Transportation agency schedules Local Roads First workshops
– The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) will host six community workshops in late September and early October to provide information and gather public input on the proposed Local Roads First transportation initiative, which may be placed on the November 2026 ballot.
The Local Roads First initiative would create a countywide transportation tax dedicated to funding projects and improvements. The workshops will give residents an opportunity to meet with SLOCOG staff, learn about transportation funding needs, and share priorities for local road and infrastructure projects.
Five in-person workshops will be held across San Luis Obispo County, and one session will be held online.
Workshops are scheduled as follows:
- Sept. 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo Public Library, Community Room, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
- Oct. 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Pavilion on the Lake, Gronstrand Room, 9315 Pismo Avenue, Atascadero.
- Oct. 8 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Julian A. McPhee University Union, Room 220, California Polytechnic University, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo.
- Oct. 8 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Judkins Middle School, 680 Wadsworth Street, Pismo Beach.
- Oct. 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Centennial Park, Live Oak Room, 600 Nickerson Drive, Paso Robles.
- Oct. 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom at bit.ly/slo-localroads, Meeting ID: 828 5613 8033.
“We invite all San Luis Obispo County residents to pick a workshop close to their community and join us at these workshops. Community input is critical to shaping the Local Roads First initiative. By working with our local partners and community members, we can identify priorities that truly reflect the needs of SLO County as a whole. Together we can make smart, locally driven investments in transportation and bring more funding to the county,” said SLOCOG Executive Director Pete Rodgers.
The Local Roads First initiative focuses on maintaining and improving roads, enhancing safety, and investing in long-term transportation needs.
The need for a voter-approved transportation tax was identified in SLOCOG’s 2023 Regional Transportation Plan, which reported a projected 20-year budget shortfall of about $2.3 billion. The shortfall is due in part to declining gasoline tax revenues from higher fuel efficiency and electric vehicles, along with inflation that reduces purchasing power. The lack of funding affects projects such as pothole repairs, senior mobility programs, Safe Routes to School, and highway updates.
For more information, visit www.localroadsfirst.com or contact SLOCOG Communications Coordinator Annie Bowsky at (805) 781-1385 or abowsky@slocog.org. All workshops are free and open to the public. Additional presentations for community groups and organizations are being scheduled.
