SACRAMENTO – (INT) - California counties will soon see a significant influx of new revenue to invest in the local street and road system under SB1.

The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, was in response to California’s significant funding shortfall to maintain the state’s multi-modal transportation network.

Caltrans says it’s added nearly 1,200 lane miles of pavement repair and 66 bridges to its growing list of statewide projects to be delivered sooner than planned. It’s being made possible by the 12-cent-a-gallon gas tax that kicks in November 1st under SB1. The transportation funding and reform package, was approved and signed by Governor Brown in April.

Once fully implemented, approximately $1.5 billion per year in new revenue is earmarked for local streets and roads maintenance and rehabilitation and other eligible uses, including complete streets projects, traffic signals, and drainage improvements. California’s counties will share about $750 million annually, and the same amount will be allocated to cities.

The revenues will be phased-in over several years as follows:
• The fuel tax increase begins on November 1, 2017,
• The value-based transportation improvement fee begins on January 1, 2018,
• The price-based excise tax will be reset on July 1, 2019, and
• The new zero emissions vehicle fee will begin on July 1, 2020.

Story Date: November 15, 2017