How Do California’s Local Governments Fund Surface Transportation? A Guide to Revenue Sources

Abstract:

California local agencies raise the revenue to support high-quality transportation services and infrastructure from a patchwork of federal, state, and local sources. To assist policymakers and transportation experts as they explore options for creating a more sustainable funding system, this report presents an overview of the taxes and fees that currently generate revenue ultimately dedicated to paying for transportation at the sub-state—or “local”—level. The discussion covers federal and state as well as local sources. The report also traces the evolving contribution from each level of government for expenditures on California’s local streets and roads and public transit, looking back two decades. The report concludes with a discussion of options for increasing local transportation revenue.

Publications:

How Do California’s Local Governments Fund Surface Transportation? A Guide to Revenue Sources (Full Report)

Research Brief

Authors:

ASHA WEINSTEIN AGRAWAL, PhD
Dr. Agrawal is Director of the MTI National Transportation Finance Center and also Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at San José State University. Her research and teaching interests in transportation policy and planning include transportation finance, bicycle and pedestrian planning, travel survey methods, and transportation history.

KEVIN YONG LEE
Mr. Lee is an MTI Student Research Assistant and candidate for the degree of Master of Urban Planning at San José State University.

SERENA E. ALEXANDER, PhD
Dr. Alexander is Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Director of Urban Online at San José State University. Her research predominantly focuses on developing and implementing cutting-edge strategies to address climate change and climate justice.

Published:

November 2021

Keywords:

Revenues

Types of taxes

Local government

Public transit

Streets and roads