HUGE VICTORY FOR TRANSIT, JOBS, AND JUSTICE!
$70 Million in Stimulus Funds Will Go to Bay Area Public Transportation Instead of Oakland Airport Connector Boondoggle
On February 12, 2010, the Federal Transit Administration issued a letter to BART rejecting their plan for addressing civil rights concerns regarding the Oakland Airport Connector and prohibiting BART from receiving $70 million in stimulus funds for the project.
The Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission already voted on January 27 to move the $70 million in stimulus funds to Bay Area transit agencies if BART didn’t get a plan approved by February 17.
This Means Three Big Wins:
- HUNDREDS OF JOBS WILL BE SAVED.
The $70 million will save hundreds of local jobs that are about to be lost at transit agencies in all nine Bay Area counties due to funding shortfalls. - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICE WILL BE SAVED.
The brutal service cuts and fare hikes happening region-wide can be slowed and hopefully stopped. Funds will go to AC Transit, BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, MUNI, Samtrans, VTA, ACE, CCCTA, ECCTA, Fairfield, LAVTA, MCTPA, Santa Rosa CityBus, Sonoma County Transit, WestCat, and transit in Fairfield, Union City, Vacaville, and Vallejo. - THERE WILL FINALLY BE A REAL PUBLIC PROCESS FOR THE OAKLAND AIRPORT CONNECTOR PROJECT.
Oakland residents and airport workers will now get a chance to shape the project. The current project would have no local stops, cost $12 roundtrip, go just 23.4 miles per hour, and cost $500 million to build!
So Much to Celebrate, So Many to Thank… Like You!
Thank You to Our Partners
The Federal Transit Administration started the investigation that led to this victory largely based on the civil rights complaint filed by Public Advocates on behalf of TransForm and partners. Many thanks to the wonderful activists at Public Advocates, Urban Habitat, and Genesis.
Thank You to Those Who Took Action Online
Hundreds and hundreds of emails from people like you were sent over the past year to the BART Board, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the Federal Transit Administration. With your help, we held our public agencies accountable.
Thank You to Those Who Donated to TransForm
Your contributions, big and small, helped us be nimble and take on this important fight over the past year. Help us keep fighting the good fight for public transportation for everyone!
At last, we can find a way to improve service to the Oakland Airport that makes sense for everyone: Oakland residents, airport workers, BART riders, and airport travelers.
Contact John Knox White with questions.