Prop. 6 supporters want state to start being funding roads

Q Virtually ever single bill or proposition that either raised taxes, kept them where they are or authorized the city, county, or government to issue bonds (which then have to be serviced by more taxes) passed Tuesday. The people in this state are unbelievable. All these bonds, etc., will come back to bite us hard when the economy isn’t as good as it is.

— Vicky S.

A Vicky, keep the faith. Yes, interest payment on bonds has consequences, but spending $5.4 billion a year in higher gas taxes to smooth out our roads, expand transit and make a bunch of other improvements got huge support. This could make up for decades of neglect.

And give voters credit. They’ve also approved higher bridge tolls, sales taxes for transportation and bonds for infrastructure needs.

The cash is coming. Now it’s up to traffic officials to deliver.

Q Now that Prop. 6, or the gas tax repeal, has been rejected, let’s just see how many roads actually get repaired and how quickly.

— Joseph Gumina, San Carlos

A Joseph, call Vicky, for you two need to keep the faith. The state last week allocated $669 million for more than 100 upcoming projects, funded by or at least partly by Senate Bill 1. So far Caltrans has completed 53 SB1 projects, a number anticipated to grow to 100 by the end of the year, with more on the horizon in 2019.

In the past year, Caltrans has filled more than 2,900 potholes and replaced or repaired more than 740 lane miles of pavement, more than 37,500 feet of guardrail and nearly 950 highway lights and traffic signals; has restriped more than 2,000 miles to improve visibility and safety; and has fixed 800 roadway signs.

The goal is to fix more than 17,000 lane miles of pavement, 500 bridges and 55,000 culverts by 2027.

Q After hitting the horribly bad pavement joint on the 280 Freeway over Coyote Creek in San Jose and needing to get an alignment job, I voted no on Prop. 6. A little bump in gas prices is nothing compared to an expensive car repair.

— Duncan Keefe, San Jose

A You’ve got that right.

Q I voted yes on Prop. 6 to repeal the illegally passed tax without voter approval. — Jim Chapin, Fremont

A Have to admit, Jim’s comment surprised me and was echoed by many others. There was no public vote on SB1, but it was legally approved by a two-thirds vote by the Legislature.

Q DMV registration fees are also going up at an alarming rate. I remember paying $81 two years ago, $95 last year and then a whopping $125 this year. We can’t afford these yearly increasing rates.

— Brian B.

A Yes, high DMV fees are not popular. The average California driver pays $265 a year and maybe $310 within a couple of years.