League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Measure C Valley Transportation Plan 2035 County of Santa Clara Advisory Vote 376,993 / 69.73% Yes votes ...... 163,649 / 30.27% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure C

Arguments Against Measure C

Vote YES on Measure C for better transit services. Every community in Santa Clara County has participated in and helped create a clear transportation vision for our community that works for everyone. The result is the Valley Transportation Plan 2035 (VTP 2035). VTP 2035 is a balanced mix of transit and transportation programs and projects including highways, local roads, buses, rail, special services for seniors and the disabled, bicycle lanes and pedestrian access. VTA is firmly committed to delivering the projects and services our community identified in VTP 2035. A YES vote on Measure C does not increase taxes. A YES vote on Measure C does result in improvements in transit services and programs. VTA will continue to plan, design, construct and operate much needed transit services including: Improving bus and light rail vehicles, equipment and facilities; Continuing to provide comprehensive transit services; Continuing the development of the Downtown East Valley transit improvements and BART to Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara; Planning future bus rapid transit service and other transit projects; Participating in the continuing operation and improvements of Caltrain, Altamont Commuter Express and Capitol Corridor commuter rail services; Promoting transit oriented development near major transit facilities to help preserve open space; Providing bicycle programs; and Providing paratransit (mobility impaired) special services for seniors and the disabled. Vote YES on Measure C for better transit. VOTING FOR THIS MEASURE DOES NOT INCREASE TAXES. /s/ Jane P. Kennedy Former Chair, VTA /s/ Joe Pirzynski Former Chair, VTA /s/ Charlotte B. Powers Former Chair, VTA Rebuttal to Arguments For More VTA spin... Proponents tell you a lot about VTP 2035. There's no way to tell whether those claims are true or not because a final VTP 2035 plan has not been finished, publicly released, or approved by VTA's Board. It's nowhere close to done. More VTA promises... They're promising us nearly everything they promised us eight years ago. We've waited eight years. VTA's spent hundreds of millions of dollars. Where are our transit projects? More VTA arm-waving... VTA's own reports say they can't complete all the projects they've promised. Yet they promise them to us as if nothing is wrong. VTA knows they'll have to cut popular projects, but won't tell us which ones until after this election. Voters deserve to know what they will-and won't--get before they vote. More VTA taxes... They say "this measure will not increase taxes." VTA's most recent VTP 2035 draft calls for a "new cent sales tax or equivalent." And, with cost overruns, they'll need another after that. More VTA deficits... The latest VTP 2035 draft plan is billions of dollars short of balanced. It includes a sales tax that hasn't been presented to voters and it assumes tax growth 36% higher than current VTA projections. Significant changes to VTP 2035 will be required. Don't approve an unfinished, financially unbalanced plan that promises projects we can't afford to build. Tell VTA they need to finish VTP 2035 before asking voters to approve it. Vote NO on Measure C. http://www.NoMoreBrokenPromises.org /s/ Mark Brodsky Former VTA Policy Advisory Committee Member; Former Mayor, City of Monte Sereno /s/ Ellen Fletcher Member, 2000 Measure A Citizens Watchdog Committee; Former Palo Alto City Councilmember; Former Member, County of Santa Clara Transportation Committee /s/ David Schonbrunn President, Transportation Solutions Defense and Education Fund (TRANSDEF) /s/ Jim Stallman Former President, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition; Former Member, 1996 Measure A Citizens Watchdog Committee /s/ Eugene Bradley Founder, Santa Clara VTA Riders Union

VTA is asking us to approve a plan before we know what it contains. Why is VTA asking voters to approve a plan that isn't determined yet? We don't know what projects VTA will cut, or how much they'll want to raise taxes. Will East San Jose get light rail? Will riders get more bus service? Will VTA pay its share to improve Caltrain service? Will VTA build an airport people mover, and when? Will BART be built to Santa Clara, just partway, or not at all? How many more sales tax increases are coming? Voters have asked these questions, but no one knows, because VTA isn't telling us. "In 1976, the voters passed a law that requires the VTA to submit its comprehensive transit program to County voters for an advisory vote every six years." -Impartial Analysis of 2002 Measure A. VTA has known for years that they were supposed to submit a finished plan for your approval this year. VTA hasn't. Last year, an external audit recommended: "Balance VTA's 30 year revenue and expenditure plan." VTA didn't. This year, the state auditor noted that "at least since 2006, the VTA has not had a document purporting to be a strategic plan." VTA still doesn't. VTA has no plan ready for anyone to read. They want you to approve, in advance, whatever they adopt in December. The purpose of this measure is for voters to express either approval or disapproval of VTA's direction. The state audit noted, "The transportation plans ... do not demonstrate one cohesive direction." Even the state auditor can't figure out what direction VTA is headed. How are voters supposed to know? It's time for VTA to accept the advice of their auditors. Join the Sierra Club in voting No on C. /s/ Karen Maki Executive Committee Chair, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter /s/ Dena Mossar Former VTA Board Member; Former Mayor of Palo Alto /s/ Greg Perry Former VTA Board Member; Former Mountain View Councilmember /s/ Dina Campeau Community Activist /s/ Margaret Okuzumi Executive Director, BayRail Alliance; Member, 2000 Measure A Citizens Watchdog Committee Rebuttal to Arguments Against VTA used the Valley Transportation Plan for the advisory measure in the last election. It's a comprehensive plan with input from the cities, county, Caltrans, Caltrain and the public that includes highway, transit, bicycle, pedestrian and improved accessibility projects throughout the county. The full plan together with a description of the extensive public outreach process is available at http://www.vta.org/studies/vtp2035 The opponents' claim that you won't know what it contains is disingenuous. There are over 350 different projects in the plan. It plans for the future. The needs of our valley change dramatically and rapidly. We must remain flexible to provide realistic solutions to transportation problems. To support their feeble argument, opponents rely on partial truths and scare tactics. Transportation taxes in California can only be raised by a 2/3 majority vote of the people NOT by VTA. Projects must have value. As our needs change, so must the projects that support them. Despite claims by opponents, the Bureau of State Audits found on page 5, "Over the past year, VTA has responded to this assessment (Organizational and Financial Assessment March 2007) by making numerous improvements across its organization." (http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2007-129.pdf) Opponents want to persuade you to vote against projects your city, county, and transportation authority say we need. They provide no alternative. Consider the facts, not empty rhetoric. Vote Yes on Measure C for a comprehensive and realistic transit plan. /s/ Jane P. Kennedy Former Chair, VTA; Councilmember, City of Campbell /s/ Joe Pirzynski Former Chair, VTA; Councilmember, Town of Los Gatos /s/ Charlotte B. Powers Former Chair, VTA; Former Councilmember, City of San Jose

Full Text of Measure C

Shall the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority continue to plan, design, construct and provide transit services and augment and enhance those services as described in the draft Valley Transportation Plan 2035 (VTP 2035) to be adopted by December 2008 and other related planning documents adopted by the VTA Board of Directors? During the next six years, VTA will continue to plan, design, construct and provide transit services and will augment and enhance those services included in VTP 2035 to be adopted by December 2008, to the extent financial resources allow by: (a) continuing the ongoing program for improving bus and light rail vehicles, equipment and facilities; (b) continuing to provide comprehensive transit services; (c) completing, refining, or enhancing light rail lines;(d) continuing the development of the Downtown East Valley and the BART to Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara projects; (e) planning for future rapid transit service and other transit projects; (f) participating in the continuing operation and improvements of Caltrain service, Altamont Commuter Express Service and Capitol Corridor Commuter Rail Services; and (g) promoting transit oriented development near major transit facilities. During the next six years, VTA will also pursue transit supportive bicycle and pedestrian programs and paratransit (mobility impaired) services as outlined in planning documents adopted by the VTA Board of Directors. VOTING FOR THIS MEASURE DOES NOT INCREASE TAXES. This program will be carried out according to the provisions of the state statutes enabling the creation of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in 1995.