California is facing a special legislative session on transportation. Republians have a plan to fix transportation funding without taxes by touting these principles:
- Reform existing laws to get transportation projects moving quickly and at lower costs
- eliminating redundancies
- cutting through red tape
- making a formal commitment to prioritize transportation
- without taking any money away from education or the Rainy Day Fund.
And, by using these funding sources for $6 billion in existing state funds for transportation infrastructure:
- 40 percent of funds in California’s Cap & Trade program: $1 Billion+ annually
- Existing funds from Vehicle Weight Fees: $1 Billion annually
- Invest half of the Governor’s strategic growth fund into shovel-ready roads projects: $200 Million annually
- Eliminate redundancies at Caltrans: $500 Million annually
- Eliminate and capture savings from 25 percent of long-term vacant state positions: $685 Million annually
- Make a formal commitment in the State Budget General Fund to fund transportation: $1 Billion annually
What is California’s transportation funding deficit look like?
- 400,000 miles of roads
- $59 billion in deferred road maintenance
Kristin Olsen Gateway to California Gold Country Sacramento Bee