2011 State Legislative Update Concerning Public Transportation

1. 2011 State Legislative UpdateConcerning Public Transportation Jaime Rall and Douglas Shinkle National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) MTAP/SCOPT Meeting Denver, Colorado November 16, 2011

2. Who is NCSL? • Bipartisan organization that serves the 7,382 legislators and 30,000+ legislative staff of the states, commonwealths and territories • Members are state legislative bodies • Nationally recognized leader in state legislative and policy issues • Serves legislatures through in-depth research, expert testimony, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas • Works closely with states, federal agencies, associations, think tanks and other stakeholders • Covers all public policy areas a legislature might consider or that affect states, not just transportation

3. NCSL Transportation Program • Covers full range of issues, incl. transit • Expert, experienced staff • Instant-response information clearinghouse, technical assistance, policy reports and briefs • Online, issue-specific bill-tracking databases on funding, coordination, traffic safety, and operations & ITS • NCSL Transportation Committee composed of legislators and staff • State-federal policies for advocacy

4. Transit Funding and Finance • At least 10 bills were considered in 7 states in 2011

5. Transit Funding and Finance • Provides funding to transit: AK SB 37 (creates general transportation fund); MD SB 451; PA HB 437; PA HB 986 (lottery proceeds to senior transit) • Raises local transit spending limits: AR HB 1174 • Would have required DOT to promote and support methods of public transportation: AK SB 37 • Allows PPPs for rail projects: AR HB 1842 • Adjusts and sets procedure for transit fare increases: CT HB 6652 • Would have reduced transit/rail funding but allowed transfers for transit operations: MN HB 1140 • Creates state infrastructure bank and rail fund: VA HB 2527 / VA SB 1446 Enacted, pending, failed For more details, see NCSL's online Transportation Funding Legislation Database: www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13597

6. More on Funding from the NCSL-AASHTO Project on State Transportation Governance and Finance AK HB 30, HB 31, SB 37 and HJR 4 would have dedicated revenues to a state Transportation Infrastructure Fund for capital projects and any public project. For more details, see the report online at: www.ncsl.org/?tabid=19117

7. NCSL-FTA-CTAA Project on Transit and Human Services Transportation Coordination • Multi-year effort in conjunction with Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) and the U.S. Department of Labor to create awareness about coordination policy options in state legislatures • Includes publications, quarterly newsletters, meetings, technical assistance to legislatures, and online database • See www.ncsl.org/TabID=756&tabs=951,72,1064#1064 or contact us about technical assistance or the newsletter

8. Human Services Transportation Coordination: State Coordinating Councils Louisiana and Tennessee's councils were created in 2011 legislative sessions. For more details, see NCSL's online State Transportation Coordination Legislation Database: www.ncsl.org/?tabid=18167

9. State Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Statutes and Programs • 12 states have transit-oriented development statutes and/or programs

10. Defining TOD • Distance to a transit stop • Facilities for pedestrians • Mixed-use of uses and services • Guidance for awarding grants to plan and build certain features in a TOD: Connecticut and Massachusetts

11. Massachusetts TOD: Housing • Affordable housing is lacking in Massachusetts • Transit-Oriented Development Bond Program: $13 million thus far and another $20 million appropriated in 2008 • Affordability requirement: Developers must build housing projects with at least 25 units, 25 percent of which must be affordable for those who earn no more than 80 percent of area median income • Design criteria: Other criteria address consistency with TOD design principles; effects on transit ridership; improved public access to transit, jobs and live/shop/work activities near transit; and improved safety

12. New Jersey TOD: Jobs • 10.6 percent state transit ridership - third highest in the nation • Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit - focus on locating jobs and employment centers near transit stations

13. Utah TOD: Public-Private Partnership • Focus on getting "Bang for the Buck" for investment in transit system • TOD's potential to increase ridership/decrease taxpayer's burden to pay for transit • 2010 legislation allows the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to partner with a developer on a TOD project

14. Safe Routes to Transit:California and Hawaii

15. Utah TOD: Public-Private Partnership • Focus on getting "Bang for the Buck" for investment in transit system • TOD's potential to increase ridership/decrease taxpayer's burden to pay for transit • 2010 legislation allows the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to partner with a developer on a TOD project

16. Contact Details and Key Resources Jaime Rall and Douglas Shinkle National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) 7700 East First Place, Denver, CO 80230 Phone: 303-364-7700 jaime.rall@ncsl.org / douglas.shinkle@ncsl.org Key Resources • NCSL Transportation Funding Online Database: www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13597 • NCSL Human Services Transportation Coordination Resources, including Online Database: www.ncsl.org/?TabID=756&tabs=951,72,1064#1064 • NCSL-AASHTO Project: Transportation Governance and Finance: A 50-State Review of State Legislatures and DOTs: www.ncsl.org/?tabid=19117