Unlike a state gas tax, SB 791 calls for regional planning agencies to prepare a measure to go before voters in their jurisdiction that would place a new fee on fuel to improve mobility, called a "regional congestion reduction charge".
Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg's "California Transportation Commission: annual report" bill was entirely amended on August 25 to allow the state's metropolitan planning organizations to raise transportation revenue through a voter initiative that would require only majority voter approval. Proponents claim that Proposition 26, passed last Nov., allows for specified exemptions to the requirement that fees receive two-thirds voter approval.
In addition to the "motor vehicle fuel fee" there would be an annual charge on electric vehicles.
"News of this change broke over the weekend, and already transportation groups such as the Bay Area's TransForm are already providing Action Alerts for Californians to contact their representatives in Sacramento.
Revenues could pay for transit capital, operations and maintenance; bicycle and pedestrian programs and projects; programs and projects that would demonstrably reduce the growth in vehicle miles traveled (VMT)..."
Thanks to Streetsblog San Francisco
Read the full story: New Legislation Seeks to Lower Voter Threshold for Transit Tax Approval
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