The California Primary MARCH 2, 2004 The League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville 1414 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702 • (510) 843-8824 Nonpartisan Information on Ballot Measures Regional Measure 2 - Regional Traffic Relief Plan Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano A Majority Vote Needed to Pass this Measure The Question: ß strengthening the transbay BART tube to withstand Shall bridge tolls on seven state- earthquakes ($143M); ß new rail service over the Dumbarton bridge ($135M); Regional owned bridges be raised by $1 to ß improvements to the I-80/I-680 interchange at Cordelia pay for transportation improve- Traffic ($100M); ments and transit operations? ß expanded ferry connections ($84M); Relief Plan The Way It Is Now: ß improvements to the US 101 interchange at Greenbrae ($65M); Traffic congestion at bridges has ß a fourth bore for the Caldecott Tunnel ($51M); been increasing. This increases ß carpool lane completion eastbound at the Carquinez air pollution and travel times and costs of doing business Bridge ($50M); in the Bay Area. The land connection of the BART tube ß completion of new Benicia-Martinez Bridge ($50M); under the bay would be vulnerable in a major earthquake. ß common regional transit ticket system (Translink) To get cost-effective transit alternatives to congested ($42M); bridges both additional funds and transit coordination are ß rail connection between ferry and Sonoma-Marin rail needed. ($35M); ß Muni 3rd Street light rail ($30M); What Measure 2 Would Do: ß intermodal terminal at Vallejo linking express bus and ferry ($28M); Regional Measure 2 is a transportation financing proposal ß access improvements for pedestrians and cyclists to placed on the ballot by the California Legislature (Perata, transit ($23M); SB916). If a majority of voters in the seven Bay Area ß Capital Corridor track and station improvement ($25M); counties with state-owned bridges pass this measure, ß real-time transit information at stops or via communica- bridge tolls would be increased by $1. The toll for the tion devices ($20M); Antioch, Benicia, Carquinez, San Rafael, Bay, San Mateo The measure requires that transit operators receiving operating and Dumbarton bridges would then be $3; the Golden Gate fundsth meet performance standards for cost-effectiveness and Bridge is not state-owned and currently has a toll of $5. number of riders. If not, funds can be reassigned by the Metro- The increased toll would relieve the growing traffic politan Transportation Commission (composed of locally congestion on the bridges by funding transportation elected officials from the nine counties of the Bay Area) after a improvements around the Bay and would benefit those public hearing process. Once the projects are in the State using the bridges and paying the fee. The measure would Transportation Improvement Plan, the project sponsors must raise $125 million a year for 35 years. Of this total, $41 agree to any amendments. million per year would fund transit operations, In addition, The measure requires the Metropolitan Transportation Com- the measure would fund the following projects: mission to develop a Regional Transit Connectivity Plan ß BART extension to Warm Springs & Oakland Airport, identifying hubs for timed transfers between systems by Dec. 1, connection to East Contra Costa County (on conven- 2005; a Regional Rail Master Plan integrating passenger rail tional rail) and turnback track at Pleasant Hill services by July 1, 2006; and an integrated fare program by ($246M); July 1, 2007. ß expanded regional express bus network with park and ride ($171M); A YES VOTE means you do want the bridge tolls increased by ß new Transbay Terminal linking regional buses, Muni, $1 to fund a package of regional transportation improvements. BART, Caltrain and future high speed California rail A NO VOTE means you do not want the bridge tolls increased ($150M); by $1 to fund a package of regional transportation improvements. Page 2. Proponents Say: Opponents Say: ß Funds will be raised for transportation improvements ß The measure distributes funds by ballot measure to accommodate an estimated 50% increase in trips rather than selecting projects through the regional in the bridge corridors (1998-2025) transportation planning process. Priorities may be ß Raising transportation money through bridge tolls, determined by political pressure rather than by improving transit connections and connecting HOV transportation and land use planning criteria. lanes will encourage use of transit and carpools, ß Some projects may encourage more people to drive reducing congestion and air pollution at the bridges. by removing bottlenecks and increase congestion at ß The measure will improve connections between the bridges. No data is provided on how effectively transit systems for maximum cost-effectiveness. It the proposed investments will alleviate traffic will require a regional rail master plan to integrate congestion at Bay Area bridges. passenger rail services. ß Some of the BART extensions may not have ß The measure will strengthen the essential BART enough riders to justify the investment, according transbay tube to withstand earthquakes. It will to current land use plans. provide additional ferry capacity for flexible emer- ß Revenues from increased bridge tolls will not com- gency service. pletely fund most projects. This will create pressure ß Funds for operating transit as well as for building to use other transportation funds for these uses. transit are included so we avoid building transit we ß There is no automatic sunset provision for this can’t afford to operate. measure. ß Raising transportation money within the region will assist long-term regional transportation planning. ß The Metropolitan Transportation Commission - as the Bay Area Toll Authority - could have set a $3 For additional information, review the bridge toll without a ballot measure and taken re- Official California Legislative Digest sponsibility for regional rail and transit connectivity www.leginfo.ca.gov on Senate Bill 916, Perata plans, which would provide direct accountability. Alameda County Measure A - Essential Health Care Services Tax A Two-thirds Vote is Needed to Pass this Measure The Question: lending funds to help to relieve these deficits, but the Essential Should Alameda County imple- County is experiencing its own fiscal problems. The State is ment a half-cent sales and use tax, reducing funding to the Counties and to its medical care Health Care with annual citizen fiscal over- system. sight and review, to relieve the What Measure A Would Do: Services shortfall in funding for County health services? The County is proposing to raise money to relieve the fiscal Tax crisis in its health care systems by placing on the ballot this The Way It Is Now: measure for a one-half cent increase in the tax rate for retail Alameda County provides health care services through two transactions and use. Currently, the county tax rate is systems: the Health Care Services Agency, and the Alameda 8.25%; this measure would increase the rate to 8.75%. The County Medical Center. The Medical Center and its associ- tax is scheduled to begin July 1 of 2004, after adoption by ated clinics provide care at Highland and Fairmont Hospitals the required two-thirds of the voters in the March 2004 and the John George Psychiatric Pavilion on the Fairmont election. If approved, the tax increase would end on June Hospital Campus. Both systems receive funding through a 30, 2019. combination of Federal, State and local monies. Both systems Proceeds from the the tax money would be used to: have experienced an increase in demand for services from tCenter. uninsured persons due to the poor economy, increase in ß provide and maintain trauma and medical services unemployment, and erosion of employee health benefits. throughout Alameda County; ß provide primary, preventative and mental health At the same time, the fiscal crisis experienced by the State services to indigent, low income and uninsured has resulted in reduction of funding. The Medical Center, children, families and seniors; which is governed by a separate Board of Trustees but ß retain qualified nurses and health care professionals; which retains close ties to County governance, has been ß particularly hard-hit by the increased demands for primary prevent closure of County clinics and the Alameda health care by the uninsured. The Medical Center has County Medical Center. already closed some services and is currently operating at a The County has created a proposed ordinance that will large deficit. The County has been both contributing and implement the measure if the voters adopt it. The ordinance Page 3. specifies how the tax increase will be administered and spent • Measure A is a frugal and carefully crafted plan to and specufically designates 75% of the proceeds to the address the most essential health care needs Alameda County Medical Center and 25% to other medical throughout Alameda County; services, such as community based health care providers, • Measure A is supported by doctors, nurses, the uncompensated care costs for emergency care and other Alameda County Taxpayers Association, all five related hospital admissions, and essential public health, members of the Board of Supervisors, business mental health and substance abuse services. leaders, seniors, and other residents. The proposed ordinance also provides for the establishment Opponents Say: of a Citizen Oversight Committee to review the expenditure • We display an insatiable appetite for government of the money gained from the passage of this measure and programs to meet our endless needs, are addicted to evaluate how the money was spent for the purposes it spells debt, yet balk at paying the bill – hence this laudable out. This committee would report its findings annually to the tax hike measure. But is this a bill worth paying?; County Board of Supervisors. • This sales tax hike targets services to the poor and Financial Impact: uninsured but it transfers wealth to them ineffi- ciently.