Smart Growth Program in East Contra Costa Needs Funding Restored

In December of 2009, with sales tax revenue down, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) defunded its groundbreaking smart growth program in East County--a program called Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) which was created by Measure J.

Contra Costa's TLC program, as created by Measure J, incentivizes cities to create more affordable housing and move away from sprawl development. It provides millions of dollars for local governments in planning and infrastructure for transit-oriented development. It does this in all regions of Contra Costa County, except East County, where local government will not receive the $29 million in funding it was allocated for bicycle, local transit, and pedestrian facilities that support transit-oriented development.

The good news is that TransForm and smart growth allies like Save Mount Diablo, Greenbelt Alliance, CCISCO, East Bay Housing Organizations, the American Lung Association in California, East Bay Bicycle Coalition, and others pushed for commitments from CCTA that TLC will become a reality in East County as soon as it's financially feasible.  TRANSPLAN, the East County advisory committee to CCTA, worked with CCTA to ensure that the Draft communicates CCTA's ongoing commitment to making TLC funding a reality.  CCTA committed to "assist East County in pursuing new sources of funds, and to restore funding to impacted projects/programs if revenues exceed current projects, project costs are further reduced, and/or new fund sources are secured."

TransForm expects to work together with CCTA and TRANSPLAN to ensure TLC receives funding as soon as possible. Senior citizens, people with disabilities, youth, and others without cars or with limited incomes already face incredible transportation obstacles in East County and can benefit from TLC funding.

 

Additional Background

What is Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC)?

TLC is a smart growth program funded by Measure J, a countywide transportation sales tax that passed in 2004 with support from 71% of Contra Costa voters.

TLC improves the quality of life by making it possible for residents to walk from their homes to stores and other amenities, travel to more distant places by jumping on a nearby train or bus that stops near their home, and bicycle in safe conditions.  TLC encourages transit-oriented development (TOD) by allocating money for infrastructures necessary to TOD.  These can include:

• bicycle facilities, like the new bike lanes in Oakley
• local transit facilities, like the improved bus shelters in Pittsburg, Oakley, and Brentwood
• intersection improvements and pedestrian facilities
• pedestrian plazas, walkways, and other streetscape improvements that encourage walking
• traffic calming measures

Why did Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCTA) defund TLC in the East County expenditure plan?

Over the next 25 years, sales tax revenues are expected to be down 23% in Contra Costa County, which means that there will be less money to fund Measure J programs and projects.  As a result, TRANSPLAN and CCTA decided to shift East County's TLC funding to two East County projects (State Route 4E Widening and eBART). 

Why is it important to have TLC in East County?

1) TLC will help East County build housing, retail, and offices near transit and stores.  Transit-oriented development (TOD) improves the local quality of life by reducing pollution, preventing sprawl, and creating walkable, bikable neighborhoods that promote a sense of community and are especially important for seniors, youth, and people with disabilities. 

2) TLC makes it easier for cities to approve smart growth projects with confidence, knowing that the funding is in place to design and build high quality infrastructure for walking, biking, and public transit.

3) TLC could fill the gap in cities that are likely to face revenue declines for years to come because they have declining property values and reduced property tax revenue from foreclosures.  This financial gap is exacerbated by the relationship between lower property tax revenue and bond ratings.  When foreclosure rates are high, bond ratings are lower because there is less assurance that property owners will pay their property taxes.  When bond ratings drop, a city will pay higher interest rates on the bonds they issue, which means there are fewer funds available for development purposes, which means less development happens and fewer jobs are created.  TLC funds can help fill that financial gap. 

4) East County deserves the same quality of life as every other part of Contra Costa County and the Bay Area.  Central, West, and Southwest County will have TLC funded capital projects and planning.  But right now, East County is on track to have its TLC funding eliminated indefinitely.  By supporting TLC in East County, we are supporting countywide equity in smart growth projects.  Without TLC, East County will fall further behind.  While Walnut Creek and El Cerrito get new pedestrian plazas, better pedestrian facilities, etc, East County will lack the necessary resources to make the small changes that have huge impacts on quality of life.

5) TLC will help East County achieve the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions-reduction targets set by Senate Bill 375.  CCTA's Planning Committee has proposed that supporting transit-oriented development (TOD) be a guiding principle for achieving these targets.  TLC supports transit-oriented development therefore reducing emissions from cars.

6) TLC can provide direct help to far East County.  Much of what Measure J will otherwise fund in East County directly benefits Antioch and Pittsburg residents and only indirectly benefits Brentwood, Oakley, and other far East County residents.

8) Numerous organizations endorsed Measure J, in large part because TLC was included as one of its programs.  As a result, Measure J had little official opposition.  TLC supporters included Sierra Club, Greenbelt Alliance, Save Mount Diablo, TransForm (then known as the Transportation and Landuse Coalition or TALC), among others.