(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) - Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced today that her bill to offer regional funding for public transit, open space acquisition and management, water quality improvements, and shoreline preservation has been signed into law by the governor.

“This law will allow the public to decide which ‘quality of life’ projects should be placed before the voters, whether it is strengthening the bus and trolley system, keeping sand on our beaches, or improving the water quality of local rivers, beaches and bays,” said Kehoe.

The original TransNet half-cent sales tax, passed by voters in 1987, has brought transportation improvements to the region, including the trolley, Coaster, extensions of SR125, SR52, SR56, bicycle projects, and local street and road improvements.

Under existing law, SANDAG is already authorized to place an additional half-cent sales tax proposal before the voters. If approved by at least two-thirds of the voters, the additional revenues would generate an estimated $240 million per year. The earliest voters could approve such a measure is November 2010.

SANDAG will launch an extensive outreach process over the next several months to gather public input.

To view the text of the law (Senate Bill 1685), visit www.senate.ca.gov  and click on “legislation.”