Half Moon Bay Measure Requiring Future Votes for Bridge Plan Passes

By Bay City News Service:    

Half Moon Bay voters rejected Tuesday a plan put forward by the city for the 113-year-old Main Street Bridge in favor of another plan that would require voter approval for any closure or demolition of the bridge, according to unofficial election results.

 The bridge connects downtown Half Moon Bay with state Highway 92, but has received a Caltrans bridge safety rating of 24 on a scale of 1-100 in 2009, 2011 and 2013.

[RELATED:  Letter to Editor: Facts on Measures E, F; Both Regarding HMB Bridge, and Both On June Ballot]

 It has been found functionally deficient because it is too narrow, with no shoulders or bike lanes and vehicle lanes that are too slight for modern vehicles and is structurally deficient because of large cracks, corroded brackets and separated cement.

 The initiative passed with support of 64.4 percent of voters. Measure F will restrict the city's ability to amend its Local Coastal Program through the state Coastal Commission and prohibits the demolition or physical expansion of the bridge unless voters approve such action in another, future ballot measure.

It would require a majority vote of the citizens in a regular election before the bridge could be expanded or demolished, according to supporters.

[RELATED: June Ballot Measures Have Residents Standing On Opposite Sides Of Main Street Bridge]

Measure F also requires the Half Moon Bay City Council submit the ordinance to the California Coastal Commission, which would have to sign off on any amendment or repeal the ordinance.

Elsewhere in San Mateo County, Supervisors Carole Groom and Don Horsley both defended their seats from challengers by large margins -- Groom with 75.8 percent and Horsley with 78.5 percent.

San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault and Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder Mark Church each won re-election in landslide victories, while Sheriff Greg Munks ran unopposed and netted 100 percent of the vote.

Voters throughout the county approved school funding measures for school districts in Sequoia Union High, Cabrillo Unified, Bayshore Elementary and Woodside Elementary school districts.

A measure that would authorize $300 million in bonds for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, which voters also considered in Santa Clara County, was too close to call early Wednesday morning.

The measure would improve hiking and biking opportunities, protect and preserve redwood forests, coastline and wildlife habitat, protect water quality in creeks and reduce fire risk.