The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
We currently pay a tax of $.60 for each gallon of gas we purchase in California. The tax is supposed to go towards planning, constructing, and maintaining California’s publicly funded roadways.
QUESTION: How would you rate California’s roads on a scale of 1-10? Also – how would you rate them compared to other states you’ve visited (are they better, worse?)
Talk about it.
Our roads are horrible, especially state and local highways. It’s not only the 60 cents gas tax that is meant to fund our roads, we get federal grants too. We also pay an excise tax on certain products that is meant to help maintain the environment. And there’s the DMV fees where something like 25% goes to state highways, and 34 or 35% goes to local governments, and the local governments are supposed to use a portion of that money to fix their roads. California State highways are crumbling, and weeds and litter are scattered throughout.
It seems to me that some of our nearby states who, by the way, have less money than California, are doing a better job at maintaining their roads. That’s not to say all other states have better roads, Washington, for example, has terrible roads, but Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, Wyoming, and Nevada have much better roads. So what’s California’s excuse? There’s plenty of money. Could it be that the money is being diverted into other programs? Like free healthcare, free education, free welfare, and food stamps for the illegal invaders? I don’t know where it’s going, but I do know it’s not going towards fixing our roads.
Everyone is asking wheres all the tax money is going? well they use it the buy bus. trains, (BART) boats (ferries). The Democrats in this state what’s you out of your cars
I may be wrong, but if my memory is correct I believe the taxes go to the general fund. Meaning, the Sac folks can spend it as they please.
SNICKERDAD,
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So true!!! The State of California has declared a “War on Cars.” The state has intentionally created increased traffic by not properly expanding our roadways and has intentionally created parking problems by reducing the number of new parking spaces developers are required to provide for new developments and cities and counties not creating additional parking in an effort to make Californians miserable enough that they’ll give up their cars in favor of walking, biking, and using public transportation. The State of California is losing the war but they refuse to surrender, and Californians suffer in the mean time. The line out of Sacramento is “Freedom isn’t owning a car so that you can go where you want to, when you want to, but “REAL FREEDOM” is using public transportation so that you won’t have the expenses that go along with owning a car.”
Don’t forget toll lanes and bridge tolls. The democrat politicians have even suggested taxing drivers for each mile they drive. Still, the roads don’t get fixed and are in horrible condition, and the money disappears. The democrat politicians are basically well dressed and well spoken con artists.
Well…… this question sounds like Atticus Thrax bait (crappy roads obsession)
I wonder if he’s lurking out there… trying to resist the urge to post a rant about this one?
It’s like luring Rodger Rabbit out with the old “shave & a haircut” bit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ds6w7SkHyw
Dr.Jelly
Atticus is probably still test driving that new Caddy, all the while checking out road conditions, where ever he may be. Hope he’s taking lots of notes.
My work takes me to every state in the country every two years. California roads are the worst overall. Every state has some bad roads here and there, but overall, California roads are in terrible condition. The gas tax is siphoned off to other programs and our roads don’t get maintained as they should (this includes bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure in our roadway system). When you are driving an Interstate highway to an adjacent state, it’s a relief to cross into Nevada or Utah. Concord roads and other local roads are also terrible. For example, Cowell Road is like driving in a third-world country.
Where are our taxes going? Every time there is a road project they have to pass a bond (same with schools).
The loons in Sac, mistake pot holes for pot ho’s
The roads in California can barely be rated a one. The gas tax and pay toll tax is clearly not spent on our roads. There should be heavily scrutinized audits to where all our taxes are spent. It appears our politicians don’t want to share that information…
CA roads are the worst. You know when you have crossed state lines into NV or OR. The ride is so much smoother. Where the hell does our money go? I’m not voting for ANY new taxes this November.
I find myself frequently having to swerve into other lanes to avoid large pot holes in Concord as well as in other cities in the Bay Area. Maintaining the infrastructure isn’t a high priority in California.
Well now, you know you aren’t supposed to have a car and either walk or bicycle everywhere as long as it is within 15 minutes to get there. That’s the way of the future or so our “great overlords” say. 🤣
Pretty soon everyboby will need mountain bikes to get around there will be so many pot holes!
All one has to do is drive over the state border to either Nevada or Arizona and immediately feel and see the difference (for the better)! California has some of the worst roads it’s a pity what’s happened to this state.
Look at I5 between LA and Tracy an extremely heavily traveled road for commerce and drivers. That road has been 2 lanes in each direction since I was a kid. The population has more than doubled and it’s still 2 lanes. Wake-up California and invest in your infrastructure and quit wasting or gas taxes on other projects.
For what we pay in taxes at the gas pump our roads should be as smooth as my granite counters.
It’s a disgrace and embarrassment the condition they’re in. Third world nearly
Been saving this cartoon, Dodging potholes for the right time.
https://theweek.com/political-satire/1022035/dodging-potholes
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Only thing missing is CA front license plate.
I think it’s common knowledge that the gas tax fund is scooped by Newscum and his cronies for their own pet projects leaving our roads / highways always in a state of “deferred maintenance”
The democrat politicians and their dimwit supporters keep harping and harping on ‘Trump is a liar’. In reality, it’s the democrat politicians who are the liars. The 12 cent gas tax to fix the roads is just one of countless and never ending lies they spew.
You can bet New-cums driveway has no potholes and is smooth as glass.
The Democratic Party has fleeced this state pissing away all our tax money on their own projects and not what we wanted. There needs to be a full financial in depth forensic investigation to really see where all of our money is really going. Pretty sure it’s not where it should be
I have to agree with the other people who have already responded: California roadways are terrible. The condition of the roads seems to vary by how affluent the community is. For example, Danville roads are well maintained and Oakland roads are like Swiss cheese. But compared to other states, the roadways in California overall would rank fairly low. Part of the problem with maintaining roads (at least in California) is that there are so many hoops to jump through to shepherd a project through from inception to construction. California’s regulations are some of the most stringent in the country. Even the simplest project can take years to complete. More complex projects take decades. Repairing potholes seems like it should be a fairly straightforward process though. If people are swerving to avoid them, they are serious safety hazards and should be fixed as soon as possible: not after months or years.
Hey C.C. don’t disparage Oakland, Once upon a time Oakland used to replace all of their Asphalt streets every 20 years or so. That stopped in the 80’s and its been downhill ever since. Just like the City Council and Mayor of Oakland are Dysfunctional. But that city has been all Dem since the mid 70’s.
Fed Up, I actually heard relatively recently that the majority of California used to be Republican not that long ago. I feel like the tides might be changing to red again, but it might be too soon to tell.
Having traveled extensively throughout The U.S. for my former employer, I have to say that California’s roads are not so bad. You have to remember we have more road coverage than any other state with more traffic on those roads for longer hours. Our weather doesn’t beat them up like in the Midwest and East Coast. As we all know, our high taxes should be more widely spent, but just look at the waste coming from Sacramento with no accountability and the money we lose through fraud and scams. Yet, the Democrats keep be voting into office despite this mismanagement.
California roads are the worst in the country. Fees and taxes meant to maintain the roads are siphon to let programs by the (supermajority) democrats for their pert projects and are NOT used for what they were intended.
That’s fraud.
But the same moronic voters continue to re-elect the same idiot politicians.
That’s on you, voters.
There are added costs for hitting potholes. Damaged tires/wheels/suspensions. If your vehicle is damaged, file a claim with Caltrans. They paid for my alignment and chipped windshield after roadwork wasn’t swept. If possible, take a photo. There should be a phone number to report any road hazards. Motorcycle drivers need to be extra cautious.