SANTA CLARA VTA RIDERS UNION P. O. Box 390069 Mountain View, CA 94039-0069 www.vtaridersunion.org NEWS RELEASE TO: Editor, News Assignment Desk, Transportation Reporter * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * Press Contact: Eugene Bradley 24 hr. cell/pager (408)888-2208 SOUTH BAY TRANSIT ADVOCACY/WATCHDOG GROUP RELEASES RESULTS OF BART TO SAN JOSE ONLINE POLL 52% Of Those Surveyed Want San Jose BART Extension Scrapped Due to Fiscal Crises SUNNYVALE, CA (November 4, 2003) – The Santa Clara VTA Riders Union (SCVTARU – http://www.vtaridersunion.org/), a transit advocacy and watchdog group for the South Bay, today announces the results of an online poll gaging public opinion on the San Jose BART Extension. Given the fiscal crisis currently taking place at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and at the state and federal levels of government, we asked participants how they felt about the BART extension to San Jose. Nearly 60 people responded to our online poll, which was hosted by Mister Poll (http://www.misterpoll.com/). The online poll was advertised on the Google Usenet group sbay.transportation (http://groups.google.com/) as well as several Yahoo! Groups (http://groups.yahoo.com/). While the number of participants was not what wanted, SCVTARU wanted a unique, Silicon Valley-style poll on a controversial issue, using the Internet as the polling place, where participants come to the poll – not the other way around during the family dinner hour. Even more unique was that the poll was generated online and results tabulated at absolutely zero cost – whereas similar, more traditional polls would typically cost five to six figures to hire an opinion agency to run. The key results of the online poll were that 54% of those surveyed would vote against an additional half-cent sales tax to fund the completion of the BART to San Jose project. Only 38% of those surveyed would vote for an extension of the current half-cent sales tax approved by Santa Clara County voters in November, 2000 to bring BART to San Jose as well as improve bus, commuter rail, and light rail service. That result closely mirrors the result from a similar survey recently taken by the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group to gauge the need for another sales tax to bring BART to San Jose. Most shocking, though, was that when asked how they felt about the BART extension with fiscal crises at the VTA, state, and federal levels, 52% of those who responded wanted to see the entire project scrapped due to lack of funding. What made the response more shocking was that the “scrap the project” selection was the last choice in the question. The survey text and results are as follows: Your Opinion on BART to San Jose In November, 2000, over 70% of registered voters in Santa Clara County, California, approved a 1/2-cent sales tax ballot measure to build and operate various transit projects throughout the county. Chief amongst the projects to be funded with the sales tax was an extension of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) from Fremont to San Jose and Santa Clara. However, the current economic recession, combined with the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)'s fiscal crisis, and budget crises at the state and federal level, place the San Jose BART extension as well as other transit projects in jeopardy of either being delayed for several decades, or not being constructed at all. With this in mind, the Santa Clara VTA Riders Union (SCVTARU) has developed this poll on how you feel about the San Jose BART extension, as well as how its operating expenses must be paid for. More information on the situation re: BART to San Jose can be found here. Please note that SCVTARU is not affiliated with the VTA. Results ------- Are you a registered voter in Santa Clara County, California? Yes (67%) No (33%) Do you use Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses and/or light rail, and if so, how often? Never (34%) One (1) to two (2) times per week (34%) More than four (4) times per week (20%) Three (3) to four (4) times per week (10%) How did you vote on Measure A in November 2000? I voted Yes on Measure A in November 2000 (40%) I did not vote on Measure A in November 2000 (30%) I voted No on Measure A in November 2000 (28%) Would you vote for an additional 1/2 cent sales tax to ensure the San Jose BART extension is fully completed and operational in 2014, instead of delayed until at least 2026? No (54%) Yes (28%) Don't Know (Undecided) (16%) If offered as an alternative, would you vote to extend the deadline of the 2000 Measure A 1/2 cent sales tax from 2036 to 2056 to ensure that the San Jose BART extension, as well as expanded Caltrain, VTA bus, and light rail service promised under Measure A, gets fully funded and not subject to delays or cancellation? Yes (38%) No (33%) Don't Know (Undecided) (27%) The VTA will need an additional $48 million to $63 million per year in stable funding before 2009 to operate the BART extension to San Jose. What additional source(s) of revenue do you think VTA would need to operate the BART extension to San Jose? (check all that apply) Parking fees at BART stations (15%) County-wide gasoline tax (15%) Other solutions are needed (12%) Surcharge for BART travel to/from Santa Clara County (10%) Corporate sponsorship fees in future BART stations (9%) Fees for new housing or business development (8%) Fees for use of carpool lanes by solo drivers during peak periods (7%) Parcel (property) tax (6%) Employer payroll tax (4%) Additional sales tax (4%) Higher bus/light rail fares (4%) Given the VTA's current fiscal crisis and resultant transit service cuts and fare hikes over the last two years, as well as California's budget crisis and the nation's economic recession, how do you feel about the BART extension to San Jose? It should be completely scrapped - VTA cannot afford to build nor run it (52%) It should continue on as currently planned. (27%) It should wait until adequate funding to operate the extension has been identified (21%) ### About the Santa Clara VTA Riders Union -------------------------------------- Founded in October 2000 by Eugene Bradley, the Santa Clara VTA Riders Union is a grassroots-based organization dedicated to ensuring that elected officials improve and implement cost- effective, frequent, and reliable mass transit in Santa Clara County. Our web site is at www.vtaridersunion.org. We are based in Sunnyvale, CA. Our organization has absolutely no affiliation with, nor is endorsed by, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in any way whatsoever. Note to Editors and News Desks: More information on SCVTARU can be found at the following URLs: http://www.vtaridersunion.org/whoarewe/who.html http://www.vtaridersunion.org/PR