11/02/2011: Statement of solidarity from the employees of TransForm

A message of SOLIDARITY from the windows of TransForm's office and a warm welcome to the 99% from the windows of the Movement Strategy Center.

We, the undersigned employees of TransForm, stand together in solidarity with Occupy Oakland and the national Occupy Wall Street movement. Why?

     Because the Occupy Movement in Oakland and across the country represents deep frustration and anger over increasing inequality; and

     Because as advocates for world-class transit and walkable communities, we deeply value social justice as a fundamental priority guiding our work; and

     Because we see this inequality in the crumbling infrastructure in our neighborhoods, cuts to our public transportation, and widespread difficulty finding affordable homes; and

     Because we need good jobs, quality education, accessible health care, clean air, and affordable homes in great communities linked by world-class public transportation and safe places to walk and bike; and 

     Because as advocates, we have seen first-hand the ways industry groups and corporations can disproportionately sway public decision-making to benefit their bottom line to the detriment of the 99%; and

     Because we recognize the long-intertwined history of transportation and social and economic justice, from the buy-out of streetcar trolleys by the auto, oil and tire industries in the mid 20th century, to the Montgomery, AL bus boycotts that advanced the civil rights movement, to the “white flight” and racial and class segregation enabled by the National Highway System, to the preferential underwriting of car-dependent housing by financial institutions; and

     Because our current transportation system requires our lowest-income households to spend twice as much on transportation as the highest-income households, as a percentage of income; and

     Because people who walk represent nearly 12% of traffic fatalities while less than 1% of federal transportation funding is allocated to creating safe places to walk; and

     Because the social and health impacts of our transportation system, including air pollution, climate change, unsafe neighborhoods, and disconnected communities, are disproportionately borne by low income people and people of color; and

     Because on October 28, 50 Occupy San Diego protesters were arrested and their belongings confiscated illegally just hours before a planned demonstration against the adoption of a regional transportation plan that prioritizes highway projects over public transit during the next decade; and

     Because we reject the criminalization of walking such as recent arrests in San Francisco for “suspicion of being a pedestrian in a roadway” and the trial and conviction of Georgia mother Raquel Nelson after a hit-and-run driver killed her child as they crossed a street that lacked sufficient crosswalks; and

     Because we treasure our inalienable rights to free speech and peaceful assembly, and have witnessed the peaceful movement of Occupy Oakland from our offices across the street;

     Because we welcome the use of our public spaces to support civic participation with the goal of having our cities and our society better meet the needs of all people, beginning with those who are the most disadvantaged, such as the homeless; and

     Because we applaud the efforts of Occupy Oakland to make decisions via a highly inclusive consensus-based process, translate General Assembly meetings into multiple languages, and take other steps toward the kind of broad participatory decision-making for which we have long advocated in public policy agencies.

     For these reasons, we stand in solidarity as part of the 99% to ensure a powerful and non-violent movement for economic justice is heard, and to support the transformation of society that is required to answer the call.

Signed,

Aiyana Knowles
Alissa Kronovet
Ana Lua Fontes
Ann Cheng
Autumn Bernstein
Camille Guiriba
Carey Knecht
Carrie Harvilla
Catherine Cecchi
Chanell Fletcher
Chris Lepe
Graham Brownstein
Jeff Hobson
Jessica Lewis
Joel Ramos
John Knox White
Manolo González-Estay
Marta Lindsey
Nora Cody
Rachel Davidman
Sandra Padilla
Sara Marcellino
Sara Posnik
Seth Goddard
Shannon Tracey
Stuart Cohen
Susan Nguyen
Tamira Jones
Terry Farias

10/29/2011: Statement of Solidarity with Occupy Oakland/Wall Street

From our offices across the street (tall building on left in background), we have seen first-hand the peaceful movement of Occupy Oakland. (photo: j_sight/yfrog)
 

As an organization that deeply values social justice, TransForm stands in solidarity with those who speak out against inequality and organize for change.

The Occupy Movement in Oakland and across the country represents deep frustration and anger over increasing inequality.  We see this inequality in the crumbling infrastructure in our neighborhoods and cuts to our public transportation.

We need good jobs, quality education, accessible health care, clean air, and affordable homes in great communities linked by world-class public transportation.  We need to transform our society.

As an organization that works for change, we treasure our inalienable rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. From our offices across the street, we have seen first-hand the peaceful movement of Occupy Oakland.   We were outraged by the police violence used on non-violent protesters this week and believe the 99% must be allowed to assemble.  

We must stand together to ensure a powerful movement for economic justice is heard.

In solidarity,

Stuart Cohen, Executive Director
Jeff Hobson, Deputy Director

10/27/2011: New Report Says $142 Billion Needed to Fix and Maintain California's Public Transportation Over Next Ten Years

For Immediate Release

October 27, 2011

CONTACT: Graham Brownstein, State Policy Director, TransForm
O: 916-441-0204, x302 / C: 916-478-1088 / E: Graham@TransFormCA.org

Huge shortfalls for transportation needs across California 

TransForm calls on State to index gas tax to stop the bleeding

The California Transportation Commission just releaseda Statewide Transportation Needs Assessment and the findings are sobering, if not frightening.  The cost of fixing and maintaining the state's crumbling roads, highways, bridges, public transit infrastructure, airports, seaports, railways, and border crossings are $341 billion for the next decade.  Yet there is only $147 billion in projected revenue for these purposes – less than half of the need.  

 "When you look at the assessment, one thing is clear," says Stuart Cohen, executive director of TransForm.  "Public transportation has the greatest needs of all."  Public transportation is listed as needing a whopping $142 billion in repairs and maintenance over the next 10 years.  But this is due in great part to billions of public transportation dollars being redirected for the General Fund over the past decade.

"The state has bled our public transportation dry directly through revenue raids and indirectly by letting inflation eat away at revenues," says Cohen.  "Public transportation riders have been paying the price with higher fares and less service.  It's time for California to make funding transit a priority."

But how will we pay for public transportation, as well as other transportation needs like our crumbling bridges?  One of the easiest solutions would be for California to index the state gas tax.  Because the state gas tax has never been indexed to inflation, the value of the gas tax in real dollars (i.e., what we can afford to buy with the revenues generated by the tax) decreases every year.  

Indexing the gas tax to keep pace with inflation would have a tiny, almost unnoticeable impact on prices at the pump (just over one penny per gallon next year).  Over time this would provide billions per year that would otherwise be lost to inflation. This won't fully fix the problem, but it is a critical and necessary for stopping the bleeding. 

"While there is no silver bullet for all of our transportation needs," noted Move LA Executive Director Denny Zane. "Indexing the gas tax is a critical starting point to long-term overall system viability.  And it will support regional efforts such as the 30/10 campaign to deliver great public transportation in just 10 years in LA County."  

Public transportation ridership is growing consistently across the state, yet the quality and availability of buses, trains, and ferries worsens daily.  Ensuring that people have travel options and can avoid driving solo on congested roads can save families up to $5,450 per year in transportation costs, and cut air pollution by 42%.  

Spending on transit also creates and sustains good local jobs and a healthy economy.  Reports show that every dollar spent on public transportation supports between 1.6 and 2.5 times the number of jobs that a dollar spent on highways supports.  Maintaining and increasing our public transportation options is central to California meeting greenhouse gas emissions targets as well.
 

# # #

TransForm is California's leading public transportation advocacy organization, with offices in Sacramento, Oakland and San Jose.  Learn more at TransFormCA.org and InvestInTransit.org, the website for TransForm's campaign to fix public transportation for all Californians.

The full California Transit Commission Needs Assessment is available at: http://catc.ca.gov/reports/2011Reports/2011_Needs_Assessment_updated.pdf Compose your email here.

10/19/2011: San Francisco Region Second In Nation For Deficient Bridges

Download October 19, 2011 Press Release

Federal Funds Fall Short as Need Increases: San Francisco Region Second In Nation For Deficient Bridges

CONTACT: Shannon Tracey, 510-338-2397 (cell) or shannon@transformca.org

WHAT:
"The Fix We're In For: The State of Our Metro Area Bridges."

WHEN:
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:
San Bruno St at Alameda St, San Francisco Speakers can be made available for additional questions after the press conference

Speaker available for Spanish language interviews if needed

WHO:

• Mayor Ed Lee, City of San Francisco (invited)
• Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, City and County of San Francisco (invited)
• Manolo González-Estay, Transportation Policy Director, TransForm
• Randy Rentschler, Director, Legislation and Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (invited)
• Boe Hayward, Public Policy Consultant, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
• Mike Theriault, Secretary-Treasurer, San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council
• Dennis Meakin, Business Representative, Ironworkers Local 377

VISUALS:

• Prominent leaders from the San Francisco region
• The Highway 101/Bayshore Freeway overpass, the most heavily traveled structurally deficient bridge in San Francisco
• Workers from the Building and Construction Trades in support of transportation investments to create jobs

OVERVIEW:

On the heels of the sudden closure of a major commuting bridge in Louisville, KY, a new report shows that more than 18,000 of the nation's busiest bridges, clustered in the nation's metro areas, are rated as "structurally deficient." The Fix We're In For: The State of Our Metro-Area Bridges, ranks 102 metro areas in three population categories based on the percentage of deficient bridges.

According to a new report from Transportation for America, the San Francisco metro area is second in the nation in percentage of bridges needing repair, for metro areas above 2 million people.

On Wednesday, October 19, Bay Area leaders representing business, labor, and the public will stand together to urge Congress to allocate sufficient funding to fix dangerous bridges to protect public safety and create jobs for Bay Area workers. Every minute, over 10,000 vehicles cross one of the San Francisco metro area's structurally deficient bridges.

Last month, the Governors of Indiana and Kentucky were forced to close the Sherman Minton Bridge in metro Louisville after inspectors found cracks in its structural beams. Here in the Bay Area, the potential stress from earthquakes makes the public safety threat of crumbling bridges even more severe.

Repairing these bridges is also an opportunity to save money and spur economic recovery. Deferring maintenance of bridges and highways can cost three times as much as preventative repairs (1). Repair work on roads and bridges generates 16% more jobs than new bridge and road construction, too (2).

Investing in repair of our bridges and roads can put people to work now, and ensure that our economy keeps moving in years to come. Congress must prioritize repair and maintenance in the next transportation bill, which is currently being drafted by California Senator Barbara Boxer.

6/14/2011: New Report: Skyrocketing Number of Seniors Face Mobility Challenges

Bay Area currently ranked #1 in country for good access, but report shows aging suburban baby boomerscombined with transit cuts can leave many without access. 

Click here for Sacramento press release.  Scroll to the bottom for maps and graphics.

Oakland, California – A new national study ranked the Bay Area as having the best public transportation access for seniors in the country, but found a growing number of Bay Area residents, ages 65 and older, will live in communities where public transportation service is poor or non-existent. The challenges caused as the baby boom generation “ages in place” in the suburbs may be greatly exacerbated as crippling cuts to transit continue to take place.

A growing reliance on transit is already happening, with seniors taking more than 1 billion transit trips for the first time in 2009. Still, the report, Aging in Place, Stuck without Options, shows that in just four years, 62% more seniors in the San Francisco metro area will live with poor transit compared to 2000, versus 56% more for Oakland metro area and 66% more for San Jose metro area.

Bay Area transit agencies face a $17 billion capital deficit and an $8 billion operating deficit over the next 25 years with BART and Muni by far the worst off, according to the Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). If these public transportation systems continue to cut service the number of seniors stranded, especially in the evening and on weekends, may skyrocket.

“The baby boom generation grew up and reared their own children in communities that, for the first time in human history, were built on the assumption that everyone would be able to drive an automobile,” said John Robert Smith, president and CEO of Reconnecting America and co-chair of Transportation for America, the group releasing the study. “What happens when people in this largest generation ever, with the longest predicted lifespan ever, outlive their ability to drive for everything? That’s one of the questions we set out to answer in this report.”

The number of seniors in the Bay Area is expected to increase 35% from 2010 to 2020, according to the US Bureau of Census, much faster than the population as a whole.

“We are lucky that so many Bay Area communities are walkable and were built around streetcars anddowntowns,” said Stuart Cohen, Executive Director of TransForm, a non-profit organization focused on creating world-class public transportation. “But our transit systems are in big trouble financially. If we care about our seniors and their growing numbers and needs, we need to fund our transit systems now and we desperately need Senator Boxer to be a leader on this issue.”

Seniors in the Bay Area will fare much better than those in most other metropolitan areas of their size around the country, Kansas City tops the list for worst access to public transit for metropolitan areas of the same size category. In smaller areas, such as Hamilton, OH, 100% of seniors will live without access to public transportation.

Without access to affordable travel options, seniors age 65 and older who no longer drive make 15% fewer trips to the doctor, 59% fewer trips to shop or eat out, and 65% fewer trips to visit friends and family, than drivers of the same age, research shows. As the cost of owning and fuelling a vehicle rises, many older Americans who can still drive nonetheless will be looking for lower-cost options.

“Older adults rely heavily on public transportation for a greater share of their trips and want to stay in their homes and communities where they are closer to friends, family and vital services,” says Charee Gillins, AssociateState Director of Communications, AARP California. “As the aging population increases, improving access to public transit services is critical. It’s a lifeline for many elderly and low-income Californians who want to remain independent but don’t have a car or are unable to drive.”

Wayne Kirchoffer, a senior who lives near Lake Merritt in Oakland, explains the impacts of those systemwide deficits. “I’ve found that the Bay Area has one of the best transit systems anywhere, but there are cuts in services and increases in rates -- it’s a death spiral,” says Kirchoffer. “They keep forcing people back into their cars, while some people are left with no option at all.”

As Congress prepares this summer to adopt a new, long-term transportation authorization, Aging in Place, Stuck without Options outlines policies to help ensure that older Americans can remain mobile, active and independent:

• Increase funding support for communities looking to improve service such as buses, trains, vanpools, paratransit and ridesharing;
• Ensure that states and regions retain their authority to “flex” a portion of highway funds for transit projects and programs; and
• Include a “complete streets” policy to ensure that streets and intersections around transit stops are safe and inviting for seniors.

The largest share of the Bay Area’s federal flexible funding over the next 3 years is supposed to go for transit rehabilitation -- helping fix our buses, trains and ferries -- but many in congress are calling for these funds to revert to highway-only funds. “The situation is already acute in the Bay Area, with annual transit cuts and growing demand”, said Stuart Cohen, “but now congress is threatening to further slash funding and take away our flexibility to spend it on our greatest needs; more than ever we need Senator Boxer’s leadership as her committee finalizes the six-year transportation bill.” Senator Barbara Boxer chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and is expected to release this bill some time in June.

If seniors had access to better public transit they could save money, according to a report by TransForm.  People who live in areas with the best transit access save an average of $5,200 per year on transportation costs, according to Windfall for All: How Connected, Convenient Neighborhoods Can Protect Our Climate and Safeguard California's Economy.

These savings can be important as aging adults are on a fixed income, says Kirchoffer. “They pay for their food and medicines and get around on public transit,” he says. “If [the public transit system] keeps raising its rates, seniors won’t travel as much as they used to, or they’ll have to cut back on groceries or pills to make their social security check stretch farther.”

To view the full report, click here.

Read quotes from seniors here.

View maps and data for San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento.

Read a fact sheet here.
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3/22/2011: One in Five Bay Area Bridges Deemed Structurally Deficient

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/22/2011

Contact: Seth Goddard, sethg@transformca.org, 415.272.7384 cell, 510.740.3150x310

One in Five Bay Area Bridges Deemed Structurally Deficient
Federal Funds Fall Short as Need Increases

A new report released this morning on the state of California’s bridges is eye opening, especially considering the destruction just witnessed in Japan: one in five Bay Area bridges is structurally deficient.  This figure will continue to rise as an entire generation of bridges approaches their 50-year life expectancy. 

Download "The Fix We're In For: The State of California's Bridges" report.

Structurally deficient bridges are identified by the federal government as high priority for monitoring and repair, because of significant wear and tear or other defects to at least one part of the bridge.  These bridges will continue to deteriorate over time and may be closed or restricted due to safety concerns if the structurally deficiency is not addressed.

In recent years, California has spent all available federal funds for bridge repair, even putting additional flexible funds towards this purpose.  But the need far exceeds available funding.  Federal transportation policy continues to be heavily weighted towards building new roads rather than fixing existing bridges, roads, and public transportation systems.  Congress is currently reviewing these policies with the intention of passing a new federal transportation bill later this year.

“It’s clear: our transportation infrastructure is in crisis,” said Stuart Cohen, TransForm’s executive director.  “The era of building new highways is over.  Federal transportation funding needs to focus on fixing what we already have and then expanding only in ways that reduce our dependence on oil, like better public transportation, biking, and walking options.”

Given the economic crisis and current Congressional budget debates, prioritizing funding for repairs and maintenance first makes good sense.  Deferring maintenance of bridges and highways can cost three times as much as preventative repairs .  Repair work on roads and bridges generates 16% more jobs than new bridge and road construction, too .

"We're leveraging every last dollar that comes into the state to ensure that our bridges are safe, and it's still not enough," said State Senator Mark DeSaulnier, chair of the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee.  "The Bay Area's bridges are a vital part of our transportation network.  We need the federal government to increase investments in repair and maintenance, to keep our citizens safe and to prevent outdated infrastructure from weakening our economy."

“This is the perfect time to invest in our aging infrastructure,” said Assemblymember Nora Campos, who represents eastern San Jose including downtown.   “Given that construction costs are at their lowest levels in recent history, we can save taxpayers real money in the long run by seizing this opportunity now.  This investment will create the jobs we need to put Californians back to work rebuilding our economy.”

The report from Transportation For America, based on analysis of the Federal Highway Administration’s National Bridge Inventory Data, examines the condition of bridges throughout California.  Some key findings include:

The report recommends that the next federal transportation bill increase investments in repair for our bridges and other roadways, in order to ensure that the backlog of maintenance is addressed soon.  With the number of structurally deficient bridges likely to triple by 2050, California won’t be able to keep up without more federal support.

"During the worse economic downturn this nation has seen in 70 years and with the construction industry suffering an unprecedented 30 percent unemployment, bridge maintenance projects are the catalyst that California needs to put people back to work and help jump start the economy," said Joe Cruz, Transportation Policy Director for the California Alliance for Jobs.

#  #  #

12/17/2010: Public transportation riders rejoice as transit tax benefit is extended

For immediate release: December 17, 2010

Contact: Marta Lindsey

The federal benefit that allows employees to deduct up to $230 per month from their paychecks (before taxes) to apply towards public transportation commuting costs was extended for one year as part of the extension of the tax cut bill that President Obama signed today.

Congress increased the amount employees can deduct to $230 last year to match the deduction that car commuters get for parking as part of the stimulus package.  But the $230 transit tax benefit was about to expire. 

“It would have been completely unfair for drivers to continue to enjoy a $230 a month benefit while bus and train riders went back to a pre-tax benefit of just $120 a month,” said Marta Lindsey, Communications Director at TransForm, a nonprofit that advocates for better public transportation.

“No matter what you think of the tax cut bill, we can celebrate the fact that public transportation riders will continue to enjoy the same tax benefit that car drivers do,” said Lindsey.  “This tax benefit helps transit riders cope with rising commuting costs, plus it’s great to have incentives for people to use climate-friendly forms of transportation that reduce congestion and our dependence on oil.”

According to the Washington Times, commuters will save about $1,000 over the year thanks to the benefit.

# # #

12/14/2010: California’s Transportation Policies Threaten Progress on Climate Change

New Report Highlights Opportunities and Shortcomings

Sacramento, CA– A new report ranks California as one of the top three states in the nation in the effort to fight climate change and reduce congestion.  But leading advocacy groups note that huge cuts to public transit threaten these gains and could lead to even more devastating consequences for California communities and the economy.

The report, released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Smart Growth America (SGA), is the latest evidence of the need to align transportation funding with overall climate and air quality policies.  “Getting Back on Track: Climate Change and State Transportation Policy” examined transportation spending decisions and policies in all 50 states to determine what impact these decisions have on transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

With a comprehensive climate bill stalled at the federal level, attention is shifting to the states to make progress toward reducing carbon emissions.  This new report examines what all 50 states are doing to curb emissions caused by transportation.  This is the first report to look at state transportation policy as it affects greenhouse gas emissions and compare performance across all states.

State transportation policy and funding reforms have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also more efficiently meeting the nation’s transport needs.  Few studies have specifically sought to evaluate how states’ transportation policies impact greenhouse gas emissions.  The findings outlined in this new report show the tremendous potential for states to make progress on reducing transportation-related carbon emissions.  The report also recommends ways states can improve their climate performance and transport infrastructure and efficiency.

Innovations leading to more efficient vehicles and new, cleaner fuels could mean large reductions in emissions but a projected 50 percent increase in vehicle miles traveled by the year 2030 will undermine and eventually overwhelm the emissions reductions made possible by technological advances without major investments in real transportation options.  The key to real and sustained emissions reductions is dramatic improvements to transit as well as walking and biking facilities.  The benefits of such comprehensive reforms and new investments would include greenhouse gas reductions as well as an array of cost-savings and environmental returns.

In California, transportation policies and spending decisions are not in line with the state’s bold commitments to reduce the amounts of carbon dioxide and other emissions being pumped into the air.  Adopting transportation strategies that increase investments in transit, road maintenance and walking and biking is what’s needed to achieve greenhouse gas and other air pollution reduction goals while attracting and retaining more businesses in existing communities and creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs.

Smarter transportation investments would also save Californians billions of dollars.  “Residents of California cities who live in neighborhoods with the best access to public transportation drive much less.  This means greatly reduced greenhouse gas and other vehicular emissions as well as billions of dollars in annual transportation savings,” noted Graham Brownstein, State Policy Director with TransForm, the public transportation and smart growth advocacy group.  “But the only way to get the transit we need is to increase investments — and that’s a huge challenge.  The new NRDC and SGA report will perhaps help build momentum for needed reforms.”

In a report last year, “Windfall for All: How Connected, Convenient Neighborhoods Can Protect Our Climate and Safeguard California’s Economy,” TransForm found that if everyone living in a major metropolitan region in California had good access to transit, Californians would save $31 billion each year and emit 34% less greenhouse gases.  In addition to the huge household savings to be reaped by investing in transit and smarter transportation options, overall infrastructure maintenance costs would be greatly reduced over the long-term, saving governmental agencies and taxpayers many additional billions of dollars.  By failing to increase investments in transit — and worse, by drastically cutting transit in recent years — California is working against its own interests and missing key opportunities to save money, rebuild the economy, create jobs, and build the transportation system needed for the next hundred years.

Despite the policy and funding shortfalls in California, the new NRDC/SGA report features California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (Senate Bill 375) as a good model for other states to follow and as a law that holds great promise for framing needed reforms in California.  SB 375 was passed in 2008 and creates incentives for regions to link land use decisions to transportation funding with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“As a state that is trying to head in the right direction with landmark laws such as SB 375, California has the capacity to take the next step and bring a 21^st century transportation system to our state while creating jobs for Californians and cleaning the air,” said Annie Pham, Legislative Aide with Sierra Club California. “It is possible to protect the environment and lower transportation costs for Californians at the same time but policies and funding priorities need to change in order for that to happen.”

Within the framework of this new approach to transportation and land use planning, a number of tools can be employed, including economic cost-benefit analysis tied to performance goals, deployment of intelligent transportation systems, and road pricing.  “None of these tools will work if we fail to adequately invest in transportation options — and that means transit combined with lots more walking and biking,” noted Pham.

California is not alone in needing to improve.  The NRDC/SGA report finds that changes to federal policy are called for as well.  "Better gas mileage and alternative fuels aren’t enough to stop carbon emissions at the rate they’re rising,” said Neha Bhatt, Deputy Policy Director at Smart Growth America. “It’s going to take policy changes at the state and federal levels to achieve the emissions reductions we need.  American households need the option to spend less money to get around, and low-carbon transportation options can help get us there.”

The full SGA/NRDC report, “Getting Back on Track,” is available at www.SmartGrowthAmerica.org

TransForm’s “Windfall for All” report is available here. 

CONTACT:

Alex Goldschmidt, Smart Growth America, 202-207-3355 x112, agoldschmidt@smartgrowthamerica.org

Suzanne Struglinski, NRDC, 202-289-2387, sstruglinski@nrdc.org

Graham Brownstein, TransForm, 916-441-0204 x302, graham@transformca.org

Annie Pham, Sierra Club California, 916-557-1100 x107, annie.pham@sierraclub.org

# # #

Smart Growth America advocates for people who want to live and work in great neighborhoods.  Smart growth solutions support thriving businesses and jobs, provide more options for how people get around, and make it more affordable to live near work and the grocery store.  The Smart Growth America coalition gives communities a fighting chance against sprawl.  Visit SmartGrowthAmerica.org to learn more.

Natural Resources Defense Council works to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.  NRDC combines the grassroots power of 1.3 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals.  Visit NRDC.org for more information.

Sierra Club is California is a non-profit, member-supported environmental organization with 13 chapters and approximately 160,000 members statewide.  The mission of Sierra Club California is to promote the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of California’s environment, and enable chapters and grassroots activists to speak as one voice to promote California conservation.  Visit SierraClubCalifornia.org to learn more.

TransForm promotes world-class public transportation and walkable communities across California.  TransForm builds diverse coalitions, influences policy, and develops innovative programs to improve the lives of all people and protect the environment.  TransForm has helped win billions of dollars and groundbreaking policies in support of public transportation, smart growth, affordable housing and bicycle/pedestrian safety.  Visit TransFormCA.org for more information.

11/30/2010: TransForm Comments on Proposed Congressional Cuts in Commuter Benefits

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Carli Paine, Transportation Program Director
(510) 740-3150 x315
(617) 803-1586 cell

Despite rising fares, transit riders face cut in commuter benefits

Pre-tax transit benefit limit set to drop from $230 to $120 if Congress fails to act

After already absorbing fare increases from nearly every transit agency in the Bay Area, transit commuters now face a cut in pre-tax commuter benefits for their bus, train or ferry ride to work. Transit riders’ pre-tax commuter benefits will be cut nearly in half at the end of 2010 unless Congress extends the increased transit commuter benefit included in the 2009 stimulus bill.

"This bill levels the playing field by supporting all commuters and reducing congestion," says Carli Paine, Transportation Program Director for TransForm. "People who choose to take a bus or train to work should get the same commuter benefits as people who opt to drive."

The commuter benefit currently covers up to $230 per month from a person’s gross income to pay for their public transit commutes, which is an increase from the $120 per month benefit that was in place until 2009. Employees whose monthly public transit costs are less than $230 can deduct their full transit ticket from their paychecks, tax free.

The change could cost transit riders $500 per year in additional taxes starting in 2011, depending on their tax bracket. Employers, too, would face an increase in payroll taxes as up to $1,320 in wages per transit-riding employee shifts from the “pre-tax” to the “taxable income” category. And, transit agencies fear the reversion will cause commuters to switch to driving, reducing farebox revenues at a time when they are struggling with budget shortfalls.

“Extending the commuter benefit is critical”, said San Francisco County Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, who also chairs the Caltrain Board of Directors. “Traffic congestion isn’t just a problem for motorists; it has negative impacts on our air quality, our economy and our overall quality of life. We should be exploring ways to offer greater incentives to promote transit ridership, not taking them away.”

Bay Area commuters who could be impacted include:

• Qiana Cameron, a salesperson at Veritable Vegetable in San Francisco, commutes from Richmond with a combination of AC Transit, BART and Muni at a monthly cost of over $300. Currently she uses the entire pre-tax benefit to assist her with commute costs, but after January 1 only about 40% of her transit costs would be covered.
• Charles Johnson, a systems engineer at SolutionSet in San Francisco, commutes from Alameda on the ferry and/or BART with a monthly cost of $180-$200. Currently he can use the pre-tax benefit for 100% of his commute costs, but after January 1 it would only cover 60-66% of his costs.
• Nick Caston, a senior associate with Barnes, Mosher, Whitehurst, Lauter & Partners in San Francisco, commutes from Santa Rosa with either Golden Gate Transit or ferry at a monthly cost of approximately $200 per month. Currently the pre-tax benefit could cover 100% of his transit commute costs, but after January 1 only 60% of his transit costs would be covered.
• Ellie Casson, a campaign organizer with Greenbelt Alliance in San Jose, commutes from the Mission District in San Francisco on Caltrain at a monthly cost of approximately $215. Currently she can use the pre-tax benefit for 100% of her commute costs, but after January 1 it would only cover 56% of her monthly costs.

Until 2009, commuters who drove to work received a greater tax break than those who took mass transit. In 2009 the discrepancy was corrected by increasing the mass transit benefit from $120 per month to $230 per month, but is set to revert back to $120 on December 31, 2010.

Senator Charles Schumer of NY has introduced the Commuter Benefits Equity Act (S. 322) to make the mass transit benefit permanent, and Senator Barbara Boxer is among the 15 co-sponsors who currently support this legislation. Senator Feinstein has not taken a position on the bill. A companion bill in the House of Representatives, H.R. 891 (McGovern-, has 48 co-sponsors.

Advocates, transit agencies, and businesses are urging passage of the Commuter Benefits Equity Act before the end of the year to ensure the transit commuter benefit is continued. Congress resumed its lame-duck session on Monday, November 29 for the final session of the 111th Congress, the end date of which has yet to be determined.

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9/28/2010: New Study: LA No Longer #1 in Traffic

San Francisco, Sacramento Also Drop in Terms of Congestion

New methods to guage traffic focus on total drive time, not just delay, and show benefit of compact development

Since 1985 the Los Angeles region has held the crown as traffic central, where residents endure unbearably long drive times. San Francisco has been close on its heels.  But a new report drops LA down to #17 and San Francisco to #34.  Who filled these top spots? Nashville and Oklahoma City.

The huge drop is based on a new way of measuring; a method that is being put forward by CEOs for Cities and the Rockefeller Foundation as a smarter way to measure mobility.  The old approach, performed by the Texas Transportation Institute for their Urban Mobility Report (UMR), rated traffic congestion as the proportion of time that people spent stuck in traffic, versus moving without delay. The new measure, instead, focuses on total peak period time that people spend in their cars. 

UMR data has often been used to support decisions to build new roads and to expand roadway capacity.

“What people really care about, and what decision-makers should care about, is how much time we’re spending in our cars. This data shows that when we build more compact communities, where there are transportation choices, and jobs and homes are close together, people spend less time in their cars commuting,” says Carli Paine, TransForm’s transportation program director. “Well-designed urban areas save commuters tremendous amounts of time, which people can spend with their kids, being civically engaged, or any other way they choose.”

Driven Apart’s analysis bumps the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Los Angeles from UMR’s ranks as some of the nation’s most congested regions, and reveals that they actually are places with some of the nation’s shortest commutes:

• San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont slides from UMR’s ranking as fifth most congested commute area to the area with the 34^th longest commute time. At the same time, San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara jumps from UMR’s number 6 spot to number 22 in terms of length of commute. The Bay Area’s work to focus growth with compact land uses and provide transportation choices makes these shorter commutes possible. There’s still room to improve though, with many commuters driving into core Bay Area cities from eastern Alameda and Contra Costa counties and the Central Valley.
• Los Angeles, which for years has topped UMR’s list as the number one most congested urban area, slides down to number 17 in the country in terms of commute time. Los Angeles’ levels of density are supporting the expansion of transportation options from bus rapid transit to new subway lines and bike lanes, so we’re likely to see LA drop even farther down in coming years.
• The Sacramento area goes from position 23 in the UMR analysis to number 48 —one of the best in the country in terms of commute times.

Last week, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted targets for reducing greenhouse gases from driving for each of the state’s major regions as part of implementation of SB 375. The strategies that regions will employ to achieve these targets include making communities more walkable, providing more transportation choices, and locating jobs and homes closer.

“These strategies will push California cities even lower on the list of places with long commutes, and give our cities even higher ratings in quality of life,” says Paine. “After all, if you have a short trip, even if some of it is congested, it is still better than driving 60 miles each way.”

***

About TransForm

TransForm (formerly the Transportation and Land Use Coalition) works to create world-class public transportation and walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond. TransForm builds diverse coalitions, influences policy, and develops innovate programs to improve the lives of all people and protect the environment.

TransForm has offices in Oakland, Sacramento, and San Jose.

For more about TransForm, see: www.TransFormCA.org

9/17/2010: TransForm Comments on I-680/Sunol Express Lane Opening

PRESS RELEASE

Contact
John Knox White

Background
The Bay Area’s very first Express Lane, on I-680 South, will be opening on September 20. Additional Express Lanes are scheduled to open in 2011 on I-580 and Rte 287 , and in the following years on US101 and Rte 85. Currently, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is currently beginning planning on a 460-mile express lane network.

The 2000 report, World Class Transportation for the Bay Area outlined TransForm’s support for well-designed Express Lanes that invest funds generated by the lanes to expand transportation access for low-income individuals, provide greater transportation choices for all travellers in the corridor, and maintain the ability of carpools and buses to avoid congestion. This strategy would enable the Bay Area to squeeze more efficiency out of regional roadways by reducing the need to expand highways at a huge financial and environmental cost. It would also guarantee the highest use of our regional freeway system, while providing an important funding source for regional transit.

TransForm Statements
“Once people start using Express Lanes, they will spread quickly, so we need this first one to be a model for the region” said John Knox White, a Program Director for TransForm, “Being a model means using revenues to give people new transit choices, providing discounted transit to low-income commuters, and promoting more carpooling.”

According to Carli Paine, TransForm’s Transportation Program Director, "If this truly becomes a way to squeeze more efficiency out of our system it could save us billions by reducing the need to expand roads, while funding more transit and carpooling to reduce congestion and air pollution.”

About TransForm
TransForm (formerly the Transportation and Land Use Coalition) works to create world-class public transportation and walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond. TransForm builds diverse coalitions, influences policy, and develops innovate programs to improve the lives of all people and protect the environment.

4/21/2010: TransForm Comments on Bay Area SB 375 Kick-Off

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT Stuart Cohen

Oakland, CA – Tomorrow, Thursday April 22, 2010, leaders from local governments around the Bay Area are coming together to kick-off the Bay Area’s first Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) process. ABAG and MTC have convened the event (http://www.abag.ca.gov/events/ga/).  The SCS process implements California’s landmark law, SB 375, which calls for regions across the state to meet global warming pollution reduction targets through coordinated transportation, land use, and housing plans and investments.

Following are statements from Stuart Cohen, TransForm's Executive Director:

"By reducing public and private transportation costs and increasing revenues to local governments, SB 375 can help put dollars back into the pockets of consumers and local governments.

“Our recent study, Windfall For All: How Connected, Convenient Neighborhoods Can Protect Our Climate And Safeguard California’s Economy, found that Bay Area residents who have access to the best public transportation options are not only emitting far fewer greenhouse gas emissions on average, they are also spending billions less on transportation than residents who live in communities where public transportation is scarce.  We found that if all Bay Area residents lived in transportation-friendly communities, there would be a combined $10.7 billion per year in transportation costs savings for households. And Bay Area residents would be emitting an average of 42 percent less greenhouse gases.

“At this time of urgent budget shortfalls at the local level, elected officials have a huge chance to embrace more efficient development. Sprawling growth connected by billion dollar highways requires taxpayers to spend too much on infrastructure, developers to spend too much on parking, and worst of all, residents to spend nearly 20% of their income to get from place A to place B.”

The report includes Bay Area-specific findings as well as findings from the Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego Regions. It also includes case studies of diverse communities including Windsor and Marin County that are putting smart growth policies into practice, with notable results.

Find the full report at: www.transformca.org/windfall-for-all

TransForm (formerly the Transportation and Land Use Coalition) works to create world-class public transportation and walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond. TransForm builds diverse coalitions, influences policy, and develops innovate programs to improve the lives of all people and protect the environment.

TransForm has offices in Oakland, Sacramento, and San Jose.

For more about TransForm, see: www.TransFormCA.org

3/4/2010: TransForm Comments on State Legislature's Gas Tax Swap

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT Carli Paine OR Stuart Cohen

Sacramento, CA - Today, the California State Legislature adopted two major bills that would restructure the state's transportation financing. AB x8 6 would swap existing sales tax on gasoline for an excise tax and replace the existing excise tax on diesel fuel with a sales tax. AB x8 9 identifies how the revenues from these funds are to be spent. The adopted bills stripped out authority for regions to adopt new local transportation revenue sources with voter approval.

Following are statements from Carli Paine, TransForm's Transportation Program Director:

"We are disappointed with the package, but understand that it represents the best package that legislators were able to develop given the state budget crisis. Together, the bills strip public transportation of potentially billions of dollars of funding that advocates have been fighting to protect, and replace them with limited funding that remains vulnerable to raids. This proposal will result in an annual budget battle to ensure that the funding dedicated to public transit actually gets allocated to our buses, trains, and ferries.

"It is imperative that the State give local agencies the ability to raise new revenues with voter approval. Authority to allow this was a silver lining in an earlier version of this proposal, but has been stripped out. TransForm encourages legislators to fight to give regions the ability to help themselves since the State is clearly not able to provide the extent of support that's needed to keep our buses and trains running and affordable.

"Funding transit isn't just about getting people around; it's a necessary ingredient to energy security, economic vitality, and quality of life."

TransForm works to create world-class public transportation and walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond. For more about TransForm, see: www.TransFormCA.org

 

12/15/2009: MTC Set to Green Light $80 Million Climate Program

PRESS RELEASE

First-in-Country Regional Funds Designated for "Safe Routes to Schools" and Grants for Innovative Parking & Transit Solutions Included

CONTACT Stuart Cohen

Oakland, CA - As negotiations in Copenhagen over a new global climate protocol reach a fevered pitch, the Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is surging ahead with plans to enact a new Transportation Climate Action Program.  MTC will vote Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at a meeting in Oakland to adopt the federally funded program.

Initiatives enacted under the Climate Program will reduce transportation-related emissions and vehicle miles traveled.  One such initiative, the "Safe Routes to Schools" program, will help Bay Area communities develop a safe and suitable environment for children to walk and bike to school.  Proposed by TransForm in 2007, the Climate Program and Safe Routes to Schools would be the first regionally funded programs of their kind.

TransForm's Executive Director, Stuart Cohen, will be available to comment on the new Climate Initiatives Program before or at the MTC meeting.  Cohen is author of the recent study, "Windfall For All: How Connected, Convenient Neighborhoods Can Protect Our Climate And Safeguard California's Economy" (http://transformca.org/windfall-for-all), which concluded that Californians could save $31 billion and cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than one-third by living in smart growth communities.

Who:            
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Stuart Cohen, Executive Director of TransForm

What:           
MTC to Green Light Transportation Climate Action Program

Where:        
Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter
Lawrence D. Dahms Auditorium
101 Eighth Street Oakland, California 94607

When:         
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009 at 1:40 PM

TransForm works to create world-class public transportation and walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond.  We build diverse coalitions, influence policy, and develop innovative programs to improve the lives of all people and protect the environment. http://transformca.org

12/1/2009: TransForm awards first GreenTRIP certification to The Ohlone

PRESS RELEASE

Program recognizes developments with excellent traffic reduction and innovative parking strategies

CONTACT Ann Cheng

Decision makers and prospective neighbors often ask themselves, "How do I know whether a proposed "green" project is truly green when a new development is proposed?"  But they often lack the tools to easily determine whether new smart growth development will actually help future residents drive less.  

That's why TransForm developed the GreenTRIP certification program to recognize developments with excellent Traffic Reduction and Innovative Parking strategies.  GreenTRIP is an objective, third-party program.  Developers can apply to GreenTRIP to have their projects evaluated and certified if they meet GreenTRIP standards.

"With 50% of the Bay Area's greenhouse gases coming from transportation, how people get to and from their new homes is just as important as what those homes are made of," said Ann Cheng of TransForm, who is managing the development of the GreenTRIP program.

The first project to receive a GreenTRIP certification is The Ohlone in San Jose, CA. "We are very pleased that The Ohlone has been selected as a pilot project for GreenTRIP," said Michael Van Every, Project Executive with Green Republic, developers of The Ohlone. "We are trying to do the right thing.  With TransForm's objective GreenTRIP standards, we can demonstrate just how green The Ohlone is from a transportation perspective." 

The GreenTRIP scoring system was developed with guidance from an advisory committee of independent experts.  GreenTRIP certifies projects whose future residents are projected to drive at least 30% less than the Bay Area average and that have exemplary traffic reduction and innovative parking strategies.  According to Kate White, Executive Director of ULI's San Francisco District Chapter and advisory committee member, "TransForm's new GreenTRIP certification program for new development is the next frontier of greenbuilding."

Development in the right places, with appropriate densities and parking, will allow families to drive less.  It will also help reduce freeway congestion that chokes our economy and harms our air quality and public health.  With less driving also come fewer vehicle accidents and more support for local businesses as more people get to transit, work and daily destinations on foot or by bicycle.

One of the reasons why it is so important that the first GreenTRIP project is located in San Jose is explained by TransForm's recently released report, Windfall for All.  The report found that in San Jose families who live near jobs, downtown and transit spend $13,000 less on transportation annually than those living in areas requiring a car for every trip.  GreenTRIP certified projects will directly create savings for families. Overall, Bay Area residents living near transit save $10 billion annually on transportation costs.

TransForm works to create world-class public transportation and walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond.  We build diverse coalitions, influence policy, and develop innovative programs to improve the lives of all people and protect the environment.

For more information see: www.GreenTRIPcertified.org

11/18/2009: Californians Could Save $31 Billion and Cut Emissions by More Than One-Third by Living in Smart Growth Communities

PRESS RELEASE     

Smart, Efficient Growth will Cut Infrastructure Costs, Household Transportation Expenses, Lower Housing Costs & Increase Revenues

CONTACT    Marta Lindsey

While some people are questioning whether California can overcome its dominant car culture in order to meet ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, a new study from TransForm shows that doing so is both the most cost-effective and environmentally sound option.
The study, Windfall For All: How Connected, Convenient Neighborhoods Can Protect Our Climate And Safeguard California's Economy, finds that residents of the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego who have access to the best public transportation options are not only emitting far fewer greenhouse gas emissions on average, they are also spending billions less on transportation than residents who live in communities where public transportation is scarce. In fact, if all of the residents in the four regions studied lived in transportation-friendly communities, Californians would save $31 billion dollars per year on transportation costs and emit an average of 34 percent less greenhouse gases.
"This report provides hard evidence that SB375, California's groundbreaking law to promote more convenient walkable neighborhoods with more transportation choices has the power to act as an economic driver," said Stuart Cohen, Executive Director of TransForm, a nonprofit advocacy group that works for world-class public transportation and walkable communities in California. "By reducing public and private transportation costs and increasing revenues to local governments, SB375 can help put dollars back in the pockets of consumers and local governments."
The economic and environmental benefits are as follows:
THE BAY AREA
One out of five Bay Area households is in a neighborhood with both very good public transportation and moderately compact land uses. These households on average benefit from 39 percent lower annual transportation costs than other households.
If all Bay Area residents lived in areas that boast strong public transit and convenient retail and services, residents would spend $10.7 billion less per year (an average of $5,450 per household) on transportation.  Bay Area households with good access to public transportation emit 42 percent less greenhouse gases.
LOS ANGELES
If all Los Angeles residents lived in transit-friendly communities with good access to jobs, retail and services residents would spend nearly $15.4 billion less per year on transportation costs.
Los Angeles households with good access to public transportation emit 38 percent less greenhouse gases than their auto-dependent neighbors.
SACRAMENTO
If all Sacramento residents lived in transit-friendly communities with good access to jobs and retail, residents would spend nearly $2.25 billion less per year on buying cars and running them.
Sacramento households with good access to public transportation emit 27 percent less greenhouse gases than their auto-dependent neighbors.
SAN DIEGO
If all San Diego residents lived in transit-friendly communities with good access to jobs and retail, residents would spend nearly $2.8 billion less per year on transportation.
San Diego households with good access to public transportation emit 30 percent less greenhouse gases.
Overall, the findings indicate that of the four regions studied, the Bay Area is saving the most on transportation costs due to its smart growth communities, with Los Angeles coming in a close second.
TransForm's report also includes case studies of diverse communities including those in San Jose, Windsor, and Marin County that are putting smart growth policies into practice, with notable results.
"We highlight nine great case studies, from universities, to cities, to whole regions, where Californians are turning the tide on inefficient development and are already realizing incredible economic benefits," says Cohen. "UC San Diego is saving millions per year by giving out transit passes and promoting carpooling instead of building $30 million garages, and this same strategy has the University on its way to meeting incredibly ambitious targets for reducing global warming pollution".
In order to fully realize the environmental and economic benefits of SB 375 identified in Windfall for All, TransForm concludes that we need to shift policies and investments to support smart growth development and public transportation.

TransForm's recommendations include:

• Integrate full economic analysis into planning. The huge dividends from efficient land use become evident once personal costs, not just public budgets, are considered. Without such analysis, we will continue to promote plans and policies that cost too much for families, businesses, and local governments.
• Provide cities and counties with an infusion of funds to engage the community in planning. The state should make funds available for updating zoning codes and parking policies to make more efficient use of land and resources. Identifying strategies to maintain and expand the number of affordable homes is also critical.
• Fund cost-effective public transportation. The state needs to provide leadership and restore funds for public transit, as well as make it easier for regions to raise new revenues with climate-impact fees. Economic analysis could determine whether such fees, if spent in ways that promote more efficient communities, can reduce our overall costs.
• Innovate, evaluate and replicate. There are dozens of innovative strategies - whether an individual program such as car-sharing, or a comprehensive rewards approach such as UC San Diego's. MTC, the Bay Area's transportation agency, will soon launch the first "Transportation Climate Action Program." This program will seed, evaluate and replicate innovative programs. Other regions should follow suit.
• New development should minimize pollution from new residents - or pay to mitigate it. The San Joaquin Valley is encouraging efficient development from the start. New developments that don't provide walkable communities with convenient transportation choices must mitigate the costs of the air pollution that will be generated by future residents. The state and regional air districts should encourage this same system for mitigating the costs of greenhouse gases. 

SB375 requires the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to propose draft emission reduction targets related to planning and transportation for California's 18 metropolitan regions by June 10, 2010. The ARB must adopt final targets by September 30, 2010. Transform is releasing the results of its report November 19, 2009 at the ARB meeting in Sacramento.

11/17/2009: Landmark Smart Growth Program to be Defunded in East Contra Costa County

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT Olivia deBree, Contra Costa Organizer

Contra Costa County, CA - This Wednesday, November 18th, the Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCTA) will consider a Draft Strategic Plan Update to the Measure J Transportation Sales Tax. The Draft calls for indefinitely defunding a landmark smart growth program called Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) in East County. This means local government will not receive the $29 million in funding for bicycle, local transit, and pedestrian facilities that support transit-oriented development.

TransForm is pleased that TRANSPLAN, the East County advisory committee to CCTA, worked with CCTA to ensure that the Draft communicates CCTA's ongoing commitment to making TLC funding a reality. CCTA's job is to ensure that the voters' vision comes to fruition. TransForm and its allies who have long advocated for funding for TLC hope that cost savings, increased sales tax revenue, or other revenue sources emerge so CCTA can follow through on its responsibility to the voters. "I appreciate that the economic recession has created a big dilemma for CCTA and that they are defunding TLC only as a last resort. I hope that more money can be found so that TLC receives full funding," said Tim Donahue, Chair of the Sierra Club's Delta regional group which represents Eastern Contra Costa County.

TransForm expects to work together with CCTA to ensure TLC receives funding as soon as possible so that senior citizens, people with disabilities, youth, and others without cars or with limited incomes who already face incredible transportation obstacles in East County can benefit from TLC's funding.

Many East County residents feel they have long received the short end of the stick when it comes to public transit. Like many East County residents, TransForm is glad to see that eBART is a priority for East County. There is now reason to worry that East County will get the short end of the stick when it comes to smart growth measures. "Fortunately, Central, West, and Southwest Contra Costa will still have TLC and benefit from amenities like bus shelters, bike lanes, walkways, and streetscape improvements that TLC will fund. East County deserves the same quality of life as every other part of Contra Costa County," said Olivia deBree, Contra Costa Organizer with TransForm.

The current economic recession has made it difficult for TLC to become a reality in East County when residents most need it. Transit-oriented solutions like TLC can save East County residents money by making it easier to walk, bike, and take transit. However, TransForm is optimistic that CCTA and TRANSPLAN will pursue and find funds to re-fund TLC and fulfill Contra Costa voters' vision for smart growth throughout the county.

For more information on CCTA's Nov. 18th meeting at 6:00pm at 3478 Buskirk Avenue, Suite 100 in Pleasant Hill: http://www.ccta.net/EN/main/meetings/authorityboard.html

TransForm (formerly known as the Transportation and Land Use Coalition, or TALC) works to create world-class public transportation and walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond. TransForm builds diverse coalitions, influences policy, and develops innovate programs to improve the lives of all people and protect the environment. www.transformca.org

11/09/2009: San Jose Ranked 26th in Nation for Preventable Pedestrian Deaths, Report Shows

Federal Transportation Funding

PRESS RELEASE

TransForm Urges Senator Boxer to Support Increased Focus on Pedestrian Safety in Upcoming Federal Legislation

CONTACT Chris Lepe, Silicon Valley Community Planner

San Jose, CA - The Silicon Valley is among the most dangerous communities in the nation for pedestrians, ranking 26th out of the 52 largest metro areas nationally and 10th in California, a new report shows.

The report, Dangerous by Design: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths (and Making Great Neighborhoods), ranks America's major metropolitan areas and states according to a Pedestrian Danger Index that assesses how safe they are for walking. An update of the 2004 Mean Streets report, Dangerous by Design was released by Transportation for America (T4America.org) and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership.

The report authors note that most pedestrian deaths are preventable, because they occur on streets that are designed to encourage speeding traffic and lack safe sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals and other protections. Fixing these problems is a matter of will on the part of state departments of transportation and local communities, and of shifting spending priorities, the report concludes.

The report also examined how states and localities are spending federal money that could be used to make the most dangerous streets safer, and found that the Silicon Valley is investing more than most California cities, committing on average $2.45 per person annually on bicycle and pedestrian facilities. In contrast, northern Bay Area communities spend only $1.52 per person each year.

"San Jose is making progress to improve pedestrian safety, but more funding is drastically needed," said John Brazil, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the City of San Jose. "Our upcoming pedestrian master plan will be a blueprint for making San Jose's streets safer. Implementing our goals will require support and funding from the national level."

Case Study of San Jose Pedestrian Improvements
In November 2005, a two-year old child was tragically killed when his babysitter and he were crossing active railroad tracks near Blossom Hill Road and Monterey Highway in San Jose. At the time, the nearest official pedestrian crossing was a half mile away.

To address this safety issue, the city of San Jose and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority teamed to design and construct a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the railroad tracks and adjacent Monterey Highway. Identifying funding for a $10.5m project was extremely difficult. In addition to local and regional funds, $2.48m in federal funds were allocated for the project. Design of the bike and pedestrian bridge is now complete, and construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2010.

While walking conditions remain perilous across the country, many communities are working to make their streets safe and welcoming for people on foot or bicycle, the report shows. Communities across the country are beginning to reverse the dangerous legacy of 50 years of anti-pedestrian policies by retrofitting or building new roads as "complete streets" that are safer for walking and bicycling as well as motorists. But additional federal funding is drastically needed to complete pedestrian safety improvements in San Jose.

"Here in the Silicon Valley, we could be saving lives and encouraging more residents to engage in healthy levels of activity by investing in sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic calming and other safety measures," said Chris Lepe, Silicon Valley Community Planner with TransForm. "However, in many cases we are hampered by state and federal policies that continue to promote dangerous conditions."

"As Congress prepares to rewrite the nation's transportation law, this report is yet another wake-up call showing why it is so urgent to update our policies and spending priorities," said James Corless, director of Transportation for America.

TransForm encourages Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Congressman Mike Honda, and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo to support a national Complete Streets policy that would ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently in their communities.

Under the current federal transportation bill, less than 1.5 percent of available funds nationally are directed toward pedestrian safety, although pedestrians account for nearly 12 percent of all traffic deaths and 9 percent of total trips. Between 2007 and 2008, more than 700 children under the age of 15 were killed walking.

Seven organizations served on the steering committee for this report, working closely with T4 America and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership. These organizations include the American Public Health Association, AARP, Smart Growth America, America Bikes, America Walks, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the National Complete Streets Coalition.

TransForm works to create world-class public transportation and walkable communities in the Bay Area and beyond. TransForm builds diverse coalitions, influences policy, and develops innovate programs to improve the lives of all people and protect the environment. www.transformca.org

Transportation for America is a broad coalition of housing, environmental, equal opportunity, public health, urban planning, transportation and other organizations focused on creating a 21st century national transportation program. The coalition's goal is to build a modernized infrastructure and healthy communities where people can live, work and play by aligning national, state and local transportation policies with an array of issues like economic opportunity, climate change, energy security, health, housing and community development. www.t4america.org