A California appeals court this week barred state officials from tapping public transit funds for other programs. 

Mike Wiley is general manager of the Sacramento Regional Transit District. He says RT could get up to $70 million back.   

“We’re extremely pleased that the appellate court has ruled in our favor. Assuming that this ruling is upheld, because as I understand it the state may very likely appeal to the Supreme Court, we should eventually see the return of those dollars.” 

The decision by the 3rd District Court of Appeal could force the state to repay about $3.5 billion to transit agencies throughout California. That’s the amount state officials have diverted or plan to divert from the Public Transportation Account over three fiscal years…to help balance California’s budget. 

RT has raised fares twice this year to deal with the loss in state transportation dollars.