10A Action 2014 0303 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHY EXTEND AND AUGMENT A MEASURE NOW? While the existing measure will remain intact through 2022, the 2014 Plan has been developed for several reasons: Most capital projects in the existing measure have been completed ahead of schedule. Without a new plan, the County will be unable to fund any new major projects to address pressing mobility needs. Bus services in Alameda County have been cut significantly, and the gap between road maintenance needs and available funding is at an all-time high. The 2014 Plan will allow local funding to fill in the gaps created by declining state and federal revenue, keep needed services in place and restore service cuts for many providers. The demand on Alameda County's roads, highways, BART and buses is increasing. Alameda County's population is growing, and as the economy improves, more people and goods are moving on roads and transit. Investments are needed to maintain and improve the current transportation system to ensure it can effectively accommodate current and future growth. STATUS OF THE 2000 MEASURE B EXPENDITURE PLAN -FULFILLING THE PROMISE TO VOTERS Voters in Alameda County have always recognized the need to provide stable and local funding for the County's transportation needs. In 1986, Alameda County voters authorized a half -cent transportation sales tax to finance improvements to the county's overburdened transportation infrastructure. An even wider margin of voters reauthorized this tax in 2000, with over 81.5% support. Detailed expenditure plans have guided the use of these funds. The 2000 Plan provides over $120 million each year for essential operations, maintenance and construction of transportation projects. It authorized the expenditure of funds for the extension of BART to Warm Springs, transit operations, rapid bus improvements throughout the county, bicycle and pedestrian trails and bridges, a countywide Safe Routes to School Program, and affordable transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities. It has also provided congestion relief throughout Alameda County by widening Interstate (I) 238, constructing the 1-680 express lane, improving I-580 and I-880, and upgrading surface streets and arterial roadways. Most of the 27 major projects in the 2000 Plan have been completed or are under construction, many ahead of schedule. Annual audits by independent certified public accountants have verified that 100% of the public funds authorized in the 2000 Plan have been spent as promised. BENEFITS FROM THE 2000 MEASURE B EXPENDITURE PLAN The 2000 Plan local transportation sales tax has provided a substantial share of the total funding available for transportation projects in Alameda County, far exceeding annual state and federal commitments. State and federal sources have diminished over time, and local sources have come to represent over 60% of the money available for transportation in the county. The 2000 measure has been indispensable in helping to meet the county's growing needs in an era of shrinking resources. The county's ability to keep up with street maintenance needs, such as filling potholes and repaving roadways, is fundamentally dependent on these local funds. Targeted improvements funded through the 2000 Plan such as the new express lane on I-680 and the widening of I-238 have relieved congestion on critical county commute corridors. A new Warm Springs BART station will open soon in the southern part of the county as the beginning of a new connection to Silicon Valley. The 2000 Plan has supported transit operations, improved the safety of children getting to schools throughout the county and funded special transportation services that provide over 900,000 trips for seniors and people with disabilities every year. These local funds have also allowed the county to compete effectively for outside funds by providing a local match fund source. The 2000 Plan has attracted over $3 billion of additional funds from outside sources for Alameda County transportation investments.