Transportation

By Elaine (Dugger) Shaw

To date, San Joaquin County has not received its fair share of federal transportation funding. We should not have to put up with inadequate transportation systems because of financial shortcomings. Our district needs a leader who will work with our local communities and transportation planners to reach a consensus on what our priority projects will be, and then bring them on-line faster.

The following are a few examples of projects that I will make a priority in San Joaquin County: 1) enlarging the ACE train and San Joaquin County Transit bus fleets, 2) modernizing the Stockton Metropolitan Airport so that it can continue to grow into the international distribution center for San Joaquin Valley agriculture, 3) increasing the development of the Port of Stockton through such projects as creating greater access to Rough and Ready Island, and 4) improving the safety and operational efficiency of our roads such as Route 12, Highway 205, and the Arch/Sperry Road construction project.

Other priority projects in our district are 1) in Contra Costa County improving the safety and operational efficiency of our roads such as Highway 4 and Vasco Road, 2) completing the 580/680 interchange and expanding the BART system to better serve the Tri-Valley area and Tracy, and 3) widening U.S. 101 in the Morgan Hill area. We also need better information systems to warn commuters of possible delays and detour routes. With a united region behind me, I will go to Washington and effectively fight for the transportation funding we deserve.

In addition to easing traffic, modernizing our transportation systems will provide a boost to the local economy. Transportation projects will infuse our economy with badly needed jobs and other economic benefits.

We must bring higher density affordable housing closer to transportation and transit hubs, as well as bring good high-income jobs for families closer to affordable housing. Affordable housing has spread further away from transportation centers, making the commute unnecessarily complicated and inconvenient. There is a growing demand for affordable housing located closer to our BART stations, ACE trains, bus stops, and highways. A good way to meet this demand is through a federal credit support program that encourages more affordable housing near transportation hubs at a very low cost to taxpayers. There is also a lack of good paying jobs located in areas with affordable housing. I will work hard to bring new jobs to the areas of San Joaquin County that have affordable housing and encourage telecommuting. I will also work with the high tech industry to move more jobs to our district. We must bring new jobs to these areas with affordable housing.

It is time we restore the freedom of mobility that was lost in recent years. A safe, reliable, modern transportation system is a pressing need in our district. No one should have to sacrifice time with their family for the hours spent in their car during commute times. No one should have to be late for his or her job because of an inefficient commuter system. We must modernize our transportation system and begin a new era of mobility.