Democracy Dies in Darkness

When respondents were asked about increasing the federal gas tax solely for the purpose of funding ‘transportation,’ support was relatively modest.

Published: August 24, 2026 at 8:03 a.m. EDT

17 minutes ago

By Karen E. Philbrick, San Jose Spotlight

San Jose Spotlight is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to local political and business reporting in San Jose, Santa Clara County, and the South Bay.

When you are maneuvering around a pothole, waiting for a delayed bus, or navigating a busy intersection, you encounter the effects of transportation funding, even if you don’t realize it. California faces the challenge of not only securing sufficient funds to maintain roads, bridges, and transit systems but also of convincing the public that every transportation dollar will lead to significant improvements.