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Next TALC regional
meeting — Sept. 21
TALC's next regional meeting will feature a discussion of new ways that
could make it significantly easier to build infill housing, particularly around
transit station areas. The discussion will include state legislation about
regional growth plans, (SB 832) an infrastructure bond (SB 1024), and new concepts for
environmental review of urban infill and housing projects. While these ideas
would streamline new infill housing development, some are concerned that community
participation would be cut out.
At our meeting, we will review the impacts of
any legislation that passes, and discuss pros and cons of bills that will carry
over to next year. We are inviting Tom Adams of the
California League of Conservation Voters (an architect of many of these
concepts), staff from Senator Perata's office, and representatives of social
equity and housing groups involved in the debates. The meeting is open to all. Wednesday, September 21,
5:30-7:30 pm. (Orientation for new attendees from 5:00-5:30.) Sierra Club, 85
2nd Street, San Francisco.
View our calendar of events:
www.transcoalition.org/calendar.html
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The Great Communities Initiative (GCI)
TALC's Strategic Plan laid out an ambitious new initiative to fundamentally
shift how and where the region grows, with the aim of ensuring that half of all
new homes built in the Bay Area by 2030 are in walkable communities located near
transit, at a range of prices affordable to families of all income levels. By
working in collaboration with other regional partners, we
can redirect growth away from natural areas and working farms, and instead
reinvest in our existing communities. We can build homes that provide choices so that all residents, at every
income level, can find great communities to live, work, and play: communities
with access to good jobs, schools, parks, transportation, shopping, and other
necessities. To see a description of this developing initiative, our local
effort to date in San Mateo's Bay Meadows, and a slew of resources on Great
Communities, visit the GCI section of TALC's website.
Learn more:
www.transcoalition.org/c/gci/gci_home.html
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TALC is hiring
The Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC) is hiring a full or
part-time Administrative Director. We seek an experienced, highly organized
individual to manage financial, human resource, and administrative operations in
our downtown Oakland office. Both full and part-time employees receive health
and dental insurance and generous vacation and comp time. TALC is an equal
opportunity employer and people of color and women are strongly encouraged to
apply. Applications are due by September 15, 2005. Please forward this
announcement to your contacts!
More info:
www.transcoalition.org/about/about_jobs.html
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MTC approves ground-breaking land-use policy!
On July 27, 2005, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approved
a ground-breaking policy that establishes that new transit projects will not be
funded until cities plan and zone for a minimum threshold of homes around new stations, including pedestrian-
and bike-oriented design. These “transit villages” can ensure a good investment
of our regional transit dollars by increasing the number of riders and reducing
traffic. They can create vibrant communities that accommodate growth without
sprawling onto open space.
The Transportation and Land Use Coalition spearheaded the campaign, in
conjunction with Greenbelt Alliance and the Non-Profit Housing Association. TALC's
member groups were particularly instrumental in getting letters and postcards to
their Commissioners, and showing up at meetings to counter the arguments of
those who would like to continue the failed status quo. Thanks to all who helped
with this effort! While TALC wanted higher thresholds, MTC did include many of
our suggestions on parking, affordable housing, and more.
You can take action by contacting MTC
Commissioners and thank them for passing this policy.
Commissioners' contact information is listed on the MTC website.
Learn more:
www.transcoalition.org/c/landuse/landuse_home.html
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Volunteers/interns
wanted for transportation funding campaign
Bay Area transportation projects and transit operators sorely need additional sources of revenue. To
investigate new funding options, TALC has formed a Regional Transportation
Funding workgroup (formerly called the VLF Working Group). To date, the
group has researched a
broad range of options for generating additional transportation funding and
focused in on several promising options. Our next steps include soliciting
feedback from member groups on promising funding mechanisms, and gauging levels
of public support. TALC will use the results of the group’s analysis and
outreach to initiate a campaign for a new regional funding measure. The
next TFG meeting will be Wednesday, September 28, 12:30-1:30 pm via
teleconference. If you would like to join the call, please visit our webpage for
the call-in number and access code.
We are also seeking graduate student interns to oversee outreach and policy
analysis related to this project. The opportunity is ideal for someone who wants
experience in community outreach and policy development, and the project can be
shaped to fulfill thesis requirements. View the
internship description online.
Learn more:
www.transcoalition.org/c/sus_funding/funding.html
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Overwhelming response to
Safe Routes to Transit funding
There was an overwhelming response to the new Safe Routes to Transit (SR2T) grant program
— TALC
received 39 applications requesting a total of $17.2 million of funding. We wish
we had more than $4 million to give out this year, and we will make sure that
the high demand for this type of funding doesn’t go unnoticed. We are
working to get the applications ready for review by the SR2T Advisory Committee,
and hope to pass a list of recommendations for funding to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in November,
and have the final list of projects approved in December. For more information
about SR2T, or to review a list of applications we received, visit the website
or contact Amber Crabbe, TALC Program Director, at 510-740-3105.
Learn more:
www.transcoalition.org/c/bikeped/bikeped_saferoutes.html
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Nominations open for
TALC's board of directors
There are openings for four
members of the Board of
Directors of the
Transportation and Land Use
Coalition (TALC), and you
are invited to nominate a
candidate(s) by October 19,
2005. The Board of
Directors plays a critical
role in guiding TALC’s policy,
programs, strategic planning,
and overall fiscal
responsibility. The dedication
and skill of the current Board
has been a critical factor in
the success of TALC, and this
is an exciting opportunity for
supporters who want to make a
deeper contribution to TALC's
work and mission. There are
twelve members of the Board,
and the terms are up for four
of them.
More info:
www.transcoalition.org/about/board_elections.html
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A few dollars per
month goes a long way!
Join our growing list of Individual Supporters and help ensure TALC can
continue to provide leadership, and victories, on key regional issues. We now
have over 20 supporters who help with an easy monthly recurring donation of $5,
$10, or $20. We are halfway to our goal of $1,000 each month. Help us reach the
goal! Monthly donations are easy, convenient, and can be updated or cancelled at
any time. Please don't delay; with foundation funding down we are counting on
you and our other supporters. Visit our secure web page to see benefits that
supporters enjoy.
To make a donation:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=3319
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Member Groups In Action
Forum on the new Federal
transportation bill — Sept. 14
Congress recently passed a new multi-year, $280 billion Federal
transportation bill. The Bay Area will receive its share, with
funds targeted for the Transbay Terminal, highway widening across the region,
and bike and pedestrian improvements, to name just a few. How will these changes
impact our local and regional transportation systems? On Wednesday, September 14
at 12:30 p.m., join Randy Rentschler, manager of legislation and public affairs
at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, for a discussion of the new
bill’s implications. SPUR forums are open to the public, free for members and $5
for non-members. SPUR forums are held at 312 Sutter Street #500 (at Grant) in
San Francisco.
More info:
www.spur.org/calendar.asp
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Grand tour of Bay Area
rail and ferry services -- Sept. 15 & Nov. 10
On September 15 and November 10, from 9:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Friends of
SMART (Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit) will sponsor a grand tour of Bay Area
rail and ferry services. The tour will begin and end at the Larkspur Ferry
Terminal. The tour ($50) will traverse the following services: Larkspur Golden
Gate Ferry, San Francisco Light Rail—N Judah Line, CalTrain Station and
equipment—4th & King St., Alameda/Oakland Ferry, AMTRAK Capitol Corridor,
Altamont Commuter Express, and BART. For further information, call 707-578-9133
(days) or 707-837-8814 (evenings) or e-mail
fos@pacbell.net.
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League of Women Voters
program on reforming CEQA — Sept. 24
The League of Women Voters of the Bay Area's fall meeting will be Know Your
Bay Area Day on Saturday, September 24, 2005 from 9:30-1:00 p.m. The program
($10) will focus on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), addressing
how has it worked and whether it needs to be changed. The meeting will be held
at the Fremont Main Library at 2400 Stevenson Blvd. Visit the website for
speakers and reservation information.
More info:
www.lwvba-ca.org/lwvba/VOTER/VOTERAug05.htm#kyba
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Creating winning
bike/pedestrian campaigns — Oct. 21-23
Dave Snyder of the Thunderhead Alliance (and former Executive Director of
the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition) will offer a weekend campaign training on October 21-23. The
training teaches how to craft a winning campaign — whether for a bike lane on a
busy street, a controversial transit village proposal, or a safe routes to
school program — while building a powerful long-lasting force for advocacy in
the course of your campaigning. The curriculum is based on tried-and-true
campaign strategies modified for bicycle and pedestrian advocacy in the 21st
century. The training will help you to
substantially expand the effect of your work — and hanging out with fellow
bicycle and pedestrian advocates in San Francisco in October is a whole lot of
fun!
More info:
www.thunderheadalliance.org/trainings05sf.htm
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Self-guided urban
outings from Greenbelt Alliance
Greenbelt Alliance has a new set of self-guided tours that lead community
members around their cities to showcase good examples of infill development,
affordable housing, transit-oriented development, and urban revitalization in
existing Bay Area communities. Tours have been developed for Berkeley, San
Rafael, and Mountain View with tours for Vallejo and San Francisco in the works.
These tours are a chance for community members to acquaint themselves with the
urban planning efforts being made to improve the liveability of their
neighborhoods. You can download Greenbelt Alliance's Self-Guided Urban Outings
from their website.
More info:
www.greenbelt.org/getinvolved/outings/index.html
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