The Loma Prietan - November/December 2009

The September/October Loma Prietan expressed cautious optimism about AB 744, legislation that could create an express toll lane network for Bay Area freeways. These lanes would allow solo motorists access to carpool lanes for a fee, while carpoolers would continue to use the lanes for free. Our reservations concerned the authorization of 300 new miles of freeway lanes, a later amendment that would ban conversion of general purpose lanes to toll lanes, and the lack of a guarantee that funds raised by tolls would be directed toward public transit.

Thanks to the hard work of Sierra Club California resource sustainability advocate Michael Endicott, AB 744 became a two-year bill that will start in January 2010, where it ended in August — in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Mr. Endicott, the Sierra Club's Bay Area Transportation Committee, and our transportation and environmental allies hope to amend the legislation to address these concerns.

Irvin Dawid co-chairs the Club's Bay Area Transportation Committee. He can be reached at Irvin.dawid@lomaprieta.sierraclub.org or 650-853-0558