SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. will testify at the Senate Appropriations Committee and Assembly Transportation Committee hearings today in Sacramento on the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 – SB 1, co-authored by Senator Jim Beall (D-San Jose) and Assemblymember Jim L. Frazier Jr. (D-Discovery Bay) – which invests $52.4 billion over the next decade to fix roads, freeways and bridges in communities across California and put more dollars toward transit and safety.
Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing
When: Today, Monday, April 3, 2017 at approx. 11:00 a.m.
Where: California State Capitol, Room 4203, Sacramento, CA 95814
Assembly Transportation Committee Hearing
When: Today, Monday, April 3, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.
Where: California State Capitol, Room 4202, Sacramento, CA 95814
Last week, Governor Brown joined legislative, labor, business and local leaders to announce the landmark transportation investment proposal, which will cost most drivers less than $10 a month and comes with strict new accountability provisions to ensure funds can only be spent on transportation. The following funds will be split equally between state and local investments over a ten-year horizon:
Fix Local Streets and Transportation Infrastructure (50 percent):
– $15 billion in “Fix-It-First” local road repairs, including fixing potholes
– $7.5 billion to improve local public transportation
– $2 billion to support local “self-help” communities that are making their own investments in transportation improvements
– $1 billion to improve infrastructure that promotes walking and bicycling
– $825 million for the State Transportation Improvement Program local contribution
– $250 million in local transportation planning grants.
Fix State Highways and Transportation Infrastructure (50 percent):
– $15 billion in “Fix-it-First” highway repairs, including smoother pavement
– $4 billion in bridge and culvert repairs
– $3 billion to improve trade corridors
– $2.5 billion to reduce congestion on major commute corridors
– $1.4 billion in other transportation investments, including $275 million for highway and intercity-transit improvements.
Ensure Taxpayer Dollars Are Spent Properly with Strong Accountability Measures:
– Constitutional amendment to prohibit spending the funds on anything but transportation
– Inspector General to ensure Caltrans and any entities receiving state transportation funds spend taxpayer dollars efficiently, effectively and in compliance with state and federal requirements
– Provision that empowers the California Transportation Commission to hold state and local government accountable for making the transportation improvements they commit to delivering
– Authorization for the California Transportation Commission to review and allocate Caltrans funding and staffing for highway maintenance to ensure those levels are reasonable and responsible
– Authorization for Caltrans to complete earlier mitigation of environmental impacts from construction, a policy that will reduce costs and delays while protecting natural resources.
Guided by the principles set forth by President Ronald Reagan when he increased the federal gas tax in 1982, this transportation investment package is funded by everyone who uses our roads and highways:
– $7.3 billion by increasing diesel excise tax 20 cents
– $3.5 billion by increasing diesel sales tax to 5.75 percent
– $24.4 billion by increasing gasoline excise tax 12 cents
– $16.3 billion from an annual transportation improvement fee based on a vehicle’s value
– $200 million from an annual $100 Zero Emission Vehicle fee commencing in 2020.
– $706 million in General Fund loan repayments.
Leadership in both the Senate and the Assembly expect the measure to be voted on by Thursday, April 6, 2017.
**NOTE: The hearings are open to credentialed media and will also be available via webcast at: www.calchannel.com