Transportation is the lifeblood of any economy. COVID-19 impacts and the call to address persistent racial injustice may have forever changed the way the Bay Area moves. In light of this moment, we are working with public, community and business stakeholders to address and understand these changes, develop new funding sources, promote efficient use of the transportation systems we have, and provide better, more equitable, outcomes for everyone.
Recent Wins
- Passed SB 288, a first ever CEQA streamlining bill for transit and “active transportation,” opening the door for further CEQA reform. SB 288 speeds up a wide range of bicycle, complete street and public transit projects, which can help accelerate our economic recovery from COVID-19 by creating jobs and connecting more people to economic opportunity, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more here!
- Provided thought leadership to MTC’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on public transit in the Bay Area, guiding agencies through the COVID pandemic and reforms the agencies can adopt to survive and thrive afterwards.
- Helped secure federal funds to support our region’s transportation system in response to COVID-19
- Provided significant contributions to MTCs Plan Bay Area 2050 long term planning, to ensure efficiency, innovation, flexibility, and public-private partnerships as core strategies
- Convened public transit leaders and private transportation providers throughout the Bay Area to develop regional short-term and long-term response to COVID-19
2021 Policy Activities
- Lead effort to revitalize public and private transportation in a way that creates a new seamless, cost-effective network, including an integrated fare structure and Covid safety standards
- Revive campaign for FASTER Bay Area regional transportation measure to enable a post-Covid19 transit system
- Promote strategies to reduce SOV use in the wake of Covid19, including advocating for safe carpooling, exploring congestion pricing, and working with Bay Area employers to identify new best practices for transportation demand management
- Execute a racial justice analysis for all undertakings to ensure our work furthers racial equity and access in the transportation field
- Assist counties and transit authorities to ensure they fully utilize SB 288- a CEQA exemption for sustainable transit projects that creates jobs while helping people move safely on bike, foot, bus, light-rail, or microtransit
- Expand water transit options by activating a working group of public and private ferry operators to increase ferry ridership and by developing a framework for introduction of hovercraft services
- Guide and support local, regional and state governments and agencies to advance smart deployment of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles
- Organize and activate the Northern California megaregion to promote solutions and investments that improve housing, transportation, and support economic development throughout the 21-county region
Get Involved!
Transportation Committee and Subcommittees: the committee and subcommittees listed below are open to all members. Please engage with us as we work to solve the region’s transportation challenges. For more information, email glitvak@bayareacouncil.org and check out our upcoming events.
Transportation Committee Co-Chairs:
Darlene Gee, Senior Vice President, HNTB
Michael Matthews, Public Policy Director, Facebook
Chris Rivielle, President and CEO, Plant Construction
Water Transit Subcommittee Co-Chairs:
Dana Aftab, External Vice President, Business Operations, Exelixis
Rosanne Foust, President & CEO, SAMCEDA
Heather Salem, Senior Transportation Program Manager, Genentech
Employer TDM Task Force Co-Chairs:
Lauren Bennett, Principal Program Manager, Transportation, Genentech
Jonathan Schuppert, Manager of Transportation Planning & Optimization, Facebook
Past Meeting Presentations & Other Resources
Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan and Dashboard
BART Covid Recovery Plan
Transportation Committee Meeting June 17, 2021
Golden Gate Transit Covid Recovery Plan
Transportation Committee Meeting June 17, 2021
WETA Covid Recovery Plan
Transportation Committee Meeting June 17, 2021
National Institute of Building Sciences presentation on Building Information Management
Transportation Committee Meeting June 17, 2021
CEQA Reform: SB 288
Passed in partnership with SPUR and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group in 2020
