Traffic Congestion Relief Program
In FY’02, the practice of diverting transportation dollars to
In 2000, then-Governor Gray Davis signed into law AB
shore up the General Fund began. This eventually led to
2928, which came to be known as the Traffic Congestion
the 2010 Fuel Tax Swap and a variable-rate gas tax that is
Relief Act of 2000, providing approximately $6.8 billion in
adjusted by the state Board of Equalization annually. The
state revenues for transportation (FY’01-FY’06). Revenues
rise of more fuel efficient vehicles, among other economic
were generated in part by a transfer of gasoline sales tax
influences, has resulted in less money to fund much-needed
dollars from the General Fund. The Traffic Congestion
improvements to and maintenance of existing transportation
Relief Act was supposed to represent the first major state
infrastructure.
investment in transportation infrastructure since 1990.
Before the Traffic Congestion Relief Program ended, VTA
However, in 2001, the economy experienced a severe
received $649 million to help pave the way for the BART
downturn, resulting in significant General Fund deficits.
Silicon Valley Extension.
1986-1995 1996-2005 2006-Present Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority 1976-1985 The Early Years: County Transit Growing by Growth: Leaps and Bounds Laying the Foundation for Economic
FOUR DECADES OF TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY 1976-1985 1986-1995
1996-2005
1996-2005
2006-Present
Strengthening the County’s Transportation Backbone
1976-1985
1986-1995
1996-2005
VTA Staying the Course
2006-Present
Often it is said we must explore the past 1976-1985
to understand the present, and to shape
1986-1995
1996-2005
2006-Present the future. In this four-part series, we
reflect on how Santa Clara County’s Leveraging Emerging Technology to Maximize will Infrastructure Investment transportation network was created over the last 40 years with thoughtful planning, broad-based collaboration, and a solid investment of your tax dollars. We hope that this series will provide county residents and the businesses that
1976
x Light rail expanded to reach Milpitas, 2001
we serve with a deeper appreciation for
=
where we have been, as well as a clearer vision for where we are headed.
Route 85/Route 87 interchange, 2003
Palo Alto Transit Center improvements
T
hose who lived in Silicon Valley during the “go-go
1984
90’s” remember this decade well. During this time,
highways, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, and rail networks.
10With this funding VTA delivered a diverse list of projects,
x = from widening congested highways to expanding public the Valley benefited from an unprecedented level of Years
US 101 Widening Project, 2003
1602-0572 REV
transit service connecting business centers and residential
companies took the world by storm. Tech workers
communities. Santa Clara County and VTA committed to
lured by high pay and attractive stock options endured
an ambitious program of projects entering into a formal
grueling commutes as housing prices soared and
agreement to deliver 24 rail and highway transportation
=
improvements in less than 10 years. The County established
transportation network strained to keep pace with
the program, prioritized the transportation projects,
the rapid growth and large influx of daily commuters.
and acted as the project monitor, dispersing sales tax
Additional capacity was needed, and quickly, to sustain
revenues for project construction. VTA assumed the role of
the booming economy.
“contractor,” implementing rail and
approved “Measure B”, a nine-year, half-cent sales tax to fund much needed improvements to county roads,
vta.org
+
employees moved further away from jobs. The County’s
In November 1996, Santa Clara County voters
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority 3331 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95134 Administration (408) 321-5555 Customer Service (408) 321-2300
venture capital and record number of IPOs as internet
highway projects to move Silicon Valley’s workforce, with the help of private sector engineering and (continued on next page)
(continued)
Santa Clara County Transportation, 1996-2005
construction companies. VTA also successfully secured outside funding to augment the program as the economy
center; widening U.S. 101 from Morgan Hill to south
2000 Woodside • imported(ACE) from Japan. Altamont Commuter Express – now Altamont
San Jose; completing the Route 85/87 interchange and
Corridor Express – began in October, 1998 Octoberoperation 1998
and 152 improvements; the Sunnyvale parking and transit
numerous Caltrain improvement projects. VTA frequently outperformed baseline schedules and budgets for project delivery. In early 2000, the NASDAQ peaked and in the following months, as nervous investors began to divest their holdings and the tech bubble started to burst, Silicon Valley remained bullish on transportation investment. County voters were pleased with the progress being made on the transportation network and supported funding future projects by passing a 30-year, half-cent sales tax on the November 7, 2000 General Election ballot. The Measure passed by 70.3 percent of the vote!
n to
impressive number of improvements, including: Route 17
101
k oc
and statewide support, the partnership delivered an
Mixed-Use/Housing Developments The Joint Power Authority (JPA) created by the Atherton Intercity Passenger Rail Act of 1996 includes two Prominent Employers members from VTA.
SOUTH COUNTY
St
funds alone would have allowed. With local, regional,
680
262
Redwood City
to
started to decline, delivering more projects than local
1996-2005
MCCARTHY CENTER 880
Palo Alto
CISCO SYSTEMSSanta Alviso
RIVERMARK DEVELOPMENT 280
• Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) commuter rail service from San Joaquin occupancy vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes, bicycle and County begins operation. Portola Valley pedestrian improvements, landscaping and sound walls. December 1999
Milpitas
San Martin
237
2,000,000
237
1,500,000 82 3
Los Altos Hills Los Altos
4
Mountain View
5
Gilroy
1,000,000
6
Sunnyvale
101 680
500,000
APPLE
280
Santa Clara
82
SANTANA8800ROW
AMAZON
San Jose Jose
2
1970
1980
Population 280
Jobs
Source: Association of Bay Area Governments (www.abag.ca.gov) 85
• Light Rail Extension to E. San Jose. At the same time that the County was building out its 2002 many expressways, VTA was constructing freeway • Hwy 17 Improvements improvements and busy 2003improving the transit system.
In this decade, planning began in earnest to bring BART
Clara County Demographics
101 5
• VTA opens lightprocess, rail serviceinvolving into An extensive collaborative planning Downtown Mountain View. city elected officials, County Supervisors, and County May 2001 Roads Commission members, was used to ensure the • Light rail service extends into Milpitas. local cities and their May residents’ 2004 needs were considered.
• USrail 101service Widening Project During this decade, light was expanded • I-880 Widening Project throughout the county. In December 1999, VTA began • Route 85/Route 87 interchange service into downtown Mountain View and in May 2004 2001 extended service into Milpitas. 2004, VTA • Route 85/US 101InS.June Interchange Improvements completed an extension to east San Jose and in October • Route 152 Improvements 2005, VTA opened an extension to Campbell. Today, the 2005 three light rail lines include miles of track and 61 • Route42.2 237/Interstate 880 Interchange • South County Caltrain Improvements light rail stations. • Palo Alto Transit Improvements
Morgan Hill
MCCARTHY RANCH MARKET PLACE
GOOGLEPLEX
Cupertino
280
82 87 101
4
Campbell Saratoga
Santa Clara County Demographics 8
2,000,000 85
LEGEND:
VTA LRT Passenger Rail Highway Project
17
COMMUNICATIONS HILL
1,500,000
10
85
9
Monte Sereno Los Gatos
10 1,000,000
500,000
101
8
Light Rail Openings: • 1999 - to Mountain View • 2001 - to Milpitas - to East San Jose 1976-1985• 20041986-1995 • 2005 - to Campbell
2003 • U.S. 101 Widening Project • I-880 Widening Project LAND USE/ • Route 85/Route 87 Interchange
0
2004/2005 1980 1990 • Route 237/I-880 Interchange Population Jobs • Palo Alto Transit Center Improvements 2006Source: Association of Bay Area Governments (www.abag.ca.gov) • Route 85/U.S. 101 Interchange TRANSPORTATION FUNDING (South San Jose) 1970
Present
DEMOGRAPHICS
to Silicon Valley. VTA’s BART Silicon Valley project was the first step to extend BART’s heavy rail system into Santa Clara County. The project costs were significant One hundred low-floor light rail vehicles were imported from Japan, 2000
and the ultimate decision was to phase the project. The first 10-mile, 2-station segment, referred to as the
In 2001, Santa Clara County launched the Comprehensive
Berryessa Extension, travels along the existing Union
County Expressway Planning Study, providing a long-term
Pacific Railroad alignment south of the future Warm
plan for the improvement and maintenance of the County
Springs Station in Fremont to Milpitas and the Berryessa
Expressway System. The Study prioritized the investment
area of north San Jose. This fully grade-separated project
of resources including all areas of need: capacity and
includes two stations – one near the Great Mall
operational improvements, signal operations, high-
in Milpitas and one in northeast San Jose.
The Berryessa Extension received strong countywide Santa Clara County Demographics
support. The 2000 30-year, half-cent sales tax measure passed overwhelmingly with BART Silicon Valley as
2,000,000
the priority project. In 2008, over 66% of Santa Clara County voters approved an additional eighth-cent sales tax to fund BART Silicon Valley’s annual operating and maintenance expenses. Local and regional champions credited with the success of helping bring BART to Silicon Valley include the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, San Jose Chamber of Commerce, local city partners, and other labor and business organizations.
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1970
1980 Population
1990 Jobs
Source: Association of Bay Area Governments (www.abag.ca.gov)
2000