Sacramento Transportation Authority Meeting - June 23, 2026

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting occurred on June 18, 2026, but the provided date for this summary is June 23, 2026. The Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) convened on this date to consider consent items, a budget, an audit, the I-5 managed lanes project, and an executive director's report. The meeting was chaired by Chair Raphel with a quorum present.

Consent Calendar

• Item 5 – Smart Growth Fund Strategy: Pulled from consent by Director Hume, who questioned the staff-recommended formulaic allocation approach versus a competitive, first-come-first-served method. Hume expressed concern that the proposed 22.5% transit share was lower than the Measure A split (roughly one-third), arguing a competitive process incentivizes better projects. Staff explained the formula ensures geographic fairness and simplicity, and that transit agencies may use their allocated funds for transit anyway. The remainder of the consent calendar (excluding item 5) was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Item 5 (continued): After the consent calendar vote, the board separately considered item 5. A motion to approve failed. A motion to reconsider passed after a director (likely prevailing party) argued the body composition had changed and funds could be jeopardized. The reconsidered motion to approve item 5 passed, adopting the formulaic allocation strategy for Measure A smart growth funds.
• Item 8 – FY 2026-27 Budget: Dustin Puritan (CFO) presented the final budget, noting no material changes since May. The budget is balanced using revenue and fund balance. The board approved it.
• Item 9 – Performance/Compliance Audit: Dustin Puritan and Jose Luis Caceres (ITOC member) presented the audit for the two-year period ending June 30, 2025. The independent taxpayer oversight committee (ITOC) found no significant findings. Exceptions included: the City of Ileton lacked supporting documentation (staff will escrow funds if not resolved by June 2027), and the cities of Folsom and Sacramento had reporting mismatches (remedied after audit). All jurisdictions met maintenance-of-effort requirements. The board approved the audit.
• Item 10 – I-5 Managed Lanes Project: Kevin Busey (Executive Director) outlined the project to add a high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane from downtown Sacramento to the airport. The project uses Measure A funds to leverage federal/state grants. Director Dickinson clarified the scope includes a longer segment than the original expenditure plan (to the airport) and that no lane removal is planned south of downtown; existing HOV lanes would convert to HOT. Director Talamantes raised equity concerns, noting public skepticism about tolling. Staff confirmed toll revenues must be used in the corridor, and CARTA oversees operations. The board approved the item with Directors Hume and Maple abstaining.
• Item 11 – Executive Director’s Report: Busey reported on community listening sessions (one held in Arden Arcade, two more planned in Folsom and Rancho Cordova, plus a virtual session) to gather input on transportation priorities, possibly informing a future sales tax measure in 2028. He also highlighted SB1 grant applications submitted (e.g., US 50 corridor for $86.4 million, I-5 for $20 million). No questions from the board.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted SMART Growth Fund Strategy (item 5) with a formulaic allocation (22.5% transit, 77.5% cities/counties) after initial failure and reconsideration.
• Approved FY 2026-27 Budget (item 8) unanimously.
• Approved Measure A Performance/Compliance Audit (item 9) for FY 2023-2025, with exceptions noted for Ileton, Folsom, and Sacramento.
• Authorized I-5 Managed Lanes Actions (item 10): MOU with CARTA, amendment of Measure A capital allocation contract with Caltrans, budget amendment, consultant contract, and grant nominations. Passed 9-0-2 (Hume, Maple abstaining).
• Staff directed to coordinate I-5 managed lanes project with the proposed I-5 cap study near Crocker Art Museum.
• Meeting adjourned at 2:24 PM.