Our (and other) transit advocacy efforts in Silicon Valley.
On August 9, three (3) major votes affecting housing and public transportation in San Jose were approved by City Council. Our group helped encourage citizens like YOU to urge City Council to approve these votes.
Read on for what those votes were, and how our group took part in encouraging and making them happen.
“The time is always right to do the right thing.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Remember efforts last year on Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) governance reform via AB 1091? VTA reform is back in play again in the State Legislature, thanks to California State Assembly Member Marc Berman.
Assembly Member Berman will have a town hall to discuss this new effort at VTA Governance Reform. That town hall takes place on Wednesday from 6pm-7pm. Speakers at the Town Hall will include:
RSVP to make yourself part of that town hall Wednesday evening at 6pm.
Afterward, read more on why we continue to support governance reform at VTA.
A key committee at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) voted yesterday to further restrict your voice at meetings. In a unanimous vote, VTA’s Governance and Audit Committee voted to continue to allow public speakers only one (1) minute at Board meetings, and two (2) minutes at Committee meetings.
Highlights of yesterday’s vote at VTA are below.
VTA and consultants are proposing to further limit public comments from citizens like YOU. If approved, the proposal would apply to all future VTA Board Of Directors’ meetings, Committee meetings, and workshops. The draft proposal is attached here for your review.
Public comment on the above staff recommendation (limited to ONE minute or less) will be heard at VTA’s “Governance and Audit” Committee” on Thursday, October 7th at 4:00PM (item #5) time permitting. This will allow the VTA Board Meeting to start promptly at 5:30PM.
More on what YOU can do to stop this proposal is below.
Tried to take a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) lately? Ever been left stranded due to the bus being at its safe capacity limits? You’re not alone. The chart above shows nearly 1,400 riders per day are stranded by full VTA buses who pass them. That’s enough to fill two sections of the where the Sharks, 49ers, or Earthquakes play at. Bus lines like the 22, 25, 66, and 68 are just some examples where we’ve read reports of riders left stranded.
VTA has the money, courtesy of the Federal government, to fix this NOW. They also have the money to help improve safety on its bus and light rail fleet NOW. Here’s details on how YOU, me, and our fellow riders can make VTA make it happen…