MTC Commissioners:

Our group has learned that $70 million in federal stimulus money is at
stake at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). This is because
the federal government found the MTC failed to comply with Title VI equity
analysis on the Oakland Airport Connector project linking Oakland Airport
with the Coliseum/Airport BART station. We understand that the MTC is in
danger of losing $70 million in federal stimulus money if the money is not
spent.

Given the fact that Governor Schwarzenegger again proposes to eliminate
public transit operations funding in his State Budget proposal, and given
our massive federal deficit, the MTC needs to use the $70 million for
public transit operations throughout the Bay Area. We are sure you have
read about the series in the San Jose Mercury News highlighting how public
transit in the Bay Area has faced numerous fare hikes and service cuts due
to the recession. Having stable transit service and fares enables
alternate access to employment, shopping, health care, education, and
recreation than driving solo in gridlock. Calculating figures from the
American Public Transportation Association from last October, investing
$70 million in transit operations would create 2870 new jobs - nearly 2/3
more jobs than investing the same $70 million in starting construction on
the Oakland Airport Connector. Real economic recovery cannot occur when
hurdles to that recovery are placed due to lack of public transit
operations funding.

As MTC Commissioners tomorrow, please do what's best for the Bay Area's
economic recovery NOW. Give $70 million of our federal stimulus money to
all public transit operators in the Bay Area. Please do not throw away the
opportunity to provide much-needed funding to transit operations in the
Bay Area.

Sincerely,

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users
http://www.vtaridersunion.org/
Yahoo!/AOL IM: eegenebradley