Portola Valley Notes Portola Valley Notes (July 07, 2004)

Town Council backs county transit tax

The Portola Valley Town Council recently joined other cities in San Mateo County and voted for a proposal to reauthorize Measure A, the county's half-cent transportation tax, first passed in 1988 and set to expire in December 2008.

At its May 26 meeting, the five-member council voted unanimously for a 25-year extension of the tax. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, a proposal to extend the tax 25 years will be on the November ballot.

Under the plan, over the next 25 years, $862 million would be spent for mass transit and highway improvements, $337 million for local street resurfacing, $225 million for separating rail lines from crossing streets, and $45 million for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Among potential local projects are traffic-signal coordination on Sand Hill Road and repaving the Portola Road pedestrian and bike path.

Since 1988, Portola Valley has received about $2 million in Measure A revenues. With re-authorization, the town would receive another $5 million, said Onnolee Trapp, a spokesperson for the League of Women Voters.

Conservation guide OK'd by council

Portola Valley now has an official conservation guide, designed by and for residents. The environmental refrain -- "Think globally, act locally" -- is much in evidence in the guide.

Each of the 12 topics in the 27-page illustrated handbook describes an issue, the town's general recommendations, and specific steps people can take. For example, readers are advised to avoid buying products with excess packaging and to buy items with a long useful life.

At its May 26 meeting, the Town Council unanimously approved the handbook, prepared by the town's Conservation Committee. Printing costs were donated by long-time residents Bill and Jean Lane. Copies will be mailed to each Portola Valley household.

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