Transportation sales tax measures around the region are moving forward on schedule to reach the November ballot (see October/November 2003 and February/March 2004 issues). The counties where such measures could be put before voters include San Mateo, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa, as well as a two-county measure by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rapid Transit (SMART) which would need to be voted on in both of the participating counties.
Progress toward the ballot is not always smooth. In Contra Costa, revision of the associated Growth Management Plan, an innovative element of the existing tax measure, is proving controversial for some cities. In San Mateo, opposition has arisen from groups that dislike funding BART and ferries, and increased taxes. Napa County may place two alternatives on the ballot; one version would fund widening Jamieson Canyon Road, the other would not. Marin cities are struggling with the debate over whether a tax for SMART's commuter rail, which has a high level of support in polls, would help or hurt Marin's tax to fund other transportation modes if the two go on the same ballot.
Santa Cruz County is also debating details of a transportation sales tax measure, reflecting the transportation financing difficulties which will probably place tax measures before many voters in the state in the next few election cycles.
For more information:
Contra Costa: http://www.ccta.net; 925-407-0121
Marin: http://www.marintraffic.org; 415-499-6570
Napa: http://www.nctpa.net; 707-259-8631
San Mateo: http://www.smcta.com; 650-508-6200
SMART: http://www.sonomamarintrain.org; 707-583-2323 or 415-419-3510
The Joint Policy Committee which was established as a result of the ABAG/MTC Task Force (see February/March 2004 issue) would acquire legal status if SB 849 (Torlakson) is passed. The bill includes the structure and purpose of the Joint Policy Committee, adds the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to the membership, and requires both the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments to provide reports to the committee by January 1, 2006 on functional integration of the two agencies. The committee would then report to the Legislature.