- Reduce Gridlock and Improve Infrastructure.
As reported in the U-T Monday, San Diego roads and highways rank as the sixth worst among major U.S. cities, with 54 percent of road and highway pavement in poor condition.
The county currently experiences roughly 82 million hours of delay time per year, leading to over 59 million gallons of excess fuel consumed. At a cost of $2.50/gallon, that’s more than $147 million in wasted gas, per year!
To add fuel to the fire, the TRIP report estimates that substandard roads cost local drivers $618 a year, on average, in extra vehicle operating costs. I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer to put that money towards better uses.
Prop 1B provides $11.25 billion to widen and improve freeways, highways and roads to reduce congestion.
San Diego County will receive $484 million of the $7.1 billion directly allocated to counties across the state, as shown in the pie chart below. The remaining $12 billion will be allocated on a competitive basis or dedicated to high priority state transportation projects.
- Improve Safety and Security.
Prop 1B dedicates $1.4 billion to improving the safety and security of public transit systems and shipping ports, railroad crossings and local bridges and overpasses (seismic retrofits). - More Alternatives to Driving.
Prop 1B provides $4 billion to repair, modernize and expand public transportation, so Californians can save money at the gas pump and reduce our dependence of foreign oil.
Why you should vote YES on Prop 84:
Prop 84 makes the investments needed to provide for:
- Access to safe drinking water
- Better protection from floods
- Opportunities to enjoy parks, natural landscapes and our rivers, lakes, beaches, bays and coastline.
The San Diego region will receive $154 million, or 9.4 percent of direct allocations (more than our “fair share,” finally!), for the programs listed below.
This is the first measure ever to provide direct funding to our region for water-related projects.
The region will also receive $612 million in indirect benefits from statewide projects. This is important because 85 percent of the water San Diego residents use each year is imported. Of this amount, approximately 40 percent is imported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. It is critical that all waterways and areas from which we receive our water are protected.