CO$T’s Board Unanimously OPPOSES REGIONAL MEASURE 3

CO$T’s Board Unanimously OPPOSES REGIONAL MEASURE 3 (on June 2018 Bay Area Ballots) 

COST (Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers,  5/7/18

The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers — a nonprofit non-partisan advocacy group protecting the rights and interests of Marin taxpayers – urges voting NO ON Regional Measure 3. 

RM-3, a huge money grab by an out-of-control, un-elected regional planning agency, proposes to increase tolls on most Bay Area Bridges by $3…. followed by additional unspecified “inflation” increases to tolls that go on forever.   Funds are supposed to go to a wide variety of road, ped/bike, and mass transit projects. 

RM-3 violates several CO$T criteria: Necessity; accountability; fiscal prudence; fairness; and sunset dates for all measures with built-in escalators.  RM-3  also seriously undermines Marin’s ability to plan for development that’s consistent with our local infrastructure capacity. 

Unnecessary and Redundant – How many times will we pay for the same thing?  $50 billion over 10 years will be raised from the just enacted big increases in California’s gas tax and vehicle registration fees.  These too claim to pay for transportation projects.  These too “inflate” forever.  Plus, here in Marin we already have a Transportation Authority of Marin ½ cent sales tax and a SMART train ¼ cent sales tax.  Each of these promises to reduce congestion and improve roads.   Have you seen any improvement?  Enough already!

Unfairly Regressive – RM-3 raises the annual cost of bridge crossing for the average worker $750, to about $2,000 per year.  That’s about $2700/year in pretax income just for bridge tolls to get to work.  Many workers don’t have a practical mass transit option.

Unequal Burden – Why should bridge commuters fund the entire burden of MTC’s increased local transportation funding scheme?  Those who don’t cross bridges, use transit, or bicycle get a free ride.

Unaccountable – RM-3 funds will be administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which has consolidated power as a regional planning agency (controlling/mandating development as well as transportation funding).  It’s an un-elected agency that uses the power of its purse to force its preferred transportation “solution” and high density development mandates.

Uncoordinated – MTC markets RM-3 as the “Bay Area Traffic Relief Plan.”  There is no coordinated plan. And it won’t reduce congestion.  The project is a Christmas tree with each County given a few shiny ornaments – projects that poll well with local voters.

Promises, promises – There’s no guarantee that projects will be completed, particularly if the costs come in way above initial estimates (a hallmark of the most high profile MTC projects, like the 10-years-late, structurally flawed, $6.4 billion Bay Bridge initially promised at $1 billion).  Marin voters are dangled the prospect of $135 million for a direct 101/580 connector.  What happens when the bids/cost come in much higher?   More waiting.  More tax measures promising a fix.

Uncontrolled spending –   There are no binding limits on MTC’s spending, project priorities, or the time-frames for completion (if ever).  MTC spends lavishly on itself, most notably a recent $258 million move of its headquarters from affordable, racially diverse, Oakland to expensive new San Francisco digs.  MTC is the lead agency responsible for the Richmond San Rafael bridge fiasco: commuters demanding reopening of extra lanes were held hostage for years while MTC developed a $60 million plan to reconfigure the bridge to give half the unused capacity to cyclists.

No free lunch for Marin.  Golden Gate Bridge tolls aren’t subject to RM-3.  But if it passes, the financially stretched GGB Authority will almost certainly raise tolls $3 too.

Steamrolls Marin –  RM-3 is the latest, and most audaciously overreaching, in a series of regional ballot measures that seriously threaten Marin’s future.  Ballot counts are combined across the entire 9 County Bay Area.  Marin’s votes get lost in the rounding.  RM-3 is likely to pass because the South Bay and San Francisco have huge voter numbers, few bridge commuters, and attractive project promises from MTC.  RM-3’s passage  increases MTC’s clout to force transit-oriented development along Marin’s highways, trains, and bus routes – potentially overwhelming capacity of our local schools, streets, water, sewer, and public safety services.
VOTE NO ON REGIONAL MEASURE 3!

“The State of Transportation in Marin and Why TAM proposes Yes on the $3.00 Bridge Toll increase

“The State of Transportation in Marin”

Speaker: Dianne Steinhauser, Executive Director,

The Transportation Authority of Marin




Many Marin County residents cite increased traffic congestion, lack of public transportation alternatives and the

failure to adequately maintain existing transportation infrastructure as major areas of concern. The ability for

government agencies to help address these issues is crucial to economic health and well-being of the County.

On January 10th, Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Executive Director Dianne Steinhauser will discuss the

State of Transportation in Marin. Her presentation will cover current conditions, upcoming improvements and

their status. She will address major transportation issues Marin is facing, and the likelihood of successfully

addressing those issues. Her talk will also provide updates on the Marin/Sonoma Narrows Project, the Richmond

Bridge Third Lane Project, the proposed Highway 101/580 Connector Project, construction of a new San Rafael

Transit Center, and plans to address sea-level rise on Highway 37. TAM’s programs and projects to encourage

use of walking, biking, and transit will also be covered.

In addition, Ms. Steinhauser will speak about the various programs under SB1 (the State’s recent gas tax and

vehicle registration fee increases), the status of RM3 (the proposed bridge toll increase measure), and a

proposed measure to extend or increase Marin County’s half cent transportation sales tax.

The question and answer period of the presentation will give luncheon attendees a chance to provide Dianne

feedback and to ask questions about their concerns on transportation related issues in Marin. Attendees should

expect an informative and interesting discussion of this issue.




Ms. Steinhauser has over 30 years managing transportation in the Bay Area and is the Executive

Director for the Transportation Authority of Marin. For the past 12 years, Dianne has managed Marin’s

1⁄2-cent transportation sales tax, which generates over $25 million per year for Marin. Through Marin’s

sales tax, TAM has enabled substantial growth in local transit services, local street and road

rehabilitation, and has grown its very successful Safe Routes to Schools program including managing

crossing guards, travel plans, School Pool, and student education around walking and biking to school.

Dianne managed the development of Marin County’s $10 Vehicle Registration Fee increase for transportation, which was

successfully passed by voters in November 2010, bringing an annual $2 million to Marin for transportation needs.

She brings a background in funding, finance, consensus building and engineering management. Diane began her career

at Caltrans, where for 20 years she rose from construction inspector to Deputy Director managing the activities in six Bay

Area counties. Prior to taking over as Executive Director of TAM, she spent 5 years as the Manager for Programming

and Allocations for the Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Her work at MTC helped her fine tune

her technical engineering experience with a vast array of knowledge about funding sources, the legislative process and

planning; tools in which she uses in her present position.