Press Releases

For Immediate Release

NAPA COUNTY CITIZENS INVITED TO COMMENT ON TRANSIT NEEDS

CONTACT:

Catalina Alvarado
510.817.5783

Brenda Kahn
510.817.5773

Oakland, CA, Sept. 23, 1998...The Metropolitan Transportation Commission wants to hear from the public in Napa County to determine if any transit needs exist within the county that could be met with state and local transit funding.

Napa County residents can express their views at a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1, at 5:30 p.m. in the Napa County Administration Building, Board of Supervisors Chambers, located at 1195 Third Street, Third Floor, in the city of Napa.

The public hearing constitutes a necessary phase of MTC's process of allocating Transportation Development Act (TDA) moneys to transit agencies and local governments for the fiscal year 1999-2000. TDA funds are generated from a tax of one-quarter of one percent on all retail sales in the county, and estimates indicate that approximately $3.5 million in TDA funds will be generated this current fiscal year for Napa County.

In setting up the TDA program, the state Legislature intended that the funding primarily go to support public transit, special transit services for the elderly and disabled, and facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians. In the Bay Area's more rural counties such as Napa County, these funds can be used for local street and road projects provided that hearings are held to verify that no reasonable public transit need is being neglected. MTC's intent is to identify any public transit needs that could reasonably be funded before allocating TDA moneys for streets and roads to local governments in Napa County.

MTCÕs allocation of TDA moneys will be based on testimony received at the hearing and on review of written comments submitted to MTC, in addition to project consistency with MTC's Regional Transportation Plan, Commission policy, Americans With Disabilities Act paratransit requirements, and the countywide five-year transportation plan.

Persons testifying at the public hearing are encouraged to submit written statements. Written comments may also be submitted to MTC until Friday, Oct. 16, 1998. For further information contact MTC's Public Information Office at 510/817-5757.

MTC is the transportation planning and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

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