The future of Fresno County’s transportation sales tax, Measure C, appears increasingly focused on fixing roads. That is one clear takeaway from the latest meeting of the Measure C steering committee.

The expanded committee — now including 12 members of Transportation for All, a coalition of social justice groups who sought broader input — met Thursday. The committee did not include Brooke Ashjian, a city of Fresno representative and local paving company CEO kicked off the committee because of his criticism of the group.

“We want to invest in healthy communities. We want to invest in community health and well-being. We want to invest people’s ability to get to where they need to go via multiple modes — walk, bike, transit. We all agree that local streets are a big priority. There’s no question about that,” said Veronica Garibay of the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. She was one of the new members to the committee.

The countywide half-cent sales tax expires June 30, 2027. Voters would need to approve an extension on the 2026 ballot for it to continue.

Remember the West Side

Several members stuck to the theme of “remember the west side,” discussing how communities in the western side of the county have been neglected in the past. Members mentioned the desire for sidewalks, bike lanes, and public transit.

Chuck Riojas, a labor leader representing the city of Fresno, said “this exercise, I find it difficult to follow.” He supports completing streets and fixing potholes.

“This is a transportation measure, and it should stay that way, with maybe modifications down the line. My whole thing is getting a bond that will pass,” Riojas said.

Wyatt Meadows, a union representative on the committee, voiced concern about watering down of Measure C from its original purpose — building and maintaining roads. He openly questioned whether some members even like cars.

Input from workshops held by both Measure C and Transportation for All showed maintaining and fixing roads as a top priority.

Pastor Simon Biasell, a Transportation for All pick, talked about the cost to maintain a car.

“We have the worst air quality in the country. That’s why it’s not working,” Biasell said. “Our roads are really ugly.”

The steering committee will meet several times over the next few months, tackling Measure C priorities one category at a time. The committee will need 70% approval for a recommendation to go through.

Measure C has collected $2 billion in sales taxes and generated $8 billion in state and federal funds since its inception. This money has been used for roads, highways, freeway improvements, bus systems, bike trails, and other transportation upgrades.

Ashjian Indirectly Addressed

Measure C consultant Kendall Flint and Fresno Council of Governments Executive Director Robert Phipps told the Fresno City Council on Thursday they removed Ashjian because of his negative comments in the media, including GV Wire.

Flint briefly mentioned decorum rules at the start of the meeting, without directly mentioning Ashjian. The group then met for the next two-and-half hours discussing Measure C priorities. By early fall, the group will submit a plan to government agencies. Ultimately, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors will decide what proposal appears on the 2026 ballot.

“You’re going to disagree on some things, we know that. But we are asking that all the members agree not to post — shall we say — incendiary information on social media, to attend media briefings or whatnot, or to appear in local media, bashing the process, bashing anything else. We’re all trying to work on this together,” Flint told the committee on Thursday.