North Bay Leadership Council

Transportation

NBLC wants a transportation system that enhances mobility and goods movement into and out of the North Bay, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and promotes regional connectivity as well as efficient commuter options.  To attain those goals, we support:

• Fully funding the Marin/Sonoma Narrows carpool lane project, including granting waivers to decrease costs and speed up project completion
• Support the Sonoma/Marin area Rail Transit district in the funding request to close the $86 million budget gap resulting from the economic downturn
• Expediting approved projects to help increase jobs and economic vitality
• Ensure that the business and economic perspective is proactively included in the creation of the region-wide SB 375 mandated Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS).
• Fight unreasonable barriers to infill, transit-oriented, and urban development, and ensure that BCDC and BAAQMD regulations do not affect sustainable urban infill development.
• Build strong local and regional support for high speed rail that overcomes local opposition and ensures successful implementation.
• Supports the “Gas Tax Swap” clean up package:  The voters passed the Gas Tax Swap that repealed the sales tax on gasoline and replaced it with an equal amount (17.3 cents) gasoline excise tax in March 2010.  This revenue neutral measure allowed funds to be dedicated to transportation improvements as it moved the money out of the General Fund.  The passage of Prop 26 in November 2010 has raised legal questions if the Gas Tax Swap is still valid.  Therefore, NBLC asks the Legislature to revalidate the legislation by securing a two thirds vote.  A Weight Fee proposal must be passed in tandem with the revalidation in order to maintain the integrity of the gas tax swap as approved last March.  Without this action, $3.5 billion in traditional funding for transportation programs would be lost, eliminating over 60,000 jobs, adding to the state’s unemployment rate and eroding the tax base to fund vital programs like education and public safety.