NBTMA

Traffic Reduction Conference

by Dwayne Hunn, North Bay Transportation Management Association

A healthy economy needs growth. A healthy environment needs growth that is sensitive to the environment. A healthy family structure functions best in a community where basic costs are reasonable and the region’s environment is protected for the long term.

North Bay Transportation Management Association’s (NBTMA) goal is to educate the community on the complex interrelationship between land use, jobs/housing balance, transportation, and the environment. When these four pieces of the puzzle fit, we move toward a healthy local and regional economy, jobs/housing balance, effective transportation system and healthy physical and family environment. To help achieve its educational goal NBTMA will, in co-sponsorship with a number of other North Bay organizations, sponsor a North Bay Land Use and Traffic Reduction Conference on Friday. February 2nd, at the Petaluma Community Center from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets for business representatives are $50. You are not likely to find a better line-up of experts or conference for this price. Consider this line-up of participants and reserve your tickets with a check to NBTMA, 845 Olive Ave., Novato, CA 94945, or call 897-8560. Also call if you want more information or are interested in being a co-sponsor.

Expert panelists include: Karen Baker, Legislative Analyst to Minnesota House of Representative and Chief Consultant to their Fiscal Disparities Revenue Sharing Act; Ralph Cipriani, Principal Planner for SCAG’s (Southern California Association of Government) recently completed Regional Mobility Plan; John Stevens, Traffic Consultant to California Assembly and instrumental in designing the Congestion Management Program Bill which is being referred to as California’s Transportation Planning and Funding Blueprint for the 21st century; Bob Harrison, Chief Consultant to 101 Corridor Plan, Angelo Siracusa, President of Bay Area Council; Larry Orman, Director of Greenbelt Alliance; Milton Feldstein, Director of Bay Area Air Quality Management Office; and Architect Peter Calthorpe, originator of Pedestrian Pocket concept for rail line use.

Luncheon speakers will include: State Senator Marian Bergeson, author of much land use, traffic and affordable housing legislation; Assemblyman William Filante, ten year assemblyman for Mann and Sonóma and long time advocate of workable communities; and Caltrans District Director, Burch Bachtold.

This will not be a conference where you merely listen to expert presentations on environmental, land use, transportation, jobs/housing, and funding mechanisms. Responding to the experts’ proposals, ideas and warnings will be local implementers— elected officials, environmental spokespersons, developers, etc., and you, the participating audience. Be part of the conference and part of the continuing search for a solution to our interrelated land use, jobs/housing balance, traffic and environmental needs. The more people who become educated on the complexities behind these issues the easier it becomes for our economy and government to address the needs.