Murphy McCalley - AC Transit District Ward 4

By Murphy McCalley

Background Position Paper

Why am I interested in serving on the AC Transit Board? I have spent my entire professional career in the public transit industry. I served as Chief Financial Officer for two southern California transit systems (Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (now known as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board (now known as the Metropolitan Transit System). I have first-hand, real world experience working for agencies similar to AC Transit. This practical experience is augmented by my work as a public finance professional, specializing in transportation finance. In this role, I have worked with transit systems through out the United States. Additionally, I formed a consulting practice-- McCalley Consulting LLC--that focused on advising transit systems on financial matters. Combined, this represents over 30 years of relevant experience in the public transit industry. in a variety of roles. Upon, my retirement in 2013, I decided I would like to offer my services to help my community. Given my background, AC Transit was where I felt I could be most helpful. I have much to offer and am committed to improving our transit system and service in our community. I have no other political goals beyond AC Transit.

What have I accomplished? I bring a unique set of experiences to AC Transit. I have worked in the public transit industry as an employee, consultant/advisor and banker. This experience has afforded me the opportunity to work with most of the major U.S. transit systems. I have developed and managed large budgets and financial plans, and I have implemented internal controls, efficiencies and cost saving. I have advised transit agencies on the development of capital plans and helped them to obtain funding at the federal, state and local level. I used a creative approach to acquire a new bus fleet through leveraging federal grant funds. This transaction resulted in my being awarded the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) award for innovative finance. I have helped agencies obtain funding which allowed them to forestall fare increases, build capital projects, or create the resources to fund equipment maintenance. I have worked on the state (California Transit Association) and national (American Public Transit Association) levels to develop policy and legislation aimed at helping public transportation financially.

I am an East Bay Native I was raised in the Bay Area and am a graduate of Oakland High School. I was raised in a working class, blue-collar household (factory worker, school cook), where education was stressed. On a personally level, AC Transit has meant a lot to my family and me. Growing up in the East Bay, our family relied on AC Transit as our primary mode of transportation. We maintained a small green footprint, before it was fashionable to do so. We did not own an automobile...AC Transit was how we carried out our daily lives. Since we were "transit dependent", we used AC Transit for work, shopping, and recreation. As a result, I view public transit as essential to the viability of our community, from a mobility, environmental and economic standpoint.

How Can Transit Improve In our Community Our transit services could be better! For example, there are currently 18 routes serving Ward 4. Many of these routes feed in the BART system or provide a circular service. There are also four routes providing direct service to San Francisco's Transbay Terminal. Overall, I would like to see the service frequency of these routes increased and service expanded to some of the newer developments in the area. I support the passage of Measure BB, the transportation sales tax measure on the November ballot. This measure brings critical funding needed by AC Transit. I would like to see fares stabilized or reduced. With stagnating wages for most of the working population, public transit needs to do its part to help with our economic recovery. To these ends, I support the use of local firms for AC Transit's contracts, as well as the hiring and training of local residents. To accomplish these goals, AC Transit will need to be guided by experienced, and competent leadership. I believe I bring these qualities to AC Transit.

I am asking for your vote to help me in these endeavors.