Matthew Roth
Recent Posts
MTC Gives BART Until Mid-February on Civil Rights Review
| | 4 Comments
Reverend Scot Denman of Genesis and Oakland Airport Connector opponents rally outside MTC headquarters in Oakland. Photos: Matthew Roth The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), at its monthly meeting in Oakland today, voted 11-5 to reaffirm its commitment to the Oakland Airport Connector, despite BART’s recent problems with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) over its Title […]
MTC Staff Still Committed to Oakland Airport Connector
| | 2 Comments
Despite the rush of negative publicity around the FTA’s letter to BART, which effectively put the agency on notice for failing its Title VI civil rights and equity obligations for the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC), MTC Executive Director Steve Heminger has faith in BART’s ability to come up with a satisfactory action plan to meet […]
What’s With the Critical Mass Comic in Mayor Newsom’s Press Office?
| | 7 Comments
Click to enlarge. Photo: Matthew Roth On a recent visit to Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Press Office, I was a bit befuddled by the enormous comic behind the reception desk. The four-by-five foot framed illustration completely dominates the room, but that wasn’t the half of it. Click on the picture to enlarge it and read the […]
Advocates Want Oakland Airport Connector Funds for Transit Operations
| | 13 Comments
Image: TransForm With the civil rights imbroglio between BART and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) making news last week, a problem that could imperil $70 million in federal stimulus funds obligated to the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC), advocates are calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to give the stimulus money to cash-strapped transit operators […]
Thanks for a Wonderful First Birthday Party!
| | 9 Comments
Every day at Streetsblog San Francisco, we are rewarded by the intelligence, passion, and interest of our readership, for which we count our blessings. Unlike so much of the drivel that passes for comments on some other sites, many of our stories turn into running editorials with each new insight from you, dear readers. Unfortunately, […]
BART Responds to FTA Rebuke, Defends Minority and Equity Practices
| | 2 Comments
Proposed Coliseum Station OAC connections. Photo: BART In a strongly worded reply to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Peter Rogoff yesterday [PDF], a number of BART Board Directors and General Manager Dorothy Dugger contested the FTA’s assertion that BART has not complied with its obligations to minority riders under Federal Civil Rights Act Title VI […]
BART Scrambles on Oakland Airport Connector Equity Review Failure
| | 13 Comments
Image: BART BART hoped it could put debate over the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) in the past as it lined up funding, got approval from local governments, and received lower than expected construction bids, but now a scathing letter from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has sent BART scrambling to meet a March 5th deadline […]
Cesar Chavez Street Redesign a Test Case For Better Agency Coordination
| | 9 Comments
Concept for Mission and Cesar Chavez intersection redesign. Image: Planning Department It appears 2010 is the year the stewards of San Francisco’s streets have marked to figure out how to cooperate with each other to design and build a better realm. While the much touted Better Streets Plan synthesizes best practice principles and standards for […]
Legislation to Limit Garages in North Beach and Chinatown Moves Forward
| | 3 Comments
Photo: Postmodern Drunkard When San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu introduced legislation last October to limit new garages in existing buildings in District 3, which includes North Beach, Telegraph Hill, and Chinatown, his action catalyzed several advocacy groups that don’t always see eye to eye. The bill is aimed at stopping no-fault evictions […]
Eyes on the Street: Golden Gate Velo
| | No Comments
Photo: meligrosa Thanks to all of you for contributing these wonderful photos to our Flickr pool. We hope you’ll continue to upload scenes from our streets so we can showcase your good work. Also, we’ll be taking Monday off in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and will see you back on Tuesday. Don’t […]
Eyes on the Street: New Bus Shelters Appear on Market Street
| | 18 Comments
Photos: Matthew Roth Although they aren’t quite as innovative as the solar bus shelter at Geary and Arguello boulevards that we profiled in May 2009, the newly designed MTA bus shelters are appearing around the city, including these two on Market Street near the Ferry Building. Designed by Ollie Lundberg of Lundberg Design, the top […]
San Francisco Struggles to Finance and Build Livable Streets
| | 7 Comments
Folsom Street simulation with elements of the Better Streets Plan. Photo: SF Planning Department As San Francisco’s Better Streets Plan (BSP) street design manual nears environmental certification, many questions remain about financing street maintenance and how all of the agencies responsible for the city’s streets will work together to improve conditions for transit, walking, and […]