NEWS RELEASE

Regional Transportation Commission Holds Off on Transportation Improvement Funding Plan

2/07/08

Today, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) decided not to proceed with a ½ cent sales tax measure for regional, community and neighborhood transportation projects on the November 2008 ballot.  The proposed 35-year sales tax measure under discussion would have generated $600 million in 2009 dollars for priority transportation projects throughout Santa Cruz County.  Projects included in the expenditure plan would have addressed congestion relief, future connections, transit and senior/disabled transportation options, and neighborhood projects such as road rehabilitation, school traffic safety improvements, bicycle/pedestrian projects, increased local enforcement and neighborhood safety projects.

Although the RTC understands that future state and federal funding will be insufficient to make improvements to the transportation system, let alone maintain the existing network, the Commission based their decision not to pursue the measure at this time based on the following indicators:

News about the pending recession and increase in unemployment rates translate into voter uneasiness, especially with regard to new taxes.

Voter polls show that there is greater support for a balanced package of transportation improvements than for single projects,  however both the highway and the rail project generate strong support and opposition opinions.

Groups poised to launch a campaign in support of the measure were looking for unified support from the RTC.

The RTC expressed concern about the potential negative and further polarizing effects if another sales tax measure was placed on the ballot and it failed or generated strong opposition

The vote at yesterday’s meeting retains the region’s designation as ineligible for funds available to self help counties, defined as regions with their own source of local fund (typically dedicated sales taxes).  At the meeting, legislative assistants from Sacramento also discussed the State and Local Partnership Program funds made available by voters through the bond funds on the November 2006 election.  Without being a self help county, Santa Cruz County is ineligible for these funds.

At its meeting, the RTC also selected projects to receive $5.5 million in projected State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds through FY 2012/13. The project list included an additional $1.375 million for environmental review of the Highway 1 HOV Lane project and roadway repairs on five local streets and roads. The full list of projects is available on the RTC website: www.sccrtc.org/rtip.html.

Public input on transportation issues is welcomed and encouraged. 
For more information, call SCCRTC at 831-460-3200 or visit www.sccrtc.org. 
The meeting will be televised countywide by Community TV of Santa Cruz.  Consult www.comunitytv.org or call 831-425-8848 for schedule and station information.