- Regional Measure 2 (December 2003/January
2004 issue) passed regionwide and in six of the
seven counties which voted March 2. Bridge tolls on
all bridges except the Golden Gate Bridge will increase to $3 on July 1. For a list of the projects
and programs to be funded under the measure, see the earlier article or visit the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission website at http://www.mtc.ca.gov
- San Francisco Measure K on the November 2003 ballot
(October/November 2003 issue) passed, extending the transportation sales tax for 30 years.
- Contra Costa Measure N (February/March 2004
issue) passed, increasing the possibility that the
Contra Costa Water District may enlarge Los
Vaqueros Reservoir in eastern Contra Costa County.
- Four bills in the California Legislature would
either postpone or cancel the vote on a high-speed
rail system (December 2003/January 2004
issue). SB 1116 (Murray) and SB 1483 (Perata) would
postpone the vote to 2006, AB 2865 (Bogh) would postpone it to 2010, and SB 1256
(McClintock) would cancel it.
- The possibility of a tax measure on the
November 2004 ballot in support of Sonoma-Marin
Rapid Area Transit (February/March 2003 issue) adds to the debate over placing other North Bay
transportation taxes on that ballot
(February/March 2004 issue).
- The 511 transportation information service
accessible regionwide by phone and on the Web now includes realtime travel estimates from point
to point on major Bay Area routes.
Golden Gate Transit Adds Clean Fuel Buses
Between now and June 2004, 80 new buses will be placed
in service for Golden Gate Transit. The new buses replace older
and less efficient buses built in 1989. They are equipped with
diesel engines which burn ultra-low sulfur diesel, and have
cutting-edge exhaust after-treatment reduction devices to reduce emissions
of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter. Over 80% of
the cost of the new vehicles was paid by federal funding.
In Memoriam, Sara Conner
Sara Conner, past president of LWV Bay Area, died on February 14. As President of LWV Bay
Area from 1976-78, Sara oversaw the beginnings of
the Bay Area Monitor Project that publishes the
Bay Area Monitor. The project began with a grant
from the EPA for the purpose of conducting public
education on the (then) new air quality regulations,
and President Sara Conner was a persuasive
advocate for transportation measures to promote the
improvement of Bay Area air quality.
Throughout her many years of League and community activity, she was known for her
energy, intelligence, and unfailing good humor and
friendliness. With a passion for effective
government, Sara believed strongly in an individual's ability
to make a difference, and devoted much of her life
to working to make the community a better place
to live. She served for thirty years on the board of
Eden Housing, and subsequently won numerous awards for outstanding contributions to the
development of affordable housing and community
development with local, state, and national recognition.
She will be fondly remembered, and missed, by many friends, associates, and fellow citizens.
Thank You!
The League of Women Voters of the Bay Area Education Fund gratefully acknowledges a generous donation from Pat and Robert Raburn in support of the
Bay Area Monitor. Donations to the LWVBA Education Fund, a 501(c)3 organization, are tax-deductible. For more information, please contact the LWVBAEF office, at (510) 839-1608, or email
monitor@lwvba-ca.org.