Panel resolved to renew road tax

Fresno County seeks to extend Measure C before its expiration.

By Donald E. Coleman / The Fresno Bee

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Two dozen people have been appointed to a Fresno County committee with a resolve of getting the county's half-cent Measure C transportation sales tax renewed.

"It's a matter of safety," said Fresno County Supervisor Phil Larson, sitting in for colleague Susan B. Anderson. "In the county we have a lot of roads to fix, a lot of potholes to fix. The immediate benefit will be seen."

Fresno County is responsible for 3,616 miles of roads, the most of any of the state's counties, excluding state highways, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Measure C, passed by voters in 1986 for a 20-year term, expires in 2007. During its life, it has generated $1billion and created more than 14,000 jobs, said some committee members.

Those members also said extending the measure creates the potential for an additional $2.3 billion and up to 30,000 jobs over the next three decades. "Measure C has been about promises made and promises kept," said Clovis City Council Member Harry Armstrong, a member of the Fresno County Transportation Authority.

Measure C funded 1,157 miles of improvements to local streets and highways, 12 miles of Freeway 168, 17 miles of Freeway 41 and 30 miles of Freeway 180.

In addition, 23 miles of Academy Avenue are being widened and bike lanes are being built throughout the county.

Members of the Measure C Extension Steering Committee and its affiliated organizations include:

Ed Eames, Americans with Disabilities/Senior Citizens; Keith Nilmeier, agriculture; Jeff Roberts, Building Industry Association; Debbie Hunsaker, Chamber of Commerce; Gordon Webster, Chamber of Commerce;

Lynne Ashbeck, city of Clovis; Henry T. Perea, city of Fresno; Nick Paladino, Coalition for Livable Fresno County Communities; Myrna Martinez Nateras, Council of Fresno County Governments environmental justice committee; Susan B. Anderson, Fresno County; Mike Montelongo, east of Highway 99 cities in Fresno County; Keith Bergthold, faith-based organizations; Dennis Manning, Fresno Area Residents for Rail Consolidation; Deborah Nankivell, Fresno Business Council; Harry Armstrong, Fresno County Transportation Authority; Randy Ghan, labor;

Mary Savala, League of Women Voters; Bob Duerksen, medical community; Kevin Hall, Sierra Club, Tehipite Chapter; Kirk Hunter, Southwest Transportation Authority;

Mark Keppler, trails/education; Jim Ganduglia, trucking industry; Jeff Reid, Valley Taxpayers Association; Trinidad Rodriguez, west of Highway 99 cities in Fresno County.

The reporter can be reached at dcoleman@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6360.