05 - Laserfiche WebLink

c - °° >-. ?'4 BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY FULFILLING THE PROMISE TO VOTERS augmentation of a consistent, locally generated and protected funding stream to address the County's In November 2000,Alameda County voters approved transportation needs.A key feature of the local Measure B, a half-cent local transportation sales tax, transportation sales tax is that it cannot be used for scheduled to sunset in 2022.Virtually all of the major any purpose other than local transportation needs.It projects promised to and approved by the voters in cannot be taken by the State or by any other that measure are either underway or complete. Funds governmental agency under any circumstance,and that go to cities and other local jurisdictions to over the life of this plan can only be used for the maintain and improve local streets,provide critical purposes described in the plan,or as amended. transit service and services for seniors and persons with disabilities, as well as bicycle and pedestrian The ballot measure supported by this plan augments safety projects will continue until the current and extends the existing half-cent sales tax for Measure B expenditure plan ends in 2022.Through transportation in Alameda County known as careful management,leveraging of other funding Measure B,authorizing an additional half-cent sales opportunities and consensus-based planning, the tax through 2022 and extending the full cent in promises of the 2000 voter-approved measure have perpetuity.Recognizing that transportation needs, been largely fulfilled and essential operations are on- technology,and circumstances change over time, this going. expenditure plan covers the period from approval in 2012 for an unlimited period unless otherwise While most of the projects promised in Measure B terminated by the voters, programming a total of$7.7 have been implemented or are underway,the need to billion in new transportation funding in the first continue to maintain and improve the County's thirty years.Voters will have the opportunity to transportation system remains critically important. review and approve comprehensive updates to this Alameda County continues to grow,while funding plan at least once prior to the end of 2042 and every from outside sources has been cut or has not kept 20 years thereafter. pace.Unless the County acts now to increase local resources for transportation,by 2035,when Alameda The expenditure plan funds critical improvements to County's population is expected to be 24%higher the county's transit network,including expanding than today,it is anticipated that vehicle miles transit operations and restoring service cuts and traveled will increase by 40%: expanding the Bay Area Rapid Transit(BART) • Average morning rush hour speeds on the system within Alameda County, to move more county's freeways will fall by 10% people on transit.It expands transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities,responding to • Local roads will continue to deteriorate the needs of an aging population.The plan also funds projects to relieve congestion throughout the county, • Local transit systems will continue to face service moving people and goods more efficiently,by cuts and fare increase,and supporting strategic investments on I-80,1-580,1-680, • Biking and walking routes, which are critical to 1-880,and State Routes 84 and 262.In addition, the almost every trip,will continue to deteriorate, plan recognizes growth in bicycle and pedestrian impacting safety,public health and the travel by completing major trails and bikeways and making substantial improvements in pedestrian environment. safety and access. This Alameda County Transportation Expenditure Plan(referred to throughout this document as the TEP or the plan)responds to the county's continued transportation needs through the extension and