April 10, 2017 - SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) has issued the following statement after lending his support to a transportation plan to raise new revenues for
road maintenance and transportation infrastructure while asking voters to constitutionally safeguard these funds:“I have continuously highlighted the state’s underinvestment in rural California, especially in the San Joaquin Valley. Whether you are talking about infrastructure, doctors, jobs, poverty, or crime we have too much of the bad and not enough of the good. The state assistance and funding that flows so easily to the big cities and the coast dries to a trickle when it comes to helping the Valley.
The other parts of the state take for themselves, and leave us only what is left over the same way they drive through on Highway 99 leaving nothing but their exhaust behind. They forget about us when we fade from their rearview mirror. But when it came to mustering the votes needed to pass this transportation plan, they could not ignore us, as much as they may have wanted to.
Senator Cannella and I stood together and made it known we would not support a transportation plan that failed to invest in our underserved region. We would not support new taxes only to watch those dollars leave our community to build infrastructure somewhere else. We would not be forgotten again.
Today, I can confidently say that the rest of state remembered the Valley. This plan is truly a game changer for Merced and Stanislaus County. This comprehensive transportation plan doubles the road budget of every city in Merced and Stanislaus County. It invests $400 million to extend ACE rail to Ceres and Merced to finally make good on broken public transportation promises from the past. Finally, the plan appropriates $100 million to fully construct the Campus Parkway to connect the growing UC Merced campus to Highway 99.
Importantly, the plan includes constitutional protections so voters can ensure these funds will be dedicated solely to transportation. Too often, the state has raised taxes promising one thing, only to redirect those revenues for something else. This plan guarantees these funds will be used solely for transportation.
This will not solve all of our problems. We still need to reform the State Water Board, protect our local water supply from the Bay-Delta water grab, and lift the onerous regulations pushing agriculture out of the state. But what this has taught Sacramento is that we will not be relegated to second class. When we stand together they cannot ignore us.”
Local officials and community leaders hailed the transportation plan’s investments in local infrastructure and applauded Gray and Cannella’s leadership on the issue.
“Senator Cannella and Assemblyman Gray fought long and hard to ensure that this deal puts our region first,” said Merced County Supervisor Rodrigo Espinoza. “The citizens of Merced County deserve to be a priority, and under this plan we are. I am grateful we have two state representatives who know how to stick together to get us our fair share.”
“Our roads in Stanislaus County are falling apart,” said Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa. “The incredible investments guaranteed to our community under the plan negotiated by both Senator Cannella and Assemblyman Gray will create thousands of jobs, fix our roads, and construct a world class transit network.”
“Adam Gray and Anthony Cannella’s leadership in the State Legislature and their commitment to Merced have brought many benefits to our university,” said UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland. “These projects will be an economic boon to our region, and we are grateful for their support as we continue the incredible growth of UC Merced and the rapidly accelerating development of the Merced community.”
“The City of Merced fully supports this long overdue revamping of state transportation funding,” said Merced Mayor Mike Murphy. “The investments in road maintenance and transit are critical improvements Merced needs to continue to grow and expand our economy going forward.”
“No one likes new taxes, including me,” said Merced Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Blake. “But crumbling roads are not just inconvenient, they are a public safety issue. I support the plan, because our tax dollars stay here in the Valley, including the buildout of Campus Parkway, a linchpin in regional goods movement and economic develop.”
“While the legislature has had success in recent years in balancing the state budget, we can no longer afford to ignore our most basic repair and maintenance needs if we wish to avoid systematic failure of the state’s entire transportation infrastructure,” said Patterson Mayor Deborah Novelli. “There may be no better way to put Californians back to work and stimulate our economy than making the roads we and our children rely on everyday safe again.”
Assemblymember Adam C. Gray represents the 21st Assembly District which includes all of Merced County and portions of Stanislaus County.
Source: Assemblymember Adam C. Gray
