The Bay Area once was an example of forward-thinking investment in transportation infrastructure but now it has fallen behind due to lack of investment. As a result, we suffer from gridlock and overcrowding of our public transportation networks.
This is a regional problem that impacts us all. In fact, the Bay Area leads the nation in “supercommuters” — people who commute 90 minutes or more to work daily. Traffic doesn’t stop at city or county lines, and our jobs and lives don’t either.
From our highways to crucial public transportation systems like BART, regional busses and ferries, to pedestrian and bike paths, we are relying on aging infrastructure that desperately needs improvement — and requires regional strategies to address.
Regional Measure 3 on the June ballot is a nine-county package of comprehensive congestion-relief efforts, estimated to generate $4.5 billion over 25 years for transit projects, highway improvements, rapid transit expansions and better bicycle and pedestrian access.
RM3 will provide funding to complete many of the Bay Area’s high-priority transportation projects like fixing the Interstate 680/Highway 4 interchange, upgrades in the Dumbarton bridge corridor and bringing safety improvements to regional roadways Highway 101, State Route 37, Interstate 680, and State Route 29. Plans also include projects like improved Richmond Bridge access, funding for major ferry enhancements, regional express bus operations, improvements to the Capital Corridor passenger rail, improving access to buses and transit facilities, and the Transbay Terminal and rail crossing.
RM3’s investments will directly benefit our residents and commuters throughout the region, no matter which direction they are traveling. Completing BART to San Jose while adding BART cars to expand capacity for Bay Area residents will keep commuters moving, while improvements to I-80 and I-680 along with increased bus capacity will reduce gridlock.
Each of these carefully considered local projects are key pieces in a big-picture solution to the growing Bay Area congestion problem. Without funding through RM3, our traffic will only get worse, our access to public transit systems will remain overcrowded and our commuting frustrations will increase.
Nobody wants to pay more in tolls; any toll increase will always have detractors. However, with the federal government contributing less at a time when the need for investment is growing, we must raise funds to invest in critical infrastructure improvements. Detractors of RM3 do not bring solutions to our ever-growing congestion and ever-increasing commutes. They only offer myopic objections that do not solve anything. We cannot talk our way out of this problem, we need solutions and actions. RM3 is a real solution, now.
RM3 includes vital good-government protections. It includes guarantees on how the funds will be used, with monitoring by an independent oversight committee, which includes two representatives from each county, to ensure spending is consistent with the expenditure plan.
RM3 also creates an inspector general for BART to oversee audits and conduct investigations of how that money is spent. These provisions will hold our elected transportation leaders accountable for spending funds as taxpayers are promised.
RM3 will quickly activate projects that will make a difference for our citizens, ensure responsible oversight and fair funding, and offer a comprehensive approach to what is truly a regional problem. It addresses the transportation challenges that hit closest to home for each of our Bay Area communities.
Voting yes on RM3 is a vote for traffic congestion relief, to support economic vitality, to improve and expand our transit network, and to improve our commutes.
Newell Arnerich is mayor of Danville and a member of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.