Contact: Eric Young, San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Office: 415-522-4816
Cell: 415-306-4509
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District 3 and 8 Supervisors to collaborate on transportation funding and project delivery
The San Francisco County Transportation Authority Board on Tuesday, January 29 re-elected Commissioner Aaron Peskin its Chair and elected Rafael Mandelman Vice-Chair, for 2019. Created by voters in 1989, the Transportation Authority plans, funds, and delivers local and regional projects to improve travel choices for residents, commuters, and visitors throughout San Francisco.
Under Chair Peskin’s leadership last year, the Transportation Authority advanced San Francisco’s transportation priorities via numerous planning, funding and project delivery initiatives, laid out in the agency’s 2018 Annual Report, released today. With input from the public and sponsor agencies, the agency adopted prioritized programs of projects for the Prop. K half-cent sales tax funds over the next five years. Investments ranged from the large – Muni vehicles, Better Market Street and the Caltrain Downtown Rail Extension – to the small, such as traffic calming, road repair and pedestrian safety improvements, in every neighborhood.
In addition, many notable sales tax funded projects broke ground, including new safety improvements and streetscapes for Masonic Avenue and Broadway, as well as elevators, escalators and canopy facilities at downtown BART and Muni stations. Balboa Park BART/Muni Station saw major passenger access improvements and Muni celebrated the opening of its new Islais Creek Maintenance Facility, the first in 25 years. Voter-approved funds also helped advance improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling through the Alemany maze and “Hairball” along Potrero Avenue. The half-cent sales tax helped pay for new Muni buses and light rail vehicles as well as Safe Routes to School programs citywide.
The Transportation Authority led the policy conversation on emerging mobility with data-driven analyses and robust public engagement. In addition, the agency reinitiated the public policy discussion on congestion pricing. Ensuring public accountability, the Transportation Authority reviewed its own effectiveness, even as it oversaw the effectiveness of other projects and organizations that it funds.
Chair Peskin said: “I want to thank my colleagues for electing me to lead the Transportation for a third consecutive year. I look forward to a productive 2019 when we will continue our collective efforts to improve the safety of our streets, protect and grow transportation funding, and deliver projects in every neighborhood.”
The Transportation Authority Board consists of the 11 members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, who elect a chair and vice-chair each January and act as Transportation Authority Commissioners.
In a separate action, the Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency elected Commissioner Matt Haney as its Chair and elected Commissioner Shamann Walton as its Vice-Chair for 2019.
TIMMA is responsible for creating and implementing a sustainable transportation plan for Treasure Island in support of up to 8,000 residential units and new commercial and open space. TIMMA is overseen by the Board of Supervisors acting as the agency’s Commissioners.
About the San Francisco County Transportation Authority
The San Francisco County Transportation Authority’s mission is to make travel safer, healthier, and easier for all. We plan, fund, and deliver local and regional projects to improve travel choices for residents, commuters, and visitors throughout the city. The Transportation Authority Board consists of the 11 members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, who act as Transportation Authority Commissioners. Commissioner Aaron Peskin is Chair of the Board. Tilly Chang is the Transportation Authority’s Executive Director.