Here
’s good news for South Valley residents – and all Bay Area
residents, for that matter: Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage
will chair the Valley Transportation Authority and represent the
VTA on the Caltrain board for the next year.
Here’s good news for South Valley residents – and all Bay Area residents, for that matter: Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage will chair the Valley Transportation Authority and represent the VTA on the Caltrain board for the next year.
“I will just continue to do what I’ve been doing, like getting the 101 done and getting the job done and … getting our voices heard on the issues that are important to South County,” Gage told reporter Lori Stuenkel.
Having a well-respected, practical man at the helm of the VTA board is the first piece of good news to come out of the beleaguered transit agency in some time.
And the fact that for the first time in at least seven years South County will have a voice on Caltrain’s board gives us cause for real optimism that the legendarily inferior Caltrain service in South County might be improved.
“I just think it’s important that we have representation … that we get our voice out there,” Gage said. “It’s a big issue.”
It’s too bad that Gage’s turn as VTA chair and term on the Caltrain board come at time when the financial picture for these agencies and the state is so bleak, but we’re still comforted that he took on the difficult task at such a dismal time.
We’re confident that Gage will use his position to make sure his fellow board members are aware of the many transportation needs in South County – from improved Caltrain service to a stoplight in front of Gilroy Foods, from the Highway 152/156 nightmare to a reorganized VTA board to ensure representation for South County.
We’re also confident that for the entire region, Gage will push for projects that get the most bang for the buck, and will use his voice to help avoid expensive boondoggles like expanding BART to San Jose.
Gage is well-known among his South County constituents for being easy to reach. If you have transportation issues you think he should address either at the VTA or Caltrain, he can be reached via e-mail at
do*****@ga****.com
or by calling 299-5010.
To respond to this editorial or comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, The Morgan Hill Times, 30 E. Third St., Morgan Hill, CA 95037, fax to 779-3886 or email to
ed******@mo*************.com
