HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.15.22 Letter of Support - AB 2120From:Ring, Brian
To:BOS
Cc:Pickett, Andy; Reaster, Kayla
Subject:Letter of Support - AB 2120
Date:Tuesday, March 15, 2022 2:37:20 PM
Attachments:Letter of Support 3-15-22.pdf
ADM.AB2120.3.FactSheet.pdf
Good afternoon Board –
Given the timelines associated with this bill – a letter went out today under Andy’s signature.
Brian Ring
Assistant Chief Administrative Officer
Administration
25 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965
T: 530.552.3311 | | F: 530.538.7120
Fact Sheet: AB 2120
Investing Federal Funding in Local Bridges
PROPOSED BILL
Assembly Bill (AB) 2120 restores a
previously used formula to distribute
dedicated federal bridge funding from the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
to state and local projects. It ensures
continued investment in local bridges and
flexible highway funds.
In addition, the bill will help close the
funding gap for needed repairs and
replacement of local bridges and prevents
further deterioration and funding projects that
add safe multimodal access to local bridges.
BACKGROUND
Cities and counties own and maintain 12,339
bridges across California, representing
almost half of the state’s bridges. Over 4,300
of these bridges need costly repairs, and 451
are irreparable and must be replaced. Despite
a standard design life of 75 to 100 years,
nearly one-fifth of local bridges are at least
80 years old. There is a significant disparity
in the condition of our state and local bridges,
with 11.5% of local bridges in poor condition
versus 3.3% of state bridges.
Federal funding from the Highway Bridge
Replacement and Rehabilitation Program
(HBRRP) was historically the primary source
of funding for local bridge projects. When
federal legislation ended the HBRRP in 2012,
California continued to invest a fixed annual
amount of approximately $300 million of
federal transportation funds for local bridge
repair, replacement, and preventative
maintenance projects. At this funding level,
the number of local bridges in poor condition
will climb to above 50% within 20 years.
Simply maintaining the current condition of
local bridges across the state would require a
yearly budget of $800 million—an increase
of approximately $500 million annually.
SOLUTION
On November 15, 2021, President Biden
signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (IIJA), which dedicates approximately
$4.2 billion to California for state and local
bridge projects over a five-year period.
To ensure a fair allocation of funding that is
responsive to significant bridge repair and
replacement needs in local communities, AB
2120 would apply California’s historic 55%
local, 45% state formula from the HBRRP to
the new dedicated bridge funding from the
IIJA.
This bill would also require Caltrans to
maintain its current commitment of funding
from the National Highway Performance
Program to local bridges on federal-aid
highways.
SUPPORT
California State Association of Counties
(Sponsor)
OPPOSITION
None at this time.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: Charles Loudon
Phone: (916) 319-2078
Email: Charles.Loudon@asm.ca.gov
Bill Version: Introduced February 14, 2022