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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 06201995 - U2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: SUPERVISOR JEFF SMITH -' Contra s Costa DATE: JUNE 20, 1995 `o oSTq�_; County U RGENC_YAT_EM_BYAL5TH_S_V_O.TE10_ADD-TO_A_GESIDA SUBJECT: CONSIDER SUPPORTING BART EXTENSION TO THE SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RFCOMMENDATION: 1. Strongly support the Bay Area Rapid Transit Districts plan to extend BART directly into the San Fransico Airpor 2.Authorize the chair to sign a letter notifying federal legislators of support, and request they maintain federal funding already appropriated for this project. BACKGROUND: *Regional Support: Since 1988 the BART SFO extension has been the Bay Area's number one priority for federal New Starts funds. * Job Creation:One of the largest public works projects in the Bay Area,the SFO Extension is projected to create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs and energizing the region's economy for years to come. * Environmental Preservation: Environmental resource agencies have noted that the selected alternative is likely to be the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative(LEDPA)since it results in the least impacts on wetlands and the habitat of threatened and endangered species. *Improves Air Quality:The project is expected to reduce the Bay Area's"vehicle miles traveled"(VMT)by 485,000. This will have a positive effect on the entire region's air quality. * Public Support: a four county telephone survey of 1001 registered voters conducted in 1994 confirmed the follow * BART enjoys a positive image throughout the entire Bay Area. * 89% of those surveyed felt it was important for BART to serve SFO. * 85% favored locating the SFO BART station inside the airport. * 65% felt it was worth an additional $200 million to bring BART directly into SFO. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATIO4011A&II APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON Jiinp 200 1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ---- ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED June 20, 1995 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR B ' Contact Person: CC: County Administrator - Transportation Committee 4 t p7a/l U/i ial/umctsco JENalm" /Ii//I U/ /11 t-lrl- C-14 Sunday,June 18, 1995 RANDOLPH A. HEARST President —r t Airlines: Don't sabota e BART HE AIRLINES that make up the early start is essential because federal sup- Air Transport Association are fol- port could dwindle in coming years. lowing disastrous public rela- The Air Transport Association's spoiler tions advice. Their lobbying or- role hurts the airlines themselves,which t E ganization is working on Capitol Hill to kill would benefit from having the best possi- a $23 million federal appropriation for ble transit connections to SFO.An associa- starting a BART extension directly to San tion spokesman's claim of concern for the Francisco International Airport. federal budget (because local agencies This sabotage of a worthy and long- chose a relatively expensive route alterna- awaited transit project is a kick in the teeth tive)presumes us to be naive. The airlines to the entire Bay Area. Why the airlines are more likely worried that the airport's would act against millions of their potential share of the transit cost would entail an in- customers is a mystery, even in a context crease of their fees,or that BART work on € of short-term greed. airport property might conceivably disrupt I The rail line from Colma to a new inter- the airport's own$2.4 billion expansion. national terminal at SFO is endorsed by The airlines should be taking a longer ' BART, SamTrans and the voters of San view of how their passengers will be able Francisco, to complete a transit link to reach the airport by way of increasingly promised since BART was conceived four clogged highways in the next century — decades ago.The$1.26 billion project antic- and how the airlines can enjoy the public's ipates an eventual$800 million in federal goodwill if they undermine a long-sought funding,-$200 million from the airport and regional transit goal. Their congressional the rest from local transportation fiands.An lobbyists are engineering a train wreck. A, � 1 ;Pon vroaro THE VOICE OF THE WEST Don't. Der it BART Extension N AN OUTRAGEOUSLY brazen at- the line to the airport. The extension is a tempt to overturn the expressed wishes key part of the Bay Area's long-term trans- of the vast majority of Bay Area resi- portation plans and is strongly supported dents,an airlines lobbying group is pressur- by both officials and residents of San Mateo ing Congress to deny $22.6 million for pre- County and elsewhere in the region. liminary work on the extension of BART to "Now that we are on the threshold of San Francisco International Airport. actual construction, this special-interest Q Ignoring the desires and needs of local group is threatening to halt one of the larg- people, the special-interest Air Transport est and most important transit projects in Association (ATA), the history of the Bay Area," said BART representing all Board President Michael Bernick. Airline the major airlines oss of federal funding would deprive lobbyists are flying into San Francisco, -is urg- the area of a,four-county rail link to the attacking ing the House Ap- airport that would serve millions of passen- propriations Sub- gers a year,and it would eliminate 50,000 to the wishes of committee for 70,000 jobs connected to the construction .Bay Area Transportation to and about$1 billion in investments. deny the federal "Frankly,we are outraged at this blatant residents funds. The lobby- interference by the airlines to scuttle such ists are worried the an important local project,"Bernick added. extension would We urge the Bay Area congressional del- adversely affect their clients' profits, by egation—particularly the delegation's only increasing landing fees and fuel taxes. Republican, Representative Bill Baker of This lobbying effort is an unconsciona- Walnut Creek — to aggressively support ble assault on a democratic process that has this critical project and use their influence played itself out over 23 years of study, to persuade the transportation subcommit- debate and compromise as BART directors tee to recommend the BART extension sought to develop the best way to extend funding when they meet next week.