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Program Enhancements and Other Budget Adjustments
Transportation - Major Programs
The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) constructs, operates, and maintains a comprehensive transportation system with more than 50,000 miles of highway and freeway lanes. Caltrans provides intercity rail passenger services under contract with Amtrak and helps local governments deliver transportation projects.
The Governor's Budget proposes $12.8 billion, $11.2 billion from non-General Fund sources, for the Department of Transportation. This reflects an increase of $1.5 billion from the revised 2006-07 budget due primarily to the implementation of Proposition 1B.
Transportation projects and operations generally are supported by dedicated special funds and federal funds. This approach guarantees funding for multiyear planning processes that need sustained revenues to fund large projects.
CAPITAL OUTLAY
A 2007-08 authorization of $5.8 billion is proposed for transportation capital outlay programs compared to $4.6 billion in the current fiscal year. The 2007-08 total includes $218 million from the General Fund, $1.2 billion from the State Highway Account, $1.6 billion in federal funds, and $2.8 billion from other special funds.
Figure BTH-04 shows resources used at the state level from 2005-06 through 2007-08.
STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
The California Transportation Commission adopted the 2006 State Transportation Improvement Program Fund Estimate in September 2005. The Fund Estimate is an approximation of all resources reasonably expected to be available for transportation over the next five-year period. The 2006 STIP Fund Estimate covers 2006-07 through 2010-11, and estimates total programming capacity of $5.6 billion. This level of capacity fully funds the 2004 STIP, which was constrained by inadequate resources, and adds $1.8 billion in new programming capacity.
In November 2006, voters approved Propositions 1B, authorizing $19.9 billion in bonds for transportation, including additional funding for STIP, as part of the transportation element of the Governor's Strategic Growth Plan. As a result, the Commission adopted the 2006 STIP Fund Estimate Augmentation in December 2006, adding another $2 billion of program capacity for the current Fund Estimate period. The Budget reflects $262 million in 2006-07 and $340 million from these new funds.
STATE HIGHWAY OPERATION AND PROTECTION PROGRAM
State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) projects reduce collisions and hazards to motorists, preserve bridges and roadways, enhance and protect roadsides, and improve operation of the state highway system.
The 2006 Fund Estimate assumes $12.9 billion in SHOPP funding from 2006-07 through 2010-11. For 2007-08, $1.8 billion is included in the Budget. The Budget proposes to use a combination of the tribal gaming revenues and $205 million in federal funds received for past emergencies and reallocated from other states for additional pavement projects in the SHOPP in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The last maintenance pavement survey, which was conducted in 2004, indicated nearly 14,000 lane miles (or thirty percent) of the state highway system were "distressed", or needing major repair.
LOCAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Caltrans provides state and federal transportation funds to local agencies through its local assistance budget. The funds support local capital improvement projects on the state highway system, mass transit capital improvement projects, and local bridge improvement projects and provide discretionary assistance to local transportation agencies. The Governor's Budget proposes $3.2 billion in local assistance funding for transportation in 2007-08, including $645 million for local mass transportation projects. The total is comprised of $801 million from the General Fund, $158 million from the State Highway Account, $1.8 billion in federal funds, and $441 million from other special funds.
STATE OPERATIONS BUDGET
The Governor's Budget proposes $3.8 billion in state operations funding to support Caltrans in 2007-08, including $256 million from the General Fund, $2.4 billion from the State Highway Account, $642 million in federal funds, and $502 million from other special funds, a $149 million increase from currently estimated 2006-07 expenditures.
MAINTENANCE
The Budget includes $1.2 billion and 5,821 positions to maintain approximately 15,000 centerline miles of highway, over 230,000 right-of-way acres, and over 12,000 state highway bridges and to inspect over 12,000 local bridges. The maintenance budget reflects an $85 million augmentation from non-Article XIX revenues and available balances.
RAIL OPERATIONS
The Budget includes $123 million and 153 positions to manage and coordinate intercity rail passenger services that provide commuters with a range of transportation options, help to improve the state's air quality, and reduce highway congestion and fuel consumption. Caltrans manages two state-supported routes operated by Amtrak, and financially supports a third.
CAPITAL OUTLAY SUPPORT
Caltrans will submit its traditional zero-based Capital Outlay Support request as part of the May Revision. Caltrans estimates its capital outlay workload needs in the spring because it has a better idea of which projects will be allocated by the California Transportation Commission in the upcoming year and what the appropriate resource level is to deliver those projects. Capital Outlay Support has been reduced by $12 million to reflect the absence of tribal gaming bond-funded workload.
HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY
The High-Speed Rail Authority is charged with planning the development and implementation of an intercity high-speed rail service. Chapter 697, Statutes of 2002, proposed placing a $9.95 billion general obligation bond measure before voters in 2004 to fund planning and construction of the system. Chapter 71, Statutes of 2004, deferred the vote until November 2006. Chapter 44, Statutes of 2006, further deferred the vote to 2008. The Governor's Budget proposes $1.2 million, all from non-General Fund sources, and 6.5 positions for the Authority. This represents a decrease of $13.2 million from the revised 2006-07 budget and the 2006 Budget Act.
In developing the Strategic Growth Plan, it has become clear that setting aside enough bonding authority for this project would preclude bonds for virtually all other purposes. While high-speed rail could eventually be shown to be a cost-effective piece of the state's long distance travel system, the benefits are not sufficient to outweigh the immediate needs included in the Strategic Growth Plan. Therefore, the Administration is proposing to defer the High-Speed Rail bonds indefinitely and is willing to explore other project delivery approaches for the longer term.
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS for
Business, Transportation, and Housing Back to Top
PRINTABLE BUDGET DOCUMENTS Back to Top
Budget Summary - Business, Transportation, and Housing (pdf * - 103K)
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Provides this entire Business, Transportation, and Housing Chapter in pdf format.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Back to Top
Proposed Budget Detail - Business, Transportation, and Housing
Displays Proposed Budget Detail information for Business, Transportation, and Housing.
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