Transportation: Trade Corridor Enhancement Account: project nomination: California Port Efficiency Program.

Existing law creates the Trade Corridor Enhancement Account to receive revenues attributable to 50% of a $0.20 per gallon increase in the diesel fuel excise tax imposed by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 for corridor-based freight projects nominated by local agencies and the state. Existing law makes these funds and certain federal funds apportioned to the state available upon appropriation for allocation by the California Transportation Commission for trade infrastructure improvement projects that meet specified requirements. Existing law requires the commission to allocate 60% of available funds to projects nominated by regional transportation agencies and other local agencies, with the remaining 40% of available funds to be allocated to projects nominated by the Department of Transportation. In adopting a program of projects, existing law requires the commission to prioritize projects jointly nominated and jointly funded by the state and local agencies. This bill would require the commission to allocate not less than 10% of the funds that are required to be allocated to projects nominated by the department to projects nominated pursuant to the California Port Efficiency Program, which this bill would create. The program would require the department to nominate projects proposed by port authorities and regional transportation agencies that most effectively improve velocity, throughput, and reliability of port operations.