Senator Scott Wiener - geometry of more cars just doesn't work

Streetsblog California: "“We need a significant increase in transportation investment in California, period,” he said. “For transit, for roads, for bike, pedestrian—everything. But specifically we have to make sure we’re supporting transit.”

“All too frequently in Sacramento, once transportation funding moves forward it’s overwhelmingly for roads, with very little for public transportation.” That needs to change, he said. Transit “shouldn’t have to beg” for funds to operate.
...“We can’t have more and more cars on the road; the geometry does not work. It’s miserable for everyone, including drivers. It’s in everyone’s interest to have a massive expansion of public transportation, in our urbanized areas in particular.”"

California’s transportation funding package must do more for public transportation

The Sacramento Bee: "Our state’s failure to invest in public transportation has led to major problems. Residents face perpetual gridlock. Our highways, bridges and surface streets are becoming borderline non-functional, particularly during commute hours. The public transportation systems we have serve too few communities and have insufficient resources to maintain a state of good repair and expand service."

California to throw more good money into #autosprawl hole?

Frazier Introduces New Transportation Funding Bill, Includes Gas Tax and Fee Increases | East County Today: "“My commitment to passing a comprehensive funding plan that addresses California’s failing transportation system will not waiver,” stated Assemblymember Frazier. “This proposal dedicates billions to road and highway repairs that our state so desperately needs while also creating tens of thousands of good paying jobs.”"

California voters approve many $billions for #publictransit

Mass Transit: "California will see the biggest impact. Voters in the state approved 15 of 26 transportation ballot measures worth $133 billion, including a 1 cent sales tax in Los Angeles that will provide $120 billion over 40 years for local road, bridge and transit projects. The California measures had to muster at least a two-thirds "super majority" vote to pass—10 of the measures that failed received over 50 percent of the vote, but did not reach that threshold. California voters also rejected a statewide measure that would have required any public infrastructure bond over $2 billion to go on the ballot for voter approval. "

More hope for #publictransit in Sacramento

The Sacramento Bee: "Corless lauded SACOG for its groundbreaking work over the last 15 years in connecting transportation and land use planning, and for its focus on promoting walkable, transit-oriented and compact development."

Growth advocates see the benefits of #publictrransit

Sacramento Bee: "Steinberg said that the $3.6 billion in revenue expected from Measure B is vital to economic development both for the city and region, and also plays into livability and environmental goals for the growing downtown area – where popularizing public transportation has become a key objective.
...
If Measure B passes, 70 percent of revenue would go to road projects such as repaving streets and filling potholes. Others would include new interchanges, widening roads, and bike and pedestrian improvements.

Thirty percent of Measure B revenue would go to public transit, including Sacramento Regional Transit, which operates buses and light-rail trains."

Private bus lines growing fast, providing apartheid public transportation

34,000 Passengers Per Day: Bay Area Shuttle Buses, By The Numbers: SFist: "

• 35: The number of shuttle service providers in the Bay Area
• 473: The total number of shuttle buses among those providers in 2012
• 765: The total number of shuttle buses among those providers by 2014
• 804: The daily number round trips those buses made in 2014
• 6.6 million: The total number of passengers that shuttles carried in 2012
• 9.6 million: The total number of passengers that shuttles carried by 2014
• 18 thousand: The number of passengers shuttle buses carried per day in 2012
• 34 thousand: The number of passengers shuttle buses carried per day by 2014
• 16 million: The number of miles shuttle buses covered in 2012
• 25 million: The number of miles shuttle buses covered by 2014
• 2 million: An estimated number for single-passenger automobile trips avoided by shuttle use
• 7th: The rank, in terms of size in Bay Area Transit, shuttles would collectively occupy in terms of ridership — if they were treated as a single system."