Governor signs bill to provide state´s rural residents greater access to public transit
California Political Desk
October 16, 2009
SACRAMENTO— This weekend Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law legislation by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) that works to ensure that the transit needs of all rural Californians are met by updating the Transportation Development Act of 1971, which provides funding for public transportation and hasn´t been updated in over 35 years. The bill also helps to provide safe, affordable, and reliable transportation for agricultural workers in California´s rural counties.
Under existing law, counties with a population under 500,000 as of the 1970 census can use local transportation funds for local streets and roads, so long as the county has no unmet transit needs. Senate Bill 716 updates the law to ensure that the most recent census data is used to ensure that counties with populations over 500,000 provide their residents with viable public transit options.
"SB 716 works to provide residents of California´s rural regions with greater access to public transit by requiring the use of more accurate population estimates in counties´ choices for their local transit funds," Wolk said. "I want to thank both the sponsor of this bill and Andrew Chesley, executive director with the San Joaquin Council of Governments, for their efforts and commitment to see this measure signed into law."
Martha Guzman, a legislative advocate for the measure´s sponsor, the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, also applauded the Governor´s decision to sign the bill.
"We are very pleased with that the Governor has shown his commitment to include rural populations in his vision for a greener and healthier California," she said. "SB 716 provides local governments with a timeline for when they will have to fully invest in transit based on population density. Furthermore, farm workers will now have a place at the table and will no longer be turned away for not being a ´normal´ population."
SB 716 clarifies that local vanpool services for agricultural workers in rural areas of the state are eligible for local public transportation funding after traditional transit needs are met.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor´s Bureau of Labor Statistics, transportation incidents are the most common cause of work-related fatalities for agricultural workers. Since 1994, 63 agricultural workers have died while riding aboard farm labor transportation vehicles.
"Many agricultural workers can´t afford a car, limiting their means of commuting through regions of the state where public transportation isn´t widely available, if it´s available at all," Wolk said. "Too often, workers are forced to crowd into unsafe vehicles, without even the protection of a safety belt. This measure works to provide them with safe and reliable transit."
SB 716 is also supported by the Yolo County Transportation District, Transportation Agency for Monterey County, Ventura County Transportation Commission, Madera Coalition for Community Justice, Coalition for Sustainable Transportation, California Institute for Rural Studies, and the Center on Race Poverty and the Environment. The measure takes effect July 1, 2014.
Under existing law, counties with a population under 500,000 as of the 1970 census can use local transportation funds for local streets and roads, so long as the county has no unmet transit needs. Senate Bill 716 updates the law to ensure that the most recent census data is used to ensure that counties with populations over 500,000 provide their residents with viable public transit options.
"SB 716 works to provide residents of California´s rural regions with greater access to public transit by requiring the use of more accurate population estimates in counties´ choices for their local transit funds," Wolk said. "I want to thank both the sponsor of this bill and Andrew Chesley, executive director with the San Joaquin Council of Governments, for their efforts and commitment to see this measure signed into law."
Martha Guzman, a legislative advocate for the measure´s sponsor, the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, also applauded the Governor´s decision to sign the bill.
"We are very pleased with that the Governor has shown his commitment to include rural populations in his vision for a greener and healthier California," she said. "SB 716 provides local governments with a timeline for when they will have to fully invest in transit based on population density. Furthermore, farm workers will now have a place at the table and will no longer be turned away for not being a ´normal´ population."
SB 716 clarifies that local vanpool services for agricultural workers in rural areas of the state are eligible for local public transportation funding after traditional transit needs are met.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor´s Bureau of Labor Statistics, transportation incidents are the most common cause of work-related fatalities for agricultural workers. Since 1994, 63 agricultural workers have died while riding aboard farm labor transportation vehicles.
"Many agricultural workers can´t afford a car, limiting their means of commuting through regions of the state where public transportation isn´t widely available, if it´s available at all," Wolk said. "Too often, workers are forced to crowd into unsafe vehicles, without even the protection of a safety belt. This measure works to provide them with safe and reliable transit."
SB 716 is also supported by the Yolo County Transportation District, Transportation Agency for Monterey County, Ventura County Transportation Commission, Madera Coalition for Community Justice, Coalition for Sustainable Transportation, California Institute for Rural Studies, and the Center on Race Poverty and the Environment. The measure takes effect July 1, 2014.