CALTRANS PROGRAM REVEALS SERIOUS FUNDING GAPS FOR HIGHWAYS

By Miriam Raftery

August 29, 2015 (San Diego)—California highways have $57 billion in deferred maintenance and our state now ranks 45^th out of 50 states in overall highway performance.  Over half of our state’s highways need rehabilitation and 28%of bridges need repairs or replacement. But there is not enough money available to solve these problems, which are getting worse as time goes by. Those are among the dismal facts presented at a Cal Trans forum on transportation issues presented in San Diego this week.

Potential solutions include charging drivers a per-mile charge, with those who drive more paying the lion’s share.  Raising the gas tax is another option, though that has been tried previously and failed.

Nadin Abbott at Reporting San Diego covered the forum in a two-part series:

http://reportingsandiego.com/2015/08/26/the-transportation-crisis-in-california-is-here/

http://reportingsandiego.com/2015/08/26/local-transportation-issues-part-two/

Local transportation issues were also discussed, including the new Otay Mesa East border crossing, a toll crossing set to open in 2018 and connect up to State Route 11 and from there, 125. A conspicous absence was any discussion of highway delays or potential improvements along State Routes 94 and 67, despite many accidents and closures that have prompted complaints from residents.

Transit enhancements are expected to occur in El Cajon and Santee, but not points further east due to lack of demand, according to Reporting San Diego.