
From the TransForm Policy Desk
June 1 2023: Good News on Transit Safety
Progress! The Public Transit For All: Improving Safety & Increasing Ridership Bill sailed through the Senate and is headed for the Assembly Transportation Committee. Proposed by Senator Dave Min and supported by more than 100 advocacy organizations throughout the state, including TransForm, SB434 is a critical step toward addressing street harassment on public transportation, making buses and trains safer and more accessible for everyone.
May 19 2023: Funding Transit Operations
Last week, TransForm joined more than 120 transit agencies, community-based organizations, and advocacy groups across the state in calling on Sacramento lawmakers to invest in transit operations, which was omitted in the state budget released last Friday. We are working with Governor Newsom, who says he remains open to working with the legislature and finding solutions to support the viability of transit. Read TransForm's May Revise Response Press Statement.
May 5 2023: 8 Great State Policies We’re Supporting in 2023
The 2023 legislative session is shaping up to be a big year for legislation to boost affordable housing and climate-friendly transportation. TransForm is in the trenches with our partners, making sure that policymakers in Sacramento push for a sustainable, equitable future for our communities. Read on to see which eight bills we are supporting, and why we believe that these laws will create a more equitable future for California families.
April 21 2023: Parking Policy in Action
If you want to know exactly how much land is dedicated to parking in your city, check out this new interactive map from Parking Reform Network. It not only shows parking coverage in major US downtowns, it also lists each city’s parking policies. Their map of San Jose shows a city moving in the right direction. San Jose’s groundbreaking policies eliminate minimum parking requirements and improve its management of transportation demand to create more vibrant neighborhoods with lively streets and room for more affordable homes. That vision for San Jose’s future is at the core of SPOT SJ - a new multi-sector collaborative project led by TransForm. With parking better managed, there’s more space and resources for everything that makes San Jose a great city.
April 7 2023: Bay Area Housing for All
TransForm is proud to be part of the Bay Area Housing for All Coalition working to pass a statewide ballot innovative and regional housing bond in 2024 that would
dedicate up to $20B for affordable housing near transit in the Bay Area. The Bay Area is severely behind on producing the affordable housing we need. As a result, nearly half (45%) of Bay Area renters are rent burdened, with 38,000 people in the Bay Area experiencing homelessness.
March 24 2023: Transit Transformation Task Force, Shared Parking, BAHFA
TransForm’s primary focus this year is saving public transit but we’re keeping our eye on some important housing, land use, and transportation policies currently being considered by the state legislature. TransForm supports:
AB 761 to establish a statewide Transit Transformation Task Force to identify strategies to grow transit ridership and improve the transit experience for all users.
AB 894 to change zoning and land use codes to promote shared parking, which will address the oversupply of parking, preserve land, lower the cost of housing, and allow more compact land use that promotes walking, biking, and public transit.
AB 1319 makes a narrow set of important modifications to the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority to help pass and implement a regional housing measure and other important programs.