RCTC committee backs draft 2026 state and federal legislative platform

Andrew Sauls, presenting the draft 2026 state and federal legislative platform, told the Riverside County Transportation Commission committee that the document refocuses priorities and adds an introductory section outlining issues staff expect to engage in at the state and federal levels.

Sauls highlighted several near-term priorities: efforts to streamline CEQA review for passenger rail projects including Coachella Valley Rail, maximizing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (Cap-and-Invest) opportunities for transit projects, reforms to vehicle-miles-traveled mitigation to reduce project costs and accelerate delivery, and advancing projects in Riverside County including CV Rail and the southern extension of the 15 Express Lanes. On pending federal funding, Sauls said, “nearly $10,000,000 in pending earmark funding for 4 of RCTC’s projects remain on hold until full year appropriations legislation is approved.”

Sauls also summarized recent federal outreach, noting staff met with Representatives Ken Calvert and Young Kim to discuss reauthorization priorities and project competitiveness for grants and congressionally directed spending. He said staff plans additional meetings with the remainder of Riverside County’s congressional delegation and the U.S. Department of Transportation and is exploring a D.C. trip in the new year.

Committee members asked whether the congressional offices were receptive; Sauls responded that the members “have successfully secured earmarks for us in the last few cycles” and that current meetings were an update and continuation of that engagement. After brief discussion, a motion to recommend adoption of the 2026 legislative platform to the full Commission was made and seconded and passed on a roll call vote.

The committee’s recommendation sends the draft platform to the Commission for final adoption and preserves staff direction to pursue the listed state and federal priorities in the coming year.