142,042 / 74.79% Yes votes ...... 47,879 / 25.21% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

The City charges a one-half cent sales tax to help pay for the transportation projects described in a spending plan approved by the voters in 1989. This tax will expire on April 1, 2010.

The San Francisco Transportation Authority directs use of the sales tax money. It can spend up to $160 million ($160,000,000) per year for the approved transportation projects, and can issue up to $742 million ($742,000,000) in bonds.

The Proposal:

Proposition K is an ordinance that would continue the one-half cent sales tax, and replace the current transportation spending plan with a new, 30-year plan. Under the new plan, the money would be used for:

• Maintenance of local streets;
• Transportation for the elderly and disabled;
• Construction of a Central Subway;
• Upgrades to the bus system, including new buses, stations and dedicated lanes;
• A Caltrain extension to a new Transbay Terminal;
• Projects to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety;
• Support for regional transportation systems (BART, Caltrain, and ferries); and
• Replacing the roadway to Golden Gate Bridge (Doyle Drive).

The Transportation Authority would continue to direct use of the sales tax. It could spend up to $485.175 million ($485,175,000) per year and issue up to $1.88 billion ($1,880,000,000) in bonds, to be repaid from the one-half cent sales tax.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

you want to continue the one-half cent sales tax to pay for transportation projects described in a new 30-year spending plan, or future plans, and increase the amount of money the Transportation Authority may spend and borrow to pay for these projects.

A NO vote of this measure means:

you do not want to make these changes.