In 2018, when San Mateo County voters passed Measure W Ordinance by 66.9%, they provided the county with additional resources to improve transit and relieve traffic congestion raised from a ½ cent sales tax. Half of those funds are administered by the San Mateo County Transportation Authority while the remaining half are administered by SamTrans.
The measure, which went into effect in July of 2019, includes funds for highway projects, local street repair, grade separations for Caltrain tracks, expanded bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and improved transit connections. The allocation of Measure W funds is overseen by the Measure W Citizen Oversight Committee.
Measure W Core Principles
- Relieve traffic congestion countywide
- Invest in a financially sustainable public transportation system that increases ridership, embraces innovation, creates more transportation choices, improves travel experience, and provides quality, affordable transit options for youth, seniors, people with disabilities, and people with lower incomes
- Implement environmentally-friendly transportation solutions and projects that incorporate green stormwater infrastructure and plan for climate change
- Promote economic vitality, economic development, and the creation of quality jobs
- Maximize opportunities to leverage investment and services from public and private partners
- Enhance safety and public health
- Invest in repair and maintenance of existing and future infrastructure
- Facilitate the reduction of vehicle miles traveled, travel times and greenhouse gas emissions
- Incorporate the inclusion and implementation of complete street policies and other strategies that encourage safe accommodation of all people using the roads, regardless of mode of travel
- Incentivize transit, bicycle, pedestrian, carpooling and other shared-ride options over driving alone
- Maximize traffic reduction potential associated with the creation of housing in high-quality transit corridors
The TA Strategic Plan guides the evaluation of projects that use this funding. You can read more about the 2020-2024 plan, which was developed through a series of community meetings held throughout the county.
