Will Plan C Get Traction?

Of the five proposals submitted to the Transportation Funding Task Force (TFTF) for consideration at May 1 meeting, "Plan C," submitted by the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, is the only one that does not propose more lanes on Highway 1.

Plan C, is the only proposal that focuses on "Community Needs, Choice, Corridor Mobility and Climate Protection." We believe Plan C may be the only kind of proposal that might be approved by voters in the November '08 election. There is likely to be strong opposition—enough to prevent the needed 2/3 approval—to any measure that includes, as a major component, funds for widening Highway 1 from Santa Cruz to Watsonville.

Here is the current summary of Plan C. Numbers are estimated and may change in future versions.

The intent of this Plan is to work toward a transportation system for Santa Cruz County that includes both private and public transportation modes serving all segments of our community, with the goal of increasing mobility throughout the county and beyond. The system is designed to reduce the need for and use of the single-occupant vehicle as the primary transportation mode. The total cost for Plan C is approximately $340 million and could be funded by a 1/2¢ sales tax lasting 20 years. Other funding mechanisms, such as a 10¢/gallon gas tax or an increase in vehicle license fees could also be considered.

Any project that would add lanes to Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Watsonville has proven too costly for the resources of our county. To devote the bulk of our transportation resources to the widening of Highway 1 means that other projects, such as those described in this Plan, will, in the end lose out. Construction costs for proposed Highway 1 widening projects will increase with time, owing to the increasing costs of the energy required to produce and deliver the asphalt and concrete needed for construction. A significant result of adding lanes (and thereby increasing Highway capacity) will be to increase both the number of vehicles on local streets and the need for additional parking spaces. This will be especially true at the north and south ends of the widened highway.

Our recommendations vis a vis the Highway involve making changes (such as ramp metering with bypass lanes for emergency vehicles, buses and carpoolers) that would facilitate the flow of traffic on Highway 1. We also recommend that detailed origin/destination studies be undertaken to allow particular bottlenecks and problems to be defined. Our Plan also recommends Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and Transportation Systems Management (TSM) programs. Such programs might include rideshare and van pool incentives, car-share programs, parking cashout and telecommuting.

Providing $74 million for train transportation should allow us to begin actually rolling trains within the decade. Service will link up destinations within the county and connect to Amtrak and CalTrain. The bus system would also be expanded to link to train service.

Students will be served by more school buses and safe routes to schools connected to the coastal rail trail and the San Lorenzo Valley rail trail network.

Finally, each project undertaken should include an analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and impacts on global climate change. Such analyses will become increasingly mandated in California and throughout the country. The City of Santa Cruz already requires CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) analysis of global warming impacts.

For more information on the progress of the Task Force or on Plan C, visit sensibletransportation.org, or contact Micah at 425-0665.