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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

January 1, 2005

A year of regional challenges

With our leaders working together, there is hope for success

Transportation is still the No. 1 priority in Solano County. At this point, we have no solution.

Voters failed to back a proposal in November that would have funneled an increase in the gas tax toward road and interstate repairs. A few years ago, a more thorough measure to fund repairs and provide open space failed as well.

In fact, Solano County was the only county to reject Regional Measure 2, a plan to raise bridge tolls to pay for road repairs in the Bay Area. With every other county's approval, the measure passed anyway.

It is not clear why voters here are so resistant to funding road repairs. There is no question that Solano County suffers from gridlock, especially at the interchange where interstates 80 and 680 connect.

There are numerous troublespots throughout the county where potholes could be filled, roads improved and widened, and more.

But until the county finds a palatable solution for Solano's taxpayers, we will continue to tilt at windmills. Finding common ground for cities, the county and voters should be a priority.

The issue of growth boundaries is certain to take center stage in 2005. The compromise reached over development of Vacaville's Lagoon Valley - between the Triad Corp. and the Greenbelt Alliance - includes allowing the developer and the nonprofit open- space group to launch a petition drive to establish urban limit lines.

Fairfield has already adopted similar growth lines. Now Dixon is at a point where looking at an ultimate boundary might make sense. Dixon's new City Council must determine if establishing such a line would best serve its constituents.

Another issue strengthened by the unification of local leaders is in the fight to keep Travis Air Force Base off the Base Realignment and Closure List.

Travis fended off the threat several years ago, but will face another round of reviews in 2005, as the military re-examines the mission and infrastructure of numerous bases.

A Travis Community Consortium is undergoing a change of leadership at the moment. The timing is not the best, but it is our hope that once it has concluded, the consortium will be stronger than ever and ready to lobby for the livelihood of Travis.

Education issues will also be at the forefront in most of our communities, as local districts struggle to make budget ends meet, find ways to give teachers pay raises, and keep the education of our children as a top priority.

Cities will find themselves in a similar situation, trying to stretch dollars as far as possible without cutting too many jobs or services.

There's no doubt that 2005 will be a year of challenges. But with our leaders working together - paddling in the same direction - there is hope for success.

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