Reforming California’s Transportation Development Act

Research Team: Brian Taylor (lead), John Gahbauer, Juan Matute

UC Campus(es): UCLA

Problem Statement: California’s Transportation Development Act (TDA) is the state’s principal public transit finance subsidy program. Now more than a half-century old, the TDA is increasingly out of step with state priorities and the current state of transit in California, and thus may be due for reform.

Project Description: This project will build on a recently published report on TDA reform published by the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies. The researchers will consult closely with senior legislative staff in the state to update the TDA reform report in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its significant fiscal effects on public transit systems in the Golden State. The resulting white paper will focus on how the TDA addresses or fails to address state transportation goals as well as pressing post-pandemic concerns and will offer a range of possible modifications to the funding program to bring the fiscal policies of the act in better line with state goals and objectives.

Status: Completed

Budget: $5,000