Assemblyman Travis Allen Continues the Fight for Environmentally Friendly Carpool Program

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2016

CONTACT: Stephanie Freedman
(916) 319-2072

Assemblyman Travis Allen Continues the Fight for Environmentally Friendly Carpool Program

With the looming decision from the Superior Court, the Legislature must be prepared to take urgent and necessary action to allow these programs to continue

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Travis Allen (Huntington Beach, CA) introduced two bills to continue employer sponsored shuttle services in California. Assembly Bill 1641 will be ready for action in the Regular Session should the court rule against the City of San Francisco and the companies. Assembly Bill 25×1 was introduced into the Special Session on transportation that was called for by Governor Brown.

“These shuttle services are a win-win, and are the perfect example of the private sector taking the lead and developing an efficient, effective, and necessary program for their employees,” said Assemblyman Travis Allen. “The countless benefits that arise from providing commuter shuttles clearly demonstrate the need for company sponsored initiatives in our state. Commuter shuttles displace 45 million vehicle miles traveled per year, remove over 1,100 metric tons of greenhouse gases, and are an incentive to bring the best and the brightest to work at companies in California.”

The judge in the court case is expected to deliver his ruling at the end of January. However, given the constraints of the legislative calendar, action must be taken now to have the necessary vehicles to solve any potential problems that may be highlighted by the judge. The Legislature has numerous avenues to consider the best solution to this problem, such as the Regular Session and the Special Session on transportation.

The Governor’s Proclamation for a Special Session on transportation specifically states, “…WHEREAS California faces considerable challenges in its ability to fund crucial maintenance and repair of its core transportation infrastructure – state highways, local streets, roads, and bridges – and current resources do not adequately support the maintenance of this vast system…” Further, Governor Brown compelled the Legislature to, “…complement local efforts for repair and improvements of local transportation infrastructure.”

“I am committed to providing every opportunity for the companies throughout California to utilize innovative solutions to address their employee and community needs,” said Assemblyman Travis Allen. “Not only is this approach an environmentally friendly transit solution, it benefits any area of California that may want to develop a similar program – a program that can pay for itself without bigger government or new taxes.”