The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) Needs Your Help!

News Articles
05/20/2005

The TJPA is requesting funds through Congress’ annual federal appropriations process for the temporary bus terminal AC Transit will need to continue running service while the Transbay Terminal is under construction. These funds are key as the project moves forward on schedule.

Congressional leaders on the Appropriations Committee are dealing with a very tight budget and have pledged to take a very hard look at all funding requests. There is increasing competition from other regions for these funds, so those projects that are able to demonstrate significant local support naturally move toward the top of the funding list. Letters of support from the community have a great impact on the appropriations process.

Here’s where you come in. By taking a moment to send a letter of support for the Transbay Terminal project, you greatly increase the chance of it getting Federal funding. Below are sample letters addressed to Congressman George Miller, Senator Diane Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer. Feel free to use as much or as little of the sample text as you like, and please try to personalize your letters if you can with your own reasons for supporting the project. But don’t worry if you don’t have time to write customized letters; it’s perfectly acceptable to just sign and send the sample letters. Because the more letters they receive from actual riders, the more likely they are to get the support they need to fund the project.

Please fax or email your letters to Heather Barber, Government and Media Relations Manager of the TJPA. She will transmit all letters to the addressees and ccs. Heather’s fax number is (415) 597-4615, her email address is heather.barber@transbayproject.org, and if you have questions her direct line is (415) 597-4617.

Thank you for supporting Public Transit!

AC Transit Marketing

SAMPLE LETTERS

The Honorable George Miller 2205 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Miller:

I am writing to express our strong support for the Transbay Joint Powers Authority’s request for $1,250,000 in FY06 Department of Transportation funding from the FHWA account for design and engineering for the Temporary Terminal and Surrounding Road Improvements, a critical path component of the new Transbay Terminal/Caltrain Downtown Extension/Redevelopment Program.

(A few sentences detailing specifically why you are supporting the project–the more personal the better)

The development and operation of a new temporary bus terminal in downtown San Francisco is key to the continued progress of the total Transbay Terminal Program, which includes the building of a new, multi-modal Transbay Terminal on the site of the present 65-year old terminal in downtown San Francisco; an extension of Caltrain; and redevelopment of the 40 acres surrounding the terminal. The Terminal will have 40 bus bays, direct ramps off of the Bay Bridge, and will serve as the northern terminus for future high-speed rail.

The temporary terminal will be used by the 14,000 daily Transbay riders that take AC Transit buses from the East Bay across the Bay Bridge into San Francisco while the new terminal is built.

The Project is essential to improving the transportation system in the Bay Area and the entire state of California, and will be a national model for intermodal station planning and transit oriented development. When completed, the Terminal, which currently serves 7 million passengers annually, is expected to handle from 20 to 45 million passengers per year and remove over 8,000 daily auto trips from regional highways.

We are proud to join you and many others in supporting such a worthwhile and necessary project. A targeted use of federal funds combined with significant local efforts will result in a project that benefits all Bay Area residents. We strongly urge its consideration. Thank you for your support of local transportation programs.

Sincerely,

Name
Title

cc: The Honorable Nancy Pelosi (VIA FASCIMILE: 202-225-8259)
Transbay Joint Powers Authority (fax 415-597-4615)

The Honorable Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Feinstein:

I am writing to express our strong support for the Transbay Joint Powers Authority’s request for $1,250,000 in FY06 Department of Transportation funding from the FHWA account for design and engineering for the Temporary Terminal and surrounding Road Improvements, a critical path component of the new Transbay Terminal/Caltrain Downtown Extension/Redevelopment Program.

(A few sentences detailing specifically why you are supporting the project–the more personal the better)

The temporary terminal will be used by the 14,000 daily Transbay riders that take AC Transit buses from the East Bay across the Bay Bridge into San Francisco while the new terminal is built.

I am pleased that our congressional delegation has proposed this project and I am proud to join you and many others in supporting such a worthwhile and necessary project. A targeted use of federal funds combined with local efforts will result in a project that benefits all Bay Area residents. We strongly urge its consideration. Thank you for your continued support for transportation.

Sincerely,

Name
Title

cc: Transbay Joint Powers Authority (Fax 415-597-4615)

The Honorable Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Boxer:

I am writing to express our strong support for the Transbay Joint Powers Authority’s request for $1,250,000 in FY06 Department of Transportation funding from the FHWA account for design and engineering for the Temporary Terminal and surrounding Road Improvements, a critical path component of the new Transbay Terminal/Caltrain Downtown Extension/Redevelopment Program.

(A few sentences detailing specifically why you are supporting the project–the more personal the better)

The temporary terminal will be used by the 14,000 daily Transbay riders that take AC Transit buses from the East Bay across the Bay Bridge into San Francisco while the new terminal is built.

I am pleased that our congressional delegation has proposed this project and we are proud to join you and many others in supporting such a worthwhile and necessary project. A targeted use of federal funds combined with local efforts will result in a project that benefits all Bay Area residents. We strongly urge its consideration. Thank you for your continued support for transportation.

Sincerely,

Name
Title

cc: Transbay Joint Powers Authority (Fax 415-597-4615)