The City Council unanimously took that position Tuesday — Mayor Steve DeBrum was absent — to make that Manteca’s official municipal stance and to allow the city’s name to be listed as a member of the No on Proposition 6 coalition. The group includes local governments, public safety organizations, business, labor, environmental leaders, and transportation advocates.

The legislature last year added 12 cents to a gallon of gas and 20 cents to a gallon of diesel fuel as well as upped vehicle registration $25 to $175 a year depending upon the value of vehicles to chip away at a backlog of street and freeway maintenance issues. Some $52 billion in work will be funded with the additional tax over the next 10 years. That includes $15 billion in direct apportionments to cities and counties that already were receiving gas tax. In Manteca’s case it will add $1.2 million a year to go toward a back log of street maintenance work. It also includes $11 billion in available competitive grant bidding with the rest going to freeway and state highway work.

The $11 billion for competitive grant bidding is the best shot the region has to secure $80 million needed to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents, deaths and injuries on the Highway 120 Bypass at the Highway 99 interchange. It includes major ramp improvements and lane additions involve both freeways as well as the Austin Road interchange.

Work could start as year as 2021 if funds are secured.

Prior to efforts led by Manteca two years ago to enlist the support of surrounding jurisdictions to make the interchange upgrade a top regional priority, major upgrades for the interchange weren’t on Caltrans radar through at least 2040.

The gas tax legislation also made funding available to extend the Altamont Corridor Express passenger service into downtown Manteca all the way to Ceres with stops as well in Ripon and Modesto.

Funds from the Senate Bill 1 gas tax increase legislation are helping make $9.2 million worth of projects in the current fiscal year ending June 30 possible in Manteca. That includes the 2019 annual pavement maintenance project, the Mayors’ Park subdivision pavement project, upgrading Main Street from Yosemite Avenue to Atherton Drive, upgrading Yosemite Avenue from Main Street to Cottage Avenue, and the Springtime Estates subdivision pavement project.

The council resolution noted voters overwhelming approved Proposition 69 in June ensuring gas tax can only be used for transportation purposes.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com