BART's people-mover connection to the Oakland Airport is jeopardized by an FTA ruling that the agency failed to reach out to minorities, potentially denying the agency of $70 million in stimulus funds. Might the funds go to other transit needs?
Transportation blogger Jonathon Blair writes that BART is "in denial" about losing $70 million for their pet project that "replac(es) an inexpensive bus with an expensive train."
"The clear language of the FTA's letter(pdf), combined with BART's general clumsy approach to social justice issues, makes it obvious that BART cannot turn the project around in the five weeks before the FTA makes a final decision on stimulus funding.
Meanwhile, the Bay Area's largest coalition of smart growth and social justice organizations, TransForm, has launched a campaign to redistribute the funds where they are needed most - everday transit operations.
From TransForm: Feds put funding for Oakland Airport Connector project on hold:
"Funds Can Be Shifted to Save Transit Service Across the Bay Area – If MTC Does the Right Thing.
The FTA letter also states that unless the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) shifts the funds away from the Oakland Airport Connector to other uses, the region risks losing the $70 million entirely. MTC will make their decision on January 27."
Thanks to MTC-ABAG Library
FULL STORY: Airport Connector doomed, but will Bay Area get its stimulus funding back?
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research