Inland Legislator Seeks to Use High-Speed Rail Funds for Roads

By City News Service:

A Riverside County lawmaker Tuesday proposed using money earmarked for the California High-Speed Rail Project to pay for improvements to the state’s deteriorating roads, highways and bridges.

“Our roads are crumbling. Fifty-nine billion (dollars) is needed for maintenance, and the Democrat majority’s answer is to raise our taxes,” said Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore.

“That’s not the answer. Our problem is not a lack of funding; it is poor spending priorities,” she said. “Let’s allow the people to choose between the $68-plus-billion high-speed rail or quality roads. I think we all know what they’ll choose.”

Melendez’s AB 2049 seeks to redirect bond funding intended for the rail line to cover infrastructure projects statewide.

Last month, the California Transportation Commission announced that $754 million in State Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, appropriations would have to be cut over the next five years due to changes in the economy.fg

The total loss to Riverside County was estimated to be $84 million, threatening at least four area projects.

Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed raising vehicle license fees and state excise taxes to fund road repairs. Melendez and other Republican lawmakers argue that Californians are taxed enough already.

High-speed rail has been in the works since 2009, without any major progress. A majority of voters approved bond issuances in support of the project in 2008.

According to the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the goal is to build a bullet train capable of taking commuters from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 2 hours, 40 minutes or less.

The nonprofit Reason Foundation released a study in 2013 estimating construction costs will top $70 billion -- double the $33 billion that proponents said would be needed. The rail system is scheduled for completion by 2029, but critics doubt that’s achievable.

“Ensuring quality roads is a fundamental responsibility of government, and the Democrat majority has failed the people of California in that regard,” Melendez said. “We have the money. It’s time to stop wasting tax dollars on pet projects and fund our roads.”

Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and a portion of Hemet. It also includes the Riverside County unincorporated areas of Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Nuevo, and Winchester.

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