Issues
Transportation
For years, California has delayed investment in our statewide transportation network. Now the need to repair and modernize is urgent. Creating robust mass transportation systems will connect our local and regional economies, create jobs, give Californians better affordable transit options and ease traffic congestion. And it will enhance local and statewide efforts on air quality, pollution reduction and energy efficiency.
To accommodate California’s growing population and our expanding economy, we must leave the era of the car behind and refocus our investment and energy on building smart, environmentally sustainable transit options. Mayor Gavin Newsom was an early advocate of California’s high speed-rail project, a bullet train that will transport passengers between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2.5 hours, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, spare our environment of excessive carbon emissions and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
In San Francisco, where residents rely heavily on public transportation, Mayor Gavin Newsom has spearheaded extensive transit reform, making public transportation more accessible and efficient, decreasing pollution and emissions and implementing technologies to improve traffic flow.
Innovative Technology: Mayor Newsom has overseen the implementation of a variety of new technologies to modernize San Francisco’s public transportation, including: NextMuni, a mobile-friendly website with transportation schedules updated by satellite; Translink Card, an integrated card for all Bay Area transit systems including MUNI and BART; SFPark, “smart” parking meters capable of reading credit cards, Translink cards and pay-by-cell-phone technologies; and SFGo, a technology system providing information on traffic flow, weather and travel conditions to transportation managers and travelers throughout the city.
Greenest Public Transit Fleet in the Nation: Over 50% of San Francisco’s public transit vehicles are now electric and the city has the largest bio-diesel fleet in the country. In a regional partnership, Mayor Newsom has taken steps to make San Francisco the state and country leader in electric vehicle infrastructure. And while San Francisco already has the cleanest public transit fleet in the nation, Mayor Newsom has set an ambitious goal to have San Francisco’s public transit fleet run exclusively on green and renewable sources by 2020.
Comprehensive Review: In a multiyear partnership with San Francisco’s public transportation agency, Mayor Newsom led the most extensive review of San Francisco MUNI in decades. Recommendations from Newsom’s technical analysis included guidelines to improve reliability and efficiency, reduce wait times, expand route networks and manage the agency’s budget deficit.
Transformation of Transbay Terminal: Mayor Newsom is working with state and regional leaders to make San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal the “Grand Central Station of the West.” Once completed, the Transbay Terminal will connect Caltrain, BART, MUNI, several regional and state bus lines and California’s high-speed rail. Modernizing and centralizing public transportation in one vast multi-use terminal will revolutionize the regions’ public transit infrastructure.
Join Our Policy Team: Gavin Newsom believes that the best plan is a better idea. If you would like to share your ideas and insights on how to reshape California's Transportation policy, please email us at issues@gavinnewsom.com.
