The Bay Area Transportation and Land Use Coalition is comprised of over 30 member organizations. Together, we encourage public agencies, private developers, and groups of concerned citizens to promote policies and take actions leading to a Bay Area with intelligent, sustainable land use patterns and an efficient and equitable transportation system.
The Draft 1998 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) was released July 22--and Bay Area media had a field day. "Road Congestion Predicted to Burst," read the headline in the San Francisco Examiner. RTP projections show an alarming future for the Bay Area. Consider the projections for congestion increases between 1990 and 2020: 509% in the I-580 corridor, 545% along I-80, and 303% on the Golden Gate bridge. All this, plus a declining role for transit.
"For the last two years we've been asking MTC to look at alternatives that don't promote sprawl, and provide stronger incentives for people not to drive alone," said Stuart Cohen, Director of the Bay Area Transportation Choices Forum. "They haven't done this, and this Draft RTP is the result. A transportation plan that predicts and provides a region with unimaginable traffic, transit operators without enough money for basic maintenance, and over a hundred thousand acres of open space gone forever." Organizations in the Bay Area Transportation and Land Use Coalition have been calling on MTC to fix it first. That is, to fully fund the capital needs for items like new buses and rail upgrades for AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit and Caltrain, before funding billions of dollars of new highway expansions.
These same organizations are also supporting calls by Mary King and other MTC Commissioners to do Smart Growth planning. In particular, to apply for federal funds to prepare a Smart Growth alternative in the next Regional Transportation Plan (see article below).
The Draft 1998 RTP can be obtained by calling MTC's Public Information office at 510-464-7787 or on their web-site at www.mtc.ca.gov. Comments will be accepted at least through Sept. 30.
On July 22, 1998 the MTC Commissioners and the Citizens' Advisory Council held a joint meeting to discuss the connection between transportation and land use--and identify solutions to our region's mounting crisis.
In a move that could reap significant benefits for the Bay Area, Commissioner Mary King (representing Alameda County) proposed that MTC and ABAG jointly apply for federal funds to conduct a regional "smart growth" planning process. Such a process could result in a scenario that would invest in controlling sprawl instead of promoting it, just in time for the next Regional Transportation Plan update in the year 2000.
During the ensuing discussion, MTC Executive Director Larry Dahms and Commission Chair Jim Spering (representing the cities of Solano County) stated that MTC has no authority over the land use decisions of counties and cities. Some commissioners noted this would be a collaborative process, in which cities and counties would submit their own alternative land use plans, and MTC would work with county transportation agencies to figure out which investments best serve a smart growth future.
Signs that counties are willing to tackle the ideas of limiting land use and investing in public transportation are popping up everywhere. This November, Marin and Sonoma voters will decide on a package of measures that include a sales tax for transportation projects and companion advisory measures that limit land use. Supervisor Joe Canciamilla in Contra Costa County has declared a "traffic state of emergency" there (see article below), laying the blame squarely on land use decisions and calling for a temporary ban on low-density residential development across jurisdictions.
While commendable, local attempts to grapple with the transportation and land use will never make a serious dent in our deteriorating transportation system without a sensible larger framework. A regional planning process--including workshops for local policymakers and public education and involvement--may be the key.
King's idea was resoundingly supported by members of the Citizen's Advisory Council as well as Commissioner Charlotte Powers (ABAG), Mark DeSaulnier (Contra Costa County) and most others present. Tom Hsieh (San Francisco) suggested that the importance of this project merits an application of more than $2 or $3 million. At the close of the meeting, Chairman Spering said that he would initiate discussion with MTC and ABAG staff about the possibility of applying for federal funds by October 1998 to support this project.
In a press conference on July 28, Supervisor Canciamilla declared a "traffic state of emergency" in Contra Costa County. He connected the county's mounting congestion directly to its tradition of approval of low-density housing on undeveloped land. Some excerpts from his statement:
"....if the traffic isn't bad enough already...there are over 17,330 new housing units already approved but not yet built in East County."
"I am calling on all East County Public Officials and leaders in city government to immediately place on hold all pending residential development applications and to oppose all further residential development for the time being."
Select this link for the full text of Supervisor Canciamilla's statement.
What do you think of Canciamilla's statement? Contact him at the address below.Joe Canciamilla
The Surface Transportation Policy Project's excellent "Mean Streets" report, released this month, demonstrates that over 18% of all traffic-related fatalities are pedestrians, but pedestrian projects receive only 1% of Caltrans' Safety budget. In the Bay Area, a new pedestrian advocacy coalition called BayPeds has been created (check its website out at www.baypeds.org). For a copy of "Mean Streets," contact James Corless at (415) 956-7795.
After years of being ignored and underfunded, bicycle groups are working to get their fair share of projects from the TEA-21 new federal transportation law. To be considered projects must be already approved by local agencies, have specific cost estimates, and be ready for implementation within two years. To get involved you can contact your local bicycle advocacy organization, or contact James Corless at (415) 956-7795 .
How about watching Commission meetings from the comfort of your own home, after a long day at work? After the idea was floated by a member of the public at the July Commission meeting, the MTC is now considering televising its monthly morning meetings, for broadcast on local access channels after 5 p.m. Ask for it the next time you speak with an MTC staff member or Commissioner.
Included in this update was a transcription of the directions to the RTP workshops from MTC's Web site.
Other Upcoming MTC Meetings and Hearings:
These will all be held at the MTC Auditorium at 101 8th St., Oakland (at Lake Merritt BART).
Bay Area Transportation and Land Use Coalition
Stuart Cohen, Coordinator
Phone: (510) 740-3150
Fax: (510) 740-3131
414 13th St., 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
E-mail: stucohen@igc.org
Articles: Stuart Cohen and Rachel Peterson
Layout and production: Aaron Priven