Title:
Title
Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) Measure A Expenditure Plan
End
FileID
File ID: 2020-00058
Location
Location: Citywide
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution approving the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) Measure A Transportation Expenditure Plan for the proposed 2020 Transportation Sales Tax Ballot Measure.
Contact: Lucinda Willcox, Program Manager, (916) 808-5052; Ryan Moore, Public Works Director, (916) 808-6629, Department of Public Works
Body
Presenter: Will Kempton, Executive Director, Sacramento Transportation Authority
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
3-STA Approved Measure A Transportation Expenditure Plan
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) administers the existing countywide half-cent transportation sale tax approved by voters in 2004. These revenues are allocated for transportation/transit capital improvements and ongoing traffic/transit operational programs.
To address countywide transportation funding needs, the STA has tentatively adopted a Transportation Expenditure Plan (Expenditure Plan) that governs the expenditure of revenues from the proposed sales tax. The Expenditure Plan will be considered by all the member jurisdictions and then an Ordinance and Expenditure Plan will be considered by the STA Board. If approved by the voters, the measure is estimated to bring in $8.4 billion countywide over 40 years.
A summary of the plan is included on the first page of Attachment 3, followed by the full details of the Expenditure Plan.
Policy Considerations: Before the STA Board may adopt the sales tax ordinance, the Expenditure Plan must first be approved by the County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils representing both a majority of the cities in the County and a majority of the population residing in the incorporated areas of the County. (Cal. Public Utilities Code, § 180206.)
On December 10, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2019-0475 with Principles for Measure A Expenditure Plan, which included the following priorities:
§ Safety
§ Fix It First
§ High Quality Transit
§ Active Transportation
§ Regional Funding for Regional Projects, including the following:
o Sacramento Intermodal Facility
o Regional Trails
o California Mobility Center
The proposed Expenditure Plan provides funding to some extent for all these priorities. The needs in virtually every category are so great that it would not generate enough revenue to fully fund any of the need categories.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): The proposed action is not a “project” as it involves governmental fiscal activities that are exempt from environmental review under Section 15378(b)(4) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.
Sustainability: Specific funding in the Expenditure Plan is earmarked for transit improvements, air quality support, and for complete streets/active transportation. The Ordinance will require conformance with the Air Quality Attainment Plan and Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (MTP/SCS). In response to concerns related to future GHG emissions, specific language was added to ensure GHG mitigation for roadway and transit projects not currently included in the MTP/SCS.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: The Expenditure Plan includes the funding priorities as recommended by STA Board, of which the City of Sacramento is a member. The Board considered public and professional input and tentatively adopted the Expenditure Plan on March 18, 2020 on a 13-3 vote. Assuming the STA obtains the necessary County and City approvals of the Expenditure Plan, it will consider final adoption of the sales tax ordinance and Expenditure Plan (currently scheduled for May 14, 2020) and forward the Measure to the Board of Supervisors for placement on the November ballot.
Adoption of the Resolution will provide the City Council's approval of the Transportation Expenditure Plan for inclusion on the November 2020 ballot. The County and Cities must either approve or deny the Expenditure Plan as tentatively adopted by the STA Board, and may not enact revisions or propose changes to the content of the attached Transportation Expenditure Plan.
Financial Considerations: There are no financial considerations resulting from the action requested in this report. If a measure is placed on the ballot and is successful, additional countywide half-cent sales tax revenue would provide critical funding resources towards priority infrastructure repairs, transportation/transit capital improvements, and ongoing traffic/transit operational programs over the next 40 years.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.