Gov. Brown has not identified funding source to repair state's run-down roads

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Calif. Governor Jerry Brown spoke at news conference Wednesday about transportation, but he didn't talk about where the state will get the money needed to repair California's bad, bumpy roads.

The problem is apparent. Road maintenance that was put off during the recession is taking a toll on people's cars and patience and the solution could mean people are paying more at the pump.

The state's top leaders came to Oakland Wednesday to rally support for a plan to fix the state's crumbling roads.

Eric Gordon has a unique perspective on California's decaying roads.

"The pot holes, they definitely take a toll," he said. "I'm a mechanic too, so I see it on the cars I work on."

At the state capitol they can see it too.

"California needs to fix our roads and we need to do it now," said Calif. State Assembly speaker Tonie Atkins.

Atkins and Governor Brown spoke at the Port of Oakland to address the issue.

"I'm not going to say where the revenue's going to come from, how we're going to get it," Brown said.

In the special session underway Wednesday, he's expecting state lawmakers to figure it out and so are local leaders.

"A pothole is neither a Republican, nor a Democrat, it's just a pothole that needs to be fixed," said one local leader.

At the Port of Oakland, where shipping containers travel over bumpy pavement to sit on jammed up freeways, it's bad for business.

"We are hearing from companies we've never had before who are saying that transportation is rising to the level of a strategic issue in their company," said Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council.

Part of the problem is that the push for greener cars has meant less money in state coffers. One option on the table is raising the gas tax.

"I would definitely pay more at the pump to improve roads as well as improve other transportation infrastructure," said one Bay Area resident.

"The roads need to get fixed but gas prices also do not need to go up. So yeah, that is a conundrum," said another Bay Area resident.

The governor has not said if he supports a tax hike.

"We'll get it done, but I'm not going to put all my cards on the table this morning," Brown said.