TALC - Measure C Campaign

EPAC's Alternative

CCTA's Expenditure Plan Advisory Committee (EPAC) has recommended a potential compromise Measure C package, including both spending plan and growth management plan. EPAC consists of 30 members of the public, appointed by CCTA to advise the authority on crafting the Measure C package. EPAC represents a diverse array of interests throughout the county, including many groups that signed the TLCCC platform (including TALC) as well as business groups, Taxpayer's Association, the highway lobby, and others.

The EPAC Alternative is necessarily a compromise between the TLCCC platform and other alternatives put forward by CCTA, and it comes along with two important caveats:

· Measure C must be considered as a total package. Many groups cannot agree to any numbers until they are satisfied with policies on the growth management plan or governance, and vice versa.

· None of the organizations on EPAC, including TALC, have officially endorsed the EPAC Alternative.

Details of the EPAC Alternative Spending Plan

The EPAC Alternative would:

· Start a new Smart Growth Incentive program

· Create a new "Safe Transportation for Children" program (free youth bus passes, buses to school, and safe routes to school)

· More than triple funding for paratransit for seniors and the disabled

· Create new express bus routes throughout the county

· Send eBART to East County, along with requirements to do smart growth at the new stations

· Fund most of the shortfall in the county's Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan

· More than double funding for local bus operations, allowing operators to improve service

· Help (re)start the Richmond ferry

The compromise also includes funding for the Caldecott Tunnel, widening of Highway 4 (including HOV lanes), HOV improvements on I-80 & I-680, and other projects. Full details are included on a spreadsheet put together by CCTA’s consultants and included as an attachment to the Feb. 9th Expenditure Plan Committee meeting.

> Copy of the spreadsheet (in PDF format).

Details of EPAC Alternative Growth Management Policy

EPAC’s proposed GMP would require, as a condition of receiving local transportation and smart growth incentive funds, that the city or county meet the following conditions:

· Have a voter-approved Urban Limit Line/Urban Growth Boundary that would be valid for the duration of Measure C; and

· Demonstrate a history of meeting regional housing goals

There are many details to be worked out. For example, since housing goals may be better achieved on a regional basis, the GMP could allow jurisdictions to mutually agree to jointly meet housing and land supply goals. In addition, the EPAC Alternative calls for a smart growth incentive program that rewards cities (or the county) when they build or approve housing (especially affordable housing) or jobs next to transit or in downtown areas.

What’s Next for the EPAC Alternative

CCTA will consider the EPAC Alternative, along with the 3 alternatives developed for the EIR, in coming up with a final Measure C package. Although it is a compromise developed by the very committee CCTA appointed to advise them on Measure C, there is no guarantee CCTA will pay attention to EPAC’s recommendations.

> Find out What You Can Do to make sure CCTA listens to the voice of the public!

TALC needs your feedback about this package: is it a good balance between staying true to the intent of the original platform while also trying to seek the common ground that will be necessary to get Measure C on the ballot and passed by the voters?

Let us know what you think! Contact Jeff Hobson at 510-740-3102 or by email.