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Addressing CAliforniA\u2019s TrAnsporTATion needs:
problems wiTh proposiTion 1bA n d AlTernATive ApproAChes
By Ted Balaker, Adrian T. Moore, Ph.D., George Passantino, Robert W. Poole, Jr.,
Adam Summers, and LanlanWang
September 2006
POLICY
STUDY
CALIFORNIA GENERAL ELECTION
341
Reason Foundation

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Reason Foundation

Addressing California\u2019s Transportation
Needs: Problems with Proposition 1B and
Alternative Approaches

By Ted Balaker, Adrian Moore, George Passantino, Robert W. Poole,
Jr., Adam Summers, and Lanlan Wang
Executive Summary
alifornia\u2019s population is projected to reach 48 million by 2030, an increase of 11 million

people. The majority of this growth will occur in the state\u2019s three major urban regions (Los
Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego). Vehicle miles traveled by individuals will increase by 30
to 50 percent in these regions, with truck traffic growing even faster, especially in greater Los
Angeles. Yet California\u2019s urban freeway systems are already nearing capacity, with pervasive
congestion during ever-lengthening peak periods

By 2030, if current long-range transportation plans are implemented, congestion in the three largest
urban areas will be much worse than today\u2019s already intolerable levels. The Los Angeles metro
area already leads the nation in congestion, with the Bay Area ranking fourth. To eliminate the
most severe congestion requires adding enough highway capacity to more than keep pace with
projected growth in vehicle travel. A recent Reason Foundation study projects that between now
and 2030, California would need to add 13,132 new lane-miles to do this. That amount of new
capacity would cost $122 billion, or about $5 billion per year over 25 years.

While these are not small numbers in any sense, they are reasonable in the grand scheme of
transportation spending. In response to this growing crisis, California\u2019s leaders have offered a
dismal response.

Proposition 1B, the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of
2006, would authorize more than $19.9 billion in General Obligation debt, with an annual debt
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