Improving Transportation

By Tom Lantos

Transportation is a key element of my congressional agenda + federal funding for public transportation and improving our roads and bridges, assuring federal funding for the extension of BART to the San Francisco International Airport, reducing transportation emissions for cleaner air, and reducing aircraft noise in areas near the Airport.

• The BART Extension to SFO. The extension of BART to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - which opened in June of 2003 - includes 9 miles of new rapid transit line in San Mateo County linking the SFO to the City of San Francisco and to the nine Bay Area counties. The new extension has stops in South San Francisco, San Bruno, the Airport, and Millbrae, where there is a direct cross-platform link to CalTrain. Planners estimate that the BART extension will carry 70,000 people daily to the airport and it will eliminate 10,000 automobile trips to the airport each day. The federal government has agreed to provide $750 million for the cost of construction for the BART extension, or about half the projected cost of constructing the new line. Congressman Lantos has been instrumental in securing the promised federal funding for the BART extension, which lies wholly within his Congressional district. In a recent letter to Congressman Lantos, BART General Manager Thomas E. Margro wrote, "Thanks for your steadfast support for the federal funding that has made this project possible."

• Federal Transportation Funding. The federal government provides a major proportion of funding for key road, bridges, and other transportation links. Tom has worked to assure that our area gets this money which is vital to maintaining and improving regional transportation. In October 2002, Tom cut the ribbon on the widening of the San Mateo - Hayward Bridge from four lanes to six lanes. He has secured funding for bridges and other road improvement projects. In addition, federal funding has been a critical element supporting local public transportation, and Tom has worked to assure federal funds for BART, SamTrans, CalTrain, and other public transportation programs.

• Reducing Transportation Emissions for Cleaner Air. Tom Lantos has also been successful in securing several million dollars in the past few years for San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) for the zero-emissions Clean Bus Program. This funding helps San Mateo County and SamTrans reduce diesel emissions in our communities, and this reduces harmful nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emitted by buses. This program will put San Mateo County in the forefront of the effort to improve Bay Area air quality.

• Reducing Aircraft Noise. Tom Lantos has worked to minimize air transportation's impact on our environment. He has worked to reduce noise in areas affected by flights to and from the San Francisco International Airport. He has worked with airport authorities and local communities to limit access to the airport for older and noisier aircraft, to alter flight patterns to minimize noise, and to soundproof public buildings, schools, and homes in the most affected areas. Tom has been able to secure millions of dollars annually in federal grants for soundproofing buildings impacted by airport noise.