By Bruce McPherson, Santa Cruz County Supervisor 5th District
I hear that question more than any other and I wish I had an answer.
Funding for both our local roads and statewide transportation system continues to be a critical need. State and federal gas taxes haven’t increased in 20 years. Inflation, increased construction costs, improved fuel efficiency and non-gasoline vehicles – while we appreciate them – have eroded funding for transportation. Santa Cruz County has seen an approximate 20 percent cut in revenue from gas taxes over the past two years, and we expect to see another 25 percent cut in fiscal year 2016-17. This equates to $5.4 million that is not available for basic pavement management work on County roadways.
Counties throughout the state are working together on new transportation funding measures – as they have in previous years. Unfortunately, I have little confidence that the state is ready to address the issue again this election year. I expect that, that by pushing it into a special session, the Legislature will once again delay a decision by the June 15 budget deadline.
That leaves Santa Cruz County in the position of helping ourselves. A local sales tax measure proposed by the Regional Transportation Commission will be on the November ballot that would make us a “self-help” County. The proposed Transportation Improvement Plan would be supported through a half-cent sales tax, should voters approved the ballot measure.
The 30-year plan would invest in repairs in neighborhood and rural streets, new projects for cyclists and pedestrians, Highway 9 safety projects and Highway 1 congestion relief projects.
Here are some of the key benefits:
- Local street repair: The largest part of revenue from the sales tax would go to “neighborhood projects” for our local streets and roads, as well as bike and pedestrian projects.
- Mobility projects: It’s likely that nearly 20 percent of the revenue would go to “mobility access” for the elderly/disabled/veterans paratransit services provided by the Metro and Community Bridges.
- Improvements to Highways 1, 9 and 17:
° HWY 1: Traffic relief for South County and Mid-County commuters, small businesses, transit buses and first responders through the addition of auxiliary lanes.
° HWY 17: Protection for wildlife by building an undercrossing at Laurel Curve and funding the Safe-on-17 Freeway Service Patrol.
° HWY 9: Safety improvements in the San Lorenzo Valley.
New bridges for cyclists and pedestrians: Cyclist- and pedestrian-only bridges to be built over Highway 1 at Chanticleer St. and Mar Vista Dr.- Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail: Continued expansion of the Coastal Rail Trail spine of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail for cyclists and pedestrians along the rail corridor in Watsonville, Santa Cruz and Capitola, and connecting to Monterey County.
- Investigation of rail transit as a future option: Holding open the option of transit in the future by maintaining the tracks in the coastal rail corridor and researching future technologies through an open public process; the plan does not include funding for any new commuter or visitor rail service.
- Safety for kids: New funding for Safe Routes to Schools.
- Help for seniors, veterans and residents with disabilities: Sustain an effective paratransit system.
I hope you will join me in supporting this measure to fill our potholes and pave our roads.