Legislative Watch 
LEGISLATIVE
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6/8/05-A proposed amendment to the state constitution that could have meant more privatized toll roads and truck-only lanes for the state’s highway system has died.
SB561, sponsored by Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, remained in the Senate Appropriations Committee at the deadline for bills to advance from the chamber, effectively killing it for the year.
The bill would have expanded on a California pilot program to build a limited number of toll roads by allowing the California Department of Transportation to partner with private companies to build new roads.
The state would own the new roads, the private companies would be allowed to charge tolls on them for up to 35 years. At that point, the state would assume control of the tolls.
The plan is part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Go California” package, designed to speed up construction and prevent the use of transportation funds to fill gaps in the state’s general budget fund in the future.
A similar Assembly bill – AB850 – met the same fate.
