Newsom’s $5 Billion Mass-Transit Diversion Draws Heat

BY ERIC JOHNSON PUBLISHED FEB 24, 2020 12:00 A.M.

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Some of the $5 billion earmarked to mass transit would go toward building high-speed rail.

Governor Gavin Newsom‘s plan to divert $5 billion annually away from highways and toward mass transit is drawing criticism from a San Jose lawmaker.

The governor’s executive order, signed on Jan. 20, earmarks $5 billion in transportation funds for rail projects in an effort to meet California’s climate goals.

San Jose City Councilmember Johnny Khamis objects.

“He’s taking away $5 billion from highway repair and I think it’s a shame,” Khamis told San Jose Spotlight. “A lot of voters are not going to see their highways fixed, and they’re going to have less trust in government. As a government official, I think we have to live up to our promises and do what we say we’re going to do, otherwise no one will trust us with their tax dollars anymore.”

David S. Kim, the state’s secretary of transportation, told the Spotlight that the shift is needed. “The transportation sector contributes more than 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. Therefore, we must take the necessary steps to reduce the share of greenhouse gas emissions that come from the transportation sector.”