Transportation

Bay Area Transit--Separate and Unequal

Editor2 — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 13:16:09 -0600

By Guillermo Mayer and Richard A. Marcantonio

When the late Rosa Parks protested an apartheid bus system 50 years ago, transit riders in Montgomery, Alabama, whether black or white, poor or well-off, all rode the same bus. Today’s segregation, while less obvious, is in some ways more pernicious. Affluent whites have left urban bus systems the way most left New Orleans on the eve of hurricane Katrina: in their cars. Of those who commute on public transit, most now ride deluxe rail systems, leaving people of color to rely on a second-class and deteriorating bus system.

This is the scenario many low-income communities of color face in the San Francisco Bay Area, where substandard bus service operates as a “separate and unequal” transit system. Darensburg v. Metropolitan Transportation Commission, filed in April, 2005 by East Bay bus riders and civil rights advocates against the region’s transportation planning agency, challenges today’s pervasive and insidious form of discrimination.

AC Transit Board Bows to Community Pressure: Fare Hike Delayed

admin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:23:58 -0500

AC Transit’s Board unanimously voted to postpone a fare hike until after November’s elections on June 11, 2008. They also unanimously approved a staff recommendation to place a parcel tax on the November ballot (details below).

Your phone calls, rallies, and public comment worked!

AC TRANSIT HAS NOT GUARANTEED THAT IT WON’T RAISE FARES (even if the parcel tax passes in November).

We must secure a commitment from AC Transit to keeping youth and senior/disabled fares low if the parcel tax passes.

The Community Says NO to Fare Hikes

admin — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:17:12 -0500

AC Transit Board Can Be Persuaded – Final Vote on June 11

On Wednesday May 21^st, about 100 bus riders, community and labor groups and elected officials gathered outside of an AC Transit Board Hearing at Oakland’s City Hall to prevent proposed FARE HIKES. They then proceeded to testify at a packed, 3-hour hearing before AC Transit’s Board (longer description follows).

A Small Yet Important Victory in San Leandro

Editor2 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:57:40 -0600

Urban Habitat and its allies had a small yet important victory in the San Leandro Station Area Plan.

Members of Labor, Congregations Organizing for Renewal, other residents, Urban Habitat and representatives from many of our allies, including EBASE, TALC, EBHO, and UC-Berkeley's Center for Community Innovation packed San Leandro City Council chambers so full that there was standing room only by the time the meeting began.

Policy Implementation for Richmond General Plan

admin — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:24:25 -0600

REDI developed a series of policy recommendations and implementation measures in the areas of land use, housing, transportation, economic development and health. The goal of these policies is to discourage displacement, segregation and gentrification practices that have occurred in cities that are undergoing similar change. When implemented, these policies can provide community benefits for all residents, specifically low-income communities and communities of color.

Transportation Justice Working Group swarms Regional Summit

Editor2 — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:45:49 -0600

The Transportation Justice Working Group (TJWG) has been fighting for a shift in our region’s transportation strategies: away from widening highways and costly, inefficient rail projects that divert scarce resources from more cost-efficient bus service. We are also promoting community health over diesel-powered freight movement. We are asking for an equitable transportation system that provides all communities with reliable, affordable transportation choices and clean air and safe streets.

In order to have a region-wide impact, the TJWG is working to convince the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to prioritize the transportation needs of low-income communities and communities of color, those least served and most burdened by our current transportation system. The MTC is the regional governmental body which coordinates transportation planning and funding for the entire 9-county Bay Area.

Creating a Great Community along San Pablo Ave

Editor2 — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:08:45 -0500

Background

The City of El Cerrito and City of Richmond are currently developing a Specific Plan along the San Pablo Avenue (SPA) Corridor shared by both cities. The plan area serves as a major commercial corridor and transportation hub including the El Cerrito and Del Norte BART stations and its connecting bus lines, the San Pablo Rapid Bus line, and I-80. The SPA Planning process represents a major opportunity to create a more pedestrian and bike-friendly “grand boulevard” that:

Creating a Great Community in San Leandro

Editor2 — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:50:17 -0500

Background

San Leandro has the opportunity to create a model downtown - a more vibrant, walkable community with new jobs and housing affordable to the spectrum of Bay Area families. This opportunity is made possible by San Leandro’s growing transportation resources and a grant to do a Station Area Plan (SAP) by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Transportation Updates

Editor2 — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:16:33 -0500

July 24, 2007
Federal Government Reviews MTC's EJ Record

FTA/FHWA Hold Certification Hearing and 15 TJWG Members Testify

Members of the Transportation Justice Working Group, MTC's Minority Citizens Advisory Committee and other residents spoke about MTC's lack of compliance with Federal Environmental Justice and Civil Rights Laws.

March 24, 2007
Climate Change and Equity Presentation

FOCUS Equity forum

Editor2 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:53:32 -0500

What: FOCUS Equity forum
When: July 26, Thursday, 1:30- 3:30 p.m.
Where: The MetroCenter Auditorium, 101 8th St, Oakland
Topic: How can we make the Bay Area more equitable?

Four regional agencies – the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and the Bay Conservation and Development Corporation (BCDC) – have been developing a joint program called FOCUS to direct financial and technical resources to areas that are priorities for regional growth. We are soliciting input from Equity advocates on how to FOCUS resources fairly and in a way that will benefit the existing community.