STAR hopes that our series of posts on Measure B have brought you to the realization that it is not the transportation solution we need. We can do better. Many of you have already voted, others will vote tomorrow. And no matter how you vote, please do vote.

If Measure B passes, STAR is committed to making sure that the Sacramento Transportation Authority, Sacramento Regional Transit, the county, and each city expends these sales tax funds with transparency and accountability. The past has not given us much hope, so we see this as a major task.

We will also work to ensure that the projects that increase safety and reduce vehicle miles traveled move forward first, and that those which work against these goals never get implemented. Again, this will be a lot of work, as both staff and politicians prefer high profile ribbon-cutting projects over the smaller actions that actually make for a better transportation system.

Measure B has formulated a 1970’s approach to transportation, which much of California has moved, or is moving, away from, but we can improve it in the implementation.

If Measure B fails, STAR stands ready to work with all the entities to come up with a better plan to fund our transportation system, a plan that balances regressive sales tax with other revenue sources such as property tax, that stops building new roads and interchanges so that we can take care of what we already have, that ends the huge subsidy for greenfield development that many transportation projects provide, that not only recognizes but moves strongly towards Vision Zero, that holds SacRT accountable for the projects it implements and the way it manages its money.

Sacramento County could be a leader in moving into a low-carbon, multi-modal, safe and efficient transportation system, where transit stands as the core of that system. We will work with others to bring about that vision.

Though we are open to funding ideas, our immediate solution for transit is a sales tax measure dedicated solely to operation and maintenance for SacRT, in an amount of at least 1/2 cent of sales tax.

We also believe that the SacRT board must have true citizen representation, either by citizens serving and voting on the board, or by an independent board that is elected by the voters rather than being appointed by other political bodies.

We continue to believe in maintaining our infrastructure, which of course means keeping SacRT light rail vehicles, tracks, buses, and bus stops and shelters in a state of good repair. And we recognize that what motivates every taxpayer and voter is fix-it-first, taking care of our roads so they serve all users: drivers, commercial vehicles, transit, bicyclists and pedestrians.

• Measure B 2016