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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: March 18, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Department: City Manager’s Office
Subject: Adopt A Resolution Approving the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) Measure I 3.0
Continuation Expenditure Plan (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2026-019 approving the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) Measure I 3.0 Continuation Expenditure Plan.
City Manager's Comments
The City Manager recommends approval. This is an important measure and tax that benefits the City in continuing its momentum in streets improvement projects and other improving other transportation needs.
Executive Summary
The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is seeking to place a Measure on the November 3, 2026, ballot to continue the existence of the one-half of one percent (0.5%) transactions and use tax, known as Measure I. To qualify for the ballot under California Public Utilities Code 180206, the proposed Expenditure Plan must be approved by the County Board of Supervisors and a majority of the cities representing a majority of the population residing in incorporated areas.
Measure I 3.0 represents a strategic shift from previous plans (Measure I 2.0) by removing the 2040 sunset date, allowing the tax to continue until ended by voters, and consolidating funding into three core categories: Local Mobility (25%), Regional Mobility (50%), and Operations (25%).
Approval of this item does not enact the tax; rather, it authorizes the placement of the measure on the ballot to let voters decide on the permanent extension of this critical transportation funding source.
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Background
Measure I, originally passed by voters in 1989 and renewed in 2004, is a critical foundation of transportation funding in San Bernardino County. Over its lifespan, it has leveraged a significant amount of state and federal funds for the region. The current measure (Measure I 2.0) expires on April 1, 2040, and to ensure long-term stability for multi-decade projects SBCTA has developed a Continuation Expenditure Plan.
The Measure I 2.0 expenditure plan divides funding into specific categories to prevent the commingling of funds:
Local Streets & Roads: Flexible “pass through” funds sent directly to the City for local paving.
Regional Arterials: Funds for major thoroughfares like Highland Ave and 9th Street.
Freeways & Interchanges: Targeted at congestion relief on the I-10 and I-15 corridors.
Specialized Transit: Dedicated funding for senior and disabled transit services.
City of San Bernardino Utilization of Measure I Funds
Measure I has been instrumental to the City of San Bernardino’s ability to complete major transportation infrastructure projects, including:
The Metrolink/Arrow Rail expansion
The Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge reconstruction
State Highway CA-210 Interchange Improvements at Waterman Avenue State HWY I-215 and University Parkway Interchange Improvements In addition to funding for major infrastructure projects, Annual Local Pass-Through funding is provided to the City by Measure I, which is utilized to addresses critical transportation needs of the community. The City has several ongoing projects and programs that utilize this funding, including:
Pavement Management Plan:
oCitywide street inventory, condition assessment, and prioritization program.
Citywide Pavement Rehabilitation:
oRoadway reconstruction, including curb ramps and sidewalks Citywide Pavement Rejuvenation:
oSlurry seals and minor repairs
SB County Joint Rehabilitation Projects at Various Locations Street Improvements at 50 Locations
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Distinction from Other Funding: It is important to note that Measure I is separate and distinct from other revenue sources:
Versus SB1 (Gas Tax): Unlike the state gas tax, Measure I is locally controlled and cannot be diverted by the State Legislature. Versus General Fund: Measure I is legally restricted to transportation. It cannot be used for general city operations, ensuring accountability to the voters.
Versus Federal Grants: These funds serve as the "local match" required to win competitive federal infrastructure grants.
The Measure I 3.0 Continuation Expenditure Plan proposes a restructure of how countywide Measure I and San Bernardino Valley Subarea funds are categorized and prioritized, compared to the current Measure I 2.0 (2010–2040) plan.
Discussion
The proposed Measure I 3.0 Continuation Expenditure Plan (Exhibit A) establishes the framework for the administration and distribution of an estimated $7.5 billion in new transportation revenue over the first 30 years. The plan is designed to be a permanent funding source, providing long-term fiscal stability for transportation infrastructure needs throughout the county. The plan has several key elements which are outlined below:
Return To Source: This section of the plan represents an overarching “fairness” rule that mandates revenues generated from each specified subarea within San Bernardino County must be expended on projects of direct benefit to that subarea after deduction of required CDTFA fees, funds dedicated for the Interregional Mobility Expenditure Plan, and authorized administrative costs.
Decisions on how revenues for certain project categories are expended within the Subareas will be made by the Board of Directors, based upon recommendation of local representatives.
The Interregional Mobility Expenditure Plan: Where “Return to Source” ensures local control, the Interregional Mobility Expenditure Plan addresses infrastructure that crosses subarea boundaries or connects San Bernardino County to the broader state transportation network. Three (3) percent (%) of the revenue generated across all San Bernardino County subareas will be reserved in advance of all other Measure I allocations specifically for the Interregional Mobility Expenditure Plan.
The fund will provide resources for the planning and implementation of projects and programs that provide critical infrastructure to communities impacted by regional motorist, tourism, interregional travel, and goods movement and support evacuation planning, bolster emergency response capabilities, improve primary evacuation routes, and fund transit-related evacuation needs.
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In addition, the funding will be utilized to address unexpected infrastructure damage resulting from natural or human-caused disasters, ensuring rapid recovery and the restoration of essential interregional mobility.
While the two policies above apply county-wide, their impact is most significant in the San Bernardino Valley Subarea, where high-density population and commerce demand a complex balance of local and interregional funding.
San Bernardino Valley Area: The San Bernardino Valley Subarea will include the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Upland and Yucaipa and unincorporated areas in the east and west portions of the San Bernardino valley urbanized area.
San Bernardino Valley Subarea Expenditure Plan: This specific element of the overall Measure I 3.0 plan categorizes Measure I funding to three (3) primary "buckets" to simplify regional delivery and ensure long-term sustainability. It is important to note that a proportional share of projected state and federal transportation funds shall be reserved for use solely within the Valley Subarea:
Local Mobility (25%): These funds are flexible "pass-through" funds sent directly to the City on a per-capita basis primarily for localized transportation projects within the city:
oCore Focus: Maintenance and repair of existing infrastructure such as potholes, local street widening/rehabilitation, sidewalks, bike lanes, streetlights, and quiet zones.
oRequirement: Jurisdictions must adopt a Five-Year Plan to receive these funds.
oActive Transportation: Measure I 3.0 requires jurisdictions to reserve a minimum 5% investment in active transportation projects while providing long-term flexibility for the City to redirect funds after 10 years if those needs are met.
oKey Change from Measure I 2.0: +5% Increase for local road repair, potholes, and sidewalks.
Regional Mobility (50%): Measure I 3.0 consolidates previously separate capital programs for highways, interchanges, and rail into one large category focusing on goods movement, transit, managed lanes, congestion management, and emerging transportation technologies to enhance regional movement and include:
oManagement: Controlled by the SBCTA Board to ensure regional coordination, rather than individual city-by-city projects 3 2
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oGeography: Projects must be equitably distributed across the Valley over the life of the program to ensure every city sees its fair share of major investment.
oCore Categories: Highway improvements, bus and passenger rail (capital and rehabilitation), corridors, interchanges, environmental mitigation, traffic management systems (freeway service patrol and air quality strategies), planning and project development, and emerging transportation technology.
oKey Changes:
Measure I 2.0: 70% of funds are spread across several different funding buckets (Major Streets, Freeways & Interchanges, Passenger Rail, Express Bus, Traffic Management) with various percentage allocations. Projects often stall due to a lack of funding within a specific silo.
Measure I 3.0: Consolidates several Measure I 2.0 funding buckets into one "Power Bucket" (50%). By narrowing the focus, the plan can fully fund fewer, higher impact “Mega-Projects” more efficiently. This allows City’s to use its increased Local Mobility (25%) funds on neighborhood streets, potholes, and sidewalks without waiting for a freeway project to finish first. Operations (25%): A new dedicated fund to sustain the daily costs of providing mobility services:
oCore Focus: Specialized transit (senior and disabled services), as well as the ongoing operation of bus and rail systems, first/last-mile connections, and safety support functions.
oKey Change from Measure I 2.0: +15% Creation of a dedicated, permanent fund for daily service delivery.
The City of San Bernardino’s approval is a critical step in the approval requirements of California Public Utilities Code section 180206. For the measure to move to the ballot, it must be supported by the County Board of Supervisors and a majority of the cities representing a majority of the population residing in incorporated areas. As one of the largest cities in the county, San Bernardino’s endorsement is a primary factor in meeting the population threshold.
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
Approval of the continuation plan aligns with Key Strategic Goal 3: Improved Quality of Life - Constantly evaluate public safety service delivery models to enhance the quality of service.
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Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2026-019 approving the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) Measure I 3.0 Continuation Expenditure Plan.
Attachments
Attachment 1 Resolution No. 2026-019; Measure I 3.0 Continuation Expenditure Plan
Attachment 2 Measure I 3.0 Continuation Expenditure Plan (Exhibits A-C) Ward: All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
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CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager