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| Santa Clara VTA | Riders Union |
Throughout August 2006, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) held several meetings in Milpitas, Santa Clara, and San Jose. These meetings were public scoping meetings for the proposed San Jose BART extension.
A slide show (3.5 MB PDF download) was presented to the general public, who were given speaker cards with only three (3) minutes to make
The meetings featured a few proposed BART station and structural redesigns due to technical demands from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) that VTA must fulfill to receive funding for the project. One of the tactics that VTA has used is to base ridership on 2030 projections rather than the earlier date projections. It is possible VTA wanted higher ridership figures to increase their chances of obtaining federal funding.
The redesign includes a few Aerial/At-Grade option changes, as well as changes to parking lots along the proposed BART route. Some options include structured parking and others include flat-lot parking. In addition, this revision seems to eliminate a future Milpitas Station other than Montague and also consolidates two downtown stations into one. With regard to the downtown station, there were discussions regarding potential entrances to the station - there are three or four.
VTA noted that any changes made would require a new EIS/EIR study.
SCVTARU members Eugene Bradley, Danny Garza, and Zakhary Mallett contributed to these reports.
The meeting in Milpitas had somewhere around 20-30 interested citizens. There were a few speakers that spoke about noise mitigation and traffic control concerns. A few also spoke about construction timeliness with the stations parking lots, etc.; that the shorter, the better because of both the noise of construction and the expediting of getting revenue service started. One indivudual emphasized his desire for a station in Milpitas and felt that the Montague Station was a slap in his face; that the Montague Station is only borderline Milpitas and he wants a station more central within Milpitas.
The Santa Clara meeting had very few attendants (5-10). There were a few who spoke about bike accessibility and how traffice control needs to be strict to allow bikers a safe ride along the roads. In different words, without traffic control being tight, people going to and from the stations lots will likely cut-off bikers and peds, making it unsafe for such people. In addition, there was someone who commented about general common-sense practices - making sure that the line has good connectivity to the broader areas.
The meeting report below was filed from SCVTARU member Danny Garza of the San Jose Chapter of the Mexican-American Political Association (MAPA):
It seems to me that BART and the VTA are trying to run over the public, especially at the Santa Clara Alum Rock Station. I attended the meeting and was shocked at how unmoving BART/VTA have been concerning this stop as it was opposed by the majority of the public that showed....The two meetings I attended last night was more like a three ring circus. The negative issues presented by the public in the last five years have been totally ignored. From the very start, Lisa Ives stated that BART/VTA will get their way no matter what the public wants. This fact is further demonstrated and brought back into the light last night with the expansion of the BART/VTA foot print regardless of the NAC's issues at that sight.
It seems that every one except the public is being informed of changes from above. I am shocked that none, not one of the community concerns have been addressed by the powers above. I am not shocked that the BART/VTA projects are being ram rodded down the public's throat. What good is the SNI if BART/Vta can tell the NAC's what they want for that particular area, and that like it or not this is what is planned and this is what you are going to get. There was and still is no concern for the children on their way to school, who will be crossing intersections not equipped to handle road raging drivers.
There has been no mention of fiscal responsibility for new bridges, interchanges, lights, neighborhood security, not to mention the damage that will be done to the HISTORICAL FIVE WOUNDS church, and many, many other issues the public has as to be clarified. We should not have to pay a dime more then voted for to complete this extension! If it can not be built with the funds budgeted for it now then dont build it! BART/VTA must not be allowed to jam this project down our throats. Until I hear other wise, I feel no one with the power to address the communities concers is listening.
How I Can Give Input to VTA's BART Scoping Proposal (Until September 7)
Until September 7, you can address written comments to:
Tom Fitzwater
VTA Environmental Planning, Building B
3331 N. First
Street, San Jose, CA 95134-1906
email: vtabart.seircomments@vta.org
fax:
(408)321-5787
Hearing impaired (TDD) - (408)321-2330
In addition, send a copy of your input to the VTA's Board of Directors and SCVTARU via our DIY portal for contacting VTA management directly.
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