Move LA is co-sponsoring AB 1002 by Assemblyman Richard Bloom, which would levy a $6 vehicle registration surcharge that would provide $180-$200 million a year to be distributed this way:
•  40% to transportation commissions and operators for transit operations and discounted transit passes for seniors, students, low-income youth, the disabled, and other populations;
•   50% to cities and counties for first-mile/last-mile bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, complete streets and Safe Routes to School projects;
•   10% to metropolitan planning organizations for competitive grant programs to help cities and counties implement SB 375.

Why AB 1002 and why now? California residents are increasingly interested in taking transit, walking and biking — to save money, to lead more active and healthy lifestyles, to avoid traffic congestion, and/or because they are concerned about climate change and this country’s continued dependence on oil.

But local governments have limited resources to spend on transit operations, bike and pedestrian projects. Smaller, more local, less expensive bike and pedestrian projects don’t compete well against larger highway and transit projects in countywide or regionwide transportation funding programs. And funding transit operations has never been easy because it requires an ongoing and reliable revenue source, whereas capital programs to build projects only need a one-time infusion of revenue.

AB 1002 would create a dedicated, ongoing source of funding for both operations and bike/ped projects, providing Californians with alternatives to owning one or more cars.

The bill is first heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee on April 22. The author is first-term Assemblymember Richard Bloom, former mayor and councilmember in Santa Monica.