101 Lane Expansion Already Funded, No Need for Tax Increase

The passage of the 1998 Bay Area Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) on Wednesday now provides funding for a new lane on Highway 101 in Sonoma County, rendering the proposed Measures B and C, the controversial transportation advisory measure and $625 million sales tax increase in Sonoma County, unnecessary for the purpose of widening Highway 101. The 1998 RTP allocates $440 million to widen Highway 101 in Sonoma County, the principal project of Measures B and C. The plan commits funds to build carpool lanes along more than two-thirds the length of Highway 101 between the Marin County line and Windsor without the burdensome Measure B and C sales tax increase.

“The regional plan for using the gas tax indicates that a third lane will be added to Highway 101 in Sonoma County even if Measures B and C fail,” said Gayle Goldstone, Santa Rosa Junior College business instructor and spokesperson for Citizens Against Wasting Millions.

Citizens Against Wasting Millions, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Association and the Russian River Task Force today called for the defeat of Measures B and C because the Measures are unnecessary and a misuse of taxpayers’ dollars.

“The passage of the regional gas tax expenditure plan means that Sonoma County can get everything that’s being proposed for Highway 101 in Measures B and C within the same time frame, without raising the County sales tax,” said Jean Marie Foster, executive director of the Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Association. “The same result can be achieved with greater savings to the taxpayer if voters reject Measures B and C now and let gas taxes pay for road and highway projects.”

“The recent Press Democrat poll indicates 28% of voters already know the truth about Measures B and C: the widening of Highway 101 will be built without raising the County’s sales taxes to nearly the highest in the State,” said Michael Cameron, EDF’s transportation program manager.

“Gas taxes should pay for the widening of Highway 101 if it’s going to be widened. The County’s sales taxes should be used exclusively to provide better transit service,” said John Kramer, Sonoma State professor and Citizens Against Wasting Millions member.