ELECTION 2018: California locales to decide on transportation questions

Fall ballots in communities and counties throughout California will include questions to raise revenue for transportation purposes.

Marin County is among those locales with voters casting ballots on such questions. Voters in the Northern California location will decide whether to renew a local sales tax to fund roads and transportation.

A half-cent sales tax has been collected for 30 years. Revenue raised via the tax is used for transportation work.

Collection of the tax is scheduled to end in March 2025.

Measure AA would continue collection of the tax that raises $27 million annually for 30 years.

The majority of tax revenue is allotted for local transit services. About one-quarter of the money is spent on local roads.

The ballot question specifies that tax revenue would be used to “relieve traffic congestion on Highway 101 and local roads; fix potholes/maintain local roads; improve interchanges/access to/from Highway 101; … and provide local transit.”

A two-thirds supermajority vote is required for passage.

Truck parking
Voters in one small community located in Marin County will weigh in on whether they want to permit overnight parking for large trucks.

The ballot in the unincorporated township of Bolinas will include an advisory question about whether to advise county officials to prohibit overnight parking for large vehicles on Brighton Avenue, Park Avenue and Wharf Road in downtown Bolinas between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The township with a population of 1,600 is along the California coast 20 miles northwest of San Francisco off Highway 1.

Road bonds
Also in the San Francisco area, voters in the city of San Jose will decide whether to issue bonds for public safety and infrastructure work that would include roads.

Approval of Measure T would authorize the city to issue up to $650 million in general obligation bonds to fund emergency and disaster responses, infrastructure, and roads. Specifically, roads would claim at least $300 million.

The question reads that a portion of the funding would be used to “repair deteriorating bridges vulnerable to earthquakes and repave streets and potholes in the worst condition.”

The bond issue would cost homeowners about $11 per $100,000 assessed value each year.

Advocates say the city of San Jose has a $1.4 billion infrastructure backlog that increases by $110 million annually.

Opponents say that general obligation bonds should not be tapped to pay for basic maintenance work. Instead, they say residents would be better served if the city council would improve their budget management.

A two-thirds supermajority vote is required for passage.

California residents can access online registration and absentee voting requirements.