Endorsement: Yes on Measure KK (Oakland Infrastructure Bond)

Any Oaklander knows that our streets are in terrible condition. With a paving backlog of almost $450 million, Oakland ranks 89th out of 106 bay area cities in paving quality. Oakland’s paving cycle is 85 years long – when most cities with roads in good repair have a paving cycle closer to 25 years. We need to shake up the funding status quo if we hope to have better streets in our lifetime, and that’s why Transport Oakland is supporting the $600 million Oakland Infrastructure Bond.
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Endorsement: Yes on C1 (AC Transit Parcel Tax)

AC Transit has been funding some of its operations and maintenance through a parcel tax since 2002, which provides $30 million per year to keep the buses running. Unlike state and federal funding sources which are unpredictable, highly restricted, and dwindling, this funding is locally controlled, meaning it gives AC Transit the stability and flexibility it needs to, among other things, prevent service cuts during lean revenue years for its 180,000 daily riders.

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Endorsement: Yes on RR (BART Bond)

With more than 430,000 daily rides including 95,000 that start in Oakland and 77,000 that end in Oakland, BART provides a critical service to Oakland and the whole Bay Area. BART’s system was designed over 40 years ago to carry a fraction of the people and service it now delivers on a daily basis. Like all infrastructure, BART’s components need replacement and modernization after a long life of use. The proposed $3.5 billion bond identifies effective expenditures that will deliver a fix-it-first approach to maximize the potential of the new fleet of rail cars (roomier, quieter, and a third set of doors!) that will start arriving in 2017. These are not the glamorous ribbon-cutting cutting projects the media craves, but they are essential to keeping our regional transit backbone from falling apart, and Transport Oakland strongly supports Measure RR.
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Open Letter to City Council in Support of Oakland Infrastructure Bond

Dear Mayor Schaaf and Oakland City Council Members,

Oakland’s voters this November could have an historic opportunity to repave the City’s crumbling streets, to protect and expand affordable housing, and to upgrade community-serving facilities. But the people of Oakland will only get the chance to fix our city if the City Council agrees to put a $600 million infrastructure bond on the ballot.

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The Infrastructure Bond, created together with City staff and community leaders, would dedicate $350 million to repairing our streets and sidewalks throughout Oakland, add $100 million for the restoration and preservation of long-term affordable housing across the City, and provide $150 million for long-overdue repairs to parks, community centers, libraries, and fire stations. We are urging the City Council to approve the infrastructure bond at their July 19th meeting for the benefit of all Oaklanders. Read more

Climb the Tribune Tower with TO

The 22-story Tribune Tower is Oakland’s most recognizable landmark. It’s housed a radio station and a newspaper, and today its neon facade celebrates our sports teams. And at 10 AM on Saturday, August 13, you can join its resident neon sculpter John Law on an exclusive two-hour tour of its clock tower. We’ll explore behind the clock faces, learn about the tower’s early plans for a Zeppelin landing port, and experience the value of preserving infrastructure for generations. Read more

Jeff Tumlin confirmed as OakDOT Interim Director!

Sustainable transportation visionary Jeff Tumlin confirmed as Oakland’s Interim Director of Transportation!

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“Starting a DOT is not just about mobility but is about equity and economic vitality and a more verdant environment” – Jeff Tumlin, Interim Director of OakDOT

Last night, Oakland City Council voted unanimously to confirm Jeff Tumlin, Principal at Nelson\Nygaard, to take the reins of OakDOT starting this July. In Jeff’s first months on the job, he will work on the new department’s Strategic Plan and organizational planning. Staff have already been working with support from Janette Sadik-Khan and her colleagues at Bloomberg Associates on the department’s first Strategic Plan. Jeff is looking forward to working with the high caliber staff that will be staffing the new DOT, noting that “one of its most powerful advantages is just how dedicated to Oakland every single staff person I’ve met is.”

Council has approved a contract with Nelson\Nygaard associates to “lend” Jeff to OakDOT for eight months. The arrangement will also give the new department access to the wide range of transportation practice areas of Nelson\Nygaard to provide as-needed support.

This is great follow through on the vision for a new vertically-integrated department that Mayor Schaaf unveiled last year. Congratulations, Jeff and Congratulations Oakland! Read Mayor Schaaf’s press release.