Guest Opinion: Can we get Measure A extension right? Guest Opinion: Can we get Measure A extension right? (September 15, 2004)

By Steve Schmidt

Menlo Park residents should be aware of the local implications of an important expenditure plan which is expected to generate around $1.5 billion between 2008 and 2033. On November 2, San Mateo County voters will be asked to extend for 25 years the half-cent sales tax surcharge that has funded beneficial transportation projects in the county since 1988 and does not expire until 2008.

The project list for the use of the Measure A funding was approved by the Menlo Park City Council on June 10, 2003 with minimal discussion. It was a rush job and the list needs to be evaluated before the residents make a 25-year commitment. If Measure A does not pass in November, there remain two more major election opportunities before 2008 to adopt a better plan.

Our City Council identified on the Measure A project list $1 million from the pedestrian and bicycle category for an upgrade of an unused pedestrian undercrossing of the Bayfront Expressway, connecting a Sun Microsystems parking lot with the northwest side of Willow Road near Hamilton Avenue. At best, this project might serve a few lunchtime patrons of the Hamilton Avenue fast-food court. Meanwhile, the safety concerns of hundreds of students and parents, as well as seniors and shoppers who must detour and make dangerous crossings of the Caltrain tracks every day, are ignored.

Every roadway that crosses the Caltrain tracks at grade in the county should be separated and is a candidate for funding by Measure A. There are 37 of these plus four other types of upgrades. The $225 million assigned to all the possible projects may be adequate to fund only half of these 41 projects. It is obviously important to concentrate the limited funds on locations that have the greatest benefits to safety, noise reduction and congestion relief.

Unfortunately the Menlo Park City Council quietly added to the four proposed grade separations at Ravenswood, Oak Grove, Glenwood and Encinal, three more on the proposed Dumbarton Commuter Rail extension. Currently there are 86 weekday trains on Caltrain and only 12 weekday trains proposed for Dumbarton Rail. The city should focus on the original four Caltrain projects and look for less expensive solutions for the Dumbarton crossings. Sound walls and rational placement of station locations would achieve the same practical results at a tiny fraction of the cost for grade separations at Marsh, Chilco and Willow.

There are some positive features of Measure A: Menlo Park should receive about $560,000 per year for local streets and transportation projects and a portion of the $500,000 per year set aside in the county for shuttles and traffic management. There are also the regional benefits of ongoing Caltrain improvements and construction of selected highway projects in key congested corridors.

If Measure A passes, a future City Council will have to clean up this list and choose projects that bring real benefits to the residents of Menlo Park. The current City Council may think that this is funny money we're playing with. In 2009 sound decisions will be required of our elected officials.

Steve Schmidt is a former mayor and member of the Menlo Park City Council.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.