With more than 95 percent of all county ballots finally counted Tuesday afternoon, Measure D – the 30-year half-cent sales tax for transportation – was virtually assured of approval.
The first money could arrive next spring, and the county should begin approving projects later in 2017, said Fifth District Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson, co-chair of the campaign for the measure.
“I feel really good about it,” he said.
While McPherson remained cautiously optimistic with more than 5,000 provisional ballots still facing scrutiny at mid-week, the citizens’ campaign organization wasn’t holding back its enthusiasm after two weeks of nail-biting.
With 960 votes to spare, the Yes on D – Get Santa Cruz County Moving campaign didn’t hesitate to release a statement thanking voters Tuesday night for barely securing the two-thirds “super majority” required for passage of the sales tax measure. The campaign’s confidence had grown as a slim Election Day margin nearly tripled as the count wore on.
“The message is clear: Santa Cruz County residents support a new direction in local transportation planning,” said co-chair Supervisor John Leopold.
Measure D will provide locally controlled funds for improvements that will reduce traffic congestion, protect wildlife and promote alternative transportation such as biking, walking, buses and carpooling.
Perhaps more importantly, the approval of Measure D finally makes it possible for Santa Cruz County to take advantage of matching funds from the state and federal governments.
Measure D will fund:
- A $130 million investment in safe bike lanes, bike paths and pedestrian crossings
- Reduction of traffic congestion by adding an emergency lane to Highway 1 east of Santa Cruz and reducing exists on Highway 17 north of Scotts Valley
- New sidewalks and bike lanes near schools, especially along Highway 9 at San Lorenzo Valley High School
- Two new bicycle/pedestrian bridges over Highway 1
- Completion of significant sections of the 32-mile Coastal Trail that will connect Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos and Watsonville
- METRO buses and more transit services for seniors and the disabled
- A wildlife undercrossing on Highway 17 at Laurel curve
