(The Center Square) – California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the approval of the first $2 billion distribution of $5.1 billion in transit recovery funding authorized by the state in the 2023-2024 budget. Public transit experts warn that with the state’s public transit systems struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels, expanding operations and infrastructure without commensurate increases in ridership could lead to even larger transit deficits in the long run. SB 125 in 2023 allocated $4 billion in state general funds for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, providing money bas…