Voters turn out to learn about Prop. A

By: ANDREA MOSS - Staff Writer | Tuesday, September 21, 2004 11:08 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- About four dozen people took advantage Tuesday of a chance to learn more about a ballot measure that, if approved, would extend the transportation tax known as TransNet for 40 years.

The measure, Proposition A, was one of three discussed at a public forum that the Community Alliance For Escondido held at First United Methodist Church of Escondido. Not surprisingly, those present seemed interested in what Prop. A would to do to relieve traffic problems in North County.

The tendancy for traffic to bottleneck on Interstate 15 where it passes over Lake Hodges and the need for more entrance and exit points along carpool lanes that run down the center of the freeway were among the points raised during the forum.

Craig Scott, manager of transportation finance for the San Diego Association of Governments, attempted to fill in the blanks. Made up of county representatives from all of its 18 cities, the association oversees transportation planning for the region.

The organization's board voted in May to put Prop. A on the Nov. 2 ballot.

The original TransNet tax is a half-cent sales tax approved in 1988. Scott told those present at Tuesday's forum the tax has generated more than $2 billion so far for transportation projects throughout the county.

The money has paid for about 800 transportation projects throughout the county, he said.

The figure is expected to reach $3.3 billion by the time the tax expires on March 31, 2008.

Voter approval of Prop. A would keep the TransNet tax alive until 2048. The extension is expected to generate an additional $14 billion for transportation projects.

The money would be used for new freeway, local road and public transportation projects, with each category getting about a third of the projected revenues under a plan approved by the regional association.

About 30 percent of the county's population lives in North County. Because of that, this area is expected to get about 31 percent, or about $4.3 billion, of the TransNet money

Scott said at least one North County project ---- the extension of the Interstate 15 carpool lanes to Highway 78 ---- is at the top of the list if Prop. A is successful.

A bus rapid transit system that includes a transit station to be built in Rancho Bernardo is also on the "to do" list, though that project has a lower priority, he said.

North County cities would also get TransNet money for road and transit projects within their borders, as long as they are willing to provide matching funds, Scott said.

Critics of the proposed extension have said they want to see at least 50 percent of the TransNet money going to freeways because they carry the majority of commuters.

Some of those present at Tuesday's forum seemed to agree. An unidentified man questioned the plan to funnel one-third of the tax revenues into transit projects.

"You can't fill the buses and transit now," he said. "Why would you spend one-third of this money on that?"

Scott responded by saying association planners believe improvements in the transit system will help it attract more users.

Someone else asked about the possibility of a light-rail or train system along the Interstate 15 corridor. While such systems work well in densely populated areas, Scott said, North County residents are generally too spread out for a rail system to be effective in this area.

"No matter where you draw the (rail) line, you're bound to miss most of them," he said, adding that that's where the proposed bus rapid system comes in.

Two-thirds of voters must approve Prop. A for it to pass. If the measure fails, the TransNet extension can be brought back to the ballot before it expires in 2008.

Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.

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