San Francisco Bay Area Ponders Gas Tax Hike

With concerns about global warming at an all time high, the region's policy makers think the time is right for a 10 cent gas fee.

1 minute read

October 7, 2007, 5:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"Regional officials are taking a close look at trying to increase the Bay Area's gasoline tax by as much as 10 cents a gallon and believe voters might agree to it as a way to help combat global warming, The Chronicle learned Thursday.

Although the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission has been able to ask voters for a higher gas tax since 1997, a decade of polls indicated there was little chance such an unpopular idea would ever secure the necessary two-thirds approval in the nine Bay Area counties.

Now, however, with public concern building over climate change, the electorate might not be so opposed to a new gas tax as long as voters see it as a way to help the environment, officials said.

A 10-cent-a-gallon increase in the Bay Area could generate an estimated $300 million a year or more to pay for transportation-related projects. Although the money could be used for roads, the emphasis probably would be on public transit and efforts to reduce auto pollution."

Friday, October 5, 2007 in The San Francisco Chronicle

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