Growth and Traffic Congestion

By Dennis M. Kilian

Planning for growth is primarily the responsibility of local governments. However, the federal government can help. As the third fastest growing metropolis in the country, we need to get a larger share of the federal transportation budget. We need to reduce or eliminate unfunded federal mandates. Cars are our preferred mode of transportation. Recognizing that fact, we need innovative ideas to get cars off the road.

With our economy booming, people are moving into our district to enjoy the quality of life and take advantage of relatively affordable housing. The rapid growth has brought prosperity and problems for many of our communities. Amenities and services have been added throughout the district. However, in many cases, homes in the East Bay are some distance from job centers. This has resulted in worsening traffic congestion throughout the Bay Area.

That trend is continuing. While the population in the Bay Area is expected to grow 16 percent by 2020 to 7.7 million, suburban communities that comprise our district are projected to grow at 36 percent. The rapidly expanding economy is expected to generate 42 percent more jobs in that same time. More drivers in more cars will travel more miles per trip. Traffic congestion will continue to worsen.

The significant challenge we all face is how to take advantage of the growth-associated opportunities while preserving our quality of life and the unique characteristics of our district. Unfortunately, we are constrained by limited federal, state, and local tax dollars.

The Budget

In a Contra Costa Times article that ran on January 16, 2000, the reporter states that the Bay Area will get $89.7 billion to address our transportation needs over the next 20 years. The budget is outlined in the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) adopted in October 1998. It is reported that $73.3 billion of that money is earmarked for maintenance of existing roads, bridges, and public transit. The remainder of the money - $16.4 billion # is already committed to projects such as adding carpool lanes to the Sunol Grade, earthquake safety upgrades, and widening Highway 4.

By law, the RTP may only include projects that the region can afford with expected federal, state, and local revenue over the 20-year plan period. Even with the sizable commitments to maintenance and repair, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission estimates that there are $6 billion in needed repairs to local roads that are unfunded. Also, the Commission notes that there is a $600 million shortfall for transit projects that does not include $800 million to seismically retrofit elevated structures in the BART system.

New Taxes

Today, existing funding sources leave no money for projects such as extending BART to San Jose, Livermore, and Antioch or adding a fourth bore to the Caldecott tunnel. However, the Commission has projected an additional $19 billion in transportation funding over the next 20 years from new taxes. These new taxes include extending existing ½ cent county sales taxes and adding a 10-cents-per-gallon regional gas tax.

Various key options being discussed for directing the new funds include the following:

· Transit improvements east of the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART Station · Widening portions of Highway 4 · Adding a fourth bore to the Caldecott Tunnel · Adding a West Dublin BART Station

However, there are no assurances that voters around the Bay Area will approve the new taxes.

What to do?

Worsening traffic congestion reflects a healthy economy and the overall desirability of the East Bay as a place to live and work. Encouraging economic growth while preserving our communities distinctive and desirable characteristics requires innovation and new strategic investments in our transportation infrastructure.

Voters will decide whether funding is going to be made available for new strategic transportation projects in our community. Although state and local governments should make the decisions on how to allocate any new transportation funding, there are things that can be done at the federal level to free up needed resources and relieve some of the financial burden. Reducing or eliminating unnecessary and unfunded federal mandates, getting our fair share of the federal transportation funding, and providing tax incentives for programs that get cars off our roads will all improve the quality of life in the East Bay.

Less Regulations

Today, regulations attached to federal transportation dollars create unfunded federal mandates. That means that we must comply with costly requirements in order to qualify for federal funds. For instance, the use of federal money for seismic retrofit work on local bridges requires the use of materials that are made in the United States, which can add to the cost. By itself, this may not seem significant. However, in 1995 the Claremont Institute estimated that California spent $1.9 billion of a total $2.3 billion in federal funds on unnecessary mandated expenditures. That is significant.

California state and local governments are responsible for making strategic investments in our transportation infrastructure. These institutions are closer to the problem than the federal government. We can lower our transportation costs and make better use of federal transportation funds by reducing or eliminating the regulations needed to qualify for these dollars.

More Federal Dollars

The Bay Area is the third fastest growing region in the country. That fact is not reflected in the amount of federal transportation funding that our current representative has been able to get for our district - $33 million. An Arkansas Congressman was able to secure 50 percent more funding for an area that is not growing anywhere near as fast as the Easy Bay. He managed to procure $50 million. We need to get our fair share of federal transportation funds.

Getting Cars Off the Road

As more people move to newer residential areas such as Antioch, Brentwood, and Tracy, they move further from job centers such as Pleasanton, San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco. Furthermore, job centers and housing have moved further away from transit connections. To make matters worse, people in our community have demonstrated time and time again that they prefer their cars to public transportation. Realistically, this fact is unlikely to change in the near future.

Recognizing our preference for using personal transportation, we should concentrate on decreasing the average time and distance of commute traffic as the most cost effective way of relieving traffic congestion. Developing federal, state, and local tax incentives that make it worthwhile for business to bring jobs closer to home can reduce commute times and reduce traffic congestion. Furthermore, incentives that encourage businesses to promote telecommuting can alleviate traffic congestion by getting cars off the road. Incentives that encourage businesses to employ flexible employee work schedules can make better use of our highways by reducing traffic in peak rush-hour periods.

Spread the Cost of Limited Growth

We should preserve the unique qualities that make our communities desirable and special places to live. However, a few citizens should not be forced to carry the financial burden for open spaces and other property uses that will benefit all of us.

If growth initiatives require zoning changes that may reduce property values, the taxpayers should reimburse the owners for the fair market value of the development rights they are foregoing. Federal tax breaks on the proceeds from these sales can lower the cost to the taxpayers and promote the acquisition of certain properties that will enhance the quality of life in our communities.