Candidate for
Director; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District; Area 1

Offering 25 years of Leadership/Management Skills

I can hit the ground running on transportation issues. As someone who has worked professionally for over 25 years in the transportation field, I know key players and issues affecting the Bay Area. I combine the unique perspective of a seasoned decision-maker and manager who understands transit operations with directly relevant experience that will benefit the BART system and its riders.

I have the skills that allow me to find common ground among competing interests, which I developed while serving on the Walnut Creek City Council and the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCCTA). These skills will be important to bring to a politicized special district.

I have the experience in managing people in public organizations that will enable me to find solutions to difficult labor-management relationships that have previously plagued BART.

Promoting A Customer-Friendly Experience

I am committed to a more customer-friendly BART, with escalators that aren't broken, cleaner trains, and ticket machines that work.

I am committed to increasing access to BART for parking, pedestrians, bicyclists, and buses. I'm interested in providing shuttles for remote lots; promoting underutilized parking spaces in nearby private companies; improving bicycle and pedestrian pathways; and allocating space for and promoting carpooling and car-sharing vehicles.

I am committed to working towards a regional transportation system that seamlessly links BART and buses. BART must work more closely with the transit operators, such as County Connection's bus service, to provide additional direct and frequent feeder service. Better coordination between BART and buses will attract more commuters. And BART should be the backbone of this network.

I am committed to ensuring the most comprehensive technological security measures are provided for BART. Although BART already has in place programs to heighten employee and customer awareness of suspicious activities, and an increased police presence, with the continuing concern for transportation safety, I will join those who are advocating that the Department of Homeland Security increase federal funding to public transit to bolster passengers' security.

Supporting Economic Policies That Strengthen BART's Fiscal Position

I will help make BART more accountable to the taxpayers by improving fiscal management of the system. Foremost is that BART not be allowed to fall into disrepair.

I will build support for the funding and construction of the District's earthquake safety programs, and continued investment in the system's renovation. Voters have already approved a down payment of $143 million toward seismic strengthening of the transbay tube when they voted to increase the bridge tolls in Regional Measure 2. I will fight hard to keep these dollars for BART instead of using them to pay for the Bay Bridge cost overruns, as Caltrans has proposed.

I will advocate ways for BART to increase the number of riders, BART's paramount fiscal concern. BART's fourth quarter report this year showed actual weekday ridership fell substantially below the anticipated number. Although ridership will be increased through already-planned expansions such as the future San Jose stations and Pleasanton/Stoneridge station, there is much BART can do to attract more commuters:

• BART must provide better access to transit

I have direct experience in correlating land use and transportation while serving as a Transportation Commissioner, Planning Commissioner, and City Councilmember in Walnut Creek. While on the Walnut Creek City Council, I approved several housing complexes based on a condition to include affordable housing. I am committed to providing affordable housing as a required part of the mix in transit oriented development at BART stations.

• BART should consider decreasing the cost of a ticket during off-peak periods when ridership is low

• BART must promote its services to raise public awareness