In less than a year, California Senate Bill 1 raised billions for state transportation infrastructure, with thousands of projects underway. But a Nov. 6 state ballot initiative that aims to repeal a gas-tax hike and vehicle fees enacted in 2017 has galva-nized the state construction industry, which has joined a coalition of municipalities, labor and environmental groups, and others to protect a funding stream that generates about $5.5 billion a year. Advocates and opponents are closely watching Proposition 6. The controversial anti-tax measure would repeal the 12¢-a-gallon gas-tax and vehicle-fee increase and require voter approval for future hikes. Prop 6 is one of 300 state and local transportation-funding and related measures on U.S. ballots being tracked by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, says a spokeswoman for its Transportation Investment Advocacy Center. It also is monitoring re-election prospects for 800 lawmakers who voted on gas-tax increase bills.
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