DAVE CORTESE ‘COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA SUPERVISOR, DISTRICT THREE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, EAST WING ‘TO WEST HEDOING STREET 10TH FLOOR [SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 96110 “TEL: (408) 209-6030 FAX: (48) 208-837 avacoreseghan saegovary wine superdsorotee og September 2, 2005 Michael Buras General manager Valley Transportation authority 3331 North Fst Street SenJose, ch 98112 {in preparation for the VTA 00's consideration of servic cuts acheduled tobe heard at the Geteber BOD mating. for Implementation in January 2010), | would Hk to registar my erahatle support forthe suggestions submited bythe Santa Cire VTA Riders Union ebout which types of bua services to protect. As an elected offical representing Svargracn te Eest Hil, Berryessa Aviso, North San Jose, Milnltas and parlors of Sunnyvale, | at extremely concerned by those route cuts tet wil not fenly impact our county’ most wunereble populations, but also futher eisanfranchse would-be riders who already wow VTA's service routes as Incompatible with thelr rave patterns ‘As Wve steted In eater correspondence tothe 30D, bam not ralveto tne budget challenges facing VTA, Kore athe county We ‘wil zoon be implementing aur own second round of cue having completed a ist round in June 2008) totaling anywhere between $0.n¢.120 millon, ‘That sad, we have piorized cesldents who ely on our safety nat of service, continved support (of programa/servces that help people keep thal Jobs, tay in school and promote gradus! emancipation forte publ benefits sytem. Vis cute should mirror these values, Bu they do net ge far enough Instead tha VTA fs ecommending reducing carvice on lines that people usa to get to werk and students use to get to seal and {hat senirs ons low income failes rey on for Independent end low cost travel, Furthermore, givan the primacy every ety in ‘ur county har placed on recucirg C02 emissons, the cuts propesed by stafFwill unfortunately force people aack int thei cer, Finally, there sa whale segment of the population who although they may nat be considered transit-cependent they 27€ twansitinterestad, but due toa lack of commen senseroutes, have ro choice but to use thelr car, would put mysel inthis last tegory- working profestionsl who i a frequent transit dar but du to limited service options, am forend io take my cat ‘around the Bay Area more than | prefer. ‘iy own values drive me to: “1. make sure there ls nota “second te In our own soclaly that remains disadvantaged due to oppressive publi patie: 2. ensure that réershipis rewarded when tt maets climate change goals; 3. engage those potential riders who do net see public transporttion as an option fr thelr travel needs due toe ack of ‘routes that meet theiclreurnetances. | bellave the transit agency's values shouldbe the same, through the provision of earamonsense publ ransporation options. ut unfortunately the riontes ofthe county and the prioritis of he transit agency are misalied, Until we correet this fundamental misalignment, fear that we wll never adequately serve those mast in need of service ené those interested in service but who have glven up hope on a transportation system designee te meet their needs. ove Cortese County Supervisor Third District, Frequent rans ser sincerely,