|
|
|
|
|
Follow us!
Stay up to date with our social media tools.
|
 BART Strike Updates
As negotiations between BART's unions and management continue, check alert.511.org for real-time updates and advice on alternative transportation options in the event of a strike.
Back to top
|
Bay Area Bike Share Hits the Road
 |
SF Mayor Ed Lee cuts the Bike Share ribbon alongside MTC Commissioners Amy Worth and Scott Wiener.
Photo by Noah Berger.
|
Thousands of people are already making use of the 700 sturdy turquoise bikes that make up the inaugural Bay Area Bike Share fleet -- commuters, recreational cyclists and even San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. Lee, alongside MTC Commissioners Amy Worth and Scott Wiener, cut the ceremonial ribbon at a festive launch event for the pilot program August 29. Bike Share stations are scattered throughout the city and along the Peninsula Corridor, conveniently located near transit hubs and in densely populated areas. Already, over 2,500 people have signed up for an annual membership, which costs $88, and 6,100 have taken advantage of the $22 three-day pass and the $9 daily pass. Bay Area Bike Share, set to expand by early next year, is part of MTC's Climate Initiatives Program.
Read more.
Back to top
|
Inaugurating an Icon: The New Bay Bridge East Span Opens
 | Photo � 2013 Barrie Rokeach
|
The already iconic self-anchored suspension span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge successfully opened to traffic on Labor Day, after years of anticipation and construction and a five-day closure. At an opening event attended by local, state and federal officials, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom replicated the chain-cutting that inaugurated the original span in 1936, and a caravan of vintage and contemporary cars rolled across the Bay in a ceremonial crossing. The Labor Day opening was an appropriate one, given the years of toil that went into the project; said MTC Chair Amy Worth at the ceremony: "I will forever look at this beautiful span and see the people who, together, literally bridged road, art and science and made them soar."
Read more on the MTC website and scroll down to get a glimpse of the opening day activities through photo galleries and videos.
Back to top
|
East Span on Display: Bridge Exhibits Around the Bay
 | "Crossing Over" by Peter Tonningsen and Lisa Levine is currently on view in the MTC cafe and lobby.
|
In conjunction with the opening of the new Bay Bridge East Span, museums and art galleries throughout the Bay Area are celebrating the new span and honoring the old -- while also exploring the Bay underneath. Through photography collections, paintings, artifacts and interactive installations, each of these exhibits takes a unique approach to commemorating the iconic structures and their significance in Bay Area history.
Back to top
|
|
|
Bike Path a Boon on Bay Bridge
 | |
MTC Commissioner Jean Quan poses with the family members of late bike activist Alexander Zuckermann.
Photo by Karl Nielsen.
|
This time, automobiles don't get to boast exclusive access to the Bay Bridge East Span. The morning after the bridge opened to car traffic, pedestrians and cyclists showed up to try out the brand new bike path, which currently stretches almost all the way to its eventual destination of Yerba Buena Island. The Alexander Zuckermann path, named after the late East Bay bike activist, drew an enthusiastic crowd opening day. One of the first to cross was Mayor Jean Quan, who coordinated the morning's celebratory activities, including a traditional Chinese lion dance. By evening, an impromptu bike path party was in full swing. The path is open to the public daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
|
Changing of the Trolls  | |
A brand-new troll will guard the new span.
Photo by Noah Berger
|
The Bay Bridge opening ceremony was also the first opportunity for land-dwellers to come face to face with the Bay Bridge Troll, the steel icon that has stood guard on the old bridge since 1989. In fact, two trolls were on site for opening day, with the second troll appearing just after sundown to take up residence on the new bridge. The two Bay Bridge trolls have been pursued by local and national media, including a group of over 1,000 Facebook followers. The full story of these little Bay Bridge guardians was chronicled in an authoritative article published by MTC earlier this month.
Back to top |
Connect, Redwood City!
 | |
MTC Commissioner Alicia Aguirre speaks about transportation options in her city.
Photo by Kingmond Young.
|
Excitement over the Bay Area Bike Share was amplified in Redwood City, when MTC Commissioner and Redwood City Mayor Alicia Aguirre announced the launch of Connect, Redwood City!, which integrates bike sharing with car sharing, bus service, vanpools and Caltrain routes to enhance access to transportation alternatives. Connect Redwood City! is based on the same principles as the GoBerkeley! initiative that launched in July: Providing a smorgasbord of travel options can boost mobility, reduce demand for parking and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Both programs are part of MTC's $80 million Climate Initiatives Grant Program.
Back to top
|
Clipper� Launches New Mobile Site
 Clipper's customers tend to be mobile -- and fittingly, so is Clipper's new website. The site, optimized for mobile devices, allows users to check their Clipper Card balance, add fare and register new accounts on the go.
Back to top
|
Now Easier to Apply for Youth and Senior Clipper Cards
 | |
Photo by Noah Berger
|
Applying for a Clipper Card just got easier for youths and seniors. Instead of registering in person, eligible customers can simply apply by email, mail or fax, as long as they provide proof of age. (Youth 31-day AC Transit passes require that you have a youth card issued by AC Transit in order to load an AC Transit youth monthly pass. For more information on obtaining a Youth Clipper card from AC Transit, click here.)
Application forms are available in three languages.
Back to top
|
Pavement Grant Deadline Approaches
 MTC is soliciting applications for the 15th round of the Pavement Management Technical Assistance Program ( P-TAP). MTC has already funded over 500 projects throughout the Bay Area, primarily using its StreetSaver software, which helps cities prevent and diagnose pavement problems. Eligible jurisdictions can apply for grants for pavement management or roadway design projects. Act fast: applications are due October 21, and finalists will be notified in January. See more information on eligibility and applications here.
Back to top
|
Say YES to the Environment
 The Youth for the Environment and Sustainability conference (can we get a "YES"?) is a jam-packed day of project presentations, leadership training and workshops. Not only will participants leave with new friends and ideas, but they can also pick up some practical skills at an optional bike repair workshop. The YES conference takes place at the MTC offices on Saturday, November 2. To join the 50 young environmentalists who have already registered for the free summit, apply here.
Back to top
|
Photos: East Span Labor Day Weekend Opening
There was a lot to look at over Labor Day weekend in Oakland: a shiny new East Span, a partially demolished old one, vintage vehicles, political bigwigs, stunning lights and energetic cyclists. We've posted several galleries of photographs from the five-day closure of the Bay Bridge and the grand opening of the new span -- take a look!
Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony Speakers
Beauty Shots
Closure and Construction
Bike Path
Lighting
Back to top
|
Follow Us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
For the latest updates on all things MTC, and chances to win prizes, like us on Facebook and follow @MTCBATA on Twitter and our brand-new Instagram feed.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
