Here’s what your community will get if you vote for Sacramento’s transportation sales tax
City and county leaders in Sacramento are in the midst of debating a sales tax measure for the November 2020 ballot that would fund a long list of projects transportation projects, from freeway interchanges and bridges to sidewalks near schools.
Measure A could raise more than $8 billion through a half-cent sales tax over the next 40 years.
The decision to place a measure on the ballot will be made next year by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, if the project list is approved in coming weeks by the Sacramento Transportation Authority board. The STA board is made up of council members from cities around the county as well as members of the county board of supervisors.
So, what will you get if you vote for the sales tax?
County and city leaders have not yet winnowed down a final project spending list, but here are the most likely projects in each community that will be at least partially funded by the tax:
City of Sacramento
Funds for two planned bridges: One over the American River from downtown to Truxel Road in South Natomas, likely to be used for cars, light rail trains that could eventually run to the airport, bicyclists and pedestrians. The other bridge would replace the I Street Bridge over the Sacramento River.
Road pavement improvements. The current city pavement score is 66 on a scale of zero to 100. A score of 70 or above is considered smooth.
Funds to make streets safety improvements part of the city’s Vision Zero bicycle, pedestrians and car safety program. That includes more bike lanes and fewer car lanes on numerous commuter corridors, requiring cars to drive more slowly. That includes $50 million to add sidewalks in neighborhoods that currently don’t have them, notably in areas children use to walk to school.
Funds to upgrade the city’s downtown Amtrak station, as well as money to upgrade the light rail line at The Railyard development project site and add a new light rail station at the planned soccer stadium site.
Funds to help finance five interchange upgrades: Mack Road, Richards Boulevard, 65th Street, West El Camino Avenue, Northgate Boulevard.
Unincorporated Sacramento County
Upgrades to street pavement. On average, county streets rate 50 on the pavement quality scale. The goal is to raise average level to 70.
Reconstruct the Hazel Boulevard interchange at Highway 50.
Widen the Capitol Corridor passenger train bridge at North Watt Avenue.
Modernization and capacity expansions of 14 major streets, including sections of Bradshaw and Elverta roads, and Hazel, Madison, North Watt and South Watt avenues.
Improvements at 23 trouble spots on commuter corridors, including Arden Way, Auburn Boulevard, Folsom Boulevard, Greenback Lane and Power Inn Road.
Added bike lanes, new sidewalks, disabled accessibility improvements, traffic signal modernization and various bridge repairs.
Sacramento freeways
Add “managed lanes” to all freeways, capable of being used as carpool lanes, bus lanes, zero emission vehicle lanes, and in some cases as toll lanes for solo drivers.
Funds to leverage financing to widen the Capital City Freeway over the American River and past Arden Way.
Add carpool or managed lanes on Interstate 5 between Natomas and Sacramento International Airport.
Sacramento Regional Transit
Buy new low-floor light rail train cars, allowing riders to walk directly onto trains rather than climb steps. Allows wheelchair users direct access into cars.
Convert bus fleet to “zero emission” vehicles by 2040.
Funds to continue long-term effort to extend light rail to Sacramento International Airport.
Funds to help extend light rail from Cosumnes River College several miles into Elk Grove.
Bus-only lanes on sections of Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova. Also on sections of Watt Avenue, Stockton Boulevard, and in Elk Grove and Folsom.
Funds to continue free rides for elementary and high school students, and to subsidize senior fares.
Expand bus lanes and frequency by 30 percent.
Paratransit and micro-transit shuttle funding.
Elk Grove
Funds for improved traffic signal operations, including timing of signals and cameras that allow traffic engineers to monitor traffic congestion and adapt signal timing to match traffic flows.
Also: street pavement rehab, sidewalk accessibility improvements for disabled, bike and pedestrian upgrades.
Widening Kammerer Road for current and future development, including an office-based jobs center south of Kammerer and west of Highway 99.
Interchange construction at Hwy. 99 and Whitelock Parkway to relieve congestion on Elk Grove Boulevard.
The city’s current street pavement quality is 73 on a scale up to 100, which means Elk Grove streets on average are smooth and in good shape, but will need some maintenance over time to remain above the minimum standard, which is 70.
Funds to invest in preparing streets to handle autonomous vehicles.
Bus Rapid Transit to Cosumnes River College, or a possible extension of light rail south of the college.
Folsom
Adding interchanges on Highway 50 at Oak Avenue Parkway and Empire Ranch Road to take more drivers to and from the new areas of Folsom south of the freeway, where some 10,000-plus homes are planned.
Funds for a traffic management center, and for technological upgrades at 100 current traffic signals and 25 planned signals, including cameras, flow monitors, feedback signs.
Add 15 miles of bike trails to the city’s existing 40 miles of off-street biking. Add 24 bike bridges or under crossings to separate cyclists from streets.
Funds to continue expanding White Rock Road, converting it from a country road to an expressway, along with Grant Line Road.
Funds to promote transit use, coordinated with Sacramento Regional Transit double track plans for light rail in Folsom.
Rancho Cordova
Widening of Grant Line Road, turning it into an expressway between Folsom and Elk Grove.
Street repaving. The city’s average street smoothness index is 69 on a scale of 100, just below the minimum desired 70. The city’s goal is to hit 80 over the next decade.
Neighborhood street rehabilitation, sidewalk repair, traffic-slowing devices in neighborhoods and improved “high-visibility” crosswalks.
New Ranch Cordova Parkway interchange on Highway 50 east of Sunrise Boulevard.
Modernization work on White Rock Road, Mather Field Road, Douglas Road and Sunrise Boulevard at the southern end of the city.
Citrus Heights
New sidewalks as part of an overall “Safe Routes to School” program.
Street maintenance. Citrus Heights streets measure 60 on a road smoothness scale, which is lower than the 70 level that cities attempt to maintain.
Signal synchronization and coordination at 58 intersections. Coordination with Roseville and Sacramento County streets.
Modernize Auburn Boulevard, including bike, bus and pedestrians improvements.
Upgrade congested Antelope Road/I-80 overpass.
Galt
Modernize C Street and Lincoln Way.
Turn Carillion Boulevard into a multi-model street, including bike lanes and space for “neighborhood electric vehicles” (modified golf carts).
Upgrade the Walnut Avenue interchange at Highway 99
Isleton
Street rehabilitation, including a Community Center parking lot and sidewalk rehab.
Pilot shuttle bus program to BART and Sacramento Regional Transit stations.
This story was originally published December 1, 2019 at 5:00 AM.