[Click here for @MilpitasPRT YouTube channel and event recording.]
[Click here for Transit Forum Script.]
This is what democracy looks like. Community members coming together to discuss how to improve the lives of themselves and their grandchildren.
Our Climate Crisis is, as recent aberrant weather and scientists tell us, spinning out of control. We need to reduce CO2 emissions quickly - and public transit must be part of the solution. Unfortunately, fiscal cliffs threaten transit agencies around the Bay. Here in Santa Clara County, VTA moves forward with a $12B mega-project that will do nothing to address our congestion and Climate problems until 2037 or later - if we can pay for it! Already, some public voices are questioning the venture.
A conversation about how to connect the BART Berryessa station with the Diridon Caltrain station is needed. VTA, the organization most likely to lead such a conversation, has not stepped up.
LoopWorks seeks a conversation to chart a new way forward. As the leader of a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) project in the Milpitas Metro Area, LoopWorks wants a public conversation about the future BART-Caltrain Connection. We think a public discussion will help us secure the $6M funding for pre-development work on the Milpitas PRT project around the Great Mall and BART Transit Center.
A public conversation - BART-Caltrain Connection: Another Way? - will be on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm in the Milpitas Library Auditorium at 160 N Main Street.
Moderator: Belinda Quesada, KCXU (92.7 FM) Radio Host
Panelists: Rob Means on behalf of the advanced transit industry, Valley Transportation Authority representative was "not able to make it", a student and frequent transit user represented transit riders, and Jonathan Karpf (a member of the California Faculty Association’s Board of Directors) spoke for the environment.
Due to the tight schedule, expect a prompt start at 6:30 pm.
Unlike the tightly-controlled conversation models commonly used by public agencies, we’ve chosen a format that allows the entire group of attendees to participate in the conversation. By using an open fishbowl conversation format, we expect to clarify for attendees and online viewers the long-term trends in public transit, and start community thinking about next steps to avoid our predictable future.
The PRT community believes that a 3-mile BART-Caltrain Connection using PRT technology would provide better service than the BART Burrow, sooner, and for only $1B. LoopWorks believes that a grid of PRT guideways covering an area 2 miles wide and 5 miles long (10 square-miles) could provide 80 stations - 8 neighborhood stations for each square-mile - to serve residents, visitors, and workers with 24/7 non-stop rides between all of them. PRT would also provide quicker trips between the BART and Caltrain transit centers.
BART-Caltrain Connection: Another Way?
AGENDA
A public conversation about how to connect the BART Berryessa station with the Diridon Caltrain station.
6:30 pm - Welcome and Meeting Rules
6:35 pm - Common Agreements
6:40 pm - Where We Are, and How We Got Here
7:00 pm - Options Moving Forward
7:30 pm - Converge on New Agreements
7:50 pm - Wrap Up and Next Steps
8:00 pm - Socializing/Networking/Moving Forward
8:30 pm - end of event and Auditorium rental time
Open-Fishbowl with Moderator
Invited People and Organizations
These organizations and people were invited to attend; those in bold said "yes". (Click here for the full list.)
Transit Agencies - VTA Board, BART Board, Caltrain Board, Santa Clara County Airports Commission, ...
Transit Advocates - Rod Diridon, Monica Mallon, Silicon Valley Transit Users, TransForm, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, SPUR, San Jose Department of Transportation, ...
PRT Companies - LoopWorks, Glydways, Solar Skyways, CityTram, Santa Cruz PRT, SJSU Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, ...
Environmental Groups - Sierra Club (Loma Prieta Chapter), Acterra, Citizens Climate Lobby, Green Party, Our City Forest, ...
Media - Merc-News Opinion Editor, San Jose Spotlight, San Jose Inside, Milpitas Beat, KCXU-FM, ...
2024 Candidates and Elected Representatives - Milpitas and San Jose Council members, Hon Lien (Milp. CC), Anu Nakka (Milp. CC), Bill Chuan (Milp. CC), Sen. Aisha Wahab, Asm. Alex Lee (AD 24), Bob Brunton (AD 24), Asm. Ash Kalra, Olivia Navarro (SJ D6), ...
Membership Groups - Sunnyhills Neighborhood Association, Milpitas Chamber of Commerce, PTSAs (Pearl Zanker and Mabel Mattos Elementary), Laborers Local 270, IBEW, South Bay Progressive Alliance, Working Partnerships, East Valley Democratic Club, SOMOS Mayfair, many neighborhood associations, ...
Invitation Emails
sent to Invited People and Organizations
Subject: We need to talk about public transit.
Our Climate Crisis is, as recent aberrant weather and scientists tell us, spinning out of control. We need to reduce CO2 emissions quickly - and public transit must be part of the solution. Unfortunately, fiscal cliffs threaten transit agencies around the Bay.
Here in Santa Clara County, VTA moves forward with a $12B mega-project that will do nothing to address our congestion and Climate problems until 2037 or later - if we can pay for it! Already, some public voices are questioning the venture.
A renewed public conversation about how to connect the BART Berryessa station with the Diridon Caltrain station is needed. LoopWorks, leader of the Milpitas Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) project, invites you to a public discussion using an open fishbowl conversation format (shown below).
Four panelists occupy the center circle of chairs, where one chair is left empty. The moderator introduces the topic, and the panelists start the discussion. Attendees outside the fishbowl listen in on the conversation; those wishing to participate do so by taking the empty seat.
We expect attendees and online viewers will quickly grasp current transit challenges, and start community-level thinking about next steps. If you or your organization's agent plan to attend, please let us know so we can inform others to expect you.
Join the conversation entitled BART-Caltrain Connection: Another Way?
Visit our BART-Caltrain Connection webpage for details,
agenda, list of invitees, and streaming link.
Because the Library Auditorium is limited to 120 people,
please RSVP here if you plan to attend in person.
Starting Agreements:
- Our Climate Crisis is worsening quickly.
- Shifting 10% of trips to public transit could substantially reduce CO2 emissions.
- The BART Burrow completion date of 2037 is well past when dramatic reductions in CO2 emissions are required.
- VTA operations are currently funded with revenue from four voter-enacted local sales tax initiatives (1976 Sales Tax, 2000 Measure A Sales Tax, 2008 Measure B Sales Tax and 2016 Measure B Sales Tax) that account for 80% of VTA’s budgeted operating revenues.
- Although the VTA Board has the authority to redirect funding scheduled for the BART Burrow, they are unlikely to do so without an alternative example to see and ride.
- We want more and better public transit.
Public Statements by Experts:
- Cost of the 4-station BART Extension Phase II (aka BART Burrow) is about $12.8 billion and 13 years.
- The 4 BART Burrow stations combined will attract 55K daily passengers.
- A rectangular PRT network 5 miles long and 2 miles wide (10 square-miles) to connect the 3-miles-apart stations will offer 80 stations, better service, and sooner for $1B.
$12 Billion 4-station BART Burrow vs. $1 Billion 80-station PRT network
Glydways expects the Diridon-Airport Connector (3.5 miles apart) to cost $0.5B and turn a profit.
"Red Flag" Comments by Public Voices
The BART Burrow has been called a "boondoggle" and “a black hole for transit dollars” by transit advocates.
“And if it’s a long-term problem we’re trying to solve, we should just say it out loud and take the time to do it right.” Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez
“This BART project is sucking all of the transit money out of everything.” – Santa Clara City Council member Suds Jain [VTA recently increased the amount of money it would draw from 2000’s Measure A – a half-cent sales tax for a number of capital improvements-- and 2016’s Measure B, another 30-year half-cent sales tax to improve transit, highways and expressways.]
“I just want to make sure that when we get the numbers from the federal government, we’re either able to move forward immediately on the current design, or we have a menu of alternatives that are ready to go, and we don’t need another six months of analysis to get to that point.” – San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan
"This project has been driven by politics rather than sound policy and financial planning." - Mercury-News Editorial, June 20, 2024
May 8, 2024 Opinion: Tom McEnery, Lewis Wolff call San Jose BART extension “municipal madness”
"As we editorialized in 2021, 2022, and 2023, as costs keep rising and VTA transparency remains abysmal, the BART extension should be subjected to complete and rigorous independent review. But it’s become clear that VTA leaders are not about to let that happen.” - Daniel Borenstein, Bay Area News Group Opinion Editor
Watch Parties
The Milpitas Library Auditorium limits occupancy to 120. Some folks have knowledge or interests they want to share, and must attend to do so. Others who simply want to observe may attend or host a watch party. Party hosts may share contact information via email, and we will post it here.
Long list of invitees
- Transit Agencies – VTA Board, VTA CFO Greg Richardson, BART Board of Directors, Caltrain Board of Directors, Santa Clara County Airports Commission, Santa Clara County Roads Department
- Transit Advocates – Rod Diridon, Monica Mallon, Silicon Valley Transit Users, TransForm, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, SPUR Urban Center, San Jose Department of Transportation, Adina Levin, Seamless Bay Area, Transbay Coalition, Voices for Public Transportation, Friends of Caltrain, Bay Area Transportation Working Group
- PRT Companies – LoopWorks, Glydways, Santa Cruz PRT, SJSU Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, CityTram, Solar Skyways, San Jose Department of Transportation - Rail Planning
- Environmental Groups – Sierra Club - Guadalupe Regional Group, Sierra Club - Loma Prieta Chapter, Acterra, CCL Silicon Valley East, CCL Silicon Valley South, CCL Silicon Valley North, Green Party of Santa Clara County, 350 Silicon Valley, Green Foothills, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Save The Bay, Our City Forest, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Climate Resilient Communities, Coltura, Menlo Spark, Mothers Out Front - Silicon Valley, Sunflower Alliance
- Media – Milpitas Beat, KCXU-FM, Merc-News Opinion Editor, SJ Merc-News local tips, SJ Merc-News biz-tech, San Jose Spotlight, San Jose Inside
- 2024 Candidates and Elected Representatives – Anita Chen, Ro Khanna, Alex Lee, Bob Brunton, Otto Lee, Richard Santos, Carmen Montano, Hon Lien, Anthony Phan, Anu Nakka, Bill Chuan, Dipak Awasthi, Evelyn Chua, William Lam, Doug Sueoka, Hai Minh Ngo, Robert Jung, Gary Barbadillo, Sen. Aisha Wahab, Chris Norwood, Kelly Yip-Chuan, SJ Councilmember Omar Torres, SJ Councilmember Peter Ortiz, Juliette Gomez, William Lam, Olivia Navarro, Michael Mulcahy
- Schools – East Side Union High School District, Berryessa Union Elementary School District, Alum Rock Union Elementary School District, Pearl Zanker Elementary School PTA, Mabel Mattos Elementary School PTA, San Jose Unified School District
- Membership Groups – Sunnyhills Neighborhood Association, Milpitas Chamber of Commerce, Laborers Local 270, IBEW Local 332, South Bay Progressive Alliance, Working Partnerships, East Valley Democratic Club, SOMOS Mayfair, Center for Independent Living, La Raza Roundtable, Resources for Community Development, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, South Bay Labor Council, Vasconcellos Institute for Democracy in Action, Working Families Party, San José Chamber of Commerce, San José Arena Authority
- Neighborhood Associations – District 5 United, Alum Rock Santa Clara Business Association, Plata Arroyo NA, Little Portugal North NA, Anne Darling Neighborhood Group, Northside NA, Wooster NA, Roosevelt Park NA, Five Wounds Brookwood Terrace Neighborhood, Mobile Home Manor, Olinder NA, Naglee Park - Campus Community Association, Julian - St. James NA, Horace Mann NA, Japantown Neighborhood Association, Japantown Business Association, Hensley Historic NA, Vendome, Alameda Business Association, West San Carlos Street Neighborhood Business Association, Buena Vista NA, Delmas Park NA, St James Neighborhood, San Jose Downtown Association, San Jose Downtown Residents Association, Market - Almaden, South University NA, University Neighborhoods Coalition, Spartan - Keyes NA, Spartan - Keyes NA, Guadalupe Washington Neighborhood
