Second attempt to repeal state gas tax is underway
QLooks as if one effort to overturn the recently initiated gas tax has failed to qualify for the election. Do you have more information? — John Maguire, Antioch
AWhile the first repeal attempt failed to garner enough signatures to make it onto the ballot, a second attempt is underway, backed by many Republican legislators in Southern California. It’s too early to predict if it will get enough signatures to make it on the November ballot.
QYou recently included some information on the proposed bridge toll increase. You stated only 31 percent will go to roads and the rest to transit. Yet 79 percent of Contra Costa commuters drive. Only 11 percent go by transit.
The Bay Bridge has the worst congestion in the area. Rather than spending money on more BART cars, ferries, etc., we should spend it on another bridge across the bay. — Ken Hambrick, Walnut Creek
AHigher tolls would provide $50 million for planning and preliminary engineering of a new rail tube between the East Bay and San Francisco. But the total cost could easily top $100 billion, so don’t get your hopes up.
QThis talk of another toll increase stinks. We just passed a sales tax increase, gas tax went up and now they want more. When will it stop? — Steve
AIt won’t. Counties with sales taxes about to expire like San Mateo may seek renewals and the gas tax will be periodically adjusted for inflation.
QI commuted from the South Bay to Pleasanton for years. I would have taken a bus or train but there were none going in that direction. Maybe we should increase public transportation spending before squeezing more cars into more lanes on Interstate 680. — Mary Williamson, San Jose
AThere’s some hope for local transit. The state this week approved spending $51.9 million in new gas tax funds on several rail lines.
This includes Saturday service for the Altamont Corridor Express, increased weekday and weekend service for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system and station improvements for Amtrak’s Capitol line between Sacramento and San Jose.
But a big winner could be Caltrain, where millions will go to rehab trains, upgrade signals, bike parking improvements and adding crossover tracks near the middle of the line to enhance schedule flexibility.