Campaigns

Federal Transit Advocacy (2009)

Urban Habitat is working in a number of coalitions at the federal level to ensure that the next Surface Transportation Authorization Bill provides just, efficient, and sustainable transit, and prioritizes the needs of the transit riders in low-income communities of color who form the backbone of urban transit ridership.

The Oakland Airport Connector (2009)

The Connector is the $550 million dollar boondoogle that will cost jobs at BART, AC Transit and other transit operators as well contribute to service cuts and rising fares at these agencies.

A coalition of community, policy and labor groups continues to chip away at the Connector and its assets. We are asking BART to consider an alternative - a Bus Rapid Transit project – that would be 1/10 the cost, as-fast as the Connector and could be free to riders. To read more about the proposed alternative visit: http://www.transformca.org/campaign/oac.

Read More

Yes on VV Parcel Tax Campaign (2008)

All week, all year
Till there's justice we'll be here!

To work, to class
To keep bus service, VV must pass!
To keep fares cheap, VV must pass!

Measure VV was placed on November’s (2008) ballot after hundreds of bus riders and drivers, as well as public officials, spoke out against proposed fare hikes in the spring. Facing a shortfall of over $20 million, AC Transit had considered dramatically increasing fares – especially on youth and seniors. The public pushed back, asking that AC Transit find an alternative way to close the budget gap.

Urban Habitat, student leaders from a number of local youth groups that participated in the effort to block AC Transit’s proposed fare increases, the Transportation Justice Working Group, and unions such as ATU 192 all came together to get the measure passed by 71.6% of the vote.

Lifeline Program Campaign (2008)

The Lifeline Transportation Program was intended to provide an equitable level of transportation service for low-income persons. (More information on Lifeline program.) Yet despite MTCs own finding that the plan would require more than $109 annually, MTC’s Transportation 2030 Plan provides only $216 million over twenty-five years – a shortfall of more than $2.5 billion!

In the past MTC has managed special transportation projects for low-income communities and this year they decided to pass the responsibility to the CMAs. In 2005, nine County Congestion Management Agencies (CMAs) received an approximate total of $19 million for Lifeline projects. Traditionally CMAs manage capital projects and not service-based projects. Furthermore, very few CMAs have a good track record of community engagement or understanding the needs of low-income communities. The TJWG members were very concerned that without community oversight and strict program guidelines these funds would not be targeted appropriately and would simply fund pre-existing projects rather innovative new projects that fill a gap in service.

Action Steps:

• The TJWG continues to lobby MTC and the CMAs to improve the guidelines for the allocation of funds. As it stands, the existing criteria could set up a really bad precedence for future funding allocations. As the regional agency, MTC should look at the regional gaps and provide technical assistance to the CMAs on project selection. Projects chosen should not only be based on who applies for these funds, but rather what gaps have been identified in the Community Based Transportation Plans or Welfare to Work plans.
• Demand MTC to be more flexible with CMAs and encourage cross-county cooperation.
• The TJWG will lobby MTC and other elected officials to prioritize funding for Lifeline projects.

Community Based Transportation Plans: (2007)
Community-based transportation planning is the first step to address gaps and barriers faced by low-income communities. MTC initiated this program in 2002, and to date, five such plans have been completed. Led by county congestion management agencies (CMAs) in consultation with community-based organizations and MTC, the plans also inform county transportation decisions, including transportation sales tax expenditure plans. This year the CMAs plan to do several community based transportation plans, the TJWG has expressed interest in following at least three of the planning processes: Contra Costa, West Oakland and San Francisco (East Oakland We want to ensure that there is adequate community involvement and will take place next year).

Action Steps:

• Meet with Richmond and Central Alameda partners and evaluate the process
• Get involved in the East and West Oakland Community Based Participation Plans
• UH will provide technical support to youth and community based organizations who participate in the planning process.

Read More

Regional Transportation Plan (2007)

Urban Habitat announces its two-year advocacy campaign around the Metropolitan Planning Commission’s 25 year transit spending and investment plan known as the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). UH is advocating at both the regional level (in partnership with TALC) and county levels for an RTP process and outcome that ensures that low income communities and communities of color receive an equitable share of transit funding and investments.

On May 16th UH staff and allies met with key MTC staff to advocate for the inclusion of equity criteria throughout the current RTP. The Transportation Justice Working (TJWG) group is taking a leading role in this campaign through the participation of its members in regional/county advocacy efforts as well as development of an RTP platform that emphasizes equity and environmental justice principles. For the first time transportation justice advocates, led by the TJWG, are targeting county-level transportation (currently focusing on Alameda and San Francisco) decision-making in an effort to have those transportation projects & priorities reflect the needs of transit dependent populations. Throughout the summer UH will continue to monitor the selection process for transit projects and attend Congestion Management Agency Board meetings to advocate for the needs of transit dependent populations. As part of the Regional Transportation Plan Campaign, members of the Transportation Justice Working Group (TJWG) distributed their alternative platform at the annual regional meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) on October 26th.

Read more...

State Level Legislation: (2006)

As a member of the Statewide coalition, Urban Habitat is working on a number of possibilities for a strong bill that would supports the needs of low-income communities. We are calling this bill the “Community Transportation Act”. Some of the elements of the bill include:

1. Preserve all traditional sources of Public Transportation Account (PTA) funding, including:

• Spillover revenues – as part of the 2005-06 Budget and Bay Bridge cost overrun issue (AB 144 and SB 62) this year a law was passed which eliminates up to $200 million in spillover funding in 2006-07. We need to overturn that law, and fight for everything owed the PTA. We also should pursue language that places some kind of permanent protection into state law (constitution would be better) for spillover funds.
• Prop. 42 – The Governor might propose suspending it again in his January 10, 2006 proposed 2006-07 Budget.
• Sales tax on 9-cents of the state gas tax – we must fight to preserve this source.
• Sales tax on diesel fuel – we must fight to preserve this source.

2. Support full Prop. 42 funding in the 2006-07 Budget.

3. Support elimination of the Prop. 42 suspension triggers in the constitution, to make the source of funding permanent

4. Support the creation of new sources of PTA and / or other transit funding, including:

• Infrastructure Bond Act – CATC should fight for the various priorities developed by the bond act group.

• Joint letters
• Lobby days / coordinated lobbying meetings
• Information kits developed and distributed to key administration, legislative and interest group contacts
• Media campaign (i.e. op / ed pieces, letters to editors, ed board meetings, etc.

Proposed Strategies and Actions:

• community involvement: Engage local groups and advocates, share GIS technology
• education: Distribute materials, conduct walking tours, workshops etc.
• analysis: Endorse plans, evaluate plans and zoning changes, EIR comments letters etc.
• media: assist local advocates with media work etc.

• School-provided buses have all but vanished from many of the urban areas in the Bay Area. The majority of low-income youth today rely upon public transit to get to and from school. Over the past year, the TJWG has lobbied local and regional decision-makers to preserve the level of affordable transit for low-income students in the East Bay. Until there are dedicated funds earmarked for youth passes, the TJWG will continue to apply pressure and build a broader coalition to fight for regional affordable transportation for low-income students.

  Background: Just a few months ago, AC Transit staff proposed eliminating monthly passes, forcing low-income youth to pay as much as $80/month instead of $15.00.
  
  In July, after months of organizing, rallying and testifying, Oakland youth and their allies are celebrating AC Transit's 4/3 vote keeps youth passes at $15 and reject a proposal to raise the price of transfers. Transfers will remain at 25 cents, saving low-income, transit-dependent families $15 per rider each month (assuming 2 transfers/day). Moreover, AC Transit is now keeping its promise to voters and to young people to maintain youth passes at $15.00.Youth pass should remain at $15.00 until Measure BB sunsets in 2012 given the language put before the voters that the parcel tax would be used to maintain AC Transit's discount passes for youth.

  Action steps:
  

• Get the MTC to give AC Transit its fair share of regional transportation funding and reinstate the free pass program for low-income youth. Currently, the Metropolitan Transportation
• Commission is underfunding AC Transit compared to other transit operators serving higher-income, predominantly white riders.
• Support AC Transit's exploration of a June 2006 parcel tax to further reduce youth fares
• Continue the Transportation Justice Working Group's coalition efforts to improve AC Transit service for low-income youth and adults
• Work with school boards to get letters of support for youth passes
• Advocate for funding at the state level