REDWOOD NEEDLES
REDWOOD NEEDLES
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We have two major projects being undertaken with funds received in the Santa Rosa Marketplace Litigation Settlement. They are long-range in nature, with incremental steps to accomplish our desired outcome. We have hired two excellent consultants to carry out our objectives -- much of their time is spent contacting city, county and state functionaries, along with experts in various transportation disciplines.
Consultant Tim Frank will soon have results of a study on Revenue Sharing in Sonoma County. We contributed $20,000 to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to fund completion of a study currently underway on this topic by the Mayors and City Council Persons Working Group in Sonoma County. Public seminars will be annouced in this newsletter when the study is completed.
The second project is being carried out by consultant Joanna Becker and involves a number of components. The major focus is to establish a network of clean-vehicle vans for public use which are tied in to a computerized reservation system. The network will allow instantaneous re-routing of a van based on new input provided by the customer's phone request. Joanna has prepared a brochure titled ZERO EMISSIONS which highlights this service and other alternative transportation options in Sonoma County. It is available free at the Environmental Center or it can be mailed upon receipt of your small donation to cover publishing and mailing costs. We are planning an April conference where results of a similar paratransit service will be presented along with other examples. Additional alternative transportation options will also be discussed. We will announce the conference date in this newsletter.
Another project is the donation of 10 Sierra Club funded bike racks to the city of Santa Rosa. The present racks are vandalized frequently so these new ones will be the large upside-down U-shaped pipe style. We are also investigating various upgrades to bus stop locations. Currently, the single cement bench seems unfriendly, cold and exposed; we would like to create a more friendly waiting area, with shelter from the elements. We are also exploring a new bench concept with a designed-in bike rack.
In late August, we purchased a natural gas fueled Ford Crown Victoria car for $24,000 and presented it to Volunteer Wheels, a paratransit program of the Volunteer Center. This vehicle was the only new car offered at that point in time which had the alternative fuel option and a design which was suitable for the specialized needs of Volunteer Wheels clients.
We hope you agree the existing projects and our plans for future expenditure of the settlement money will make at least a small dent in providing solutions to our high levels of traffic congestion, especially in the downtown area. We encourage you to offer additional suggestions and we welcome volunteers interested in helping carry out our objectives.
Call Arlie Haig at 527-7180 or leave a message for Joanna Becker at 570-0721.
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