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SBCTA tells Needles council Measure I has funded billions for county transportation
Summary
Luis Bedorian of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority told the Needles City Council that Measure I, the county half-cent sales tax, has helped fund roads, bridges and transit and has generated billions for regional projects; he urged local input on the next Measure I planning cycle.
Luis Bedorian of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority told the Needles City Council that Measure I—the countywide half‑cent sales tax for transportation—has been a major funding source for regional and local projects and invited Needles residents to weigh in on priorities.
"It's the countywide half cent sales tax that funds transportation projects," Bedorian said during the SBCTA presentation, adding that Measure I has raised roughly $2.5 billion since 2010 and, combined with state and federal funds, helped deliver about $2.9 billion in regional projects and supported thousands of jobs. He listed local improvements supported by Measure I, including streets, sidewalks, intersections and projects benefiting Needles Area Transit.
The presentation included historical context and a short video outlining Measure I's scope: the tax was established in 1989, first funded projects from 1990 and was renewed to continue funding through 2040. Bedorian said Measure I includes taxpayer protections such as an independent oversight committee and a limit on administrative overhead.
Council members and staff thanked SBCTA for recent River Road engineering funding and for helping with federal grant connections. Bedorian noted SBCTA is seeking local input via an online survey and said the authority is focused on aligning regional priorities with local needs such as roadway rehabilitation, transit service and safety improvements.
Why it matters: Measure I is a recurring, voter‑approved local revenue source that county cities rely on for transportation capital and maintenance. For Needles—whose economy and traffic are driven by freeway access and seasonal visitation—Measure I dollars were highlighted as central to planned local projects and to efforts that leverage state and federal grants.
The presentation closed with SBCTA offering technical assistance and continued coordination with Needles staff on upcoming projects and transit services.
