Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Air Quality Conformity Clears Way for New Transportation Plan

Transit Expansion Highlights 25-Year Investment Strategy

CONTACT:

Doug Kimsey
510.817.5790

John Goodwin
510.817.5862

OAKLAND, Calif., March 15, 2002...The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) today approved a finding that the 2001 Regional Transportation Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area will help the region attain federal air quality standards. Today's action by MTC follows the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of the motor vehicle emissions budget detailed in the Bay Area 2001 Ozone Attainment Plan for transportation conformity purposes. The EPA finding became effective March 8.

Today's MTC action clears the way for lifting of the freeze on federal funding for nearly $800 million worth of Bay Area transportation projects, which occurred following the EPA's failure to approve the motor vehicle emissions budget element of the Ozone Attainment Plan by a Jan. 21 deadline. The California Air Resources Board approved the Bay Area's entire ozone plan on Nov. 1, 2001.

The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) specifies how some $87.4 billion (2001 dollars) of anticipated federal, state and local transportation funds will be spent in the nine-county Bay Area during the next 25 years. Of this total, more than 70 percent ($65 billion) is devoted to maintaining and operating the region's existing road, highway and transit network. The remaining 30 percent ($22.4 billion) provides for new projects or system expansion. Roughly 77 percent of the total funding outlined in the plan will go to public transit — for operations, rehabilitation and expansion.

While the bulk of RTP revenue will be used to maintain and operate existing street, highway and transit systems, the plan calls for significant expansion of the Bay Area transportation network as well. One of the cornerstones of the plan is MTC's Resolution No. 3434, which adopts the Regional Transit Expansion Program (RTEP). The RTEP calls for a nearly $11 billion investment in new transit projects that will improve mobility and enhance connectivity for residents throughout the region. These include a BART extension from Fremont to San Jose and Santa Clara; a "Central Subway" that would extend the San Francisco Muni's Third Street light rail line to Chinatown; a BART connector to the Oakland International Airport; electrification of the Caltrain line and extension of the service to a rebuilt Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco; a significant down payment on BART extensions or other rail improvements to Livermore and Antioch; the addition of several new regional express bus routes; and AC Transit rapid bus service linking Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro.

Resolution No. 3434 is the successor to MTC's Resolution No. 1876, which was adopted by the Commission in 1988 and delivered such critical projects as BART extensions to Pittsburg/Bay Point and Dublin/Pleasanton, the Tasman light-rail extension in Silicon Valley, and the BART extension to the San Francisco International Airport, which is scheduled to open later this year.

The new Regional Transportation Plan provides funding for dozens of congestion relief projects on Bay Area freeways as well. These include a fourth bore for the Caldecott Tunnel; adding carpool lanes on U.S. 101 between Novato in Marin County and Windsor in Sonoma County; reconfiguring the Interstate 80/Interstate 680/Route 12 interchange in Fairfield; adding carpool lanes to Interstate 680 over the Sunol Grade; and widening U.S. 101 to eight lanes, including two carpool lanes, from Metcalf Road in San Jose to Cochrane Road in Morgan Hill. The plan also includes funds for the construction of new bicycle and pedestrian trails around the Bay Area.

Among the other initiatives that will receive funding through the plan are a Lifeline Transportation Network that will enhance low-income residents' access to the region's transit systems during both peak commute periods and off-peak hours; a two-year pilot program through which MTC will provide up to $2 million to subsidize bus passes for low-income students in the East Bay; the TransLink® universal fare card now being tested on several Bay Area transit systems; the Freeway Service Patrol that assists motorists in distress; rideshare programs that set up carpool/vanpool ride matches; and the TravInfo® traveler information service, which provides callers with up-to-the-minute traffic information and a direct connection to transit agencies.

While focused on mobility investments, the Regional Transportation Plan also triples funding for MTC initiatives such as the Transportation for Livable Communities program and the Housing Incentive Program that promote transit- and pedestrian-oriented development. These programs signify the plan's commitment to "smart growth" principles designed to address urban sprawl.

According to MTC Chair and San Pablo City Councilmember Sharon Brown, "The new Regional Transportation Plan was shaped by six primary goals: to improve mobility, sustain economic vitality, promote livable communities, protect the environment, improve safety and promote equity. The plan is the result of the most extensive public outreach effort in MTC's history as we reiterate our commitment to meet the needs of our diverse and growing population, and to balance the competing demands against limited financial resources."

The Regional Transportation Plan also includes a "Blueprint" section that envisions what could be accomplished as more money becomes available. One new source of funding is Proposition 42 — approved by California voters on March 5 — which amends the state constitution to permanently dedicate 100 percent of the state sales tax on gasoline for transportation investments.

MTC developed the Regional Transportation Plan, in part, based on the thousands of comments the agency received from Bay Area residents during an extensive public outreach effort that began February 2001. During the first phase of outreach, MTC co-sponsored 29 public workshops that attracted some 700 participants, conducted a random-sample telephone poll of 1,600 registered voters and developed an interactive online survey in which some 1,700 people took part. The second phase of outreach included another online survey, eight more public workshops, and some 25 presentations by Commissioners and MTC staff to a wide range of public groups. MTC also convened its first-ever Pedestrian Safety Summit and conducted a series of meetings with four specialized working groups. These included six meetings with the Environmental Justice Advisory Group, seven meetings with the Performance Measures Working Group and seven public workshops to guide development of the Lifeline Transit Network, plus nine meetings with the Regional Bicycle Plan Oversight Committee, two kickoff meetings to gather input on the Regional Bicycle Master Plan and three final outreach meetings devoted to the bike plan.

Publication of the final 2001 Regional Transportation Plan is scheduled for later this month. Copies of the final version of the plan will be available on request from the MTC/ABAG Library. (phone 510.817.5836 or fax 510.817.5932) or email <library@mtc.ca.gov>. The plan also will be posted on the MTC Web site: <www.mtc.ca.gov>.

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

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