Establishing VTA priorities in midst of the pandemic

While 2020 is in our rearview mirror, it left plenty of challenges in its wake. As an optimist, I like to reflect on the positive, including the good work of our Valley Transportation Authority Board members and staff during a very difficult time. As a realist, and new VTA board chair, I believe 2021 is going to be just as hard, so here is what I plan for my colleagues to focus on this year.

First, we will continue to provide safe and reliable service. We will continue to build upon VTA’S foundational “10-Point Plan to Strengthen Trust in Transit.” Beyond keeping our vehicles clean and requiring face coverings, a point of emphasis in 2021 will be protecting employees and customers by advocating for transit workers to be prioritized in the vaccination rollout. An internal plan is already under way to make sure this is executed with speed and efficiency so that we can continue to serve other essential workers. And on Feb. 8, VTA will increase the frequency of seven key bus routes to address the challenging issue of passenger pass ups. We will continue to monitor levels of service to meet the transportation needs of our customers, member agencies, stakeholders and partners.

Second, we must prioritize funding stability and operational sustainability. We are currently budgeting for fiscal year 2022-23 and could face as much as an $80 million deficit without additional federal assistance. Without the CARES Act emergency funding received in 2020, we would be operating in the red for the current fiscal year. We, like all other transit agencies across the country, could not get by without it. But we must effectively manage this shortterm funding relief until our fixed revenue sources return to pre-pandemic levels. Hiring a new chief financial officer will be key to the VTA leadership team to build upon the excellent foundation laid by the recently departed and well-respected Raj Srinath.

Third, as evidenced by the spirited discussions that took place last year among board members and the public, we need to clarify and deliver the 2016 Measure B sales tax expenditure plan. We have already embarked on a 10-year visioning process that will define the framework to prioritize projects within each twoyear budget cycle. There is no question that Measure B is a major part of the BART Phase II project funding picture as we are well into its planning and development phases, and now it’s time to deliver. Understandably, we can’t deliver 30 years’ worth of projects in 10 years, so we must find the most effective way to deliver all of its programs within our fiscally constrained environment. My goal as chair is to deliver an inclusive and equitable funding process to guide us through the entire 30-year cycle.

We have a challenging year in front of us, but I see positive things ahead. It is exciting to see great progress on BART Phase II and to think about what the next generation of transit will look like. I urge my fellow board members to come prepared to our meetings with their problem-solving hats on to try to make the entire transportation system better for all, transit riders and taxpayers alike, all while remaining flexible and adaptable to anticipate and respond to additional known and unknown challenges.

My ultimate goal, in one year from now, is to leave things better than I found them. I am confident that with the skills of the people on this board and the continued innovation and dedication of VTA staff, we can do great things for our riders and Santa Clara County residents.

We will continue to build upon VTA’S foundational “10-Point Plan to Strengthen Trust in Transit.” Beyond keeping our vehicles clean and requiring face coverings, a point of emphasis in 2021 will be protecting employees and customers by advocating for transit workers to be prioritized in the vaccination rollout.