New Funding For Transportation Projects at Risk

Fixing potholes, repairing bridges and improving transit is a high priority for transportation funding. In Alameda County, 28% of roads are at risk, failing or in poor condition, and another 27% are good or fair and will need maintenance within the next five years. This means that more than half of roads throughout the County have immediate or near-term maintenance needs.

In April 2017, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 to provide essential funding for road and transit repairs. This landmark funding program increased the gas tax, diesel tax (neither of which had been increased in almost 25 years) and vehicle registration fees to invest approximately $5.4 billion annually in state and local roads, goods movement, public transit and active transportation programs. Here in Alameda County, SB 1 alone will generate over $480 million for road repairs and maintenance over the next 10 years, over $40 million each year. SB 1 also provides over $34 million for transit operations and maintenance every year.

SB 1 supports projects partially funded by Measure BB – a measure approved overwhelmingly by Alameda County voters for essential transportation improvements in every city and throughout the County. Measure BB has served as a down payment to attract regional, state and federal funds to deliver projects that support local jobs and the economy. Together, Measure BB and SB 1 can deliver projects faster.

Road Repairs Advance in the City of San Leandro

SB 1 funding will generate over $17 million for road repairs and maintenance over the next 10 years for the City of San Leandro, facilitating faster project delivery.

This year, the City of San Leandro is delivering Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation of local streets and roads projects funded by SB 1 for maintenance, rehabilitation and safety. These 10 separate projects include:

• Removal and replacement of distressed pavements
• Sealing pavement cracks
• Installation of street overlays

Proposition 6 Puts SB 1 Funding at Risk in the County

A measure to repeal SB 1 through a constitutional amendment will be on the November 2018 ballot as Proposition 6. If successful, it will:

• Eliminate over $40 million per year in road maintenance funds from city and county budgets.
• Eliminate all SB 1 funding designated for state highways.
• Eliminate more than $30 million per year in transit funds in Alameda County.
• Require any measure enacting specified taxes or fees on gas or diesel fuel, or on the privilege to operate a vehicle on public highways, to be submitted to the electorate for approval.
• Potentially lower future transportation tax revenues.

Alameda County projects to improve highways, rail, goods movement, roads, bridges, trails and pedestrian safety could be delayed indefinitely with elimination of SB 1 funding.

For more information, please visit Alameda CTC’s Funding Solutions webpage at https://www.AlamedaCTC.org/FundingSolutions.