The many contractors, unions and other organizations that oppose Proposition 6—the measure brought forth in an attempt to repeal Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act—can add another group to their ranks. The Sierra Club, the oldest, largest volunteer-led grassroots environmental organization in California, now takes a formal stance to oppose Proposition 6.

Careful consideration taken first

Sierra Club volunteer leaders carefully analyzed the proposition before putting it in front of four different volunteer committees whose members overwhelmingly voted to oppose Proposition 6.

“The guy who put this measure on the ballot apparently hasn’t tried to drive a car or ride a bike on some of the pot-holed roads in my community. He apparently has never had to rely on public transit to get to work or school,” said Kathryn Phillips, Sierra Club California Director.

Proposition 6 hurts the environment

SB1 raises about $5.2 billion a year in part through taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel.
While California’s state-maintained transportation infrastructure will receive roughly half of SB 1 revenue, the other half will go to local roads, transit agencies and an expansion of the state’s growing network of pedestrian and cycle routes.

“Proposition 6 is a bad deal for the environment because it will cut funds that support safer bicycling and cleaner buses,” Phillips continued. “And it’s a bad deal for any Californian who depends on any kind of transportation to buy groceries, get to work, or visit friends and relatives.”

In fact, $1 billion is earmarked to improve infrastructure that promotes walking and bicycling—double the existing funding levels. In an effort to reduce traffic and greenhouse emissions, $7.5 billion goes to improve local public transportation.
Another $7 million goes to CSU and UC transportation research institutions for research directly related to improving transportation technology, practices, materials, and impacts to the environment.

“SB-1 is putting billions of dollars to work fixing our roads and creating more sustainable transportation options — giving Californians healthier air to breathe, less congestion and good-paying jobs that will stimulate economic growth across our state,” stated Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in May.

Phillips now echoes this sentiment more simply, “Voting NO on Proposition 6 is the right choice for people and the planet.”