The Cost of Transit in California
The Cost of Transit in California
Marc Joffe | Visiting Fellow
Marc Joffe is President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association and a California Policy Center visiting fellow.
After a long career in the financial industry, including a senior director role at Moody’s Analytics, he transitioned to policy research at CPC and Reason Foundation. Joffe’s research focuses on government finance and state policy issues.
Marc earned an MBA from New York University and an MPA from San Francisco State University.
Latest by Marc Joffe
Is California’s Economy Really Larger Than Japan’s?
Is California’s Economy Really Larger Than Japan’s?
In 2024, California’s Gross Domestic Product surpassed that of Japan. The Golden State’s GDP is now higher than those of all but three countries: the United States, China, and Germany. Governor Newsom’s office was quick to trumpet the statistical development, declaring California “the 4th largest economy in the world.” But is this true in any...
By Marc Joffe
Iowa Senator Slams Wasteful California Rail Transportation Projects
Iowa Senator Slams Wasteful California Rail Transportation Projects
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) has issued a report identifying wasteful federally funded construction projects, and California’s rail projects are prominently featured. In addition to High-Speed Rail, Ernst’s “Off the Rails” report correctly singles out three transit projects in Northern California. While Californians may discount criticisms from a Red State Senator, Ernst’s report might ultimately benefit...
By Marc Joffe
Governor Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Would Not Be Cheap
Governor Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Would Not Be Cheap
Gavin Newsom has floated the idea of redistricting California between Censuses. The goal would be to offset potential Republican gains from a mid-decade redistricting plan being discussed in Texas. While there are valid political arguments for and against Newsom’s plan, the fiscal case is clear: mid-decade redistricting will cost California about a quarter of a...
By Marc Joffe
California May Never Get High-Speed Rail as Brightline Also Struggles
California May Never Get High-Speed Rail as Brightline Also Struggles
Although Governor Newsom and Rail Authority management are in denial, President Trump’s decision to claw back $4 billion in California high-speed rail funding is likely the coup de grace for the state project. But the state’s other high-speed rail project, Brightline West’s effort to connect Rancho Cucamonga with Las Vegas, also faces headwinds and may...
By Marc Joffe
Illegal Alien Medi-Cal and the Big Beautiful Bill
Illegal Alien Medi-Cal and the Big Beautiful Bill
Thanks to the Senate Parliamentarian, California will be spared the largest fiscal impact of the Big Beautiful Bill’s Medicaid reforms, but the state’s ability to shift the cost of undocumented immigrant Medi-Cal coverage onto federal taxpayers will nonetheless face limits. Between 2016 and 2024, the California legislature added groups of illegal aliens to the Medi-Cal...
By Marc Joffe
Budget Resources are Limited—Even in California
Budget Resources are Limited—Even in California
Compared to their counterparts in other states, California political and thought leaders seem much less concerned about wasteful government spending. While there are explanations, these aren’t excuses: California state and local governments need to adjust to the reality of resource limitations. Supermajority control by the party less concerned with fiscal discipline is an obvious driver,...
By Marc Joffe
High-Speed Rail Authority’s Rebuttal to Trump Administration is Well Argued but Makes Questionable Claims
High-Speed Rail Authority’s Rebuttal to Trump Administration is Well Argued but Makes Questionable Claims
On June 12, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHRSA) released a 14-page letter rebutting the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA’s) case for rescinding $4 billion in grant funding. The Authority plans to provide a more detailed response in July, but the initial letter contains a lot to chew on. Some of CHSRA’s claims are not unreasonable....
By Marc Joffe
Bay Area Transportation and Housing Policies Cannot Stop Climate Change
Bay Area Transportation and Housing Policies Cannot Stop Climate Change
A false solution to a true problem Bay Area transportation and housing initiatives are often portrayed as solutions to the climate catastrophe we are facing due to excessive greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. The thinking is that if we could get everyone to live in apartments near stations on electrified transit systems, thereby removing...
By Marc Joffe
Newsom forced to roll back unwise Medi-Cal expansions
Newsom forced to roll back unwise Medi-Cal expansions
After the state unwisely expanding Medi-Cal in recent years, the program has descended into a fiscal crisis. Now Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes to roll back some of the expansions, but it may be too little too late given pending actions at the federal level. Covering more than one-third of Californians, the Medi-Cal program’s costs are projected to...
By Marc Joffe
California Seeks Federal Funding for the “Worst Transit Project in the US”
California Seeks Federal Funding for the “Worst Transit Project in the US”
When Marc Molinaro takes up his position as the new federal transit administrator, he will have the opportunity to save taxpayers a quick $5.1 billion. All he has to do is decline to provide federal funding for what a high-profile transit advocate recently dubbed “the worst new transit project in the United States”: the extension...
In California State and Local Government, DEI Costs Millions and Distracts Management
In California State and Local Government, DEI Costs Millions and Distracts Management
Although public opinion, most private organizations, and the federal government have turned against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), it remains deeply embedded in the culture of California state and local government. As a result, taxpayers and ratepayers are funding millions of dollars of government DEI-related expenditures annually, and the spending is likely to persist without...
By Marc Joffe, Mark Moses
Is California Doomed to Repeat Pension History?
Is California Doomed to Repeat Pension History?
California’s state and local governments are struggling to find the cash needed to pay government employees the retirement benefits they promised. As the League of California Cities observed, pension costs for many of their members have been rising to “unsustainable levels”. Now, remarkably, the state Assembly is ready to make that problem far worse –...
By Marc Joffe
Urbanists and unions can slow but not stop California’s transportation progress
Urbanists and unions can slow but not stop California’s transportation progress
California is the prime battleground between transportation innovation and legacy mass transit. While Silicon Valley is rolling out driverless taxis and testing flying cars, urbanists and transit unions are seeking more taxpayer funding to buttress money-losing train and bus systems around the state. If history is any guide, the new transportation technologies will ultimately replace...
By Marc Joffe