SMC Transportation Authority adopts Strategic Plan 2020-2024
Introduction: In 2004, more than 75 percent of San Mateo County voters approved Measure A, ½ cent sales tax measure for funding transportation investments. In 2018, voters then approved Measure W, the San Mateo County Congestion Relief Plan an additional ½ cent sales tax. The Strategic Plan outlines how investment decisions will be made over the next five years for the approximately $135 million in funds from both Measures A and W annually. The Strategic Plan also includes processes for how projects will be evaluated and prioritized.The San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) Board of Directors adopted the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan during its December meeting on Thursday, December 5.First, we would like to thank the TA Board and staff for all the hard work, community engagement, and stakeholder input to arrive at this Final Plan. We would also like to thank them for engaging us (Transportation Equity Allied Movement Coalition – TEAMC) in the process and being receptive to our thoughts and comments and responding to them.Highlights of the plan –
All Measure W core principles are being applied across categories
TA will provide technical assistance for Complete Streets and other best practices and not just for the highway category.
There is funding for programs/education like Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) in bike/ped category unlike in Measure A
Accommodation of bike/ped bridges in the highway category, so these major investments serve all users and fix barriers
The inclusion of community engagement in the readiness criteria
Specific inclusion of social equity metrics and housing in select categories
The TA will be preparing the following plans among their next steps
Update the existing Short-Range Highway Plan (SRHP)
Prepare a Countywide Alternative Congestion Relief/TDM Plan
Prepare a Regional Transit Connections Planning Study
In addition, there are some items that SVBC will be monitoring over the next few years as the funding decisions are :
SVBC wants to ensure that jurisdictions comply with the core principles from Measure W that we worked so hard to include. SVBC will be monitoring the Complete Streets checklists as well as annual reports on the funding to make sure that the money is being spent well. Selection committees for call for projects are not public
Selection committees for call for projects are not public so there is less opportunity for community members to provide input on funding decisions
The voters approved a funding measure in 2018 that focuses on moving more people not just cars. SVBC is truly excited to see how the implementation of the plan unfolds and that it delivers the kind of visionary performance-oriented spending intended by the Measure’s Core Principles.
