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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

June 13, 2002

Board OKs tax-plan details

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The Solano Transportation Improvement Authority Board on Wednesday unanimously endorsed an expenditure plan for the proposed half-cent sales tax, which would be in force for 20 years if it passes two-thirds of voters' muster in November.

First, however, it will have to be approved by the majority of cities and the Solano County Board of Supervisors before it can be hoisted on the ballot. That could be a challenging feat, judging by the comments made by several authority board members.

"I'm looking forward to a good battle with my citizens (over the plan)," said Dixon Mayor Mary Ann Courville. "There will be forces out there that will attempt to (defeat any plan.)"

It took months of horse trading by transportation officials, business and community groups to hammer out the current plan, which allocates $465 million for highway projects, $228 million for transit projects and $120 million for commuter rail.

Most of the acrimony surrounding the plan arose over one issue: highways vs. mass transit.

Mass transit advocates pointed out that building more highways will only increase the number of cars and congestion on the roadways. They offered up a more transit heavy expenditure plan that would also fund "smart growth" development that centers residences near transit.

Highway advocates bent to that lobby a bit, and the final "balanced plan" adopted on Wednesday was touted as a middle-of-the-road approach to new transportation projects.

"Without this measure, public transit doesn't have a chance in Solano County," said Suisun City Mayor Jim Spering, chair of the Solano Transportation Improvement Authority Board.

The current expenditure plan is faithful to the projects that some 77 percent of voters said last spring they would vote to support.

Some $200 million would be spent on the Interstate 80 and I-680 junction, $200 million would be spent on I-80 corridor improvements in Solano County and $65 million would got toward paratransit for elderly and infirm residents.

Elements of the expenditure plan that could be tweaked include those in the "alternative modes" category of the expenditure plan.

Among them are the $5 million slated to restrict development around new highway projects, and $10 million for Transportation for Livable Communities - a program to concentrate transit and new residences.

Those projects have been the most heavily lobbied for by regional environmental groups, such as the Solano Orderly Growth Committee, Greenbelt Alliance and Bay Area Transportation and Land Use Coalition.

The seven Solano County cities will begin taking public comment on the expenditure plan in the next several weeks.

Jason Massad can be reached at county@thereporter.com.

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