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Transit District Looks to the Community as a Partner for the Future
In an effort to understand San Mateo County residents’ priorities about how best to reduce traffic congestion and improve transit and mobility options, the San Mateo County Transit District is partnering with the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors to launch Get Us Moving San Mateo County.
Get Us Moving is a public engagement and education effort designed to provide information and collect community feedback about solutions to the County’s growing traffic problems.
In addition to collecting community feedback, the District has convened dozens of public officials and community leaders to discuss ideas for relieving traffic congestion and ensuring that residents have access to a broad range of transportation choices that meet San Mateo County’s rapidly evolving mobility needs.
Feedback collected through this effort will be used to inform the development of an expenditure plan that could be considered by county voters on the November 2018 ballot. Legislation passed by State Senator Jerry Hill in 2015 and Assembly Member Kevin Mullin in 2017 allows the District and the County to place a measure before San Mateo County voters that would collect a ½-cent sales tax to be used for countywide transportation improvements.
“We know that solving our traffic problems must be a community-driven process and we want to hear what San Mateo County residents think about potential solutions,” said the Transit District’s General Manager Jim Hartnett. “We look forward to providing a series of opportunities for community members to give feedback and help set a direction that will help prioritize innovative and congestion relief solutions to make our County more environmentally and economically sustainable.”
“Next year provides a once in a generation opportunity to upgrade our transportation infrastructure both locally and throughout the region. The County is pleased to join with SamTrans and private sector leaders through SAMCEDA to help educate residents and better understand their priorities as we look to create a plan that will reduce congestion, maintain our economic vitality and improve our quality of life,” added San Mateo County Supervisor Warren Slocum.
“The San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA) is pleased to partner with our local public agencies and elected officials on this critical public engagement effort. SAMCEDA is leading the business community’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve transit options. We take pride in our leadership role with this community engagement process and the role business will play in the eventual solutions,” commented Rosanne Foust, President and CEO of SAMCEDA.
The District announced the launch of a website where residents can initially participate in the process by filling out a survey. Additional feedback opportunities will be added to the website over the next eight months. San Mateo County residents can visit www.getusmovingsmc.com to take the survey. The Transit District is also planning a series of town hall events, and will be conducting outreach efforts at community events in order to gather a wide range of opinions and viewpoints.
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About SamTrans: SamTrans operates 77 routes throughout San Mateo County. Funded in part by a half-cent sales tax, the San Mateo County Transit District also provides administrative support for Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. SamTrans has provided bus service to San Mateo County customers since 1976.
Like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/samtrans or and follow us on Twitter @SamTrans.
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About Caltrain: Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with limited commute service to Gilroy. Caltrain has enjoyed five years of consecutive monthly ridership increases, surpassing more than 65,000 average weekday riders. While the Joint Powers Board assumed operating responsibilities for the service in 1992, the railroad celebrated 150 years of continuous passenger service in 2014. Planning for the next 150 years of Peninsula rail service, Caltrain is on pace to electrify the corridor, reduce diesel emissions by 97 percent by 2040 and add more service to more stations.
Like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/caltrain and follow us on Twitter @Caltrain.
About the TA: Created to administer Measure A, San Mateo County’s half-cent sales tax, the Transportation Authority provides funding for transportation and infrastructure improvement projects. In 2004, more than 75 percent of San Mateo County residents voted to reauthorize Measure A for an additional 25 years.