A group of Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled a high-level concept for a transportation package that would significantly boost funding for public transit and climate-friendly pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
To pay for those needs while also funding basic road and bridge maintenance, Democrats proposed gradually increasing the state’s gas tax from 40 cents to 80 cents per gallon, increasing car registration and title fees, implementing a 2% sales tax on new vehicles and increasing the state’s payroll tax for transit fivefold to 0.5%.
It’s unclear how many of those suggestions will ultimately end up in a transportation package that lawmakers are hoping to pass this legislative session, which must end by late June. But a significant number of Democrats, about 17, have expressed support for the transit and climate related provisions, including three members of the key Joint Transportation Committee.
The basic ideas underlying the new proposal are similar to a more comprehensive transportation funding framework that the Democratic leaders of the Joint Transportation Committee put forward in April.
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