SANDAG Plan Retreats on Road Usage Charge, Proposes Other New Taxes

In response to conservative opposition to a proposed road user charge, San Diego's regional planning agency is proposing other revenue sources including a tax on ride-hailing and three sales tax increases.

1 minute read

December 27, 2021, 9:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Gaslamp Quarter

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is scaling back its long-term transportation plan due to opposition from conservative leaders who disagree with a proposed road user charge, reports Andrew Keatts.

Opponents claim that the agency doesn't have the legal authority to enforce the charge, putting the programs that would depend on funding from it at risk. According to Colin Parent, Democratic councilman from La Mesa, "unlike a sales tax ballot measure, there’s no legal authority to do it, and unlike a ballot measure there’s no historic precedent for having done it – either locally or elsewhere." Planning for projects funded with a new source of funding that requires new legislation, argues Parent, means the agency is planning work it might never have the revenue for.

Meanwhile, the plan does propose some more traditional funding sources:

  • Three sales tax increases to fund transportation improvements.
  • Per-ride fees on ride-hailing companies. In addition to bringing in a projected $1.3 billion, the fee is designed to discourage the "emissions-intensive" trips.
  • Managed toll and bus lanes on the region's highways, which could bring in over $19 billion. To create the new managed lanes, the agency plans to convert existing lanes as well as expand freeways to build new ones.

Thursday, December 9, 2021 in Voice of San Diego

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Rendering of autonomous cargo train moving across bridge across river in wooded area between Texas and Mexico.

Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor

The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.

June 17 - FreightWaves

Rendering of white three-story single-stair building in Austin, Texas with staircase in the middle.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway

Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

June 17 - Building Design & Construction

MARTA bus with Atlanta skyline in background

Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access

MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.

June 17 - Mass Transit