Readers of our posts are no doubt aware that we frequently speak of the need for listening behavior on the part of our leaders. We hope you also know about our mobility pages, wherein we discuss the challenges of getting around in our community. Mobility involves going from place to place, from points of origin to destinations.  And it requires investments in infrastructure. Funding for various transportation projects that seek to maintain and improve our roadways, along with the infrastructure needed for other modes of transportation to be functional, comes from federal and state funds that are distributed by SACOG, the state's designated regional planning entity for our metro area. Additional funds can come from local funds such as extra sales taxes and mitigation fees.

In 1998 Measure A was approved by voters. It added a 1/2 cent sales tax for transportation projects, allowed for mitigation fees from new developments, and established the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) to administer the projects. Measure A's 1/2 cent sales tax has since been extended to 2039. Measure A money is distrubuted for a variety of projects. Among them is a project along Arden Way west of Watt to widen the sidewalks and provide for some kind of grade-separated bikeway. Anyone who has traveled on Arden between Watt and Morse lately has seen that project's first phase in construction. The project will eventually extend to Ethan. STA is now legitimately concerned that, without voter approval, the funding pipeline is about to run dry. In addition, the mitigation fees, though modest at $1,000 per single-family house, are at risk because the Legislature is concerned that such fees have contributed to the state's housing shortage.

So the STA has embarked on a "listening tour" to get opinions about modes of transportation and their funding. We don't know if the "listening" will be fake - as would be the case if STA was just interested in a money grab - or genuine. The latter is possible, but is not part of our normal lived experience. STA says the meeting on June 8th is about learning our community's transportation priorities. It is a rare occasion when our community is blessed with an appearance by STA (or anyone else) in which they ask for our opinions. We are inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume the "listening" will be real - at least for this time. We encourage our readers to attend as well and to speak their minds. The meeting will be held from 5:30-6:30pm at the Swanston Community Center, 2350 Northrop Avenue in Arden Arcade. STA would like the public to RSVP for the meeting, which you can do at tinyurl.com/STAArden.