(KGTV) - A new study claims Californians are dishing out extra cash due to the condition of the state's roads while supporters of an effort to repeal the gas tax slammed the study for neglecting to tell the whole truth.
The study, conducted by TRIP, claims that driving on California roadways costs motorists statewide an estimated $61 billion per year. The estimate is based on vehicle operating costs as a result of driving on rough roads, time and gas lost due to traffic, and the costs of traffic accidents.
The study claims 64 percent of San Diego’s major roads and highways are in either poor or mediocre condition.
When it comes to San Diego’s bridges, the study claims 64 of them are deemed structurally deficient and in need of improvement.
Meanwhile, supporters of the gas tax repeal slammed the study as being a PR stunt by lawmakers to get more money out of California residents.
“Don’t be fooled by a PR stunt by politicians of a few projects being approved in the middle of the Gas Tax Repeal campaign. Only a fraction of the existing gas tax goes to any road projects currently with the rest stolen and wasted by politicians. We could fix all of our roads if we simply allocated 100 percent of gas tax revenues to roads, but the politicians will never do that because this has never been about fixing roads, but rather getting more of your money," said Carl DeMaio, chairman of Yes on 6, a statewide effort to repeal the tax.
