If you’ve ever sat in traffic on State Route 67, battled potholes on I-15, crawled through congestion on I-8, or felt stuck on Highway 52, you’re not alone. I live here too, and I’ve felt the same frustration behind the wheel. Our roads are worn out, overcrowded, and in serious need of upgrades. That’s not just inconvenient. It’s dangerous.
For years, the politicians have told us improvements were coming. They raised our gas taxes, car fees, and added a special sales tax just for transportation projects. But despite all the money taken from local families, our roads are still a mess.
That’s because local politicians have raided road repair and improvement funds for year.
That’s why I’m leading the charge to demand accountability and reform.
I recently sent a letter to the agency responsible for road projects, San Diego Association of Government (SANDAG), asking for a clear and honest timeline to widen State Route 67. This stretch of highway is not just a daily commute for thousands of residents. It’s also the main evacuation route for communities like Poway, Ramona, Lakeside, and Santee when wildfires break out. Right now, it’s too narrow and too slow to get people out safely.
In East and North County, wildfires are not a question of if, they’re a question of when. We’ve seen it before. We’ve lived through fear and chaos and if another major fire hits, we need to know our families can evacuate quickly and safely. Right now, State Route 67 is a bottleneck in an emergency. That puts lives at risk, and it’s unacceptable. Every year this project is delayed, the danger increases.
But this problem isn’t just about one road. It’s happening all over San Diego County. For decades, we’ve paid into a system that promised to fix our roads. So why are they still crumbling and where has all that money gone?
To get to the bottom of it, I’ve also asked for a full investigation into how your road dollars have been spent. Some of what’s already come to light is shocking. One report showed that over two million dollars went missing due to problems with the toll system on Highway 125. The people running it knew there were issues but didn’t speak up for more than a year. Even worse, when they hired a new company to take over, they didn’t make sure the new system actually worked.
And that’s just one example. Another road project, called Build NCC, was supposed to add lanes to Interstate 5. Instead, millions were spent on things like beach sand, lagoon restoration, bike trails, and public art. While drivers sit in traffic, the money meant to help them is being spent on projects that have nothing to do with driving.
This is why I’m stepping in to get results. My job is to represent you, and that means making sure your money goes where it was promised– into the roads you rely on every day.
I’m pushing for real answers on State Route 67 and demanding a clear plan to get it widened. I’m working to uncover how road money has been spent and to stop wasteful spending in the future. And I’m going to fight any new tax schemes, like charging you for every mile you drive.
You work hard and you pay more than enough in taxes. You should be able to drive on roads that are safe, smooth, and built to handle the traffic we have today, not the traffic we had 30 years ago.
I won’t stop until we see real progress. You deserve better, and I’m going to keep fighting until you get it because when the next wildfire comes, lives will depend on it.
DeMaio represents District 75
