Should the Gas Tax Be Raised?

California's population will grow from 38 million people to 44 million people by 2020; that's a 16% increase in 10 years.

So what is the problem?

66% of major raods in California are in poor or mediocre condition and the biggest contributor to vehicular deaths.

29% of California's bridges and overpasses are structurally deficient or functionally absolete.

Traffic congestion costs motorist $18.7 billion annually in lost time and wasted fuel.

Poor roads costs motorists $13.5 billion annually due to lost productivity, lost earnings, medical costs and emergency services.

Californians purchase approximately 18 billion gallons of fuel per year, for a cost to every motorist of $2.20 dollars per gallon casuded by these issues.

Revenues to meet the needs of repairing roads and relieving congestion have fallen short by $11 billion annually for the past ten years.

The average tax on fuel in the U.S. is about 50 cents per gallon, in California it is 53.7 cents. In any other industralized nation, it averages $3.50 to $5.50 per gallon.

How do we begin to fix the problem?

My guest on Saturday, August 27, 2011 Daniel E. Himick, President of C.C. Myers, Inc. will offer some sobering but necessary solutions for repairing our broken infracture in California.