What does it take to permit a 5 mile busway in California? In one case, a 5 mile busway in Coastal California required approval from 7 permitting entities, which placed 341 pre-construction conditions on the project, costing $15 million more than budgeted. A new report, “The Powerless Brokers”, from Circulate San Diego in partnership with SPUR takes a look at one of the understudied impediments that make transit projects cost too much and take too long: third party approvals prior to construction from local governments and state agencies. While many permits are necessary for health and safety, the transit permitting process has become defined by the opaque, rigid - and often excessive- procedures that have accumulated over time and can negatively impact the actual delivery of public infrastructure and services. Learn more about these challenges and a policy roadmap to change them.

• Colin Parent, CEO and General Counsel, Circulate San Diego
• Lisa Reinheimer, Assistant General Manager, Monterey-Salinas Transit (TBC)
• Laura Tolkoff, Transportation Policy Director, SPUR