You are here: vtaridersunion.org > VTA Meetings > June 2001 VTA Workshop

• It is announced that there will be at least a $13.4 million surplus on or near April 2006, when the current 1996 Measure B tax ends.  Statement is made during the opening statements/status report for the 1996 Measure B Transportation Improvement Program (MBTIP) in Item III.

 
• Item IV (amendments to the 1996 MBTIP described above) with both subitems, passes.  The first subitem includes adding $25 million to restore funding for the existing LRT Contingency Reserve, and adding $60 million for a new Highway Program Contingency Reserve, both to be managed solely by the Board of Supervisors.  The second subitem approves a Joint Resolution to amend the 1996 MBTIP Master Agreement between the VTA and Santa Clara County re: the Rail and Highway Program Reserve

.
• On to item V...Over $10 million was added as a new project budget and allocated for a Consolidated Biological Mitigation Site...Over $13 million was added for a total project budget of just under $150 million for the Capitol LRT project to handle cost increases (read: overruns) de to utility relocation, utility survey support, and "contingency replenishment"...Oddly enough, a cell phone playing the William Tell Overture was playing while the Vasona LRT funding increase of over $26 million to total $283 million Union Pacific right-of-way acquisition, signal redesign for freight trains and moving LRT via Caltrain's yard in the area of San Jose Diridon station, and a final design for grade separation/station at Hamilton Avenue near Highway 17 in San Jose.  While item was being described, the William Tell Overture was being played on someone's cell phone - a possible omen of what was to come.  ...Despite emails to board.secretary@vta.org protesting this project (addressed by VTA Board member Forrest Williams of San Jose); public comment from Margaret Okuzumi of our sister organization, Peninsula Rail 2000, Jim Stallman of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, myself (Eugene Bradley, VTA Riders Union founder), and Eli from the VTA Riders Union, all regarding safety concerns for the disabled, the need for more transit in downtown Sunnyvale, and a complete disregard for the Sunnyvale citizens who protested for 90 minutes against the project, $3 million was approved to be added for a total 1996 Measure B pot of over $81 million to handle construction cost overruns for the Sunnyvale Caltrain station project (specifically the construction of an unsafe, multistory parking garage at over $46,000 per space!).  [Editor's Note: VTA Board member Dennis Kennedy (Mayor of Morgan Hill) addressed in a workshop like this a few months ago about the VTA needing to build cost-effective transit projects - he was amongst those who unanimously passed this item despite its cost overruns.]  Also approved was a $3.5 million addition from the Traffic Congestion Relief program, from the same amount of 1996 Measure B funds for the Highway 85/87 Interchange project; over $1.8 million more for nearly $12 million for a "Level of Service"; and an addition of over $3.4 million for a total budget of over $25 million for "Signal Synchronization Project" to handle cost overruns...Glen Dickey and Rex Adler, from the Hamilton Avenue neighborhood in San Jose, spoke out about the fact that little public notice was given to the neighborhood regarding the need for a grade separated crossing between Hamilton Avenue and Highway 17 in San Jose.  (An aerial map of the area in question)  These gentlemen were at the VTA Board meeting the previous evening, speaking out during the public comments area on this very issue.  Despite the public comments from both gentlemen in this meeting and in the Board of Directors meeting the previous day, this item for transferring $8.5 million for an amendment to the Vasona LRT project budget to build a light rail grade separation structure at Hamilton Avenue.  This is contingent upon the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approving an at-grade crossing by November 30, 2001.  Otherwise, the project completion date is moved from November 2004 to April 2005 to allow construction of the grade separation at Hamilton Avenue.

 
• Item VII was also approved - it was the 1996 Measure B Transportation Improvement Program Revenue and Expenditure plan.  [Editor's Note: As it was now 10:45am I had to leave to be at work in the Peninsula by 12:30.  I used the #10 SJC Airport Flyer to get to Santa Clara Caltrain, and then took a northbound train to my job in the Peninsula.  I will try to get the notes for the other Workshop meeting where the transit project list for the 2001 Regional Transportation Plan that VTA will submit to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.]

Meeting adjourns at 10:47am.

back to vtaridersunion.org main page