Transportation Budget Cuts Could Impact Congestion Relief

    LOS ANGELES--May 18, 2001--The Automobile Club of Southern California today urged the State Legislature to carefully consider the impact of proposed transportation budget cuts on urgently needed traffic congestion relief.
    "California currently has an energy crisis," said Alice Bisno, Auto Club legislative director. "If it doesn't pay attention to long term transportation planning it will have a transportation crisis as well. Just as the state needs additional electrical generating plants and refineries, it must keep pace with transportation infrastructure needs including roads, bridges and public transit."
    "The state can buy electricity and gasoline out of state, but it can't do the same for roads and transit lines," she added.
    To ensure funding for long term transportation planning, the Auto Club currently is supporting ACA 9, a constitutional amendment ensuring that the state sales tax on gasoline will be permanently dedicated to transportation. The measure is expected to be on the November 2002 ballot.
    Transportation absorbed the largest cut in a revised state budget proposal announced earlier this week. Nearly $2.5 billion in gasoline sales tax revenue would be shifted into the general fund over the next two years and the state's current traffic congestion relief program would be extended two years until 2008.
    "The Auto Club worked with the governor and legislature last year to dedicate the state sales tax on gasoline to transportation uses for the first time," said Bisno. "Over the next five years, it will be a $8 billion downpayment on an estimated $100 billion worth of transportation needs. While the revised budget anticipates the money will be returned with interest between 2006 and 2008, there is no guarantee of that."
    While it is not immediately possible to identify specific projects that will be significantly delayed or eliminated, according to Bisno, the state Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) report on the revised budget says that the Public Transportation Account will lose $264 million not currently earmarked for projects. That means no money for new transit projects over the next two years. Delivery of projects in the State Transportation Improvement Program and State Highway Operation and Protection Program also could be negatively impacted.
    "Traffic congestion in California is increasing, not decreasing," said Bisno. "Transportation needs should be addressed, right along with energy, education and other major issues in the state with comprehensive planning. Transportation should not be used as an easy budget fix."