional transportation planning
agency elects to use the funds described in subdivision (a) for operations for any of its transit operators in the 2023–24 fiscal year or forecasts operational need between the 2023–24 and 2026–27 fiscal years, inclusive, for any of its transit operators, then it shall submit a regional short-term financial plan pursuant to this clause.
(ii) The regional transportation planning agency submits to the agency regionally compiled transit operator data that is consistent with requirements included in the adopted guidelines and the requirements set forth in subdivision (f), and is compiled in coordination with transit operators providing service within the jurisdiction of the regional transportation planning agency.
(B) A regional transportation planning agency shall not be required to submit a regional short-term financial plan pursuant to subparagraph (A) if it declares that it does
not have an operational need between the 2023–24 and 2026–27 fiscal years, inclusive, for any of its transit operators and will not use funding sources described in subdivision (a) for operations for any of its transit operators.
(2) A regional transportation planning agency may only receive an allocation of funds in the 2024–25 fiscal year from the funding sources described in subdivision (a) if it submits, and the agency approves, an updated regional short-term financial plan, and updated transit operator data, as described in paragraph (1), by December 31,
2024. The requirement to submit a regional short-term financial plan to receive 2024–25 fiscal year funding shall apply to all regional transportation planning agencies receiving funding described in subdivision (a) regardless of the exemption pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1).
(3) A regional transportation planning agency may only receive an allocation of funds in the 2025–26 fiscal year from the funding sources described in subdivision (a) if it submits, and the agency approves, an updated regional short-term financial plan, and updated transit operator data, as described in paragraph (1),
by December 31, 2025. The requirement to submit a regional short-term financial plan to receive 2025–26 fiscal year funding shall apply to all regional transportation planning agencies receiving funding described in subdivision (a) regardless of the exemption pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1).
(4) A regional transportation planning agency may only receive an allocation of funds in the 2026–27 fiscal year from the funding sources described in subdivision (a) if it submits, and the agency approves, updated transit operator data, as described in paragraph (1), by December 31, 2026.
(5) A regional transportation planning agency may only receive an allocation of funds in the 2027–28 fiscal year from the funding sources described in subdivision (a) if it submits, and the agency approves, updated transit operator data, as described in paragraph (1), by December 31, 2027.
(6) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, the agency shall provide a regional transportation planning agency that does not meet requirements specified in paragraph
(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) with an opportunity to remedy its plan and data and shall provide the allocation of funding after the requirements are met by no later than August 31, 2024, for the 2023–24 fiscal
year, no later than April 30, 2025, for the 2024–25 fiscal year, no later than April 30, 2026, for the 2025–26 fiscal year, no later than April 30, 2027, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, and no later than April 30, 2028, for the 2027–28 fiscal year.
(7) Upon agency approval of a regional short-term financial plan pursuant to paragraph
(1), (2), or (3), a regional transportation planning agency shall post the plan on its internet website.
(d) A regional transportation planning agency shall submit a long-term financial plan consistent with the requirements of subdivision (g) to the agency by June 30, 2026, that addresses the approach to sustain its region’s transit operations absent additional discretionary or nonformula state funding.
(e) For purposes of subdivision (c), a regional short-term financial plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A demonstration of how the region will address any operational deficit, using all available funds including the
funding sources described in subdivision (a), through the 2025–26 fiscal year, based on a 2022 service baseline.
(2) Justification for how the region’s funding is proposed to be allocated to capital and operational expenses.
(3) A detailed breakdown and justification for how the funding is proposed to be distributed between transit operators and among projects, consistent with the legislative intent described in subdivision (d) of Section 75226 of, and subdivision (f) of Section 75260 of, the Public Resources Code
(4) A demonstration of how the plan will mitigate service cuts, fare increases, or layoffs relative to a 2022 service baseline to achieve short-term financial sustainability.
(5) A summary of how the
plan will support ridership improvement strategies that focus on riders, such as coordinating schedules and ease of payment and improving cleanliness and safety, to improve the ridership experience.
(f) For purposes of subdivision (c), a regional transportation planning agency shall compile and submit regionally representative transit operator data to the agency, including, but not limited to, all of the following data:
(1) Existing fleet and asset management plans by transit operator.
(2) Revenue collection methods and annual costs involved in collecting revenue for each transit operator and regional transportation
planning agency involved.
(3) A statement of existing service plan and planned service changes.
(4) Expenditures on security and safety measures.
(5) Opportunities for service restructuring, eliminating service redundancies, and improving coordination amongst transit operators, including, but not limited to, consolidation of agencies or reevaluation of network management and governance structure.
(6) Schedule data in General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) format to enable full visibility of service and service changes where feasible.
(g) For purposes of subdivision (d), a regional long-term financial plan shall include, but is not limited to, both of the following:
(1) Demonstration of the implementation of ridership retention and recovery strategies, including, but not limited to, policies that prioritize safety and cleanliness and streamlined coordination between transit operators, such as schedule coordination, operational management, and site sharing, to improve rider experience.
(2) A five-year forecast of operating funding requirements with detail on all sources of funding proposed for operations, including any new local and regional funding sources being pursued and the progress and improvements implemented since the last submitted regional short-term financial plan.
(h) As a condition of receiving moneys from the funding sources described in subdivision (a), a regional transportation planning agency shall post on its internet website a summary of monthly ridership data,
consistent with the data submitted to the National Transit Database, from all its transit operators during the period of time for which it receives those moneys.
(i) (1) The agency shall support the transit goals set forth in this section by doing all of the following:
(A) Providing technical assistance to transit operators to transition to GTFS Real Time.
(B) Working with the Department of Transportation and each region to identify service improvements that could further grow ridership at both regional and interregional levels, including, but not limited to, transit priority.
(C) Working with the Department of Transportation and each region to identify opportunities to reduce the costs of revenue collection across operators,
including through their California Integrated Transit Project.
(2) The agency may withhold up to five million dollars ($5,000,000) of the funding described in subdivision (a) to administer the accountability program established pursuant to this section. This funding shall be available for encumbrance and liquidation until June 30, 2029.
(j) For purposes of this section, “regional transportation planning agency” means a recipient of funding described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 99312.1 of the Public Utilities Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 53, Sec. 3. (AB 173) Effective July 2, 2024.)