Transportation

By Basia Crane

Form an elected Regional Transportation Authority to consolidate all transportation funding. Create a transportation model, similar to our Bay Model. Oppose a sales tax increase to fund transportation.

The key focus of my campaign is transportation funding. As a member of the Marin Citizens for Effective Transportation, I helped defeat the ½ cent sales tax, Measure B, on the 1998 Marin County Ballot.

1. I oppose Measure B, the ½ cent sales tax on the Sonoma County Ballot to widen U.S. 101 in Sonoma to the Marin County line border, because I have consistently advocated that retail sales taxes should not be used to fund transportation improvement. Incidentally, I lived in Los Angeles where widening the freeway by adding two lanes did nothing to relieve congestion.

2. I oppose Measure C, the ¼ cent sales tax on the Sonoma County Ballot for a proposed train from Cloverdale to San Rafael, because a retail sales tax should not be used to fund transit improvements. Furthermore, I have not seen any feasibility studies on light rail linking Marin and Sonoma and how much it will cost to build and operate. The question is whether it would attract enough passengers and be cost effective. Once again, as in 1998, a sales tax is being placed on the ballot without financial accountability.

3. California needs to spend $80 billion over the next ten years on roads but there is no political consensus on how to do it. A morass of red tape is paralyzing transportation solutions. To meet this challenge I have co-authored a consolidation plan which calls for realignment of all funding for transportation to a Regional Transportation Authority with an elected board of directors. Consolidation will help eliminate duplication and waste, free up more monies for transportation solutions and lay the foundation for meaningful transportation reform.

4. I support the creation of a transportation model, similar to our Bay Model, which will educate the public about the flow mechanics of traffic in the North Bay. We now do not have enough information on who travels when and where and what solutions are economical.