The expenditure plan and its reauthorization beyond the current expiration in 2008 was approved in March by the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, which administers Measure A. As required by law, the plan was subsequently approved by the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission and by all 20 cities in the county.

Tuesday's unanimous vote by the supervisors was the final step in the process of putting the extension of Measure A for an additional 25 years on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Noting the more than year-long process that led to the creation of the expenditure plan, Board of Supervisors President and TA Board Chair Mark Church said the result is "a well thought-out, comprehensive plan that will meet our transportation needs for years to come."

Voters will be asked to approve an extension of the half-cent sales tax which they had approved in 1988 for a 20-year term. It is projected that Measure A will generate more than $1 billion, enabling the county to capture an additional $1.2 billion in state and federal funding for projects in the county, including transit, local streets, paratransit programs and highway programs. Among the current Measure A projects is the construction of six miles auxiliary lanes on U.S. 101 between Belmont and Menlo Park, which are nearing completion.

The seven-member Transportation Authority would continue to administer Measure A if the extension receives the necessary two-thirds margin for passage.

The proposed 25-year sales tax is projected to bring in $1.5 billion between 2009 and 2034. The additional five years will give the Transportation Authority more time and funding to allocate to critical needs, among them a proposed 22.5 percent allocation to local street and road repairs.

This is an increase over the current plan's 20 percent allocation, which is projected to provide more than $200 million to local agencies.

The plan's objectives are to target key, congested corridors for highway and transit improvements; continue to improve connections with regional transportation facilities; enhance safety in all aspects of the transportation system; and meet local mobility needs, especially those of people with disabilities.

Funding would be allowed among six program categories:

• transit will receive 30 percent of the funds
• highways will receive 27.5 percent
• local share will receive 22.5 percent
• grade separations will receive 15 percent
• pedestrian and bicycle improvements will receive three percent
• alternative congestion relief programs will receive one percent.