Off the Rails: The Tale of Transit in Montclair
F or decades San Bernardino County taxpayers have invested in transit development, including a plan to bring the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) A Line (aka the Gold Line) across the County line to Montclair. Voters extended a one-half cent sales tax in 2004, and our City management has committed a significant share of time and taxpayer dollars toward developing a transit district in North Montclair. Why have we made this investment? The answer is simple: Extending the A Line into San Bernardino County will generate significant tax revenue, and improve quality of life by reducing air pollutants and expanding job access. In other words, the benefits outweigh the costs, especially for our City. Last September, Montclair’s vision to further develop its transit district was abruptly undermined when the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) Board of Directors, by a vote of 15-11, made the decision to terminate plans to extend the A Line light rail system to the Montclair Transit Center. This decision counters the vote of San Bernardino County residents 21 years ago when they approved a 40-year extension to Measure I, a one-half cent sale tax for transportation and transit projects, with 8% of all Measure I revenue dedicated to transit projects. Every sales tax-related purchase made in Montclair contributes toward Measure I’s revenue earnings. The Expenditure Plan included in Measure I commits to extending light rail to the Montclair Transit Center, which is designated by state law (AB 1600) as the A Line’s eastern terminus. We have all made the investment into the arrival of Metro’s A Line in Montclair. This publication reviews the history of this development as well as the vibrant importance of both the A Line in our region and rail transportation throughout California. We invite you on this journey with us!
Edward C. Starr City Manager City of Montclair
Civic Publications, Inc. | 17
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