We need a measure to fix Berkeley’s streets and sidewalks responsibly!
Berkeley’s public streets and sidewalks are in dire need of repair, after more than a decade of inadequate funding. Failure to make timely street repairs requires much more expensive repairs later and creates safety hazards for all users of Berkeley’s streets. City Council’s recent increases in the street maintenance budget are still insufficient to turn things around, requiring citizen action if we want our streets and sidewalks to be safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers of motorized vehicles.
But we needn’t write a blank check.
BFBP’s measure is tightly focused on fixing all our streets and sidewalks within 12 years with a $0.13/sq.ft. parcel tax—without any padding for undefined and unplanned infrastructure projects. Our measure will:
- Collect only what is necessary to responsibly fix our streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian paths, and improve our bicycle boulevard network, specifying exactly how all revenues must be spent.
- Require the City to maintain its recently increased street maintenance budget—otherwise, the tax goes away.
- Bring every street, starting with those in the worst condition and including streets in the waterfront, to at least “good” condition (not just good on average).
- Clean up stormwater runoff pollution from our streets.
- Improve the safety of our convenient, low-stress bicycle boulevards.
- Fully fund sidewalk repair and pathway repairs.
- Establish a truly Independent Oversight Commission and increase public input into the development of the City’s five-year paving program.
- Require the evaluation provisions of Berkeley’s Complete Streets Policy to be followed each year before transportation funds are allocated to ensure that project expenditures are effective in reducing collisions and increasing mobility across town.
- Exempt very-low-income property owners from the tax.
We’ll need your help to make sure our measure becomes law. There is a competing measure circulating, which will raise more funds than necessary without specifically defining what “safety measures” the extra funds are for and without effective oversight or necessary evaluations to make certain funds are spent effectively and as promised.
