SANDAG Ballot Measure Would Mean a Funding Boost for MTS

The future of transit in San Diego could vastly change based on results in the November election. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is proposing to voters a 40-year, ½ cent sales tax on the ballot to pay for infrastructure needs around the region. If approved, a number of MTS services would be enhanced and improved, including:

• A new north/south Trolley line from San Ysidro to Kearny Mesa would be built to improve congestion and accommodate the growth in the border region
• More than a dozen new Rapid routes would be built to further integrate our Trolley and bus lines, and multiplying the possible travel destinations for riders
• Fixed-route bus frequencies would increase and more routes would stay active longer throughout the service day
• The MTS fleet of 128 trains and 800 buses would expand significantly to accommodate the service increases

The ballot measure would also provide additional funding for highway/managed lane improvements, open space, active transportation, and other regional infrastructure projects. It also contains several important provisions:

• 15-year commitment: The Ordinance commits SANDAG to use its best efforts to complete projects in the Priority Corridors Program within 15 years
• Voter mandate: The Ordinance safeguards the projects included in the Priority Corridors Program, ensuring funding for these projects can’t be removed without a vote of the people
• Local jobs: The measure sets a goal to use 80 to 100 percent San Diego County workers on construction projects funded by the measure, where allowed by law, and requires a skilled and trained workforce to perform the work
• Accountability: An independent taxpayer oversight committee would oversee the expenditure of funds raised by the measure to ensure that voter mandates are carried out and funds are spent in a responsible and transparent manner

View more info on the measure