Agenda Item No. 6
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council DATE: March 11, 2024 FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Steve Kahn, Interim Public Works Director
SUBJECT: San Luis Obispo Council of Governments Presentation on the Countywide Self-Help Transportation Investment Plan
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and provide comment on a report and presentation by the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) regarding a potential Countywide Self-Help Sales Tax Measure and Draft Transportation Investment Plan (TIP).
BACKGROUND
Overview
Transportation funding in San Luis Obispo County falls well short of future infrastructure needs, as demonstrated in the 2023 SLOCOG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), which projects a shortfall of $2.3 billion for regional transportation projects and programs including a shortfall of $400 million for needed pavement maintenance alone. Tax revenues traditionally used for improvement, operation, and maintenance of public transportation infrastructure have not kept pace with needs and escalating construction costs. Existing State and Federal funding are based upon an antiquated “gas tax” system of cents per gallon of fuel. The system predated the proliferation of miles per gallon improvements to vehicles, hybrids, ethanol fuels, and electric vehicles. While the cents per gallon fuel tax for the state is fixed to inflation, electric vehicles, which account for approximately 20% of new car sales in California, will erode the total gallons of gas purchased, further decreasing the tax revenues collected. Further, the Federal gas tax has had no adjustment in over 30 years; thus, available revenue from fuel taxes have not kept up and will only diminish over time.
California State Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), approved in 2017, brings in over $5 billion statewide and approximately $300,000 annually to Grover Beach for the purpose of funding street repairs.
Transportation improvements have long been a priority in Grover Beach with “Street Maintenance and Complete Streets” one of the Major City Goals. The Grover Beach Measure K-14 Street Rehabilitation Program funded by voter-approved bonds has provided a necessary additional funding source for rehabilitating residential streets in the city and the City has also funded improvements of major streets from the General Fund. For Grover Beach, additional road maintenance and rehabilitation funds will be needed to maintain the local streets that have been rehabilitated and to continue rehabilitating our major streets.
While the City’s Measure K-14 program has been very successful, the costs for needed road maintenance and transportation improvement projects and programs of most cities and counties still often exceed the resources available. To address these issues, many counties and cities in Staff Report: Countywide Self-Help Sales Tax Measure & Draft Transportation Investment Plan Page 2 March 11, 2024
California have decided to implement local taxes for transportation services and infrastructure, thereby eliminating the need to rely solely on State and Federal funding sources that can be volatile and unreliable. A dedicated local transportation “self-help” sales tax has been approved in 25 counties in California representing roughly 88% of the state’s population. Local transportation sales tax measures can provide regional and local authorities with access to a stable funding source to allow for delivery of timely, cost-efficient transportation improvements to their communities, and provide additional leverage and “local match” contributions to compete for outside state and federal grant funding. Adding San Luis Obispo County to the list of California’s self-help counties would help unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in additional transportation funding that would help to secure and deliver much-needed transportation improvements and repairs for our communities.
A previous ½-cent transportation sales tax measure (Measure J) was put to San Luis Obispo County voters in 2016 and received 66.3% support, just shy of the 66.67% (2/3) super majority support threshold required for special tax measures in California. With the failure of Measure J, the region lost out on over $180 million in funding over the last six years, which could have easily doubled by leveraging these funds towards competitive State and Federal grants. Transportation conditions and needs have not notably changed in the region since 2016, while transportation funding through gas tax revenues has declined.
At its meeting in February 2024, the SLOCOG Board received information on the outreach efforts and polling results collected for a potential new ½-cent transportation sales tax and approved a conceptual investment plan and funding distribution formula. The Board directed staff to work with member jurisdictions to develop the final TIP, and safeguards for evaluation to place on the November 2024 ballot for voter consideration. The term “safeguards” refers to provisions that protect taxpayer interests to ensure that projects and programs funded by the proposed voterapproved measure are delivered as promised.
Details of Proposed Self-Help Measure and Investment Plan SLOCOG has prepared a draft TIP for a potential 2024 measure (see Attachment 1) reflecting feedback from the previous Measure J effort along with recent polling and focus groups. In its current form, the proposed ½-cent transportation sales tax measure would include the following provisions:
1. Sunset: 20-year duration.
2. Revenues: $35 million annually, or $700 million over 20 years (not accounting for escalation).
3. Leverage Potential: Potential to return an additional $900 million over 20 years in competitive State and Federal Grants.
4. Funding Distribution:
a. Funds distributed to four (4) geographic subregions based on population (North County, South County, Central County, North Coast).
b. Within each subregion, 66% of funds are distributed directly to each jurisdiction for local projects (with a $3 million increase to the four smallest cities), with remaining 34% of funds allocated to regional projects within each subregion. c. Eligible Local Transportation Improvement Categories:
i. Road Repairs
ii. Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
Staff Report: Countywide Self-Help Sales Tax Measure & Draft Transportation Investment Plan Page 3 March 11, 2024
d. Eligible Regional Transportation Improvement Categories:
i. Regional Road Safety Improvements
ii. Mobility for All (i.e. transit, senior services, and active transportation)
5. Impact on the City of Grover Beach:
a. $24 million in funding over 20 years towards local projects:
i. $22 million over 20 years towards Road Repairs on West Grand Avenue, Oak Park Boulevard, 4th Street, El Camino Real, Farroll Road, The Pike, and other local streets; and
ii. $2 million over 20 years towards local Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements such as intersection improvements, Safe Routes to School projects, public transit services, and community enhancements including downtown streetscapes, way finding, and accessibility improvements, street lighting, street furniture, multiuse paths, sidewalks, and trees.
b. $68 million in funding over 20 years towards regional projects in the “Central County” subregion.
6. Safeguards:
a. 1% administrative expense cap
b. Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee
c. Annual independent audit and reporting
d. Strategic implementation plan required to be developed with local input groups. e. Requirements that funding be used to augment, not replace local funds.
Next Steps
The Council is asked to consider providing feedback regarding a potential sales tax measure or the Draft Countywide Transportation Investment Program at this time. SLOCOG staff will be returning to the SLOCOG Board on May 1, 2024, to share feedback received through stakeholder outreach and to receive direction on next steps, which could include refinements to the proposed measure and Investment Plan and direction on whether or not to continue advancing this proposal to the November ballot and requesting resolutions of support from cities. If this measure continues forward, there will not be another opportunity for changes to the draft plan after the May 1st SLOCOG Board meeting. As a result, tonight’s meeting provides the best opportunity to provide feedback to ensure that the City’s interests and priorities are properly reflected in the final Transportation Investment Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no immediate fiscal impacts to the City in providing comments on the Draft Countywide TIP, or a transportation sales tax measure on the ballot in November. Based on the projected total revenues of $35 million/year for the region ($700 million over 20 years without cost escalations), the City would directly receive $24 million in local funding over a 20-year period, should the measure be passed by voters, which could provide funding for many eligible local road repair, congestion relief, active transportation, and safety projects. Additionally, the City would capture and benefit from $68 million from the South County Regional investments for regional road safety, public transportation, and active transportation projects and improvements. There would be no direct costs to the City related to adding this proposed measure to the November ballot, as the full costs would be funded by SLOCOG.
Staff Report: Countywide Self-Help Sales Tax Measure & Draft Transportation Investment Plan Page 4 March 11, 2024
Lastly, staff would note that if this measure was placed and approved on the November ballot, Grover Beach would be at the statewide state tax rate cap of 9.25% along with four other cities in the county. As a result, the City would not be able to place a future sales tax measure on the ballot unless there were legislative action increasing this sales tax rate cap.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Receive and comment on a report and presentation by SLOCOG staff regarding a potential Countywide Self-Help Sales Tax Measure and draft TIP; or
2. Do not comment on a report and presentation by the SLOCOG staff regarding a potential Countywide Self-Help Sales Tax Measure and draft TIP; or
3. Provide alternative direction.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Attachments
1. Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
LOCAL ROAD REPAIR
& TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
INVESTMENT PLAN SUMMARY
$700 M
Funded by a proposed half-cent sales tax, requiring twothirds voter-approval. Twenty-five counties throughout California have passed similar measures, choosing
to fund transportation projects and infrastructure
improvements within their local communities. These
measures ensure that all funds raised stay local and
cannot be stolen by Sacramento. Enacting such a
measure would also return a fair-share of State and
Federal funds to San Luis Obispo County by qualifying
the region for an additional $900 million in competitive grants.
20 YEARS
If placed on the ballot and approved by voters, the
proposed measure would ensure a dedicated, reliable
source of funding to address road repair and critical
safety needs for the next 20 years.
Total funding distributed by subregion
based on population, over 20 years
$100M, 14%
North Coast
Morro Bay,
Cambria,
Cayucos,
Los Osos
$154M, 22%
Central County
San Luis Obispo,
Avila Beach
$246M, 35%
North County
Atascadero, Paso Robles,
San Miguel, Creston, Santa
Margarita, Shandon,
Templeton
$200M, 29%
South County
Arroyo Grande, Grover
Beach, Pismo Beach,
Nipomo, Oceano 1
includes 1% maximum administration fee,
unescalated for inflation
1 Attachment 1
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
$162 M
66%
$84 M
34%
NORTH COUNTY PROJECTS
$246 M
Local Projects - 66% $162 M
Atascadero $49 M
• Road Repairs to El Camino Real, Traffic Way, Santa Lucia Road, & San Gabriel Road $30 M • Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° US 101 corridor congestion/safety improvements to overcrossings, intersections, interchanges, signalization, ramps, parallel routes (San Anselmo Avenue and Santa Rosa Road) ° Local Road Safety Improvements, bridges, guardrails, road widening, pavement edge improvements
° Safe Routes to School and trail & walkway connectivity ° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $19 M
Paso Robles $52 M
• Road Repairs to Union Road, Paso Robles St., Creston Rd, Niblick Rd, Spring St, Commerce $30 M • Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° US 101 corridor congestion/safety improvements to overcrossings, intersections, interchanges, signalization, ramps, parallel routes
- Highway 46E (US 101 to Jardine Rd.) safety improvements / Union Overcrossing - Salinas River Trail & Eastside “Grand Loop” bikeway
- US 101 / Highway 46W interchange improvements
° Safe Routes to School
° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $22 M
Local Projects
Regional Projects Atascadero
Paso Robles
San Miguel
Creston
Santa Margarita
Shandon
Templeton
Other/Unincorp.
Regional Road Safety
Mobility for All
$80 M
$70 M
$60 M
$50 M
$40 M
$30 M
$20 M
$10 M
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
NORTH COUNTY PROJECTS
San Miguel
• Road Repairs and Safety Improvements to Mission St. Sidewalks $9 M
Creston
• Safety improvements to Highway 41/Creston/La Panza intersection $2 M
Santa Margarita/Garden Farms
• Downtown Safety Improvements to Highway 58
• Road Repairs and Safety Improvements
$6 M
Shandon
• Centre Street safety and revitalization
• Road Repairs, Paving, and Safety Improvements
$5 M
Templeton
• Road Repairs and Safety Improvements (Vineyard Dr. and others) • Local Interchange improvements
$21 M
Other/Unincorporated $18 M
• Road Repairs and Safety Improvements for all North County Unincorporated areas $6 M • Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° US 101 corridor congestion/safety improvements to overcrossings, intersections, interchanges, signalization, ramps, parallel routes
° Safe Routes to School
° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $12 M
Regional Projects - 34% $84 M
Regional Road Safety Improvements
• Highway 46E (US 101 to Jardine Rd.) safety improvements, including Union Road intersection $30 M • North County US 101 Regional Safety Corridor Improvements ° At US 101 Northbound off-ramp to Highway 46E
° Between Cuesta Grade and San Miguel, to address safety, mobility, and congestion issues (i.e. lanes, interchanges, crossings, ramps, bus, vanpool, parallel routes) $37 M
Mobility for All $17 M
• Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $7 M • Active Transportation (Bicycle & Pedestrian)
° Templeton, Vineyard Drive improvements
° Salinas River/N. Anza Trail corridor
° Paso Robles River Trail/Grand Loop trail
° Atascadero Westside corridor
$10M
*Dollar amounts shown in millions (M) reflect estimates from a half-cent sales tax generating $35M/year TOTAL $246 M for 20 years, unescaleted for inflation. Actual dollar amounts may fluctuate based on local retail sales and inflation, but distributions are guaranteed as a relative percentage of total funds collected.
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
$132 M
66%
$68 M
34%
SOUTH COUNTY PROJECTS
$200 M
Local Projects - 66% $132 M
Arroyo Grande $33 M
• Road Repairs to Grand, N. Oak Park, E. Branch, W. Branch, James Way, El Camino Real, Traffic Way $29 M • Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° US 101 corridor congestion/safety improvements to over/undercrossings, intersections, interchanges, signalization, ramps, parallel routes in the Five Cities area ° Safe Routes to School
° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $4 M
Grover Beach $24 M
• Road Repairs on Grand, Oak Park, 4th, El Camino Real, Farroll, The Pike, and other local streets $22 M • Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° Intersection improvements
° Safe Routes to School
° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $2 M
Pismo Beach $16 M
• Road Repairs to Bello, Cypress, 4th, Five Cities, Price Canyon Rd., Hines $8 M Local Projects
Regional Projects Arroyo Grande
Grover Beach
Pismo Beach
Nipomo
Oceano
Other/Unincorp.
Regional Road Safety
Mobility for All
$50 M
$40 M
$30 M
$20 M
$10 M
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
SOUTH COUNTY PROJECTS
• Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° US 101 corridor congestion/safety improvements to over/undercrossings, intersections, interchanges, signalization, ramps, parallel routes in the Five Cities area ° Intersection improvements, Promenade maintenance/extensions ° Safe Routes to School
° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $8 M
Nipomo
• Road Repairs and Safety Improvements to roads in Nipomo, Black Lake, Woodlands, Callender; Tefft, Orchard, Thompson, and Pomeroy
• Local Interchange improvements
$24 M
Oceano
• Safe Routes to School, Beach Access
• Road Repairs, Sidewalks, and Safety Improvements to 4th, 13th, 17th, 22nd, Elm, Pier $11 M
Other/Unincorporated $23 M
• Road Repairs to Halcyon, Price Canyon, Orcutt, Lopez; and Safety Improvements for all South County Unincorporated areas
$12 M
• Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° US 101 corridor congestion/safety improvements to overcrossings, intersections, interchanges, signalization, ramps, parallel routes
° Safe Routes to School
° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $11 M
Regional Projects - 34% $68 M
Regional Road Safety Improvements $50 M
• South County US 101 Regional Safety Corridor Improvements, between Shell Beach and the Santa Maria River, to address safety, mobility, and congestion issues based on latest adopted plan (i.e. lanes, interchanges, crossings, ramps, bus, vanpool, parallel routes, etc.) Mobility for All $17 M
• Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $8 M • Active Transportation (Bicycle & Pedestrian)
° Bob Jones, Coastal, and South Anza Trails
° Promenades & Boardwalks
$9M
TOTAL $200 M
*Dollar amounts shown in millions (M) reflect estimates from a half-cent sales tax generating $35M/year for 20 years, unescaleted for inflation. Actual dollar amounts may fluctuate based on local retail sales and inflation, but distributions are guaranteed as a relative percentage of total funds collected.
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
$66 M
66%
$34 M
34%
NORTH COAST PROJECTS
$100 M
Local Projects - 66% $66 M
Morro Bay $21 M
• Road repairs, safety, and congestion improvements
° Pavement management program programs (i.e. Road Repair) ° Local Roadway Safety Plan implementation projects
° Embarcadero congestion improvements
° South Bay Blvd. climate adaptation roadway improvements ° Pedestrian Safety
° Bridges
° Public docks
° Tidelands park boat ramp
° Roadway striping
° Safe Routes to School
° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans Cambria $10 M
• Road Repairs, Safety and Congestion Improvements to Burton, Ardath, Main, Windsor, Highway 1 Cayucos $4 M
• Road Repairs, Safety Improvements, and Downtown Improvements Local Projects
Regional Projects Morro Bay
Cambria
Cayucos
Los Osos
Other/Unincorp.
Regional Road Safety
Mobility for All
$25 M
$20 M
$15 M
$10 M
$5 M
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
NORTH COAST PROJECTS
Los Osos
• Road Repairs, Safety Improvements, and Downtown Improvements identified in the Community Plan, including 2nd Street revitalization and LOVR corridor multiuse path $20 M
Other/Unincorporated $11 M
• Road Repairs and Safety Improvements for all North Coast Unincorporated areas $6 M • Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° Safe Routes to School
° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $5 M
Regional Projects - 34% $34 M
Regional Road Safety Improvements $17 M
• Highway 1 Safety improvements (i.e., lanes, interchanges, crossings, ramps, bus, vanpool, parallel routes, etc.)
• S. Bay Blvd. multimodal, capacity, and climate resiliency improvements Mobility for All $17 M
• Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $8 M • Active Transportation (Bicycle & Pedestrian)
° Coastal Trail
° Chorro Valley Trail
° Boardwalks
° Pedestrian/bicycle safety and operational improvements on Los Osos Valley Road between 9th and Montana de Oro State Park
$9 M
*Dollar amounts shown in millions (M) reflect estimates from a half-cent sales tax generating $35M/year TOTAL $100 M for 20 years, unescaleted for inflation. Actual dollar amounts may fluctuate based on local retail sales and inflation, but distributions are guaranteed as a relative percentage of total funds collected.
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
$102 M
66%
$52 M
34%
CENTRAL COUNTY PROJECTS
$154 M
Local Projects - 66% $102 M
San Luis Obispo $77 M
• Road Repairs to Los Osos Valley Road, Broad Street, Tank Farm $37 M • Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° East/West major roadway safety and mobility improvements (Tank Farm and South Street) ° Broad St. Safety Improvements (South St. to Buckley)
° Foothill Safety Improvements (Patricia to California) ° Intersection Safety Improvements (Foothill & Santa Rosa, California & Taft) ° Prado Road Improvements
° Local safety and intersection improvements
° Safe Routes to School (Laguna, CL Smith, Sinsheimer, and SLO High crossings) ° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $40 M
Avila Beach $3 M
• Road Repairs and Safety Improvements
Local Projects
Regional Projects San Luis Obispo
Avila Beach
Other/
Unincorp.
Regional Road
Safety
Mobility
for All
$80 M
$70 M
$60 M
$50 M
$40 M
$30 M
$20 M
$10 M
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
CENTRAL COUNTY PROJECTS
Other/Unincorporated $22 M
• Road Repairs and Safety Improvements for all Central County Unincorporated area (Orcutt, Foothill, Buckley)
$10 M
• Community Road Safety & Congestion Improvements
° Los Osos Valley Road (Laguna Middle School to Foothill) ° Highway 227
° Intersection improvements at Los Osos Valley Road & Foothill ° Safe Routes to School (San Luis Bay Drive and Los Ranchos) ° Public Transit for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Veterans $12 M
Regional Projects - 34% $52 M
Regional Road Safety Improvements $30 M
• US 101 Regional Safety Corridor improvements, between Cuesta Grade and Avila Beach Dr. to address safety, mobility, and congestion issues, based on the latest adopted plan (i.e. lanes, interchanges, crossings, ramps, bus, vanpool, parallel routes, etc.) • Highway 227 corridor safety and congestion improvements (between Tank Farm and Price Cyn) Mobility for All $22 M
• Public Transportation, Senior Transportation, and Disabled Services $11 M • Active Transportation (Bicycle & Pedestrian)
° Coastal Trail
° Chorro Valley Trail
° Bob Jones Trail
° Edna/Anza Trail
$11 M
*Dollar amounts shown in millions (M) reflect estimates from a half-cent sales tax generating $35M/year TOTAL $154 M for 20 years, unescaleted for inflation. Actual dollar amounts may fluctuate based on local retail sales and inflation, but distributions are guaranteed as a relative percentage of total funds collected.
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
SAFEGUARDS IN THE PLAN
SAFEGUARDS
The Local Road Repair
& Transportation Safety
Investment Plan includes
strong taxpayer safeguards
to ensure that the projects
and programs approved by
the voters are funded and
delivered as promised.
Included in the plan:
• 20-year sunset date
• 1% administrative expense cap
• Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee
• Annual independent audit and annual reporting
• Strategic implementation plan required to be
developed with local input groups
• No revenue generated shall be used to replace fair
share contribution from new development
• Requirements that funding be used to augment, and
not replace, local funds
All funding stays local and cannot be
stolen by Sacramento.
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
SAFETY & RELIABILITY
Safety and reliability is critical to our transportation system’s function. The Plan aims to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our highways, streets, and roads, while improving system reliability by focusing on operational efficiency and resilency to environmental changes and natural disasters.
IMPROVED MOBILITY
Quality of life depends on our ability to access jobs, goods, and services.
The Plan will improve mobility by ensuring transportation to and from places such as work, school, shopping centers and medical appointments remains accessible & affordable for everyone living and working in the San Luis Obispo County region.
TRAFFIC CONGESTION RELIEF
Traffic congestion increases travel times and has a harmful effect on air quality. The Plan will improve travel times and preserve our air quality by investing in transportation solutions that reduce traffic congestion across our region.
GRANT LEVERAGE
Our region competes for grant funding with other California regions. Many grants require applicants to provide local match money to win back State and Federal funds through these grant programs. The Plan leverages funding collected from this half-cent sales tax to return our fair-share of State and Federal funds to the region. By securing funds locally through The Plan, San Luis Obispo County and its cities qualify for an extra $900 million in competitive grants.
ECONOMIC VITALITY
Our region depends on goods movement, travel and tourism to support our local economies. The Plan ensures our communities will continue to prosper by securing funds for the transportation infrastructure that is needed to balance economic growth and development.
BENEFITS OF THE PLAN
LOCAL ROADS FIRST
SLO COUNTY & CITIES
Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan Summary Draft 3-5-24
ABOUT THE PLAN
Ensures local funding
collected stays in local
communities
Guarantees funding
cannot be re-allocated to
other projects and must
be spent on improving
transportation
Creates jobs that will
support the maintenance
and improvement of
transportation infrastructure
in San Luis Obispo County, its
cities and communities
Brings more Federal and
State tax dollars back to
San Luis Obispo County
through competitive grant
programs
The San Luis Obispo County region will need $5.4 billion in transportation infrastructure over the next 23 years, but only expects $3.1 billion in available funds. With a $2.3 billion projected deficit, basic transportation projects such as fixing potholes, improving road safety, and reducing traffic congestion cannot be implemented.
The Local Road Repair & Transportation Safety Investment Plan would add a half-percent sales tax to every dollar spent within the region, generating $700 million over 20 years (unescalated for inflation). Funding would be allocated to each subregion based on its population and be required to stay local, with a minimum of 99% going to improve transportation infrastructure and safety. In addition, jobs would be created, public transit would be improved, and tourists would pay for the roads they use.
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