Sacramento Transportation Authority: Measure A and Regional Transportation Funding

The Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) administers Measure A, the half-cent sales tax that funds transportation projects across Sacramento County. This page explains what the STA is, how Measure A revenue is collected and allocated, the types of projects and programs it finances, and where its authority ends relative to other regional bodies. Understanding this funding framework is essential for tracking how roads, transit, and active transportation infrastructure in Sacramento County get built and maintained.

Definition and scope

The Sacramento Transportation Authority is an independent public agency established under California's Transportation Development Act and authorized by Sacramento County voters. Its primary mandate is to administer the voter-approved Measure A sales tax, which imposes a half-cent transaction and use tax on retail sales within Sacramento County (Sacramento Transportation Authority, Measure A Expenditure Plan). The STA does not operate transit service directly — that function belongs to the Sacramento Regional Transit District — and it does not own or maintain roads, which falls to Caltrans, Sacramento County Department of Transportation, and individual city public works departments.

Measure A was first approved by Sacramento County voters in 1988 and renewed in 2004 for a 30-year extension through 2039. The renewal authorization required approval by two-thirds of Sacramento County voters, consistent with California constitutional requirements for special-purpose transportation tax measures. Annual revenue from the half-cent tax is estimated to generate more than $120 million per year at current levels, with total projected collections over the life of the 2004 measure exceeding $3.5 billion (STA Measure A Renewal Expenditure Plan, 2004).

Scope limitations: The STA's taxing authority and expenditure plan apply exclusively within Sacramento County boundaries. Projects or transit services in Placer County, El Dorado County, Yolo County, or other adjacent jurisdictions are not covered by Measure A, even when those services connect to Sacramento County. Regional planning that spans multiple counties falls under the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, which operates separately from the STA.

How it works

The STA collects the half-cent sales tax through the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), which remits proceeds monthly to the STA. The agency then distributes funds according to the Measure A Expenditure Plan — a legally binding allocation framework approved by voters and embedded in the ordinance that enacted the tax.

The 2004 Measure A Expenditure Plan divides funding across four primary categories:

1. Local streets and roads — 30 percent of net revenues distributed by formula to Sacramento County and its incorporated cities (Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Roseville, Galt, Isleton) for road repair, maintenance, and construction.
2. Transit operations and capital — 41 percent directed to SacRT and rural transit providers for bus, light rail, and paratransit services.
3. Commuter assistance and rideshare — a defined portion allocated to programs reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips.
4. Major transportation corridors — funding for highway interchange improvements, freeway projects, and regionally significant road widening on corridors identified in the Expenditure Plan.

Local jurisdictions receiving local streets and roads funds must submit annual project lists to the STA and certify that Measure A dollars supplement — rather than replace — existing transportation spending. This maintenance-of-effort requirement is enforced through STA's audit and compliance process.

The STA board is composed of elected officials drawn from Sacramento County and the incorporated cities within it, weighted by population. This structure contrasts with SacRT's board, which includes both elected city representatives and county supervisors but is governed under a separate joint powers agreement.

Common scenarios

Road repair allocation: A city like Elk Grove or Citrus Heights receives its annual Measure A local streets and roads apportionment based on a combination of lane-miles and population. The city submits a list of qualifying projects — pothole repair, signal upgrades, ADA ramp retrofits — and draws down funds on a reimbursement basis after STA staff verify eligibility.

Transit capital grants: SacRT applies to the STA for capital project funding, such as light rail vehicle replacement or station rehabilitation. The STA evaluates the request against the Expenditure Plan's transit capital provisions and the agency's long-range programming priorities before approving an allocation. SacRT then procures the project independently.

Freeway interchange improvements: Caltrans and Sacramento County may jointly request Measure A corridor funds for a highway project identified in the Expenditure Plan. The STA acts as the funding conduit, programming the dollars through the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) managed by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, which must approve the programming before state or federal matching funds can be applied.

Rural and paratransit services: Smaller communities in unincorporated Sacramento County, particularly in the rural eastern portions, receive transit service through providers funded under Measure A's rural transit component. These services are distinct from SacRT's urban and suburban network.

Decision boundaries

Understanding what the STA decides — and what it does not — prevents confusion when tracking transportation projects across the region.

STA decides:
- How to program Measure A revenue consistent with the voter-approved Expenditure Plan
- Whether a local jurisdiction's annual project list meets eligibility requirements
- Whether to amend the Strategic Plan or seek voter reauthorization for the tax beyond 2039
- Compliance findings when a recipient agency fails its maintenance-of-effort certification

STA does not decide:
- Which specific road projects a city or county selects from its local allocation — that is the recipient agency's discretion
- Transit route design, frequency, or fares — SacRT governs those operational decisions
- Regional transportation priorities across county lines — the Sacramento Area Council of Governments holds that authority through the Metropolitan Transportation Plan
- State highway design standards or right-of-way acquisition — those remain with Caltrans

The STA's role is also distinct from Sacramento County's own budget process. General fund transportation spending, development impact fees, and federal highway formula funds flow through separate channels from Measure A. The Sacramento County budget process governs appropriations from the general fund, while Measure A proceeds flow through the STA's dedicated account and cannot be redirected to non-transportation purposes.

For broader context on how transportation funding fits within Sacramento's regional governance structure, the home index provides orientation to the full scope of public agencies and accountability mechanisms active in the Sacramento metro area.

References

• Sacramento Transportation Authority — Measure A
• Sacramento Transportation Authority — Official Agency Site
• California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
• Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) — Metropolitan Transportation Plan
• California Legislative Information — Transportation Development Act
• Federal Highway Administration — Transportation Improvement Program