MTC eNews - April 2013       
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Plan Bay Area Logo
MTC and the Association of Bay Area Governments jointly released the Draft Plan Bay Area on March 22, 2013, and the accompanying Draft Environmental Report was released on April 2, triggering a comment period that will extend until 4 p.m. on May 16, 2013.

The product of more than three years of planning, analysis and public outreach, the Draft Plan Bay Area
charts a course for accommodating needed housing growth within the region's nine counties while at the same time decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. By laying out the Bay Area's first-ever Sustainable Communities Strategy, Plan Bay Area seeks to meet these challenges without compromising local control of land-use decisions. The documents can be viewed at OneBayArea.org, where members of the public and stakeholders can comment via an innovative, interactive forum called "Plan Bay Area Town Hall." Members of the public and stakeholders also have the opportunity to comment in person at a series of open houses/public hearings now under way in all nine Bay Area counties. See dates, times and locations of the meetings here.
TOC2

Time to Team Up for Bike to Work Day/Month 


Crowd Scene, BTWD
Bike to Work Day 2012
Photo by Noah Berger

It's time to gear up for the San Francisco Bay Area's 19th Annual Bike to Work Day on May 9, 2013. This popular daylong event encourages citizens to opt for a healthier commute and experience the benefits of cycling firsthand. Veteran and novice cyclists alike will be rewarded with refreshments, giveaways and encouragement at Energizer Stations set up along popular bike routes. People who register and pledge to ride will be eligible for a range of prizes, including a hip set of wheels from Public Bikes.  

 

Many Bay Area residents take the Bike to Work Day commitment further by signing up for the month-long Team Bike Challenge. Bicycle teams of two to five riders compete by traveling via two wheels throughout the month of May, with each cycle commute earning points for the team. Teams with the most points in each county win prizes. Employers of all sizes are encouraged to promote the competition among their workers via the Company Bike Challenge. Last year, 664 teams with 4,425 individuals signed up for Team Bike Challenge, and 245 companies competed. Together participants biked a total of 701,710 miles. Sign up here.  

 

Bike to Work Day 2013 is sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, 511.org and Kaiser Permanente, along with a number of private and public sector partners. 

 

Bike Commuter of the Year Contest

Do you know someone who is inspired and inspiring in their dedication to bike commuting? Consider nominating them for Bike Commuter of the Year (BCOY). We'll choose a BCOY in each of the nine Bay Area counties, and every winner will receive a set of Revolights to light them on their commute year-round. Nominate a candidate here. 

 

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Dumbarton
Individuals Sought for Policy Advisory Council

 

Advisory Council MTC is recruiting 27 individuals for its Policy Advisory Council, created by the Commission in November 2009. The mission of the Council is to advise MTC on transportation policies in the San Francisco Bay Area, incorporating diverse perspectives relating to the environment, the economy and social equity. As an advisor, individuals will be asked to advise on a range of topics including regional planning efforts linking transportation, housing and land use plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light-duty trucks, and public transit service productivity improvements, among other topics. Whether you are a community activist or a business professional, there could be a seat for you.

 

MTC commissioners will review applications, conduct interviews (if necessary) and make appointments for the next four-year term that begins in September 2013. Council members are expected to regularly attend committee meetings during business hours and will receive travel reimbursement and a stipend for their time.

 

The application deadline is May 10, 2013. For eligibility and committee information and to fill out the online application, visit our website. For assistance, send us an email or call 510.817.5757. 

 

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TunnelVisionExhibitBay Area Infrastructure Boom  

Oakland Airport Connector
Oakland Airport Connector 
Photo by Noah Berger 
Everywhere you look these days, it seems, crews are lifting, digging and paving in an effort to upgrade and expand the region's transportation network. See project updates and photos on our website:

   

Oakland Airport Connector 

 

Caldecott Fourth Bore 

 

Devil's Slide Tunnels 

 

View video of the opening event for the Devil's Slide Tunnels here


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Real511Complete Streets Workshop 

Chinatown crosswalk
Crosswalk in Chinatown, Oakland
Photograph by Peter Beeler 
"Complete streets" is the planning buzzword du jour, but what does it really mean for cities trying to comply with new requirements for accommodating non-motorized travel as they plan street projects? Planners, consultants and the like can find out at a series of free workshops coming up in May, co-sponsored by MTC and Bay Area congestion management agencies. Sign up here.

 

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parking511 Dishes Up Cupcakes, Peet's Coffee and More 

   

511 Cupcakes
Photo by Shauna Callow 

Do you carpool, vanpool, walk, bike or ride transit to work -- or telecommute? Log your clean commute in an online trip diary, and be rewarded with a chance to win 511's monthly drawing, including a $5 Peet's gift card. 

 

Sign up for 511's Spring Carpool Challenge and be eligible to win a week of free breakfasts for your entire carpool, or a "cupcake and lemonade food truck party" for your company. Click here for further details. 

 

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