Transportation

By Dave Cortese

A summary of my experience and vision for improving your quality of life when traveling on the roadways in our county.

Santa Clara County is forced to maintain a growing system with fewer resources. I have ideas for finding those needed funds. In San Jose for example, under the current leadership of the Reed-Cortese Administration we have dedicated all surplus funds in our budget each year to pavement maintenance and fixing potholes.

Transportation is about getting our families and our selves to work, school, medical care, shopping, little league games, parks and libraries in a safe and timely manner. None of us have to look very far to see that traffic back-ups and long lines at metering lights are hindering our quality of life, and adding to our daily stress.

By taking on leadership roles with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, I've fought for funding to improve highway connectors to increase the flow of traffic. I have succeeded in getting $38 Million in funding from Proposition 1B for Phase I of the Highway 101 corridor from Interstate 680 to Tully Road, including a new interchange at Tully Road. I remain committed to securing funds for more of these needed projects, including improvements at the Capitol Expressway and Yerba Buena Road exits, and will keep advocating for them as a County Supervisor.

I've supported extending BART to Santa Clara County and have worked side-by-side with other elected officials and various transportation districts from all of the nine Bay Area Counties to find solutions that work for everybody. With Bart we'll be able to enjoy the same luxury that thousands of people in neighboring counties like Contra Costa and Alameda already have.

Citizens groups and I have been pro-active in fighting against development in places like Evergreen and North San Jose until, and unless, traffic impact is fully addressed. It doesn't make sense to approve more homes and industry without a rational plan for the increased traffic, including alternatives such as bike paths, HOV lanes, and more frequent bus schedules.

Along with neighborhood associations, I joined San Jose's first Traffic Calming Committee, which re-wrote the rules so any citizen or group can get traffic relief measures in their own neighborhoods to slow down speeders who cut through traffic.

Neighborhoods must be included earlier, and to a greater extent, in crafting traffic solutions in their own communities. For example, in Sunnyvale, a divisive controversy over a new Mary Avenue over crossing may have been avoided had neighbors been properly consulted and involved in the design process.

I want to be your advocate on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Together we can find solutions to bring our transportation infrastructure up to par and ease traffic congestion by providing affordable alternatives to bumper-to-bumper traffic.