New Gas Tax Dollars
Working for You
On November 1, 2017, the new gas tax law (Senate Bill 1, Beall) went into effect that charges an additional twelve cents per gallon on gasoline purchased in California. It also imposes 50% of a $0.20 per gallon increase in the diesel excise tax, and a new $100 annual vehicle registration fee applicable only to zero-emission vehicles model year 2020 and later. All of these funds are dedicated to road maintenance and rehabilitation for state highways and local streets.
Under current conditions, the California Transportation Commission found that our roads statewide are rated on average at “fair/at risk” and those current road conditions cost Californians an average of $762 annually on vehicle repair costs, according to the governor’s office.
Over the past twenty years, improvements in automobile mileage per gallon has dramatically improved with new technology. This is great for the environment as less gasoline is burned to reach your destination and great for consumers who purchase less gas. However, it also means that sales tax revenue from gas purchases has been significantly reduced and thereby creating a deficit in the amount needed to maintain our highways and roads. Senate Bill 1 was a measure to fill the gap between what is needed to fix the state’s deferred maintenance of its roads and available revenue.
The new gas tax revenue will also benefit local streets in Cathedral City starting as early as this summer. Cathedral City can expect to receive approximately $900,000 more per year to repair our local roads from the new gas tax. Here is a list of priority projects that have been scheduled based on the City continuing to receive this new revenue:
CATHEDRAL CITY SB 1 PROJECT LIST
Proposed Project 1: Reconstruct intersection of Date Palm Drive and Dinah Shore Drive. The pavement approaching and through the intersection has failed and will be reconstructed using Portland Cement Concrete (PCC). The stopping lanes of all four legs of the intersection will be reconstructed using PCC.
Location: Intersection of Date Palm Drive and Dinah Shore Drive in Cathedral City
Schedule for Completion: July 2018
Estimated Cost: $800,000.
Proposed Project 2: Avenida Ximino Neighborhood Street Reconstruction. Much of the existing pavementonAvenida Ximino neighborhood streets has failed due, in part, to poor drainage. The project will reconstruct the streets and improve local drainage.
Location: Avenida Ximino between 30th Avenue and Vega Road, Susan Drive, Walker Avenue and Vega Road between Avenida Ximino and Avenida Juarez in Cathedral City
Schedule for Completion: Summer 2019
Estimated Cost: $650,000.
Proposed Project 3: Construct new traffic signal at the intersection of Landau Boulevard and McCallum Way. This project will provide a signalized intersection near Mt. San Jacinto High School which gets significant pedestrian traffic from students. It was also the location of a pedestrian fatality in 2015.
Location: The intersection of Landau Boulevard and McCallum Way in Cathedral City.
Schedule for Completion: Summer of 2020.
Estimated Cost: $400,000.
Proposed Project 4: Pavement rehabilitation on Whispering Palms neighborhood streets.
Location: The streets include Candlewood Drive, Shifting Sands Trail, Sky Blue Water Trail, Navajo Trail, and Pueblo Trail between Ramon Road and Avenue 33.
Schedule for Completion: Summer of 2020
Estimated Cost: $1,400,000.
Proposed Project 5: Century Park Neighborhood pavement rehabilitation.
Location: TheCentury Park neighborhood is between Avenue 30 on the north and McCallum Way on the south and between Date Palm Drive on the west and Da Vall Drive on the east. The neighborhood includes 38 streets and specific streets selected for rehabilitation will be based on latest CPI.
Schedule for Completion: 2021
Estimated Cost: $1,400,000.
Proposed Project 6: La Pasada neighborhood pavement rehabilitation.
Location: TheLa Posada neighborhood is north of Vista Chino and east and west of Avenida Marvilla. Streets include Santiago Road, Posada Road, Madrid Road, Riviera Road, Avenida Maravilla, San Martin Street, Calle Prado, La Madera Road and Tangelo Street. to be selected based on latest CPI.
Schedule for Completion: 2022
Estimated Cost: $650,000.
Proposed Project 7: Landau Alleyway.
Location: The alleyway is in the Panorama Neighborhood generally bounded between Vista Chino to the north and 30th Avenue to the south in between Landau Boulevard and Avenida La Paz. This alleyway provides access to residential garages and apartment parking. The alleyway is approximately one mile in length (100,136 sq. ft.).
Schedule for Completion: 2022
Estimated Cost: $400,000.
