SANDAG board removes controversial road charge

After a fierce debate and public backlash, the SANDAG Board of Directors removed the per-mile fee for motorists

Oceanside Deputy Mayor Ryan Keim, left, and San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones listen to debate during Friday’s SANDAG Board of Directors meeting over the controversial road user charge. Jone and Keim led an effort to remove the RUC from all future SANDAG transportation plans. Steve Puterski photo

NORTH COUNTY — A long and at times contentious centered on the San Diego Association of Governments controversial road user charge.

The charge is a per-mile fee applied to all motorists and SANDAG’s regional transportation plan was the only one in the state with a RUC. However, political pressure from Republicans, led by San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones and residents from all over the county, led the board to vote, 15-4, to remove the charge from the 2025 plan.

The $172 billion plan focusing on transit was approved in 2021 and must be updated every four years. For the past three years, the Democrat majority has approved the RUC, and its implementation, citing it as a more “equitable” way of maintaining roads.

Jones and other Republicans held a press conference on Friday morning prior to the meeting to rail against the charge. Jones, along with a Republican contingent of Oceanside Deputy Mayor Ryan Keim, and El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and Del Mar Councilwoman Terry Gaasterland, a Democrat, all cited major concerns with the RUC, most notably calling it “regressive.”

“The RUC will not be used to build or maintain roads,” Jones said. “Every resident expects us to get rid of this.”

While Jones brought the item forward, Keim, though, called for a substitute motion to not only remove the RUC but also eliminate it for all future plans, evaluate other options and funding and direct staff and the board not to pursue or support any regional RUC. The board will formalize removing the RUC during its Oct. 27 meeting.

“I do not support a road user charge,” SANDAG Chairwoman Nora Vargas said. “I want to make that clear.”