ELECTION 2018: San Francisco-area locales to decide on transportation questions

Voters in one of California’s largest metropolitan areas soon will decide on aid for roads, bridges and transit.

Ballots in San Mateo County will include a question about whether to enact a one-half cent sales tax to benefit $2.4 billion in transportation work over 30 years.

Measure W would raise an estimated $80 million annually to fund road improvements, transit services, and implementation of the San Mateo County Congestion Relief Plan.

Revenue raised via the sales tax would benefit plans to reduce highway congestion, repair potholes, maintain streets, reduce local traffic, improve pedestrian safety in every San Mateo County city, reduce travel times/vehicle trips, and implement the San Mateo County Congestion Relief Plan.

To take effect, two-thirds of all county voters would need to cast ballots in favor of the question.

Across the county line in Santa Clara County, voters in the town of Los Gatos will decide whether to enact a one-eighth cent sales tax to fund general city purposes. The tax would sunset in 20 years.

Passage of Measure G on the town’s ballot would authorize use of an estimated $80,000 per year to be used for work that includes improving traffic flow to reduce congestion, repair potholes and fix neighborhood streets.

Advocates say the town of Los Gatos has more than $70 million in unmet infrastructure needs for projects that include pothole, street, and road repair.

Approval of the measure requires a simple majority of voter support.

In nearby Solano County, ballots in the city of Dixon will ask voters whether to impose a one-half cent sales tax for 10 years.

Passage of Measure N would raise an estimated $1.4 million annually for street maintenance and road improvement projects

Two-thirds of all voters in the city must vote in favor of the question to take effect.

Around the state
In Southern California, ballots in the unincorporated area of Kern County will include a question to help get work done.

Measure I would authorize a one-cent sales tax on retail sales in unincorporated areas of the county to fund general county services that include roads. The tax is estimated to raise $35 million annually.

In Northern California, Humboldt County voters will decide whether to renew an existing one-half cent sales tax.

Passage of Measure O would allow the county to continue to collect the tax to fund general county purposes that include repairing deteriorating roads.

Advocates say the additional tax revenue would help to address a $150 million backlog of road maintenance projects. They note that over one third of the county’s roads are classified as “poor” or “very poor.”

The tax is estimated to raise $12 million annually until ended by voters.

Also in the county, voters in the city of Eureka will decide whether to increase the city’s sales tax by one-quarter cent for 20 years to fund local roads.

Measure I would raise an estimated $2.2 million annually to fund street, road, and alleyway maintenance and pothole repair.

Voters would need to renew the tax after 20 years.