Registration fee can revitalize transit

A bill now in the state legislature could provide funds for the Bay Area to revitalize urban transit, integrate regional rail service, create safe routes to schools and transit, and promote healthy, sustainable travel.

AB 2444 (Klehs-San Leandro) would allow the nine Bay Area counties to implement regional vehicle-registration fees of up to $10 to raise $60 million annually. Each county's transportation or congestion-management agency could impose a $5 fee to fund local transportation improvements, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District could charge another $5 regionwide to mitigate the air and water pollution caused by motor vehicles. BAAQMD would share its revenue with the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Motor vehicles are the greatest source of air pollution, climate change, and water pollution. The Water Board has indicated that funds are needed in every county to address pollution from stormwater runoff. Funds may also be applied to creek restoration. The Air District will be able to use funds for its new Climate Protection program, as well as for reducing vehicle emissions. This is the first revenue-raising bill to fund climate protection programs. Transportation funds could go to roadway operations and improvements, public-transit capital improvements and operations, and bicycle and pedestrian safety projects and programs, but the construction of through freeway lanes is prohibited.

The Sierra Club was key to the creation of this bill through its involvement with co-sponsor Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC), a coalition of environmental and social-justice organizations on which the Club holds a seat on the Board of Directors. The Club's three Bay Area chapters (Redwood, San Francisco Bay, and Loma Prieta) are working together to advance the bill.

AB 2444 has passed the Assembly and is continuing its path in the Senate.

Contact your state senators to convey your support for AB 2444.

Liz Figueroa
(916)651-4010
fax: (916)327-2433

Carole Migden
(916)651-4003
fax: (916)445-4722

Don Perata
(916)651-4009
fax: (916)327-1997

Jackie Speier
(916)651-4008
fax: (916)327-2186

Tom Torlakson
(916)651-4007
fax: (916)445-2527

All state senators' e-mail addresses are of the form: Senator.LASTNAME@sen.ca.gov

All state legislators can be written to at: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.

All Bay Chapter assemblymembers voted for the bill except for Joe Canciamilla (Contra Costa: Pinole to Antioch) and Guy Houston (Concord to Livermore). Contact:

Joe Canciamilla
(916)319-2011
fax: (916)319-2111

Guy Houston
(916)319-2015
fax: (916)319-2115

Let them know your disappointment that they voted against AB 2444.

For more information about the bill, see the TALC web site and click at left on "Support AB 2444".

Irvin Dawid, Sierra Club California air-quality co-chair