Several top board members on the San Diego Association of Governments Board of Directors requested alternatives to the road usage tax envisioned to fund the county’s regional transportation plan.
Over 1,500 comments were made by the public on SANDAG’s draft 2021 Regional Plan. Many were critical of the four-cents-per-mile road usage tax proposal and the two half-cent regional sales tax proposal for 2022 and 2028. The tax proposal aims to fund the $160 billion regional transportation plan and a 200-mile, $43 billion regional rail network at no cost.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, along with National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis and Encinitas Mayor Cathrine Blakespear are in favor of seeking alternatives in funding the proposed regional transportation plan.
“I have long supported SANDAG’s Regional Transportation Plan, as it aligns with my vision of giving San Diegans more sustainable ways to get around our region. However, the inclusion of a road usage charge is unnecessary, and we will be asking SANDAG staff to find alternative funding sources,” San Diego Mayor and Vice-chair of SANDAG’s Board of Directors Todd Gloria, said.
The state of California flirted with road usage tax pilot programs in recent years by charging around 2 cents per mile. Though, issues surrounding establishing a reporting system for miles used remain. It is unclear how that issue will be resolved.
“It is essential that we work to have a plan that takes all funding options into account and doesn’t cause concern. We need to capitalize on the opportunity for leveraging federal-level funding, and at the end of the day, we must have tools in the toolbox that strengthen and implement our equity statement and board core values. These efforts must be reflective of the needs of the entire region, including those from working-class communities,” second vice chair and National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis said.
According to SANDAG chief economist, Ray Major, the plan’s potential to raise more than $34 billion through 2050 would change once the scope was narrowed to implementation of the proposal in 2030.
“The Regional Plan remains our key document in the quest to build more transit, maximize the road network for better efficiency and provide more bike and pedestrian paths that serve our community’s hunger for opportunities to travel outside our cars. We can, and should, have a visionary, historic, green transportation plan without the road usage charge.” Chair of SANDAG’s Board of Director and Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear said.
According to state law, the transportation plan needs to be adopted by year's end and must demonstrate plans to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The final approval for the county's regional transportation plan is slated for Dec.10.
