Californians Could Soon Be Driving Electric Vehicles on Bumpy Roads

Having some of the worst-ranked roads in the country, California’s push to replace combustion engine cars and trucks with zero-emission vehicles will leave repair budgets unfunded, according to the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. In a December report describing the implications of implementing the state’s greenhouse gas reduction initiatives, analysts found that transportation revenues would be significantly impacted. Funding traditionally comes from fuel taxes, and any decrease in consumption negatively affects revenues. “Caltrans’ highway maintenance and rehabilitation programs—which face significant funding declines and rely heavily on state resources—will experience an overall reduction in the number of projects the department can complete on the state highway system,” analysts wrote. “This likely will result in a decline in highway conditions for drivers.”...