VTA 1/8 cent tax proposal to extend BART to San Jose

Without providing an expenditure plan, the VTA Board will consider next week placing a 1/8 cent sales tax increase on the ballot for the BART extension at the request "of a coalition of business, labor, environmental, academic and civic leaders." It is more like Carl Guardino wrote the memo and the ballot measure for VTA by himself, based on his private polling results that he refuses to share with the public.

Also without any analysis, VTA claims that the tax would generate enough funds "to fulfill VTA’s obligation to BART," which is not true. VTA General Manager Michael Burns has admitted that even with the tax, there's still a shortfall of $8 million every year. That shortfall would only cover the minimum payment for BART; however, VTA will actually be responsible for all of the operating subsidies on that extension, including when BART unilaterally increases its operating costs and when ridership fails to meet projection.

In addition, this proposal has not been discussed in any of the VTA standing or advisory committees prior to next week's VTA Board meeting. While it is obvious that Carl Guardino does not want any public participation in the drafting of this tax measure, it is something that the state auditors recommend: "Reviewing work plans for advisory committees to ensure the committees have an opportunity to review and provide input on issues in the early stages of development."

Even without sufficient funds, the VTA board is asked to reaffirm its commitment to the light rail extension from Alum Rock to Eastridge at the same meeting. Apparently, the Downtown East Valley Policy Advisory Board got disturbed by Michael Burn's quote in the San Jose Mercury News suggesting that the light rail extension could be deferred due to lack of funds. San Jose Vice Mayor Dave Cortese sent a memo to VTA reminding the agency that the 2000 Measure A was not all about BART (contrary to Carl Guardino) and that it is time for East San Jose's turn to get a light rail extension.

Although this project has entered into final design and is almost ready to build, the ususal VTA argument for spending prioritization (project readiness) will likely not apply. The problem lies the fact that VTA still operates under an old expenditure plan that assumes a new 1/4 cent sales tax, something which was criticized by the state audit released yesterday. Regardless of VTA's "commitment" to the project, the 1/8 cent sales tax pushed by Guardino will provide nothing for the light rail extension. If Dave Cortese truly believes that it is "unfathomable" for VTA to ask for a tax increase yet trying to take away this project, Cortese should vote against the proposed 1/8 cent sales tax.

Obviously, this light rail extension is useless without a light rail line to downtown via Alum Rock and Santa Clara. Without that portion, the ride from Eastridge to Downtown will take more than twice as long as the buses do today. The biggest barrier other than funding for light rail on Alum Rock and Santa Clara is the BART extension.

- from VTA Watch

Embarcadero Station

Walk down a long set of stairs to an underground station, where you'll be surrounded by rush hour commuters, street performers, and panhandlers in one compressed package of humanity. On a good day, you can get through this mass of humanity peacefully and unbothered, to go back home or up to the skyscapers upstairs for work. On a bad day, prepared to be groped, shoved, and bumped as you swim through the crowd. Don't be surprised if you're rudely pushed out of the way if you're too slow at the turnstile or getting on a train.

Embarcadero Station is a station near the Embarcadero in the Financial District of San Francisco, California. It is located at the north-eastern end of the Market Street Subway below Market Street between Spear Street and Beale Street. Like all of the shared BART and Muni stations on the Market Street Subway, the concourse mezzanine is on the first level down, an island platform for the Muni Metro is on the second level down, and the island platform for BART is on the third level down.

Embarcadero Station originally was the terminus for all of the Muni Metro lines, but in 1998 a new extension was opened from Embarcadero Station, along the Embarcadero and to the Caltrain station at 4th and King Streets. Service along that extension was originally provided by the E Embarcadero line, which ran between Embarcadero Station and the Caltrain station. The N Judah line was later extended along the new extension to replace the E line. On April 7, 2007, the T Third Street line replaced the N line along this route, but N-line service was reinstated on June 30, 2007 to serve alongside the T.

The Ferry Building, Embarcadero Center, Transbay Terminal and the eastern end of the California Street cable car line are all located near Embarcadero Station.

Convenience: 9
Safety: 9
Restroom: 1
Parking: 1

Civic Center/UN Plaza Station

Civic Center/UN Plaza Station is a Muni Metro and Bay Area Rapid Transit station near the Civic Center in downtown San Francisco, California. It is along the Market Street Subway below Market Street between Seventh Street and Eighth Street. Like all of the shared BART and Muni stations on the Market Street Subway, the concourse mezzanine is on the first level down, an island platform for the Muni Metro is on the second level down, and the island platform for BART is on the third level down.

There are several notable buildings in the Civic Center area, including City Hall, the War Memorial Opera House, Asian Art Museum, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, and the San Francisco Public Library's main branch.

Possibly the worst station in the city in terms of safety.

Safety: 2
Convenience: 9
Parking: 2
Restrooms: 2

Fremont Station

Driving to Fremont station during rush hour is asking for trouble. There's enough spots for those that get here at 7am, or if you carpool. You can find street parking on the other side of the mall, or the side residential streets. Walking there, the smell of curry mixes with the construction dust from the hospital across the street. The station is like a scene from urban India, IT workers commuting to downtown jobs chatting in Hindi walking busily with cellphones and briefcases in hand.

Fremont is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station that serves Fremont, California. The elevated island platform serves as the southernmost terminal station of BART's Fremont line, which is served by trains on the Fremont - Daly City Line, which runs daytimes Monday-Saturday, and the Richmond - Fremont Line whose trains run during all BART service times. All trains terminate service and reverse direction at this station.

Fremont station is an important regional transit transfer point, as it is a hub for AC Transit and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses. AC Transit's U Transbay Line, which uses the Dumbarton Bridge and also connects to Stanford University, the Altamont Commuter Express and Amtrak at Fremont's Centerville station. Local AC Transit buses provide service within Fremont, and some extend to nearby Union City. VTA Express buses provide service to San Jose and other destinations in the South Bay, along the only part of the ring around the Bay that is not covered by rail connections (Fremont Centerville Amtrak & Altamont Commuter Express station is about two miles away; the nearest current Capitol Corridor connection is at Oakland Coliseum Station although one is proposed for Union City.).

Safety: 9
Convenience: 9
Parking: 2
Restrooms: 2

Beer By BART

Thinking doing a pub crawl using public transit, then check out Beer by BART blog.

This site is a labor of love (of good beer) by two long-time San Francisco residents, Gail Williams and Steve Shapiro. We went live with the site in March, 2007. Beer By BART is not a bar guide and it’s not a rating site. There are many other sites that do this well. Beer By BART is aimed at getting appreciators of good beer to places to explore the craft. Period. Of course, everyone’s definition of good beer is different, so there is a degree of subjectivity involved in our selection of pubs and breweries listed here.

Now if we can only get a Sex by BART, then we'd be all set =)