EDF Report Shows More Money Available Now Than Past Decade For Highways In Alameda County

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) released a new report today, finding more funding available now than in the past decade for highways, while transit funding lags behind in Alameda County. EDF’s report indicates that although there has been a dramatic increase of State and Federal dollars dedicated to highways in Alameda County, local transit service is woefully underfunded and has few funding sources other than the Alameda County transportation funding measure, Measure B. Transit activists are calling for the Alameda County Transportation Authority (ACTA) to reevaluate Measure B’s priorities and use the Measure to meet the county’s most critical transportation needs. EDF will present its report to ACTA at the agency’s upcoming meeting on May 17.

“People want better transportation choices in Measure B,” said Meg Krehbiel, EDF policy analyst. “With increased Federal and State transportation dollars available for highways, Alameda County has more flexibility to use local funds such as the Measure B transportation funding measure to improve transit options for all county residents.”

“Alameda County will be able to meet its highway needs now and into the 21^st Century,” said Daniel Kirshner, EDF senior analyst. “With continued availability of substantial highway funds, the county can afford to reserve Measure B to improve transit service that desperately needs funding.”

A coalition of Alameda County residents, community groups, and environmentalists including EDF have developed a plan for an improved Measure B package that accounts for recent funding increases for highways and dedicates funds to provide improved transportation choices county-wide. The plan restores weekend and evening bus service, funds a cost-effective rail connection from Alameda County to jobs in Santa Clara and San Mateo County, increases service of the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) train, and slows freeway-choking sprawl by protecting open space.

EDF Report: Funding Highways Into the Next Century in Alameda County