The local public transportation riders union is coming out
against the Valley Transportation Authority
’s recently approved plan to borrow $252 million from future
revenues for BART to San Jose construction.
The local public transportation riders union is coming out against the Valley Transportation Authority’s recently approved plan to borrow $252 million from future revenues for BART to San Jose construction.
Santa Clara VTA Riders Union Founder and President Eugene Bradley said Thursday that the result of the VTA bond will be less resources for South County buses and Caltrain.
The riders union is a citizen-comprised public transportation advocacy organization and government watchdog group. It is not related to the VTA.
“My main concern is that this bond will make BART a priority at the cost of every other form of public transportation in the county,” Bradley said. “This could take away the planned improvements for Caltrain between Gilroy and San Jose, and forget about improved bus routes.”
To the shock of many and disapproval of its two South County representatives and the County Board of Supervisors, the VTA voted 7-5 Aug. 7 to endorse a $550 million bond that would tap into the November 2000 voter-approved Measure A sales tax. The half-cent sales tax won’t go into effect for three years and lasts until 2036.
Mayor Tom Springer and County District 1 Supervisor Don Gage, South County’s only representatives on the VTA board, both voted against the bond.
If the bond is approved by a court this fall, it will also allow $80 million to keep the financially-strapped VTA operating near its current level of bus, light rail and transit services, stalling its ultimatum to cut 21 percent of its services.
To contact the county riders union, go to www.vtaridersunion.org. For more information about the VTA, go to www.vta.org
