We heard a rumor the other day: Traffic congestion is back in Santa Clara County.
That’s why we both support Measure B—because the traffic challenges we face in South County and Silicon Valley have become so bad that it impacts every person, family and community, including Morgan Hill. Measure B has the transportation improvements we need, and the accountability provisions we deserve.
For the past three years, private and public citizens have been working with traffic engineers and transportation directors to develop a comprehensive plan that would have a positive impact on traffic relief, transit options and road repairs. The result is Measure B. Since there is no single answer to our traffic problems, Measure B is more like a jigsaw puzzle, with each transportation improvement snapping into place to add up to a comprehensive, countywide plan:
• First, Measure B funds interchange improvements and improves traffic flow at 24 key interchanges on all seven highways that run through Santa Clara County. In South County, that includes interchange improvements at 101 & 25, 101 & 152 at Tenth Street and a new interchange near Saint Louise Regional Hospital.
• Second, it greatly improves our nine county expressways, which carry one of every two county residents every single day, with key interchange and safety improvements. For Santa Teresa, Measure B funds road and trail improvements between DeWitt and Main.
• Third, nearly $1 of every $5 are for the basics—to improve the crumbling conditions of our local streets and roads in all 15 cities and towns. In South County, this totals more than $50 million.
• Fourth, it funds lifeline service and core transit service for people with disabilities, seniors, students and the working poor who depend on that core service.
• Fifth, Measure B improves bicycle and pedestrian safety, especially near our schools.
• Sixth, it finishes the BART extension, with the final six miles and four stations in San Jose and at Santa Clara University.
• Finally, It connects the BART extension with what will be an electrified Caltrain Commuter Rail Service. Together, BART connected with Caltrain finally creates a rapid-rail-network around the entire Bay Area, linked with Morgan Hill and Gilroy with additional Caltrain service each morning and evening.
For us, a key provision of Measure B is accountability. Instead of a “General Purpose Tax” that only requires a 50 percent vote, but that can be changed at any time by elected officials, Measure B intentionally calls for a two-thirds vote. That’s because this is the only way the funds can be locked in for these specific transportation improvements. In fact, the VTA Board can’t change a single sentence in Measure B without a supermajority vote of 9 of the 12 board members. That protects small communities like Morgan Hill and Gilroy from being “out-voted” by the VTA Board.
Neither of us are big fans of taxes, but we hate traffic even more. On Nov. 8, join us in voting Yes on Measure B. For more details, visit YesMeasureB.com
Carl Guardino is CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Council. John Horner is Executive Director of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce.
Without continued investment in the South Valley’s traffic infrastructure, traffic and quality of life here will suffer. Measure B provides a mix of road improvements, mass transit expansion and alternative options such as bicycle lanes that will ease congestion as well as provide better connections to the greater Bay Area by contributing to Caltrain electrification and extending BART. The Morgan Hill Times recommends a “yes” vote on Measure B.—Editor
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The Full 75-Word text for Measure B reads as follows:
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To relieve traffic, repair potholes; shall VTA enact a 30-year half-cent sales tax to:
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– Repair streets, fix potholes in all 15 cities;
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– Finish BART extension to downtown San Jose, Santa Clara;
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– Improve bicycle/pedestrian safety, especially near schools;
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– Increase Caltrain capacity, easing highway congestion, improving safety at crossings;
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– Relieve traffic on all 9 expressways, key highway interchanges;
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– Enhance transit for seniors, students, disabled;
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Mandating annual audits by independent citizens watchdog committee to ensure accountability.
