State Advocacy
MTC takes the Bay Area’s interests to Sacramento to advocate for state funding for a range of regional priorities and projects.
State legislators work on a variety of policies that affect funding for the Bay Area, and it’s important that the region’s interests are represented.
MTC ensures that the region has a place at the table by helping inform and shape new legislative proposals in Sacramento.
Transit Operations Top 2023-24 Priorities
According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, California must close a $25 billion deficit as the governor and legislators prepare a new state budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Against this backdrop, MTC's top legislative priority is to secure multi-year state support for California transit agencies to continue operating their existing services, improve the customer experience for transit riders, and hire the workers needed to end a shortage of drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, station agents, and other staff positions that has emerged in recent years.
Pandemic relief money from the federal government helped keep transit agencies across the country maintain operations. But several transit agencies in the Bay Area and elsewhere in California may exhaust these funds before the 2023-24 fiscal year is over. MTC in January 2023 joined a coalition of transit agencies, business and environmental groups, policy advocates and others in signing a detailed letter to the chairs of the state Senate and Assembly budget committees urging state support to help California transit agencies avoid a 'fiscal cliff.' State Senate and Assembly members from across California authored a separate letter to colleagues voicing similar support for a 2023-24 state budget that includes significant funding for transit operations.
Housing Advocacy
MTC advocates for — and helps craft bills — that will bring critical funding the Bay Area can use to help solve the housing crisis.
Transportation Advocacy
State policies play a significant role in funding Bay Area transportation programs. MTC advocates for policies that support current and future transportation needs.
Working Together on the Federal, State & Regional Levels
MTC's advocacy work in Washington traditionally focuses on the overall federal transportation program, and on support for capital investment in Bay Area transportation priorities.
MTC collaborates with cities, counties, transit agencies and other partners to compete together for federal and state funding.
MTC’s state and federal advocacy efforts are guided by the Joint MTC ABAG Legislation Committee.
Committee meetings cover the latest developments in Sacramento and Washington, as well as recommendations by MTC staff to support or oppose particular bills.
The Partnership Legislative Committee provides a forum to consult on key policy matters with legislative staff from the Bay Area’s cities and counties, public transit agencies and county transportation agencies.
Staff Contact
To be added to the email list for this committee, contact Rebecca Long, Acting Director, Legislation & Public Affairs, at rlong@bayareametro.gov.
2022-2023 Legislative History is a detailed list of bills the ABAG and MTC are tracking in Sacramento, including those ABAG or MTC supports or opposes.