Largest Infrastructure Bond Ever Heading To California Voters

Headed to the governor, then the voters, November ballot is the largest bond issue ever -- four bonds totaling $37.3 billion, consisting of billions for transportation, schools, levees, and affordable housing.

1 minute read

May 6, 2006, 7:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"By large majorities and sometimes with heavy bipartisan support, the California Legislature completed one of its most significant achievements in recent memory early Friday by putting a $37.3 billion package of infrastructure bonds on the November ballot."

"'Today is a proud day for the Legislature,' said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, on the floor of his chamber after it moved the bonds to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his all-but-certain signature."

"Legislative Republican leaders also reacted with a feeling of achievement and satisfaction, as well as a sense of history. Senate Republicans voted strongly in favor of transportation and flood control, while a majority of GOP members in the Assembly only came out against the housing proposal."

"Besides the bond packages, lawmakers passed an added $500 million appropriation for levee repairs. They also put on the ballot another measure designed to put the brakes on the state's continued raids on the estimated $1.4 billion in sales taxes on gasoline (known as Prop 42 funds) that is supposed to go toward highways, roads and public transit."

Thanks to ABAG-MTC Library

Friday, May 5, 2006 in The Sacramento Bee

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Nithya Ramen talks to an older man. She is smiling and wearing a yellow dress. They are both outside.

Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor

Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.

November 7 - Los Angeles Times

Mamdani behind a microphone, in front of a snowbank

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge

A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.

November 6 - CNN

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6 - Grist

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.