Last Friday, SB 1031, the Connect Bay Area Act to authorize a regional transportation funding measure, was halted by the bill authors and sponsor MTC.
The decision allows more time for stakeholders to build agreement for a new bill in 2025. A regional funding measure remains key to addressing the fiscal cliff facing Caltrain, BART, and other agencies, and to provide coordinated service that riders and voters want to see.
And in the meantime, there are important initiatives at an agency and regional level – to regrow ridership for Caltrain and other services, to plan the next generation regionally connected transit network, to take next steps on bus priority and coordinated fares, bringing more people to transit and building confidence in the public.
As next steps, MTC will be holding a workshop on June 12 to reset the regional discussion.
Thank God. Santa Clara county already pa7ys more than its “fair share.”
Over the last several elections, voters in Santa Clara County have passed multiple tax and fee increases including gas taxes, the Caltrain Measure RR tax, two bridge toll increases, three VTA sales taxes, Santa Clara County’s Measure A 1/8 cent sales tax, the state prop 30 ¼ cent sales tax and the 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee of $10. Additionally, we’re on the hook to pay back numerous state bond issues including high speed rail, the Proposition 1 water bond and the infrastructure bonds of 2006.
All this nickel and diming contributes into making the Bay Area a horribly expensive place to live; especially for people of modest means, who must pay the greatest percentage of their income in these regressive taxes and fees. Each increase by itself does not amount to much, but the cumulative effect is to add to the unaffordability of the region.
Before increasing taxes YET AGAIN, waste needs to be removed from transportation projects. For example, we need to eliminate the redundant and BART extension between the San Jose and Santa Clara Caltrain stations. The BART segment from these stations would duplicate both the existing Caltrain line and VTA’s 22 and 522 buses.
Why don’t the wealthy high rollers at MTC suggest taxing rich tech companies and leave the little guy alone for a change?