The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has gained approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its US$172bn Regional Transportation Plan, which relies on road usage charges for funding, reports The Coast News.
“SANDAG is pleased that CARB has certified the 2021 Regional Plan and confirmed it is compliant with state laws, regulations, and guidelines,” SANDAG deputy CEO Coleen Clementson said in a statement.
“This allows for hundreds of millions of dollars to flow to our region to help fund important projects, such as the Youth Opportunity Pass Pilot program, LOSSAN Rail Realignment, Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, high-speed transit to the San Diego International Airport, and other important investments that will serve our region for generations to come.”
The decision means a countywide road usage charge pilot programme could begin in about four years.
A letter from opponents of the transportation plan, precisely the road-user charge, has pushed the agency into a challenging position.
However, the proposed scheme faces opposition from a number of elected officials, chiefly mayors Richard Bailey (Coronado), Matt Hall (Carlsbad), Rebecca Jones (San Marcos), Bill Wells (El Cajon), Julie Ritter (Vista) and county supervisor Jim Desmond.
In July, a letter was sent to CARB, outlining their concerns with a lack of transparency over the plan’s funding mechanisms: “We are fundamentally opposed to charging San Diegans a per-mile tax to drive their vehicles, and we believe the 2021 Plan and the included funding mechanisms are not based in reality.
“This plan was flawed from the start, not consensus-based and does not meet the needs of the whole San Diego region, especially in the outlying communities of our county.”
The six officials believe reducing people’s ability to move freely – especially for low-income individuals – will negatively impact the region and its working residents.
According to Ray Major, SANDAG’s deputy chief operating officer, the road-user charge would be added to existing costs to drivers, such as the gas tax, and not in replacement of it.
The Coast News article states that if SANDAG removes the road-user charge, the plan could face a funding challenge. According to the plan, Caltrans would assume ownership of state Route 125, forfeiting up to US$2bn in toll revenue as a funding source for the transportation plan.
You can learn more about the key trends and challenges affecting senior decision-makers who have responsibility for tolling, intelligent transportation systems and road usage charging in America at the second annual Road User Charging Conference USA in Miami, Florida on 26-27 April 2023. Click here for more information.
