The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) announced the hiring of Josh Hurwitz as a senior economist. Hurwitz recently completed his Ph.D. in economics at Harvard University and has more than a decade of experience in public policy research.
May 24, 2021 6:15 PM, EDT
In California, Gas Taxes Are Rising While Repairs Are Lagging
Rush-hour traffic eastbound on the 91 freeway heading into the Inland Empire in Corona. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Tribune Content Agency)
Four years after the California Legislature boosted the gas tax in order to fix the state’s crumbling roads and bridges, California has spent billions and made some progress in repairs, but officials now say the funding is sufficient to complete less than half of the work needed.
The gas tax has been a political hot potato since it was passed in 2017, resulting in the recall of a Democratic state senator who voted for the legislation and an unsuccessful attempt by Republicans in 2018 to ask voters to repeal the higher charges.
Four years after the Legislature boosted the gas tax in order to fix California s crumbling roads and bridges, the state has spent billions and made some progress in repairs, but officials now say the funding is sufficient only to complete less than half of the work needed.
The gas tax has been a political hot potato since it was passed in 2017, resulting in the recall of a Democratic state senator who voted for the legislation and an unsuccessful attempt by Republicans in 2018 to ask voters to repeal the higher charges.
Now, with the gas tax set to increase again July 1, the campaign to fix roads and bridges is again stirring contention, drawing criticism from some lawmakers who say repairs have been too slow and the effort has lagged behind other states in maintaining and improving transportation systems.