DEAR EDITOR:
The Valley Transportation Authority strongly supports many types
of transportation including bus, light rail, Caltrain and other
intercity rail, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
paratransit service.
DEAR EDITOR:
The Valley Transportation Authority strongly supports many types of transportation including bus, light rail, Caltrain and other intercity rail, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit service. As the congestion management agency for our countywide area, VTA is also involved with highways, roadways, bikeways and pedestrian facilities. VTA is the implementing organization for the voter-backed 1996 Measure B administered by the County. The VTA is the one that broke the bottleneck on U.S. 101 between Cochrane and Bernal ahead of schedule and under budget. VTA also completed the 85/87 Interchange, widened I-880 in San Jose, and completed the first two phases of Route 152 improvements in Gilroy.
VTA pays more than 40 percent of Caltrain’s operating subsidy. One of the 1996 Measure B projects that VTA is implementing adds another track in the Union Pacific Railroad corridor in South San Jose. This improvement means we’ll be in better shape to get Caltrain service increased when ridership warrants it. With the downturn in our economy and job losses, Caltrain ridership overall has dropped 22 percent between February 2001 and February 2004, and 52 percent on the Gilroy segment during the same period.
VTA is becoming more efficient. Significant cost reforms have been taken over the past 24 months. The VTA Board adopted a formal Fare Policy, which in concert with efficiency measures, will serve to improve VTA’s farebox recovery ratio. The Board also recently adopted a Service Management Plan with updated service standards and productivity measures. Nearly 550 positions – about 20 percent of VTA’s workforce – have been eliminated throughout the organization. Departments have been reorganized, functions have been consolidated and operations streamlined. Other cost reduction measures have saved additional funds. The VTA Board, staff and our labor organizations continue to be innovative in finding ways to generate revenue to help the bottom line and help keep service running safely and reliably.
The Measure A approved by more than 70 percent of the voters in 2000 includes BART to Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara. There are a number of good reasons to keep moving forward on our BART extension now. In September 2002, the Federal Transit Administration gave the go-ahead to do preliminary engineering. Recent issues with FTA focus on our financial situation, not on the merits of the project. FTA project evaluation is an ongoing process.
Preliminary engineering is needed to refine the project scope and estimates, has a long shelf life, and is a pivotal investment. Value engineering proposals to reduce capital and operating costs will be evaluated at the same time. The refined design concepts, costs estimates and consensus will help to further develop a credible financial plan.
BART to San Jose has strong local, state and federal support, and has already received some state and federal funds. Proceeding with preliminary engineering maintains project visibility at the highest administrative level and keeps faith with the voters of Santa Clara County. Delaying now would send the wrong message. And, each year of delay increases project costs by around $100 million.
As Chairman of the VTA Board, I can assure you that I will continue to look after South County’s interests and continue to work with the Board to bring positive changes.
Don Gage, Gilroy, Chairman of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors and the VTA Financial Stability Committee
Submitted Friday, April 2 to ed****@****ic.com
