Voters in Bay Area say yes to toll hike

Bridge tolls will be raised by $1 three times in 2019, 2022 and 2025, after which time tolls can be further raised by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission without voter approval. The toll increases apply to all Bay Area bridges except the Golden Gate.

In San Mateo County, the measure was approved by about 54 percent, slightly under regional totals. The measure was most popular in San Francisco and Santa Clara counties, where it was approved by 65 and 61 percent of voters, respectively, while Contra Costa and Solano were the two counties to reject the measure with 45 and 31 percent of voter approval, respectively, according to early results.

Guardino said that results exceeded his expectations even in the counties that rejected it and that the measure was overperforming in just about every area. He expected just 38 percent in Contra Costa County, which showed 45 percent and said Alameda could have gone either way and ended up at 54 percent, for example.

Linda Koelling, a former Foster City mayor leading the San Mateo effort against RM3, said the measure won’t even come close to curing congestion.

“It doesn’t provide a timeline or framework for any performance measures,” she said. “Most of these projects aren’t even shovel-ready and who decides whose project comes first or second? I have no confidence in whoever put this together in their ability to plan and prioritize projects.”

Koelling added that she’s especially concerned that tolls can be later raised without voter approval.

The $4.45 billion raised by the toll increases will be collected by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and doled out to 38 projects, including an expansion of BART’s fleet for $500 million and extension of BART service to San Jose for $375 million; $300 million would fund the express lanes project, which would add two additional lanes with tolls to Highway 101 from Whipple Road to Interstate 380 in San Mateo County; another $300 million would be dedicated to enhanced ferry service, and $325 million would extend Caltrain to downtown San Francisco. Another $130 million would go to Dumbarton corridor improvements and $50 million would be allocated to work on the Highway 101/State Route 92 interchange. Twenty-five percent of revenue will be allocated for transit operations annually.

Guardino reserved much of his praise for elected officials for the passage of RM3.

“I’m glad I’m not a public official, my respect for them grows with every campaign I’ve run,” he said. “These elected officials truly risked their careers when they endorsed this measure, but they joined us and really stepped up and spoke up for what they know is best for the future of our region and I applaud them.”

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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