Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Sonoma County Residents Asked to Comment on Transit Needs

CONTACT:

Marjorie Blackwell
510/464-7884

Reka Goode
510/464-7706

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 17, 2000... The Metropolitan Transportation Commission wants to hear from Sonoma County residents regarding transit needs in their county that could be met with state and local transit funding.

County residents are invited to express their views at a public hearing scheduled for Monday, Oct. 23 , at 5:30 p.m. at the Supervisors' Chambers, Sonoma County Administration Building, 575 Administration Drive, in Santa Rosa.

The public hearing is part of MTC's process of allocating Transportation Development Act (TDA) moneys to transit agencies and local governments for the fiscal year 2001-2002. TDA funds are generated from a one-quarter of one-cent tax on all retail sales in the county. Estimates indicate that approximately $15.5 million in TDA funds will be generated for Sonoma County in FY 2001-2002.

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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma County.

MTC's 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.

Individuals testifying at the public hearing are encouraged to submit written statements. Comments may also be submitted to MTC offices through Friday, Nov. 17.

Send comments by mail to: MTC, 101 8th Street, Oakland, CA 94607; fax to: 510/817-5848; e-mail to: cgoldb@mtc.ca.gov. All comments should be addressed: attention Craig Goldblatt. For further information, contact MTC's Public Information Office at 510/817-5757.

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

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