On Friday, SANDAG will update their proposed $160 billion transportation plan. Among the aspects that will be reviewed is a ‘per-mile tax.’ If approved, San Diegans would be charged a set price for every mile traveled within the State of California. The money collected from vehicle drivers would then be used to pay for public transportation.
The message is clear from SANDAG, their plan is to punish all San Diegans by taxing them until they’re no longer able to afford to drive a vehicle. Instead, they want to force everyone on to trolleys and buses. One of the proposals is to create 819 miles of new managed lanes (toll lanes) across San Diego County.
In 2004, SANDAG proposed a new sales tax to voters that would generate $14 billion dollars, which promised to relieve traffic congestion, improve safety, and match state/federal funds to improve the following freeways: I-5, I-8, I-15, SR 52, SR 54, SR 56, SR 67, SR 76, SR 78, SR 94, SR 125, I-805. Voters passed this under the impression their commute home would be made faster and easier. This has not happened. Instead, SANDAG staff front-loaded public transit projects while leaving 14 of the highway projects unfunded.
This proposal should never see the light of day. San Diegans already pay some of the highest prices to drive in the Country. From the current gas taxes to a vehicle registration tax, San Diegans feel the effects, in their wallets, every day. Adding another tax, to fund public transportation is a slap in the face. I will not support any new taxes or fees upon San Diegans until the promised projects are completed.
Make Your Voice Heard
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Public Comments: Persons who wish to address the members on an item to be considered at this meeting, or on non-agendized issues, may email comments to the Clerk at clerkoftheboard@sandag.org (please reference “Friday, October 29, 2021, Board of Directors Meeting,” in your subject line and identify the item number(s) to which your comments pertain).
If you desire to provide live verbal comment during the meeting, please join the Zoom meeting by computer or phone and use the “Raise Hand” function to request to provide public comment. On a computer, the “Raise Hand” feature is on the Zoom toolbar. By phone, enter *9 to “Raise Hand” and *6 to unmute. Requests to provide live public comment must be made at the beginning of the relevant item, and no later than the end of any staff presentation on the item. The ‘road user’ charge is Item #3, titled “3. 2021 Regional Plan: Changes for Proposed Final Plan”.
The Clerk will call on members of the public who have timely requested to provide comment by name for those joining via a computer and by the last three digits of for those joining via telephone. All comments received prior to the close of the meeting will be made part of the meeting record. Please note that any available chat feature on the Zoom meeting platform should be used by panelists and attendees solely for procedural or other “housekeeping” matters as comments provided via the chat feature will not be retained as part of the meeting record. All comments to be provided for the record must be made via email or orally per the instructions above.
