Let’s Spend Gas Tax Funds Where They’re Needed: Transportation

As Orange County grows, so do our transportation challenges. Based on recent projections, Orange County will be faced with continued increases in population and employment that will significantly impact our freeways and roads.

From the debate over the expansion of the Riverside Freeway to the extension of the Foothill toll road in South County, we have transportation issues that must be resolved. In my district, we have the expansion of the Orange Crush--the intersection of the Santa Ana Freeway, the Garden Grove Freeway and the Orange Freeway--which is expected to be under construction for up to seven years. The side streets have become thoroughfares.

Neighborhoods are designed to divert traffic, not accept it. Let us not forget that time spent in traffic takes time away from family and hurts our quality of life. With all these issues still unresolved and getting worse, we must look at solutions to current problems of congestion, as well as establish transportation solutions for the next generation of Orange County.

The Legislature has put Proposition 42 on the ballot, which could have a significant impact on Orange County’s transportation future. Currently, the state gasoline tax goes into the general fund and is not dedicated for infrastructure. Proposition 42 proposes to amend the state constitution to dedicate gasoline sales tax revenues for transportation purposes beginning in 2003-04. As a constitutional amendment, this measure will need voter approval next spring to take effect.

Proposition 42 would allocate the revenue as follows: 40% for the State Transportation Improvement Program; 20% for cities; 20% for counties statewide to use for road repair, rehabilitation and maintenance programs; and 20% for public transit and mass transportation.

The benefits for Orange County could be lasting and significant. Long-term increased funding for the improvement program, public transit and road repair would go a long way toward improving mobility in Orange County and elsewhere. This revenue could be used to build freeways, widen freeways, finance light-rail projects and increase the frequency and extend the hours of bus service.

With all of the growth projected for our already congested county, we must assure that funding will be available to handle our transportation challenges. Voting for Proposition 42 this spring is one way that we can all do our part to preserve gasoline tax revenue for transportation purposes and bring a solution to traffic congestion in Orange County. In addition, we know that money spent on infrastructure will create jobs. With the recent economic downturn, these jobs to build roads and other related projects will help ease the economic slowdown. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that every dollar spent on highway improvements generates almost six times that in economic benefits.

Proposition 42 will give voters the option to decide what to do with gasoline tax dollars. Should it be spent on transportation projects only, or should it continue to go into the California general fund? You now have an opportunity to decide how you want these funds to be invested in the foreseeable future.