Placer County’s Measure B could bring needed funds to transportation projects | Opinion

Californians pay some of the highest taxes in the nation, so it’s no surprise when voters respond with a resounding “no” to tax measures on their ballots.

But an important half-cent sales tax measure going before some Placer County voters will provide a fast-expanding region with new streams of state and federal funding if passed. It would greatly benefit the residents of Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln to vote yes on Measure B, the South Placer Traffic Relief measure.

Measure B would raise an estimated $1.58 billion over 30 years. If passed by voters, Placer County could start applying for competitive state and federal grants the region has been missing out on for decades.

Why? Because Placer County isn’t what’s called a “self help” county, meaning a county that has a local sales tax authority and a measure to fund transportation. This designation is currently shared by 25 counties in the state, with Placer being the largest county in the state without the “self help” title.

“If we want to get (money) back that we send to Sacramento and get our fair share, we have to have a matching funding source,” explained Matt Click, executive director of the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency.

Click said he’s often by residents opposed to new taxes why Placer County can’t just receive funding for traffic and transportation projects from Sacramento.

“I can understand how they feel about that, but these are the rules of the game,” Click said. “There is no bucket of money inside of the state coffers that is going to prioritize or fund these things.”

And as far as federal money from the Biden administration’s infrastructure plan goes, those dollars go to things like the Los Angeles Metro system and Bay Area Rapid Transit.

“Do we have access to improve a couple of roads on Highway 65 in little old Placer County? No, we don’t,” Click said.

Current state of infrastructure

Over half of the money (52%) from Measure B would be spent on major roadways and highways, rail and transit, active transportation, bicycle and pedestrian projects as well as local transportation projects.

“Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln can use the money for whatever they need as long as it meets a transportation purpose,” Click explained.

If the measure passes, one of the first projects the money will go toward alleviating traffic congestion on State Road 65, “by far the most congested bottleneck in Placer County,” Click said. That project could break ground as early as 2026.

Traffic congestion is dangerous, and results in more car accidents, injuries and death. That’s the reality on crowded State Road 65. Meaning Measure B funding has the potential to save lives.

Meanwhile, the greatest transportation needs in the county have yet to be fully realized.

“We have another 20,000 to 25,000 homes that are approved and ready to go, including a new full campus of Sacramento State University,” Click said. “I’m focused on the deficiencies right now, but I’m also focused on not getting behind.”

Cost breakdown

Placer County unsuccessfully attempted to pass a version of Measure B in 2016 which failed because it would have taxed the whole county. Unsurprisingly, voters in more rural parts of Placer voted against the measure, which specifically funded projects in the southern parts of the county. This time, the taxation will just apply to Rocklin, Roseville and Lincoln.

The breakdown of who will actually be footing the cost is more complicated than it may seem.

“It’s very hard to say what percentage is going to be spent by a family of four in Roseville, and how much of that is going to be spent by someone traveling over from Vallejo or somewhere else to shop at the Galleria,” Click explained.

Widely supported

According to a countywide survey conducted in April and May of this year, two-thirds of respondents say traffic has gotten worse in Placer County since before the pandemic. Two-thirds of respondents — 67% — say they plan to support Measure B.

The measure needs two-thirds of voter support to win.

Placer County is the fastest-growing county in the state. Measure B is a serious attempt to account for that growth.

“There’s more need than funding available,” Click said. “We have to start by helping ourselves.”