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ADOPT A RESOLUTION OPPOSING PROPOSITION 6 REPEALING TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a resolution opposing Proposition 6 and stating the City of Stockton’s commitment to preserving critical transportation funding provided by SB 1.
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Summary
The 2016 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment indicates that the condition of the local transportation network is deteriorating at an increasing rate. The City of Stockton local transportation network has significant deferred maintenance. One solution for addressing the local transportation infrastructure needs was the passage of Senate Bill 1 (SB1), known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. SB1 provides the first significant, stable, and ongoing increase in State transportation funding in more than two decades. The funding provides for basic road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical safety needs on both the State highway and local streets and road systems.
The City of Stockton will receive nearly $90 million in SB 1 funds over a ten-year period. SB 1 funds have already been used to initiate a number of high priority projects in Stockton. Unfortunately, a measure has been placed on the November 2018 ballot, Proposition 6, that would remove the funding provided by SB 1, eliminating the ability to carry out critical transportation projects. The City of Stockton is opposed to Proposition 6 and is committed to participating in the No on 6 Coalition.
DISCUSSION
Background
Cities and counties own and operate more than 81 percent of streets and roads in California. The 2016 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment, which provides critical analysis and information on the local transportation network’s condition and funding needs, indicates that the condition of the local transportation network is deteriorating at an increasing rate. The City of Stockton local transportation network has significant deferred maintenance. One solution for addressing the local transportation infrastructure needs was the passage of Senate Bill 1 (SB1), known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. SB1 provides the first significant, stable, and ongoing increase in State transportation funding in more than two decades. The funding provides for basic road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical safety needs on both the State highway and local streets and road systems.
The City of Stockton is projected to receive nearly $90 million in SB 1 funding over a ten-year period. Approximately $1.8 million in SB1 funding was allocated to the City for Fiscal Year 2017-18 $5.3 million for Fiscal Year 2018-19. This funding has been allocated to the Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk Replacement Project and to the Local Streets Resurfacing Project. The funding for the Curb, Gutter and Sidewalk Replacement Project will be used to remove and replace City tree-damaged curb, gutter, and sidewalk at approximately 350 locations Citywide. This project will address almost 50 percent of the current accumulated backlog of requested repairs. Examples of project locations for the Local Streets Resurfacing Project include:
Ø Kelley Drive North of Hammer Lane
Ø Inglewood Drive from Swain Road to Benjamin Holt Drive
Ø Henry Long Boulevard from EWS Woods Boulevard to McDougald Boulevard
Ø Golden Gate Avenue from Fremont Street to Roosevelt Street
Ø Bristol Avenue from Kensington Way to Pacific Avenue
Upon completion of the resurfacing project, the pavement condition index (PCI) for the City’s entire pavement network is projected to increase from 63 to 65 (on a 0 to 100 scale). The City’s goal is an overall network PCI of 70.
Unfortunately, a measure has been placed on the November 2018 ballot, Proposition 6, that would remove the funding provided by SB 1, eliminating the ability to carry out numerous transportation projects such as those listed above.
Present Situation
Proposition 6 would eliminate more than $52 billion statewide over the next 10 years in existing transportation funding, including the $15 billion in direct apportionments, and $11 billion in available competitive grant funding, to cities and counties statewide. The City of Stockton would lose an estimated $82 million over the next 8 years.
Proposition 6 would jeopardize public safety by eliminating thousands of statewide projects to fix unsafe bridges and overpasses, repair crumbling and unsafe roads, and enhance pedestrian safety. The critical improvements initiated to Stockton’s local streets, curbs, gutters and sidewalks would no longer be possible.
In addition, to ensure that these funds were safeguarded, the City of Stockton supported Proposition 69, which voters overwhelmingly passed in June 2018, thereby ensuring transportation funds can only be used for transportation purposes and the State and local governments are accountable to taxpayers. Proposition 6 would eliminate transportation revenues that are accountable to taxpayers, can’t be diverted or borrowed, and that voters overwhelmingly dedicated to fixing our roads. The California Transportation Commission has adopted new programmatic guidelines which set forth the process and procedures for using SB 1 funding. The guidelines are intended to provide guidance and ensure accountability of funding invested on public projects.
It is in the interest of the City of Stockton to oppose Proposition 6 and participate actively with the No on 6 Coalition.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
As noted above, Stockton is estimated to received nearly $90 million over ten years in SB 1 funding. If Proposition 6 is successful, Stockton would lose as estimated $82 million in SB 1 revenues over the next 8 years. The loss of SB 1 funding would have a significant adverse impact on City revenues, eliminating the ability to initiate critical infrastructure projects.