NOVEMBER 7, 2000 MEASURE A

VTA 2000 Measure A Projects Map

MEASURE A BALLOT LANGUAGE

• Connect BART to Milpitas, San Jose, Santa Clara;
• Build rail connection from San Jose International Airport to BART, Caltrain, light rail;
• Purchase vehicles for disabled access, senior safety, clean air buses;
• Provide light rail throughout Santa Clara County;
• Expand, electrify Caltrain;
• Increase rail, bus service.

DESCRIPTION

• The 30-year ½ cent sales tax would begin in 2006 when the existing (1996 Measure A/B) tax expires.
• Measure A requires two-thirds majority voter approval.
• The tax must expire 30 years after implementation.
• Measure A supports VTA's 2020 Transportation Plan and Expenditure Program that provides a balanced transportation system consisting of transit, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements.
• The revenue from Measure A, which may be used only to finance transit projects, enables approximately $2 billion in future state and federal funds to be directed to roadway, bicycle and pedestrian projects.
• Many of these State and Federal highway dollars will be readily available to advance roadway, bicycle and pedestrian projects.
• An independent citizen watchdog committee consisting of private citizens must review the program.

BACKGROUND

• VTA's 2020 Transportation Plan and Expenditure Program is a long-range transportation planning effort, focused on addressing the Valley's transportation challenges.
• The goals of the plan are to provide transportation facilities and services that support and enhance our community's continued success by fostering a high quality of life to residents, and continued health of the economy.
• The goals, objectives, and projects were formulated over 18 months with input from the VTA Board of Directors, cities and county staff, stakeholders from the community, and other public agencies.
• VTA works closely with local jurisdictions on region-wide strategies to address traffic, congestion, access to jobs, and environmental concerns.

NOVEMBER 7, 2000 MEASURE A - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE SPECIFIED PROJECTS

• Extend BART from Fremont through Milpitas to Downtown San Jose and the Santa Clara Caltrain Station, specifically,

  To build a BART Extension from Fremont to Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara with a major connection to the Tasman Light Rail line at the Milpitas BART Station. In San Jose to include a BART subway section with stations at San Jose State University, the new San Jose City Hall, Downtown San Jose at Market Street, San Jose Arena and the Diridon Multimodal Station connecting to Caltrain, ACE, Amtrak, the Vasona Light Rail line and VTA bus service. In Santa Clara, to serve Santa Clara University, and the Caltrain Station with a people mover connection to San Jose International Airport.

• Provide Connections from San Jose International Airport to BART, Caltrain and the VTA Light Rail, specifically,

  To build a people mover rail line connecting the airport passenger terminals directly with BART, Caltrain and the VTA Light Rail line.

• Extend Light Rail from Downtown San Jose to the East Valley by

  Building a Downtown/East Valley Light Rail line from downtown San Jose serving the new San Jose City Hall and San Jose State University, out Santa Clara Street to Capitol Avenue to join the Capitol Light Rail line then south to Eastridge Shopping Center.

• Purchase Low Floor Light Rail Vehicles, specifically

  To better serve disabled, seniors and others; purchase an additional 20 low floor light rail vehicles to join the 30 low floor vehicles now being constructed for the new Tasman, Capitol and Vasona Light Rail lines and 50 new low floor vehicles to replace VTA's existing 50 light rail vehicles.

• Improve Caltrain: Double Track to Gilroy and Electrify from Palo Alto to Gilroy

  Extend the Caltrain double track from the San Jose Tamien Station through Morgan Hill to Gilroy. Provide VTA's funds for the partnership with San Francisco and San Mateo counties to electrify Caltrain from San Francisco to Gilroy.

• Increase Caltrain Service, specifically

  Purchase new locomotive train sets for increased Caltrain service in Santa Clara County from Gilroy to Palo Alto and provide additional facilities to support the increased service.

• Construct a New Palo Alto Intermodal Transit Center

  In partnership with the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University, design and construct a new parkway and underpass for University Avenue from the campus to downtown Palo Alto to improve bicycle, pedestrian and transit access to the campus, Palo Alto Caltrain station and downtown Palo Alto. Upgrade passenger facilities at the historic Palo Alto Caltrain station, upgrade transit facilities for VTA, SAMTRANS, Dumbarton Express and the Stanford Marguerita and Palo Alto shuttle services.

• Improve Bus Service in Major Bus Corridors

  For VTA Line 22 (Palo Alto to Eastridge Center) and the Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor, purchase new low floor articulated buses. Improve bus stops and major passenger transfer points and provide bus que jumping lanes at intersections to permit buses quick access along the corridors.

• Upgrade Altamont Commuter Express (ACE)

  Provide VTA's matching funds for additional train sets, passenger facilities and service upgrades for the ACE Commuter Service from San Joaquin and Alameda Counties.

• Improve Highway 17 Express Bus Service

  Provide VTA's share of funds for the partnership with the Santa Cruz County Transit District for additional buses and service upgrades for the Highway 17 Express Bus Service.

• Connect Caltrain with Dumbarton Rail Corridor

  Provide VTA's share of matching funds for a partnership with Alameda and San Mateo counties for the rebuilding of the Dumbarton Rail Corridor to connect to Caltrain and train sets for this new service conditioned on Alameda and San Mateo County's funding.

• Purchase Zero Emission Buses and Construct Service Facilities

  Provide funds to supplement federal funds to expand and replace existing VTA diesel bus fleet from current size of just over 500 vehicles to 750 vehicles with the new zero emission buses and to provide maintenance facilities for this new, clean vehicle propulsion system. All new buses to be low floor for easier boarding by seniors and the disabled.

• Develop New Light Rail Corridors

  Provide capital funds for at least two new future light rail corridors to be determined by Major Investment Studies (MIS). Potential corridors include: Sunnyvale/Cupertino; Santa Teresa/Coyote Valley; Downtown/East Valley Connection to Guadalupe Line; Stevens Creek Boulevard; North County/Palo Alto; Winchester/Vasona Junction; and, initial study of BART connection from Santa Clara through Palo Alto to San Mateo County.

• Fund Operating and Maintenance Costs for Increased Bus, Rail and Paratransit Service

  Provide revenue to ensure funding, to at least 2014, and possibly longer, of the following: the new Tasman East, Capitol and Vasona Light Rail lines, the commuter rail connection to BART, expanded paratransit services, expanded bus fleet of 750 vehicles, the Downtown/East Valley Light Rail line operations, which can commence in 2008, and the BART extension to San Jose which can commence operations by 2010.

Measure A is also subject to the following mandatory requirements:

• The Tax Must Expire 30 Years After Implementation.

• An Independent Citizen's Watchdog Committee of private citizens, not elected officials, who comprise VTA's Citizen's Advisory Committee must review all expenditures and
  • Hold Public Hearings and issue Reports, at least on an annual basis;
  • Do Annual Independent Audits, conducted by an Independent Auditor each fiscal year;
  • Publish results of Audits and Annual Reports in local newspapers, with copies available to the public at large.