Intercity rail and commuter rail: special events service plans: fare system integration.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how fare systems will be integrated or what qualifies as a 'major, publicly attended' event.

Intercity and Commuter Rail Special Event Plans

This law requires rail agencies receiving funding under the State Rail Assistance Program to create special event service plans for smoother travel during events, including fare system integration by July 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

• Requires public agencies responsible for commuter rail services with transfer stations to adopt a special events service plan that includes schedules without transfers, ticket interoperability, and technical requirements as a condition of receiving funding under the State Rail Assistance Program.
• Requires regional rail operators operating within an intercity rail corridor to ensure their fare systems are fully integrated with those of the intercity rail operator by July 1, 2027.
• Requires joint powers boards managing state-funded intercity rail services to include detailed special events service plans in their annual business plans starting from fiscal year 2027-28.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public agencies responsible for commuter rail services with transfer stations receiving funding under the State Rail Assistance Program.
• Regional rail operators within intercity rail corridors.
• Joint powers boards managing state-funded intercity rail services.

Terms To Know

Special Events Service Plan

A plan that includes schedules, ticketing systems, and technical requirements for handling large crowds during special events.

Joint Powers Board

An organization formed by local governments to manage shared responsibilities like intercity rail services.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact details of how fare systems will be integrated.
• It is unclear what specific events qualify as 'major, publicly attended' for requiring extra train service.

Official Summary Text

SB 1136, as amended, Blakespear.
Intercity rail and commuter rail: special events service
plans.
plans: fare system integration.
Existing law
requires revenues attributable to a certain portion of the sales tax on diesel fuel to be continuously appropriated to the Transportation Agency under a program commonly known as the State Rail Assistance Program for allocation to public agencies responsible for state-supported intercity rail services, and public agencies responsible for commuter rail services, to be used for operations and capital improvements.
sets forth various provisions applicable to all public transit and transit districts and includes specific requirements applicable to public entities that operate commuter rail or rail transit systems.
This bill would
require, as a condition of receiving funding under the program, a public agency responsible for commuter rail services that has a transfer connection station between 2 or more commuter rail services to adopt a special events service plan for each event that meets specified requirements. The bill would require the special events service plan to include schedules to access the event without requiring a
transfer, ticket interoperability, and all other technical, equipment, and infrastructure requirements.
require, on or before July 1, 2027, a regional rail operator, as defined, operating within an intercity rail corridor to ensure that its fare systems are fully integrated with the fare systems of the intercity rail operator, and any other regional rail operator, operating in the intercity rail corridor. By imposing additional duties on regional rail operators, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation, subject to approval of the Secretary of Transportation, to enter into an interagency transfer agreement under which a joint powers board assumes responsibility for administering the state-funded intercity rail service in a particular corridor. Existing law provides for the allocation
of state funds by the secretary to a joint powers board under an interagency transfer agreement based on an annual business plan for the intercity rail corridor and subsequent appropriation of state funds. Existing law requires the joint powers board to submit the annual business plan to the secretary for review and recommendation by April 1 of each year.
This bill would require an interagency transfer agreement to require a joint powers board to ensure that
supplemental service is
provided for major, publicly attended
service planning is provided for special
events, as
specified.
defined.
The bill would
require
require, commencing with the 2027–28 fiscal year,
the business plan to include a special events service plan that
includes detailed operating schedules, fare information, and rolling stock requirements designed to satisfy the requirement to provide that supplemental service.
establishes, among other things, an intercity rail operating schedule for special events and fare system integration between the intercity rail operator and regional rail operators.
To the extent that the bill would add to the duties of a joint powers board, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

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