Why I Support the November Transportation Tax Measure

Santa Cruz County voters will decide in November on a half-cent sales tax that would fund local transportation improvements. Approval by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors was the last step in a two-year process to place the measure on the ballot, the measure having been previously approved by the city councils of Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Capitola. If approved by two-thirds of voters, the half-cent sales tax would be effective in 2017 and expire in 30 years. However, it would increase sales taxes by only a quarter-cent over current levels because a previously approved quarter cent sales tax expires in December.

Titled the “Safety, Pothole Repair, Traffic Relief, Transit Improvement Measure,” it is expected to raise $500 million. The funds would be divided as follows: 30 percent to neighborhood projects such as local road repair; 25 percent to Highway 1 improvements; 20 percent to transit for seniors and disabled people; 17 percent to the coastal rail trail and 8 percent to railroad maintenance and an analysis of rail as a transit option.

Many in our community are worried about the inclusion of the highway improvement funding in the tax measure, seeing this as a thinly disguised plan to widen Highway 1, thereby contributing to increased traffic impacts, congestion and carbon emissions. In my view, the positive programs to be funded by the measure, including new money for our revenue starved Metro, much needed infrastructure repair and the dream of a coastal rail trail override, for now, my concerns about the traffic inducing effects of additional lanes on Highway 1. I say "for now" because passage of this measure does not automatically mean that the proposed lanes will, in fact, be built. That future construction will almost certainly be subject to serious challenges on environmental quality grounds and we, as a community, will not forfeit our opportunity to speak out about the potentially damaging effect of highway widening. A vote against will, however, cause our community to forfeit funding for any of the programs included in the measure.

And here let me say something about those positive programs that will be funded by the measure and how they are potentially traffic dampening and carbon reducing measures. First, revenue added to the Metro budget will help restore route reductions and discontinuances which will go into effect in September. Unarguably, expanded public transit service will provide our community with a realistic and practical alternative to individual automobile travel. Reducing the volume of traffic, both on surface streets and Highway 1, is an idea that should be embraced by everyone concerned about the effect of green house gas emissions on climate change. An expanded, county wide, full service public transportation system is an essential element in every carbon reduction strategy.

Secondly, although local infrastructure improvement does not, in itself, reduce automobile travel, integrating an expansion of our bike route system with every public works street repair and maintenance project (as I have previously suggested) will make bike-to-work and bike-to-schools programs more practical and accessible, thereby reducing carbon emissions through reduced car travel.

Thirdly, funding the exploration, at least, of a county rail travel option presents another opportunity to provide residents with a transportation option that gets them out of their cars. Even as a mere concept, this green house gas reduction approach gives climate strategists another idea to fully explore and present to our community.

Lastly, the dream that is the rail and trail should be supported as much for what it says about our respect for our natural environment as it says about us as a community. The transportation tax measure may out live some members of our community, but it will continue to serve our children, who could live to enjoy and appreciate the vision of their elders.

Current polling puts the measure at a 68% favorability rate with voters, a mere 1% point above the two thirds needed for passage. I will support the measure while reserving my right to challenge any highway widening as part of a future review process. I support this measure, choosing its certain present benefits and secure in the belief that future action will be sufficient to protect our precious natural environment.

I recommend the voters of Santa Cruz do the same.