Measure Impact – $240 Million in Dollars Well Spent
May 10, 2024
The $240 million a year generated by Measure I buys a whole lot more than the concrete, asphalt and steel needed to keep San Bernardino County’s transportation infrastructure in good working order.
Connectivity. Access. Opportunity. That’s what the voter-approved half-cent sales tax is really buying, and it’s a big reason why California’s fastest-growing population center is also becoming the state’s most dynamic economic hub.
New projections from the state show San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire growing by 20-25% in the next quarter century. Much of that is coming from coastal counties such as Los Angeles, which is projected to actually lose population. Meanwhile, a recent analysis by the Orange County Register shows the Inland Empire leading the state in job growth since the beginning of the pandemic.
There are plenty of reasons for that – quality of life, affordability and business attractiveness, to name a few. Just as important, however, is a transportation network that works.
That’s where Measure I comes into play. In addition to state and federal dollars that help fund transportation improvements and high-quality transit service, Measure I generates nearly a quarter-billion dollars each year to improve local streets, address freeway needs, keep our bridges and overpasses safe, and support critical transit projects.
In doing so, Measure I goes a long way toward connecting the nation’s largest geographic county, reducing commute times and closing the live-work gap, and creating new opportunities for businesses and employees. A safe, efficient transportation network unites communities, is a major driver of upward mobility and economic prosperity, and enhances quality of life.
“In many ways, Measure I has been one of the more significant investments in our county’s present and future. The fact that voters saw that in 1989 and again in 2004 is really remarkable. As a result of their foresight, we can keep up with the growth that’s occurring and safeguard a way of life we all cherish,” said Dawn Rowe, President of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Chair of the County Board of Supervisors.
