MEASURE D (2016) – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What’s included in Measure D?
- 5 categories of projects: streets/bicycle/pedestrian; highway corridors; transit/paratransit; Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail; and Rail Corridor.
- Here the link to the voter-approved project categories: Expenditure Plan
What opportunities are there for the public to weigh in on Measure D projects?
- Annual public hearings are required by each entity receiving Measure D funds to determine priority projects for the next five years.
What Highway 1 corridor projects are included in Measure D?
- Measure D is providing funding for a portion of project costs, with Measure D being used to leverage other funds and grants.
- Auxiliary Lanes (also known as “merge lanes”) between interchanges from Santa Cruz to Aptos
- Soquel Dr. To 41st
- Bay Porter St. to Park Ave.
- Park Ave. to State Park Dr.
- State Park Dr. to Rio Del Mar Blvd.
- Rio Del Mar Blvd. to Freedom Blvd.
- Two bicycle/pedestrian overcrossings
- Mar Vista Dr.
- Chanticleer Ave.
- Rideshare and Traveler Information, and Freeway Service Patrol tow trucks helping disabled vehicles and removing debris from Highway 1 and Highway 17
How is the Rail Corridor supported by Measure D?
- The measure includes funds to build and maintain the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail (Coastal Rail Trail), a bicycle and pedestrian trail extending the length of the county within the railroad property.
- The measure also includes funds to maintain the corridor and infrastructure.
- Voters also approved an analysis of future uses of the rail corridor through an open, transparent public process and to base decisions on publicly-vetted data. The Unified Corridors Investment Study – a performance evaluation of projects in the rail, highway and Soquel routes – and Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis provide data for the public and decision-makers.
Why aren’t state and federal funding sources sufficient to meet our needs?
- The state and federal per gallon gasoline tax has been flat for over 20 years and is not adjusted for inflation. The state tax has just recently (2017) been raised and indexed to inflation, but Santa Cruz County’s shares of funds are insufficient to fund all the transportation needs.
- Both state and federal gas taxes lost 50% of their buying power over 20 years due to inflation.
- Vehicles are getting more efficient, which is a good thing. But it also means drivers create more wear and tear while paying less for road maintenance.
- During lean years the state borrowed transportation funds to balance the state budget.
What’s the benefit of having local transportation funds?
- Local funding provides more local flexibility to address local priorities.
- Local funding can be used as a match to secure state and federal grant funds.
- Accountability: local money under local control.
- Local funding cannot be taken away by the state or federal governments.