Measure W too close to call

Estimated to generate $80 million a year for 30 years — or around $2.4 billion total — 50 percent of Measure W revenue would support public transportation in the county through SamTrans and Caltrain if it passes. In addition, 22.5 percent of the funds would go to highway projects throughout the county, 12.5 percent of the money would fund arterial and local road improvements, 10 percent would pay for regional connections and 5 percent would be allocated for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

The measure faced opposition from bicycling advocates and others who wanted to see the tax revenue allocated toward projects that would discourage driving instead of highway improvements. Tax fatigue has also weighed on some voters, and many oppose sales taxes generally for being regressive and disproportionately burdening the poor.

But for Measure W advocates, among them SamTrans Chair and Belmont Councilman Charles Stone, concerns about the service cuts SamTrans commuters may experience if the measure fails loomed large. Stone said he wasn’t surprised by the early results for Measure W late Tuesday night given the challenge of earning two-thirds of the vote from residents.

“Two-thirds [of the vote] is always an uphill battle,” he said. “I hope that we find a way forward if this doesn’t pass that doesn’t involve too many cuts to the lifeline services that many of our most vulnerable residents use.”

Projects that could see funding from the measure include State Route 92/Highway 101 interchange improvements, building express lanes on Bayfront Expressway in Menlo Park and East Palo Alto, and Dumbarton Corridor Highway improvements, including express bus service and express lanes.

Congressional representatives and state legislators facing challengers were successful in holding onto their seats this fall. Garnering 76.3 percent of the vote, U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, held off challenger Cristina Osmeña, a solar industry executive and Republican, in the race for the 14th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, picked up 71.3 percent support from voters in a race against technology company director Christine Russell, a Republican, to serve another term in 18th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Despite change management consultant and Republican Christina Laskowski’s run for the 22nd Assembly position, Democrat Kevin Mullin earned nearly 72.7 percent of the vote and will hold down the seat to enter his fourth term in office.

Democrat Marc Berman, who was challenged by Republican business owner and engineer Alex Glew, was re-elected with 74 percent support from voters to his seat in the 24th District in the state Assembly.

anna@smdailyjournal.com

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