Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) April 16, 2026 Meetings

The Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) held a meeting on April 16, 2026, focusing primarily on transportation funding and infrastructure projects within Kern County. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the state's research into a road use charging system as a potential replacement for the traditional gas tax, which is becoming less effective due to increased fuel efficiency and the rise of electric vehicles. The road use charge would be a per-mile fee designed to be revenue neutral and equitable across different vehicle types, with various reporting options to accommodate privacy and technology differences. The meeting also covered updates on several local infrastructure projects, including road rehabilitation, pedestrian improvements, and roundabout constructions, with some projects awaiting construction or in progress. Additionally, the committee discussed the draft 2026 California High-Speed Rail business plan, expressing concerns about recent cost revisions and alignment changes affecting Bakersfield and Shafter, and emphasized the need for a collaborative regional comment letter. The meeting included approvals of the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program projects and the fiscal year 2026-27 overall work program, with votes taken to adopt these items. Overall, the meeting addressed ongoing transportation funding challenges, project updates, and regional coordination efforts related to major infrastructure initiatives.