Coalition Report On
The Bay Area's 2001 Regional Transportation Plan

The Bay Area Transportation and Land Use Coalition (Coalition) is a partnership of over 85 environmental, social justice, labor and community groups working together for a more sustainable and socially just region. The Coalition advocates for transportation investments that promote smart growth, vibrant neighborhood centers, a thriving local economy, and access for people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and income levels.

Development of the RTP:

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has completed the process of updating the Bay Area's 2001 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), which describes how $82 billion will be spent over the next 25 years. The Plan, which covers all modes of transportation, was adopted on December 19th 2001, together with a companion Regional Transit Expansion Policy (RTEP), which focuses exclusively on the development of new public transit.

In January 2000, the Coalition released the cornerstone report, World Class Transit for the Bay Area. Projects from that report, together with input from Coalition members and allies, formed the basis of a nine-point Platform of Coalition RTP goals. This report lists the Coalition's Platform goals, with information about the progress on each of them, and next steps for future action.

More information regarding the 2001 Regional Transportation Plan is available at MTC's website.

An Important Achievement -- Community Involvement

In addition to the specific achievements listed in this report, the Coalition's efforts around the RTP have inspired hundreds of members of the public to speak out on these issues, including many who had never previously attended a public hearing. The Coalition engaged in substantial community outreach, providing materials in easily accessible styles, in both English and Spanish, to numerous community residents and grassroots organizations.

As a result, numerous people had the opportunity to express their views to government decision-makers, to learn about the process of allocating transportation dollars, and to become part of a large and growing movement.

The Coalition would like to thank the hundreds of community members and organizations who worked so hard to improve our region's transportation plan.

1. Transportation Justice Package

GOAL: MTC's regional Lifeline Transit Network should meet the needs of transit-dependant residents by expanding existing service to 24 hours, 7 days per week, and ensuring affordability by providing funding for targeted discounts, and eliminating transfer costs.

RESULT: MTC has taken important steps to identify the Lifeline Transit Network, creating a system of maps and route hours detailing goals for service with extended hours to transit dependent communities. There has not yet been funding identified for the network. Fully funding this network will be a top priority for the Coalition, and hopefully MTC, over the coming year. In addition, an agreement was finally reached on providing free bus passes to low-income students throughout AC Transit's entire service area. The Coalition and Kids First worked with Assemblywoman Aroner, and Supervisors Keith Carson (Alameda) and John Gioia (Contra Costa) who deserve special commendation for their incredible efforts to obtain funding for this program.

2. "Smart Growth" -- Transportation for Livable Communities

GOAL: Increase support for projects that improve livability, transit-oriented-development, and affordable housing in Bay Area communities. In particular, increase funding for MTC's successful Transportation for Livable Communities and Housing Incentives Programs to $50 million per year.

RESULT: Coalition members and allies succeeded in promoting and defending a significant increase the Transportation for Livable Communities and Housing Incentives Program, to encourage the development of housing near transit (along with bike and pedestrian access programs for transit areas). The funding for these programs was substantially increased from $9 million/yr to $27 million/yr. We also thwarted an attempt by the highway lobby to shift some of these funds to use for roads. Areas around the country are now working to replicate this successful program.

3. Caltrain Electrification and Downtown San Francisco Extension

GOAL: The downtown extension closes a major gap in the region's transit system, by bringing Peninsula residents directly downtown and allowing easy transfers with other transit systems. Electrification would allow for faster, cleaner and more frequent train service, and has been identified by MTC as the development that would attract more riders than any other rail project.

RESULT: Success! The lobbying of Coalition members and allies, and San Francisco officials, succeeded in convincing MTC to add this project to "Track 1" in the RTP/RTEP, and explicitly commit to making this important project a regional priority for funding.

4. Express Bus Program and Bus Rapid Transit

GOAL: MTC identified an expanded Express Bus Program as the most cost-effective, and quickest, way to attract new transit riders and reduce congestion. Express Buses generally provide longer-distance commute service using carpool lanes. Bus Rapid Transit uses the latest technology, such as signal pre-emption and low-floor buses, to provide fast, reliable service along urban corridors.

RESULT: Thanks to the efforts of the Coalition and our allies, both Express Bus and Bus Rapid Transit projects have been added to the Regional Transit Expansion Policy. This includes a region-wide network of Express Buses, and introducing the first comprehensive Bus Rapid Transit between Berkeley and San Leandro in the AC Transit district. We hope that the success of these initial routes will inspire additional areas to consider Bus Rapid Transit.

5. Regional Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety and Access Program

GOAL: Biking is an environmentally sound form of transportation that promotes public health and is accessible to those with low-incomes. Access for pedestrians and wheelchair users is crucial both for social equity and for the long-term success of our transit hubs and neighborhoods. Bike/ped plans should be funded for every County, and should be included in transit expansion projects.

RESULT: Unfortunately, MTC completed writing the regional bicycle plan too late in the process to include it in this year's RTP. Clearly, more effort and lobbying will be needed to increase dedication to bike/ped access in future projects. However, bicycle advocates were successful in increasing bike/ped funding locally in several counties, and, most recently, in adding a new requirement that transit expansion projects must include bike and pedestrian access. The Coalition will be working with the new regional bicycle advocacy coalition to develop a comprehensive program to guarantee that safe bike routes are provided to all transit stations and that the regional bike plan is fully funded in the next RTP.

6. System Preservation and Maintenance

GOAL: Our existing transportation infrastructure must be given priority for current funds. It is important that we do not neglect the systems we already have. Therefore, we propose fully funding transit operators maintenance needs, fully funding major streets and roads, and including a requirement to maintain smaller local streets and roads.

RESULT: Success! The Coalition's proposal that 100% of transit maintenance needs to be funded did pass, and is included in this year's RTP. Caution! MTC passed an amendment to this policy to define a "regionally significant" transit system and may only apply this policy to certain service. Coalition members will have to be vigilant to make sure this policy is not weakened.

7. Prioritize new funding for transit service enhancements

GOAL: Transit operating costs should be the highest priority for future funds. Extend hours of service, increase frequency, and improve Paratransit.

RESULT: This is one of the areas in which future efforts will be most needed. The discretionary funding sources included in the RTP are generally not allowed to be used for transit operations. Therefore, the Coalition will work to ensure that when additional revenue mechanisms are being considered, transit operations are a high priority.

8. Do not fund wasteful projects that promote sprawl and pollution.

GOAL: The Coalition does not support funding for costly projects that induce more driving, promote sprawl, and are environmentally damaging. Projects should be excluded based on these criteria, such as the Hayward Bypass and Caldecott tunnel fourth bore.

RESULT: So far, MTC has refused to remove these wasteful road projects from the RTP. However, this issue remains unresolved. A local court recently ruled that the Hayward Bypass is not legally eligible for its main source of funds. MTC has stated that they will remove the Hayward Bypass from their Plan if the Alameda County Transportation Authority agrees to the change. Work on this issue will continue after the completion of the RTP, and will probably focus on Alameda County officials, instead of MTC.

9. A Fair Regional Transit Expansion Policy (RTEP)

GOAL: In conjunction with the RTP, MTC developed the RTEP as a successor the regional rail agreement of 1988. The Coalition called for: a commitment that there will be no cutbacks in local transit service to pay for the extensions, that Santa Clara pay for its fair share of the existing BART system, and that any "buy-in" program not obligate the region to other projects we cannot afford.

RESULT: Amazingly, the BART extension agreement did contain significant funding to pay for impacts on the core BART system! Several excellent projects were added to the RTEP thanks to community efforts, including Bus Rapid Transit, Caltrain Downtown Extension to a newly rebuilt Transbay Terminal. In addition, wording was added to the RTEP that would require public hearings to be held if the costs of building rail extensions led to bus cuts. These hearings would focus on protecting service for low-income communities. Overall, this results in an RTEP that is not perfect, but is much improved from the original version.

NEXT STEPS...

While many important goals were achieved in this RTP process, additional efforts are needed, both to protect these successes, and to build on them to make the Bay Area an environmentally sustainable and socially just region. Key areas for additional work include:

• Follow the Money. Continue to scrutinize the funding allocation processes that follow the Regional Transportation Plan. Many important projects were included in the Plan, but will not be built if they do not receive a specific allocation of funds. Thus, we need to make sure that the Coalition's project goals actually get prioritized for funding.
• Seek additional funds for transit operations. Greater attention is needed on transit service for low-income and transit-dependent communities. Many of the funding sources listed in the RTP are devoted to "capital" projects -- to build new rail stations, roads, etc. However, the Bay Area has a great need for additional funds to operate our transit system, to make sure that the trains and buses that we build and buy actually are in service -- with extended hours and high frequency to enable people to get around without a car. New funding could include money from Proposition 42, gas taxes, bridge tolls, and other sources. The Coalition will work to ensure that the "Lifeline Transit Network" receives top priority for new funds.
• Smart Growth. Work with the Regional Agencies Smart Growth Strategy to promote better development patterns for our region. It is very difficult to provide cost-effective transit service when housing, jobs, and services are located in far-flung sprawl developments. Future efforts must more effectively link transit, jobs, housing, services, and bicycle and pedestrian access to create livable communities that are designed for people, rather than just cars. In the coming year, the Coalition will be working to strengthen the region's "Smart Growth" planning efforts, to ensure that future planning decisions are based on a sound models and projections that serve our communities.
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding. Seek increased funding and commitment to programs to enhance safety and access for people who get around by bicycle, foot, and wheelchair. Seek full funding of the Bay Area's Regional Bicycle Plan. Work to implement "safe routes to transit" to provide safe routes to transit stations.
• Act Locally. Work to help enact local County sales tax measures that include strong funding for transit improvements, bike/ped projects, smart growth incentives, and related programs. One of the lessons of this year's RTEP is that counties with local matching funds are far more likely to obtain State and Federal funding for their projects. By working locally, we can strengthen our cities, counties, and our region.

Last updated:5/09/02