Efforts by Caltrans for Car-Pool Lanes

Once again you have published a letter making the erroneous claim that gasoline taxes are being diverted into the state’s general fund. This letter appeared in Dianne Klein’s column (April 18). There seems to be a widespread misunderstanding on this subject, and I would appreciate being able to set the record straight.

Gas taxes are and always have been used strictly for transportation purposes. They go into a trust fund and are used to build and operate the state highway system (including freeways), for rail guideway programs and to cities and counties for local streets.

It is true that the sales tax on gasoline goes into the state’s general fund. But neither is that money lost to transportation. By a trade-off put into law 18 years ago, the state directs to transportation one-fourth of a cent from the sales tax on all goods. One amount is approximately equivalent to the other. In actual fact, transportation has come out a little ahead in recent years.

This information should have particular currency since Proposition 111 to increase the state’s gas tax is on the June ballot. Lest there be some confusion, anyone who claims state transportation money is being diverted is plain wrong. Every cent and then some, that is available now, is going to transportation purposes.

DANA W. REED

O.C. Transportation Commission