Comment Log Display

On behalf of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, I would
like to comment on your proposal for investment of Cap-and-Trade
Auction Proceeds.

Given that transportation sources will be paying the largest share
of these revenues, via fuels, and that transportation emissions
represent a major share of greenhouse gas emissions, we support the
Transportation Coalition’s proposal to assure that a fair share of
funding be returned to transportation projects.  We also ask that
the funding be distributed fairly throughout the state, in
recognition that every region can play a role in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, and that every region will be paying the
cost of the Cap-and-Trade program.  Our key comments are expanded
upon below.  

Devote the majority of funding to regional transportation projects.
 Agencies such as ours have been tasked with developing plans under
SB 375 to reduce vehicle miles traveled and support increased bus
transit, rail service, bicycling and walking.  There is, however,
very little funding to implement these projects.  The Cap-and-Trade
proceeds represent the first new significant share of state
transportation funding since the Proposition 1B bonds were approved
in 2006.  Our agency urges you to devote the lion’s share of the
Cap-and-Trade funds to transportation projects that will reduce
vehicle miles traveled, selected by the regional transportation
planning agencies to assure a fair distribution of funds statewide.
  

For example, in Monterey County we are working with the Capitol
Corridor to extend rail service to our largest city, Salinas, so
that our workers can travel to jobs in Silicon Valley.  We request
that Cap-and-Trade funding be made available to make such rail
connectivity projects possible to provide not only cost effective
regional service, but also link to High Speed Rail.  
Additional bus service, bicycle and pedestrian improvements will be
proposed in our upcoming Sustainable Communities Strategy for the
Monterey Bay Area, but most of these projects cannot be built
without funding such as that generated from the Cap-and-Trade
program.

Assure that “disadvantaged” populations include the low income
Salinas Valley.   We are very concerned that that there are no
disadvantaged populations shown on your map within Monterey County
and we request a modification accordingly.  While most people think
of Monterey County being a high income coastal community,
unfortunately, the Salinas Valley is home to a very poor
population.  This population includes farmworkers, as well as hotel
workers who commute to the coast.  In 2009, nearly 31% of our
population was below the poverty level, well below the 19.1%
poverty rate in the State of California at the time.  Additionally,
nearly half of all residents are classified as "food insecure" with
incomes below 200% of the poverty level.  Furthermore, these
populations experience high levels of pesticide exposure, one of
your measures of environmental disadvantage.  Based on these
statistics, we ask that you update your definition of
"disadvantaged" populations so that you can allocate our region and
others like it a fair share of state investment of cap and trade
funds.  

If the Air Resources Board can implement our recommendations, we
can respond to your call for investing in more rail, bus and active
transportation options to serve these disadvantaged populations and
others in the Monterey Bay Area, and begin the process of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions throughout the State of California.

Sincerely,


Debra L. Hale
Executive Director