TCA Boards Approve Fiscal Year 2026 Budgets
The San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency (SJHTCA) and Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) Boards of Directors adopted the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budgets with expenditures totaling $421.8 million — $139.0 million for the SJHTCA and $282.8 million for the F/ETCA.
Key highlights within the FY26 budgets include a $47 million early paydown of bond principal for SJHTCA, as well as planning for the funding and phasing to advance three capital improvement projects: the 241/91 Express Connector, the 73 Catalina View Improvements and the 241 Loma Improvements.
In addition, other key budgeted initiatives include:
- Continuing with prudent asset management and replacement planning of operational equipment to balance risk with lifecycle efficiencies.
- Safety improvements and modernization of The Toll Roads customer service center and TCA administrative office space.
- Continued implementation of one-way interoperability and expanded efforts towards full national interoperability.
- An assessment of TCA’s long-term financial system needs to provide a future roadmap for accounting, budgeting, business intelligence, procurement and related system needs.
- Selection of phase one projects for TCA’s Habitat Conservation Fund.
The FY26 budgets reflect positive transaction and revenue trends while remaining fiscally conservative, maintaining the Agencies’ history of cost containment, incorporating FY26 activities from the Boards-approved strategic plan. The budgets are also aligned with the Agencies’ Boards-approved Toll, Liquidity and Debt Management Policies while meeting the fiduciary responsibility to bondholders. The approval of the budgets concludes a thorough and collaborative development process where members of TCA’s committees provided input.
Customer Service Center Operations Contract Extension
The F/ETCA and SJHTCA Boards approved a contract extension option with TTEC Government Solutions LLC to provide Customer Service Center (CSC) Operations including all aspects of customer interactions, payment processing and transponder fulfillment. TTEC has maintained an “A” rating based on customer satisfaction surveys, even during various events that have impacted customer service volumes. TTEC has collaborated with TCA staff in the implementation of the service center’s recent back-office upgrade, as well as the cloud-based phone system upgrade.
TCA is committed to providing best in class customer service along with effective management of operations. The Agencies’ CSC supports approximately 2.8 million accounts, managing up to 150,000 calls per month, in addition providing transponder fulfillment for over 100,000 transponders per month.
TCA Receives Sustainability Award for Cattle Grazing Program
CEO Ryan Chamberlain shared recent news of TCA’s honorable mention award at the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly.
Chair Kelley, Vice Chairs Oddo and Voigts, and Directors Hurt, Go and Lim were onsite to share in the SCAG Sustainability Awards recognition of TCA’s Live Oak Plaza Conservation Area Cattle Grazing Program in the Climate Action and Resource Conservation category.
The TCA Boards-adopted Cattle Grazing program is designed to improve and maintain the quality of biodiversity within the conservation site and reduce wildfire risk. It also serves as an example of TCA’s commitment to restoring and preserving native habitat in the region.
Deputy CEO Amy Potter Set to Retire
CEO Chamberlain announced the upcoming retirement of Deputy CEO Amy Potter and expressed gratitude for her 21 years of service to TCA and the public at large. During Ms. Potter’s tenure, the Agencies have implemented sound fiscal planning and identified opportunities for bond refundings and early bond paydowns. These fiscal practices have helped solidify TCA’s current strong financial foundation. Several board members thanked Ms. Potter for her dedication and leadership over the years. She will officially retire from TCA on May 22.
