Campaign endorses Bay Area transportation platform

On November 30, 2007, the Campaign’s Board of Directors endorsed the Transportation and Land Use Coalition’s 2009 Regional Transportation Plan Platform. The platform was created to influence the outcome of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s 18-month process to develop the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) which will guide how more than $100 billion worth of transportation investments are made in the Bay Area. Influencing the outcome of the RTP presents an outstanding opportunity to create the future we want for the Bay Area.

For more information, please visit: http://www.transcoalition.org

Transportation and Land Use Coalition’s 2009 Regional Transportation Plan Platform

REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION
1. Establish a Transportation Fund for Climate Protection to reduce global warming pollution from the transportation sector through projects and programs, including those outlined in this platform, that help everyone emit less.
2. Spur innovative new projects and programs that reduce global warming pollution through a new Climate Protection Grant Program.

PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS TRANSIT FOR ALL
3. Fix it first: make the region’s existing public transit system as reliable and affordable as possible by prioritizing funds for operating and maintenance shortfalls.
4. Ensure low-income communities have access to mobility by closing identified gaps in bus routes and services and by funding high-priority projects in Community-Based Transportation Plans.
5. Achieve faster, more reliable, and cost-effective transit by fully funding Bus Rapid Transit along major corridors.
6. Support an integrated and expanded regional rail system by connecting Caltrain with a new Transbay Terminal and funding projects in the upcoming Regional Rail Plan that uphold the principles of this platform.

PROMOTE VIBRANT, WALKABLE COMMUNITIES
7. Aggressively promote vibrant, walkable neighborhoods near bus, rail, and ferry service throughout the region by establishing and funding a comprehensive land use program at MTC.
8. Make walking and bicycling safe and convenient for all types of trips by:
-- fully funding all projects in the Regional Bicycle Network,
-- conducting a major revision of the 2001 Regional Bicycle Plan,
-- creating and funding a Regional Pedestrian Plan,
-- increasing funding for Safe Routes to Transit, and
-- creating a regional Safe Routes to School program.
9. Designate at least half of Local Streets and Roads Maintenance funds for where they are needed most: in the cities and counties planning for significant levels of new infill housing near existing or planned transit.

MAKE ROADS PART OF THE SOLUTION
10. Maximize the efficiency of our current highway system using road pricing that:
-- reduces congestion,
-- reduces global warming pollution,
-- funds transportation choices, not more highway expansion, and
-- decreases the overall costs of transportation for low-income commuters.