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NEWS FROM TALC

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Safe Routes to Schools wins Caltrans funding and hires a director
The Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) Alameda County Partnership has been awarded funding from Caltrans’ Safe Routes to Schools Grant program. This grant ensures that over the next two years we will be able to implement a complete range of programs, trainings, and activities for 50 schools in Alameda County. This is a huge expansion of the successful pilot program that TALC ran in two Oakland schools during the past school year. The Partnership, spearheaded by TALC, includes the Alameda County Public Health Department and Cycles of Change.

To manage the new partnership, TALC recently hired Nora Cody as the director. Nora previously worked as the Oakland Unified School District’s Wellness Coordinator and has extensive experience working within school districts and school communities. We are thrilled to have Nora on board!

Learn more: www.transcoalition.org/c/sr2s

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Safe Routes to Transit funding nominees announced
The Safe Routes to Transit (SR2T) Program will soon award another $4 million in funding. In this grant cycle, the SR2T Advisory Committee, coordinated by TALC and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, received and evaluated 25 proposals. The committee selected a slate of ten projects and plans around the Bay Area that will improve bike/pedestrian access and safety in getting to regional transit stops and stations. MTC will act on the list of nominees at meetings in July.

Learn more: www.transcoalition.org/c/bikeped/bikeped_saferoutes.html

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Campaign to protect public transit needs your support in its 11th hour
Earlier this year, the Governor proposed to cut $1.3 billion from public transit funding. Our efforts have made a tremendous difference so far, as reflected in the Conference Committee’s recommendations, which would give transit almost three times as much funding as the Governor’s initial proposal.

In the past month, TALC, working with partner organizations, has greatly increased media attention about the potential impact of cuts to public transit through an op-ed piece, a “bake sale for transit” media event, and a letter from elected officials in Alameda and Contra Costa counties asking the Governor to fully fund public transit.

Please help by making two phone calls. Call Governor Schwarzenegger at 916-445-2841 and tell him to fully fund transit. Then call Senator Perata at 510-286-1333 to ask him to protect public transit funds! For talking points, and to learn more, see the webpage below or contact Carli Paine at carli@transcoalition.org or 510-740-3150 x315

Learn more: www.transcoalition.org/c/sus_spill/#whatdo

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Coalition’s RTP Platform is coming along...thanks to you!
Many thanks to the more than 100 respondents to our recent online survey on the Coalition’s draft Platform for what we would like to see included in the 2009 update of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The RTP is the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's 25-year, $100+ billion blueprint for how transportation funding will be spent in the Bay Area -- and a huge opportunity to shape how the Bay Area grows and ensure we take on the climate crisis. There was consistent feedback about the need to clarify the meaning of “cost-effective transit,” concern about making bike/pedestrian access to the west span of the Bay Bridge a top Coalition priority, and excitement over how pricing could improve the transportation system as long as it is implemented in an equitable way. We are working to incorporate these, and many other, comments into the final Platform, which we hope to have your organization sign on to.

Learn more: www.transcoalition.org/c/sus_rtp/rtp_home.html

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Funding for High-Speed Rail stabilizes as agency readies report
After a budget battle that had threatened to shut down the California High Speed Rail Authority, funding prospects are looking brighter. The Conference Committee proposed $55 million in funding to continue the engineering and environmental review work for California High-Speed Rail. The Governor had proposed one-tenth the amount in his revised budget in May.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Bay Area to Central Valley portion of high-speed rail will be released in the next week. The DEIR examines potential alignments to connect the Bay Area with the Central Valley, with respect to ridership and revenue potential, connectivity, impacts on natural, social and economic resources, costs, and other considerations. Input about the DEIR will lead to a preferred alignment alternative. The High-Speed Rail Authority is holding public hearings in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Livermore, Gilroy, and locations in the Central Valley.

Information on the public hearing dates and locations and a copy of the DEIR for download will be posted later this week on the California High-Speed Rail website.

Learn more: www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/public_notice

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Mixed-income housing report released
The Center for Community Innovation at UC Berkeley recently released a report that makes the case for mixed-income transit-oriented communities. The report, titled Transit-Oriented for All, assesses the potential for mixed-income communities in the Bay Area, and recommends tools for communities to build walkable communities affordable to all. Sponsored by the Great Communities Collaborative, the report will be put into action at sites throughout the region.

Learn more: www-iurd.ced.berkeley.edu/cci/04A!publications.html

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Photo contest entries due August 15
Little more than a month remains until entries are due for TALC’s photo contest, so get your submissions in soon! The grand prize is a lifetime free SmugMug Pro account (a professional-quality, online photo storage and sharing service worth $150 per year) and $250 cash. Six other winners will win prizes from SmugMug, Patagonia, Photoworks, A1 Photo & Video Labs, and others. Entries will be on display at our ten-year anniversary event on October 18, 2007 at the Oakland Museum of California.

Learn more: www.talcphotocontest.smugmug.com

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Creating an oil independent Oakland
Nine months ago, the City of Oakland created a task force to help make Oakland oil independent by 2020. The task force has several working groups, including transportation and another on land use and infrastructure. The transportation group is seeking recommendations for tangible actions that would reduce oil dependence, suggestions on data sources, and input on policies and programs in other areas. The group is also seeking volunteers and experts who can help to synthesize and collect information. The land use and infrastructure group will be focusing on a number of items, including reviewing relevant parts of the general plan and proposing architectural design standards, and is open to input. For more information on what the working groups are seeking or to submit responses by the July 31 deadline, contact Alice Glasner at aglasner@oaklandnet.com or Marisa Arrona at arronam@oaklandnet.com or 510-238-7031.

Learn more: www.oaklandnet.com/Oil

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OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP TALC

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TALC is hiring a 10th anniversary event intern
Are you detail-oriented and creative? Here’s a great opportunity to take ownership of a fun and exciting event. Our 10th anniversary celebration, Coming Together for a Better Bay Area, will be held on October 18th, 2007. We’re looking for an intern to manage the event -- as sustainably and affordably as possible. He or she will work with TALC’s Development Director, approximately 12 hours per week, with additional hours needed during the two weeks prior to the event. Hours are flexible, and the coordinator can work from home for many of the tasks, if desired. Course credit and/or a stipend are available.

Learn more: www.transcoalition.org/about/about_intern_vol.html#special

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Do you live or work in a walkable neighborhood near transit? (Or want to?)
As part of the Great Communities Collaborative, TALC is interviewing people who live, work, shop, or go to school in walkable neighborhoods near transit (or who would like to do so!). These stories will help TALC advocate for healthy, sustainable, and desirable downtowns, easily accessible by all community members, by providing real-life portraits of those who benefit from transit-oriented development. The interviews will take approximately 15 minutes in person or by phone. To participate or learn more, contact Dana Perls at 510-740-3150 x322 or dana@transcoalition.org.

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TALC likely to be renamed...know any lawyers?
TALC recently received a grant from the Taproot Foundation to have a team of marketing professionals work on an improved name and logo for TALC. (Many people find the name Transportation and Land Use Coalition hard to remember.) As part of the project, we'll need 3-8 hours of pro bono legal assistance later this month. If you’re a lawyer, or have a friend at a law firm that might be able to help us out, please contact Marta Lindsey at 510-740-3150 x321 or marta@transcoalition.org.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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Next regional meeting to highlight transit-oriented development -- Wednesday, July 18
You’re invited to TALC’s next regional meeting. You’ll learn how the Great Communities Collaborative is helping to create walkable neighborhoods near transit throughout the Bay Area. Highlights of the evening will include a presentation by Heather Hood from the Center for Community Innovation on the results of UC Berkeley’s recent mixed-income housing study. Larry Orman from GreenInfo Network will also demonstrate a new online tool with an interactive map of the Bay Area’s land use planning near transit.

The regional meeting will be held from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Sierra Club's third-floor conference room in downtown San Francisco, 85 Second Street, near the Montgomery BART/Muni station. The meeting is free and open to the public. Burritos and beverages will be served. New to TALC? Come at 5:00 p.m. for an optional orientation about TALC and regional issues. Please RSVP so we can have enough seating and food to Karla Pérez-Cordero at karla@transcoalition.org or call 510-740-3150 x319.

View the calendar of events: www.transcoalition.org/calendar.html

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Berkeley climate protection strategies for transportation -- Thursday, July 19
The City of Berkeley is currently developing a Climate Action Plan for achieving its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. On July 19 from 7:00-9:00 p.m., the Transportation Commission will host a workshop soliciting input on what strategies should be included in the transportation component of the plan. The event will be held at the North Berkeley Senior Center, at 1901 Hearst Avenue. For a list of upcoming climate action events, a recently released report entitled, Climate Action in the City of Berkeley, and other information about Berkeley's growing climate protection movement, visit the webpage below or contact MeasureG@ci.berkeley.ca.us.

Learn more: www.cityofberkeley.info/sustainable

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Sierra Club trainings about organizing -- July 25 and August 4
The San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club will be holding two training events that are free, and open to the public and other organizers. The first is an Intro to Organizing class that covers basic skills in environmental organizing and making your voice heard at City Hall. It will be held on Wednesday, July 25 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Marin Conservation League, 1623A 5th Avenue in San Rafael. The second is a day-long Advanced Grassroots Organizing class including such topics as: getting out the environmental vote, media how-to, running for city council, building a community organization, and becoming a leader in the Sierra Club. It will be on Saturday, August 4 from 10:00-5:00 at the Red Cross, 85 2nd Street in downtown San Francisco. To RSVP contact Anna Wagner at anna@sfbaysc.org or 510-848-0800 x307.

Learn more: sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org/yodeler/html/2007/05/feature2.htm

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Join the multi-modal urban adventure race -- October 14
TALC will be the official charity this year for the San Francisco Oyster, a scavenger hunt-style race that switches between running, bicycling, transit, and more during its course. By joining or putting together a team, you’ll not only have a blast, you’ll support TALC! Sign up your family, corporate, or other team at the webpage below. We also need volunteers to help out during the race day. Contact Marta at 510-740-3150 x321 or marta@transcoalition.org to volunteer, connect with a team, or with questions.

Learn more: www.oysterracingseries.com/San-Francisco-Home/home.aspx

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NEWS FROM TALC MEMBER GROUPS

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TALC’s newest member group: Public Health Law & Policy
Joining TALC’s over 100 member and affiliate groups is Public Health Law & Policy. Its Land Use and Health project engages public health advocates in land use decision-making throughout California to achieve land use policies that support healthier communities.

Learn more: www.phlaw.org

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Nonprofit public health organization seeks program director
Public Health Law & Policy seeks a full-time program director for its Land Use & Health Project in its Oakland office. Go to www.healthyplanning.org for more information about the program. The Program Director must be an experienced land use planner, attorney, economic development specialist or a closely related profession with a vision of how his/her professional training and capacity can promote public health and create sustainable, livable communities – especially in California’s low-income populations and neighborhoods.

Learn more: www.phi.org/about-employment-details.cfm?id=996