MERIT AWARDS Special Awards Issue Fannie Mae Barnes: Carrying the Torch for Women as First and Only Female Cable Car Grip When the hiring managers at S.F. Muni “I take my hat off to Fannie,” he said.“She employed Fannie Mae Barnes as a bus driver prepared herself ... she’s tough. She set her in 1981, little did they know that this easy- mind to do it, and she did it.” going, then 35-year-old woman would Barnes did have a bit of an advantage, become the first female to complete their having first been a cable car conductor. But rigorous cable car grip program 17 years still she recalls the physical agility and later. “Pulling grip” for a cable car is no coordination required: “On rainy days, it was small feat for a man, let alone a 52-year- hard to stop the car. The driver has to put Transactions old single mother. sand on the cable tracks and use a pedal to OCTOBER 2008 John F. Foran As a San Francisco bus driver, Barnes pump the sand down on the slick tracks. Legislative Award: noticed that all of her friends in the cable We had to stay away from moving the cable TRANSPORTATION NEWS Congressman Tom Lantos car barn were constantly happy. So at first car into certain positions, because there’s FOR THE NINE-COUNTY The influence of the late Congressman she decided to try out for the job of con- no such thing as reverse on a cable car.” Tom Lantos spread far beyond the 12th ductor — and became one of only three In August 1998, Barnes was honored SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA Congressional District on the San females to hold that position at the time. with the title of Systemwide Operator, Francisco Peninsula, which he rep- resented from 1981 until his death in In the cable car hierarchy, the job of con- an award given by the San Francisco Muni- February 2008. The only survivor of the ductor is actually higher up than the grip, NOAH BERGER cipal Transportation Agency to employees Fannie Barnes relaxes in her home away from home: the San Francisco cable car barn. Holocaust to be elected to Congress, although it’s less strenuous work, involv- exhibiting excellence. She now adds an MTC Lantos served as chair of the House ing assisting on the back brake and collecting car at a steady pace of about nine miles an car line trainer. As a result, there is an elite 2008 Award of Merit to her list of honors. Foreign Relations Committee, champion- fares. It was a significant achievement for hour. To stop the car, the driver releases the crew of drivers — only about 35 at the While she was a grip for only about four ing human rights and democracy around the globe. Barnes, but she wanted to drive. Several of grip and applies the brakes. If the grip slips, time Barnes passed the test. years, and retired in 2007, her co-workers Lantos also was a tireless advocate the other grips said she couldn’t do it — so does the cable car. It takes coordination, She wasn’t successful in her first attempt. still have a huge respect for her accomplish- for Bay Area transportation, securing that it was impossible because women strength and mental concentration. And But armed with her mantra — that a ment. “Fannie came along and changed the millions of dollars in federal funds for lack the upper-body strength. “Anytime I did we mention that a cable car weighs woman can do anything — she began term grip man to grip person,” said Byron Bay Area projects. Two vitally important projects — the Devil’s Slide tunnel on Cobb, fellow grip and line trainer. hear someone say a woman can’t do it, I eight tons? a weight training program. A year Highway 1 and the BART extension to want to do something about it,” Barnes said. The coveted job of being a cable later she was up to 65 pounds on Barnes had the honor of pulling the grip San Francisco International Airport (SFO) “I believe a woman can do anything.” car grip is a physically demanding one lateral pull-downs, 20 pounds on arm on Cable Car 9 as it carried the Olympic — testify to his unwavering commit- At the helm of a San Francisco cable — that is, if you make it through the train- strengthening exercises and 160 pounds torch up the Hyde Street hill in the run-up ment to improving transportation options JOHN HUSEBY, CALTRANS for people in the Bay Area. car, the driver is required to control the vehi- ing program. The 25-day training trial puts on a back-exercise machine. She was to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. After remarkably swift reconstruction, only a newer stretch of pavement remains as mute evidence of the horrific cle by pulling a lever known as a “grip” — wannabes on the line, and approximately ready. Her determination impressed her As the only female to ever become a San tanker-truck explosion that demolished a key segment of the MacArthur Maze, the Bay Area’s busiest interchange. a 260-pound device that attaches the car to 80 to 85 percent drop out within the first co-workers.Trainer Ahmad says he “put her Francisco cable car grip, she’s still carrying Grand Award: MacArthur Maze Miracle — Turning Disaster Into Triumph the cable. The driver must run the cable five days, according to Saadat Ahmad, cable through the paces like everyone else.” the torch. — Pam Grove 28 GRIDLOCK AVERTED WHILE REGION’S BUSIEST INTERCHANGE IS REBUILT IN JUST 26 DAYS It took just one crash and the fiery explosion of a gasoline tanker truck to demolish the East SPECIAL AWARDS 2 0 0 8 Bay’s MacArthur Maze, the busiest freeway interchange in the Bay Area. It took hundreds MICHAEL MALONEY, SF CHRONICLE Doris W. Kahn Accessible Transportation Award: Making a Good Thing Better, With Carsharing Access for All 2008 Transportation of people working 24/7, under intense pressure, to put it together again. This is a true tale Lantos campaigned early in his Leave it to the city of Berkeley, birthplace — available to all members of City CarShare. member willing to drive. Awards: career for federal emergency funds to of “Turning Disaster Into Triumph,” featuring teams of engineers, contractors, construction repair the precipitous stretch of High- of the independent-living movement, to When the city won $25,000 in the National On average, the van is used twice a day Excellence in Motion way 1 on the San Mateo coast known take a good idea like car sharing and make Organization on Disability’s Accessible Amer- by the 30 participants in the Access Program. Welcome to this special workers, surveyors, public information staff, public transit agencies, local, state and federal as Devil’s Slide after winter storms issue of Transactions, it even better by adapting it for wheel- ica contest in 2007, City CarShare matched Participant Danny Kodmur needs the van public officials, and the news media all working together to repair and rebuild the MacArthur closed the highway for months. In 1983, chair users. The AccessMobile, a shared the funds. The nonprofit brainstormed with for shopping in places not along a transit in which we highlight he secured $58 million for the repairs, the winners of MTC’s but the money was put on hold while accessible van that can be rented by the the city and its Commission on Disability, and route and carrying large packages home. Maze in record time and to plan and publicize alternative routes to avoid traffic gridlock. 28th Transportation the project awaited approval. Years hour, became available to the public together they came up with the notion “The AccessMobile is an affordable resource Awards Program. The passed while factions argued over the in April 2008. of a van that would benefit both dis- to an underserved population,” Kodmur said. biennial competition options: building a new highway bypass In 2004, Berkeley latched on to the abled and nondisabled members. Program expansion depends on demand honors people, projects in an environmentally sensitive area and organizations for versus tunneling through the coastal benefits of car sharing and retired 10 Participants in the Access Program and funding, but if past is prologue, Berke- exceptional contributions mountain. While the debates and law- city fleet cars in favor of vehicles oper- can use the AccessMobile during business ley will find a way. At an average cost of to Bay Area transporta- suits raged, Lantos and U.S. Senator ated by City CarShare, a Bay Area nonprofit hours, and during off hours, it is available to $8.50 an hour, the AccessMobile is a green tion. When we stepped back and looked Dianne Feinstein worked steadily to that provides convenient, affordable, short- all City CarShare members. A first for City and accessible innovation by City CarShare at the 11 people and programs singled earmark additional money for Devil’s out this year, we were struck by the term rental cars as an alternative to car CarShare’s fleet, the van can accommodate and the city of Berkeley, which share this NOAH BERGER Slide in every federal transportation Danny Kodmur, a member of City CarShare’s fact that of the four individuals receiv- bill. Finally, the highway versus tunnel ownership. After business hours, the city up to two wheelchairs and four additional year’s Doris Kahn Accessible Transporta- Access Program in Berkeley, prepares to take ing the ball-bearing award, three are debate was settled, and the U.S. De- JOHN HUSEBY, CALTRANS makes its car-share fleet — now six vehicles people, and requires only a friend or family tion Award. — Pam Grove a ride in the new AccessMobile. women. Whether compiling a distin- partment of Transportation allocated guished planning career, managing a The tale began before dawn on information about freeway con- structural damage and could be emergency repair funds to finance a megaproject or being the first to handle Sunday, April 29, 2007, when the ditions and transit and carpool repaired. A contract was award- $270 million tunnel. METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION WWW.MTC.CA.GOV a physically demanding, formerly male- tanker accident and ensuing options on the 511.org Web site, ed to ACC West, and eight days At the tunnel groundbreaking, Lantos only job, these women stand out among quipped, “I was in knee pants when I fireball destroyed the upper-level and the media broadcast news of after the accident, with workers all who keep us moving day to day. introduced this legislation. I learned to Of the organizations being recog- freeway connector to eastbound the accident, route detours and on 24-hour shifts, the connector be patient.” Scheduled for completion nized and the people behind them, caring Interstate 580 and draped tons of increased services on BART, buses reopened to traffic. in 2011 and named for its steadfast Commissioners PRESORT could be the common denominator: softened steel and concrete onto and ferries. Meanwhile, the bigger supporter, the Tom Lantos Tunnel will Bill Dodd, Chair FIRST CLASS caring for their fellow human beings, consist of two 4,000-foot bores extend- Napa County and Cities the lower level connector to south- Before the smoke had job of rebuilding the I-580 U.S. Postage caring for the environment and caring ing between Pacifica and Montara, and Scott Haggerty, Vice Chair PAID about creating better transportation bound Interstate 880. The week- cleared from the accident, connector was under way. the abandoned roadway will become a Alameda County Oakland, CA Tom Ammiano Transactions options for us all. end catastrophe set the stage for Caltrans engineers were on Concerned about a steel shoreline trail with breathtaking views Permit No. 854 City and County of San Francisco OCTOBER 2008 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED But clearly, the showstopper in this potential Monday traffic mayhem, site assessing the damage shortage, Caltrans called of the Pacific coast. Tom Azumbrado round of the MTC Transportation Awards Extending BART to SFO also was a U.S. Department of Housing Metropolitan Transportation Commission since on a typical weekday 80,000 and working with the depart- on worldwide contacts and and Urban Development is the MacArthur Maze meltdown, which long-term vision that some doubted Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter vehicles use these routes to travel ment’s design offices in Sacra- tracked down supplies in Pennsyl- Tom Bates in the skilled hands of Caltrans and its could be accomplished. Lantos never 101 Eighth Street Cities of Alameda County many partners became the Maze mir- to and from the San Francisco- mento to rough out repair and vania and Texas. Caltrans engineers Oakland, California 94607 lost sight of the vision, however, and Dean J. Chu acle. Not only did contractors repair and Cities of Santa Clara County Oakland Bay Bridge. reconstruction plans. Demolition drew up specifications for the re- fought persistently to ensure the fed- 510.817.5700 TEL. rebuild the two crucial East Bay freeway eral government honored its pledge of Dave Cortese 510.817.5769 TDD/TTY Phones began ringing at 4 a.m. crews began clearing the site construction project in just days Association of Bay Area Governments connectors closed by the spectacular $750 million — half of the total cost — 510.817.5848 FAX Sunday and Caltrans officials im- and hauling away tons of debris instead of weeks, offering per-day Dorene M. Giacopini [email protected] E-MAIL accident with astounding alacrity, but for the project. U.S. Department of Transportation www.mtc.ca.gov WEB also, the specter of widespread traffic mediately activated the depart- and contaminated soil. Governor incentives for early completion On a preview test ride of BART to Federal D. Glover Contra Costa County gridlock never materialized. ment’s emergency response center Schwarzenegger issued an emer- or penalties for delays. SFO in July 2002, Lantos commented, Steve Heminger When the second connector opened Anne W. Halsted Executive Director in Oakland. By noon, Caltrans Dis- gency proclamation in order to Out of seven bidders, the low- “This is truly a profound addition to the San Francisco Bay Conservation in time for the busy 2007 Memorial Day quality of our lives.”Now, MTC is recog- and Development Commission Ann Flemer Deputy Executive Director, Operations weekend, the San Francisco Chronicle trict 4 staff had organized a meeting cut red tape and streamline the est by far was from the company Steve Kinsey nizing Lantos’ many contributions to Marin County and Cities Andrew Fremier summed up the remarkable achieve- with representatives from MTC, contracting process. The federal that bears the name of C.C. Myers, the quality of life in the Bay Area with Deputy Executive Director, Bay Area Toll Authority Sue Lempert ment: “Rebuilding the freeways was not Bay Area public transit agencies, government weighed in, with Mary who promised to finish the job this year’s John F. Foran Legislative Cities of San Mateo County Therese W. McMillan Deputy Executive Director, Policy just a highway construction project. With the California Highway Patrol, and Peters, Secretary of the U.S. Depart- before the busy Memorial Day Award. — Marjorie Blackwell Jake Mackenzie the Bay Area, the construction industry Sonoma County and Cities Randy Rentschler Director, Legislation and Public Affairs the Oakland police and traffic ment of Transportation, delivering weekend. Although some may Jon Rubin and others across the country watch- San Francisco Mayor’s Appointee Brenda Kahn ing, it became a race. Winning the race departments to plan and publicize a $2 million check in person. have doubted him, Myers did as Editor Bijan Sartipi required an uncommon combination of alternate driving routes and pro- By day four after the accident, he promised, and the I-580 con- State Business, Transportation Joe Curley Associate Editor pride, planning, timing and teamwork.” and Housing Agency vide increased transbay transit Caltrans engineers had completed nector was ready to reopen in Calendar Catalina Alvarado, Karin Betts, John Goodwin, Pam Grove, Georgia Lambert Enjoy reading, and we hope you feel James P. Spering services (along with all-day, free extensive testing and analysis of exactly 26 days, more than a month Solano County and Cities Editorial Staff as inspired as we do by the innovations, For dates, times and locations Adrienne J. Tissier Finger Design Associates, Oakland hard work and good deeds showcased rides the first Monday after the the damage to the I-880 connector ahead of schedule. of upcoming MTC meetings, visit San Mateo County Design and Production on these pages. accident). MTC posted detailed and concluded it had suffered no — Marjorie Blackwell
Safeway Delivers a Cleaner Environment With Biodiesel Trucks David Tannehill Special Employee Award: Meet Deanna Vilcheck, an Engineer Who Can Juggle VTA Bus Route Overhaul Helps Riders Find Way to San Jose — and Beyond strategies in conjunction with em- As Caltrans’ primary engineer for the recon- change — making sure that all the plans are Change is often met with resistance. ployee education and consumer struction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay followed, coordinating and monitoring con- Not so the redesign of the bus outreach to reduce carbon emis- Bridge’s West Approach, a one-mile elevated tractors’ progress, implementing any change service operated by the Santa Clara sions in the communities it serves. stretch of Interstate 80 coursing through San orders, and keeping the work on schedule. Valley Transportation Authority Thanks to the “green” move to Francisco’s densely developed South of Market Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pre- (VTA), winner of a 2008 Award of biodiesel, Safeway’s fleet has cut residential and commercial area, Deanna sided over a milestone event — the opening Merit. Thanks to the efficient, com- its carbon dioxide emissions by Vilcheck has become an expert juggler and of the new permanent structure carrying prehensive overhaul and an impres- 75 million pounds annually, the ringmaster. She has directed the long-running eastbound traffic to the span — in April of sive communications and outreach equivalent of taking about 7,500 $400 million-plus production that has involved 2008. The project is due for completion, campaign, bus ridership was up cars off the road. As a fleet, Safe- hundreds of construction workers; scores of months ahead of schedule, this winter. by 11 percent in the period from
NOAH BERGER way trucks annually travel about engineers, architects, traffic operations staff, According to Caltrans Project Manager January through April 2008 — the NOAH BERGER Safeway’s trucks have gone “green” with biodiesel fuel, 25 million miles, and use 5 million and budget and finance professionals; dozens Ken Terpstra, “Deanna has a strong construc- service’s first four months — com- One of over 200 VTA employee ambassadors answers taking the equivalent of 7,500 cars off the road annually. questions about the redesigned bus service. gallons of the biodiesel fuel blend. of contractors; myriad local agencies and tion background, but on a project like the pared to the same period in 2007, Safeway Inc., a national food and drug Although there is not yet any cost advan- other stakeholders; thousands of residents West Approach it is about more than con- according to Cynthia Santoro, VTA manage- page color insert and a sticky-note on the retailer with Bay Area roots, is taking the tage to using biodiesel, neither is it prohibi- and businesses; and some 280,000 vehicles struction. The resident engineer needed a very ment analyst. front page) to a cinema ad and a Val-Pak term “greengrocer” to a whole new level tively expensive. Every Safeway truck sports traveling through theWest Approach corridor particular skill set to pull that project off, and After more than two years of research, coupon mailed to 390,000 households by embracing environmental initiatives special decals indicating the vehicle is oper- each day. you knew Deanna had it.” evaluation and plan implementation, VTA within the county. Television and radio ads,
throughout its business operations, includ- ated with cleaner-burning biodiesel. The feat has earned Vilcheck the 2008 NOAH BERGER “I’ve really learned a lot about multitask- launched the redesigned bus system on car cards and bus boards on VTA light-rail MTC Special Employee Award winner Deanna Vilcheck dons her hard hat and a smile as she stands ing the conversion early in 2008 of its entire trains and buses, station posters, and Safeway’s fleet of 1,000-plus tractor- David Tannehill Special Employee Award. atop her domain of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge West Approach. ing and delegating,”said Vilcheck, who recent- Jan. 14, 2008. Affecting over 100,000 week- California and U.S. truck fleet to cleaner- trailer big rigs now run on what is known “The project was exceptionally complex ly was promoted to construction manager for day bus riders and almost all VTA bus lines, advertisements in community-based news- burning biodiesel fuel. The bold move has as B20 biodiesel, which consists of 80 per- in terms of construction staging and from the original footprint as well as replacing all will prevent the structure from collapsing the West Approach and other projects.“I throw the new system included major route changes papers and foreign language papers com- earned Safeway a 2008 Award of Merit. cent normal diesel fuel blended with 20 community relations perspective,” said Tony on- and off-ramps, sometimes within feet and like Oakland’s Interstate 880 Cypress Street 45 balls in the air, and start with the five that and improved service frequency. Bus lines pleted the information blitz, along with “It’s just the right thing to do,” said Tom percent soy-based biodiesel. B20 biodiesel Anziano, Caltrans’ toll bridge program man- inches of adjacent buildings, while causing double-deck viaduct did during the 1989 are closest to the ground.” with low ridership were eliminated and new various brochures and news releases. Nartker, vice president of transportation reduces sulfur, carbon monoxide, hydro- ager. “It required incredible amounts of minimal impact on the traveling public Loma Prieta earthquake. Since the start of construction on the lines were added, including two new express Over 200 VTA employees served as at Safeway. “We’ve been very socially carbon and particulate emissions. The coordination and collaboration, and Deanna and the local community. The seismi- Caltrans Director Will Kempton com- San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge’s West bus routes and 11 routes with smaller ambassadors at 25 transit hubs to in- responsible in terms of the environ- 80/20 blend is the percentage at which was the focal point for bringing the team cally outdated double-deck structure is pared the West Approach seismic project Approach replacement in 2003, Vilcheck has buses, called community buses, that form and engage riders about the ment for a number of years at Safe- manufacturers will still guarantee the together. She does her work quietly, but she now gone, and in its place is a side-by- to “changing a tire on a car that’s moving demonstrated her multitasking capabilities feature lower fares. VTA also instituted new bus service. Ambassadors were way, especially on the retail side, and performance of the engine parts. is unbelievably effective.” side roadway where each deck has its own at 65 miles per hour.” As the senior resident beyond the project, finding the time not only more frequent service — every 15 min- equipped with a detailed toolkit con- we were looking for ways we could “The drivers can’t even tell the differ- The five-year effort involved completely independent support system. Where the engineer, Vilcheck has been responsible for to get married, but also to give birth to two utes or better — on core bus routes. taining information about the new service. expand into our distribution and private ence with the B20,” said Curt Friggle, Safe- removing and replacing the freeway in its decks stack to join the bridge,those supports many of the nitty-gritty details of that tire children. — Karin Betts “We cut service in places where there Wearing “Ask Me” stickers or buttons, ambas- fleet operations. So we came up with the way’s truck repair manager. “But our fueler wasn’t demand, and we added service in sadors made personal contact with as many idea of moving to biodiesel, which has cre- let us know that it smells like French fries!” places where there was potential for rider- riders as possible at their stations over a Greta Ericson Distinguished Service Award: Finding Middle Ground Drives Jean Hart to the Top ated a huge opportunity for us to help reduce According to Nartker, “As soon as the ship growth,” said Bernice Alaniz, deputy two-week period, handing out brochures Bus route that runs parallel to Interstate 80 the amount of CO2 we emit into the air.” manufacturers warrant the engines to a public the best work possible.” director of marketing and communications. showing route changes and timetables. Safeway’s biodiesel program is part of higher soy blend, Safeway will start using it. Hart was a driving force in the move to from the city of San Pablo to Oakland. The VTA staff’s communication plan was “Because of our advertising campaign the company’s Greenhouse Gas and Sus- We’ve even tested a B100 biofuel, which is convert a section of the carpool lane on south- express service, with just five to seven min- centered around the slogan, “The New VTA and face-to-face, two-week ambassador- tainability Initiative, a dedicated effort to use a 100 percent soy blend, but that is tougher bound Interstate 680 to a high-occupancy/toll utes between buses, gives priority to buses — New Service, New Standards, New Com- ship efforts, we achieved a very high level solar power, wind power, alternative fuels on the engine and gels in cold weather.” (HOT) lane, which experts say will help to so they can maintain their expedited sched- mitment.” The communications campaign of rider awareness prior to the launch and environmentally friendly construction — Karin Betts alleviate congestion. In the works since 1994 ules and features electronic signs at bus stops was multilingual, with messages in English, date,” said VTA’s Santoro. and the first in the Bay Area, the HOT proj- with estimated bus arrival times. Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Tagalog. Ridership numbers have continued to ect will allow single-occupant vehicles to use “Jean has tremendous patience, and then Stanford University Gets an “A” for Commute Alternatives The new service was promoted in creative be strong. In July, total system ridership for the Express Lane during commute hours for finds the combination that works for every- ways, reaching out to all age groups, bus and light rail showed an increase of as well as students on AC Transit’s a fee. Hart also was instrumental in getting one. In the end, we all walk away thinking, from extensive advertising in the San Jose 9.6 percent over July 2007, Santoro said. LineU, which connects to other East agreement with various communities through ‘This works, this will benefit my constituents,’” Mercury News (which included an eight- — Georgia Lambert Bay transit systems as well as to ACE the Tri-Valley Triangle Study, leading to said Janet Lockhart, mayor of Dublin. commuter rail? HOV lanes on Interstate 580. Her work “There is not a person out there who Take a Shuttle to the Redwoods, and Leave Parking Hassles Behind If free transportation isn’t incen- included securing a grant to perform a doesn’t smile when they hear her name.” tive enough, the Commute Club feasibility study, collaborating with mul- After 30 years in the planning field, This past summer, Golden Gate
offers up to $282 a year in cash to NOAH BERGER tiple agencies to introduce the legislative and capping her career with the 2008 Greta Transit Route 66 — known as the employees and students who stop A driving force in plans to alleviate traffic congestion on Interstate 580, Jean Hart retired from the bill to change the vehicle code and obtaining Ericson Distinguished Service Award, Hart is Muir Woods Shuttle — returned to Alameda County Congestion Management Agency following a 30-year career in the planning field. commuting in solo vehicles, cash capital funding. looking forward to having more time for gar- Marin County for its fourth year of prizes, and $50 cash rewards for Future generations who traverse the Bay Area multijurisdic tional approval. She also was one Hart was asked to serve as moderator of dening, needlepoint projects, hiking and service, allowing visitors to access
NOAH BERGER referrals of university friends or may not know Jean Hart’s name, but they of the first Bay Area women to reach the upper the San Pablo Corridor Study when the issue family visits. She plans to travel to Antarctica the Bay Area’s redwood wonders Members of Stanford’s Commute Club take advantage coworkers who turn in their park- without fighting traffic or adding of free, on-campus bike safety inspections. will enjoy the results of her planning prowess. echelons of transportation management. of traffic congestion and potential lawsuits and Australia, fulfilling her goal of visiting ing permits and switch to commute During her 14-year tenure as deputy director “Jean is a terrific manager,” said Dennis regarding the possible move of a major all seven continents. Hart retired in 2007 to the jam-packed parking lots and Ask Stanford University students or employ- alternatives. As a disincentive to commut- of planning at the Alameda County Conges- Fay, executive director of ACCMA. “She knows medical facility from Oakland to Emeryville knowing that her accomplishments will ex- surrounding roads. ees why they belong to the university’s ing via single-occupant vehicle, Stanford’s tion Management Agency (ACCMA), Hart led when to coach someone and knows how to were a cause for concern for various agen- tend to generations to come, just as the Bay Five thousand people make the
Commute Club, and their exuberant answers annual parking permit fee has more than the way in consensus building for transportation get others to deliver their best work. She really cies. Differing views were ultimately resolved, Area’s present infrastructure is a gift from past trek to Muir Woods National Monu- NOAH BERGER range from the economic benefits of cash doubled in the past six years. ment on a busy weekend day, while For an adult round-trip fare of $3, summertime visitors can projects that crossed county lines and required is dedicated to public service, and giving the resulting in the popular AC Transit Rapid generations. — Georgia Lambert ride a shuttle to Muir Woods and avoid parking hassles. rewards, rental car credits, and savings on To make commute alternatives even there is only room for about 190 gas, parking fees, vehicle upkeep and the easier, Commute Club members are auto- cars in the parking lots. And on most week- trips to and from the park in 2008 — the like, to discovering the pleasures of walk- matically enrolled in an Emergency Ride Miriam Gholikely Public Service Award: AC Transit Employees Catch the Spirit of the Drive end mornings, the lots fill up by 9 a.m. latest in a series of impressive statistics that ing and biking, and helping to reduce global Home program and offered up to $96 a The bus operators at AC Transit’s Richmond proposed creating a giving tree for all of the “We did some research about visitors to helped earn the service a 2008 Award of warming. Thanks to the university’s aggres- year in Zipcar credit plus 12 hours of free Facility know what it means to drive. But in families staying at the Rescue Mission, the Muir Woods, and we discovered that people Merit. “The ridership demand for this serv- sive and successful Transportation Demand car rentals per year (Zipcar car-sharing and the past year, they’ve become familiar with rest of Division 3 — all 209 of them — fell in spent more time trying to find a parking ice has blown us away,” said Marin County Management (TDM) program, Stanford’s Enterprise Rent-A-Car are located right on another kind of drive: a fundraiser. line. The names of the family members were space than they did in the woods,” said Supervisor Charles McGlashan. “And the drive-alone rate dropped 20 percentage campus). A bicycling haven, Stanford also Bus drivers often overhear the comments hung on a Christmas tree in the break room, Muir Woods Site Supervisor Mia Monroe. shuttle is helping local leaders see that points, from 72 to 52 percent, between 2002 provides 12,000 bike-rack spaces along of their riders while on the job — most of and the workers selected a person (or two) “From the National Park Service perspec- transit is an option here in Marin.” and 2007. The program’s strong incen- with enclosed bike storage, clothes which they’d probably like to tune out. But last for whom they would purchase a gift. Only tive, we wanted people to have a better The shuttle is also an example of tives and targeted marketing have lockers and showers. Commuters can December, while driving his regular route on an hour and a half after the giving tree went experience getting here, and a better successful recreation-focused ITS, proved irresistible to nearly 7,000 try out loaner folding bikes, and get AC Transit’s 72M Line, Hector Perdomo over- up, all of the names were gone, with enough experience in the park.” or “intelligent transportation systems.” employees and students who belong a subsidy to buy their own. heard a conversation between a mother and funds left over to purchase extra gifts in The county battles a related prob- During the summer season, change- to the Commute Club — and have earned “Stanford has offered alternative her son that he couldn’t ignore. The little case there were new arrivals. On Monday, lem: Horrendous traffic grinds through south able message signs on U.S. 101 are used it a 2008 Award of Merit. transportation services for decades,” noted boy said all he wanted was a basket- December 24, several of the bus oper- Marin from U.S. 101 to Muir Woods and to warn visitors when the parking lots are The TDM program, which is managed Brodie Hamilton, director of Stanford’s Park- ball, but his mother — who was living at ators loaded over 100 presents on a Stinson Beach. A predictable segment of that full, and urge them to take the shuttle. by the Parking & Transportation Services ing & Transportation Services.“But in 2002, the Richmond Rescue Mission — could Van Hool coach and delivered them to gridlock was the traffic to Muir Woods, and “I was a skeptic about the signs at first,” staff, offers a plethora of alternative trans- our office launched an all-out expansion of not afford to buy him a gift that Christmas. the Rescue Mission. so the park service and county leadership said Monroe, “but now I see the direct
portation choices. How about free service the program. We added new incentives, devel- Perdomo couldn’t stop thinking about them, While Perdomo had a positive outlook NOAH BERGER put their heads together and, with the help connection between the signs and shuttle on the Marguerite shuttle that links the uni- oped targeted marketing, began personal and he eventually ended up at the Richmond on life before the gift drive, he says this A few members of the “family” known as the AC Transit Richmond facility workers show pride in of Golden Gate Transit, began in 2005 to usage. As soon as that sign goes on, every- their ability to help others. versity with regional bus/rail services and outreach to new employees, and created Rescue Mission trying to locate the boy and experience has taught him a lot about the offer shuttle service from Marin City and a one pulls off the highway to go into the lot, provides more than 85,000 hours of serv- the Commute Club, to name just a few of the his mother. They had already moved out, but needs of others and his ability to help. and says this experience has taught him how ing turning their Christmas gift drive into an Pohono Street park-and-ride stop at the edge and the shuttles fill up.” ice per year on 13 routes? How about free concepts designed to get people out of their Perdomo now had a new idea: helping all of “Many times our minds are filled with angry “an idea can turn into something happening.” annual event. It’s still just an idea at this of Mill Valley into Muir Woods. Service now “The critical factors for success were the rides for eligible employees on Caltrain cars. Much of our success relies on the syn- the children at the Rescue Mission. faces,” he said, “but now my mind is filled With the 2008 Miriam Gholikely Public point, but the AC Transit Richmond crew operates from May to September on week- signs on the freeway warning people that and Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), ergy of all the programs working together, The Richmond Facility workers are a with their happy faces” as the families received Service Award spurring them on, the Rich- members make things happen from ideas. ends and holidays on a 30-minute schedule. the parking lot was full, and getting the word and free express bus service across the Bay from free transit passes to an emergency ride close-knit family, and when one of them feels the gifts. He now believes that together, the mond Facility workers started a school supply They see life as more than just driving — they Ridership has tripled since the shuttle out to hotels that there is a noncar option,” for all university and hospital employees home to giveaways.” — Marjorie Blackwell a burden, they all feel it. So when Perdomo Richmond Facility workers can do great things, drive this past September, and are consider- also have the spirit of the drive. — Pam Grove started service, and accounted for 30,000 said McGlashan. — Karin Betts MERIT AWARDS
Fannie Mae Barnes: Carrying the Torch for Women as First and Only Female Cable Car Grip When the hiring managers at S.F. Muni “I take my hat off to Fannie,” he said.“She employed Fannie Mae Barnes as a bus driver prepared herself ... she’s tough. She set her in 1981, little did they know that this easy- mind to do it, and she did it.” going, then 35-year-old woman would Barnes did have a bit of an advantage, become the first female to complete their having first been a cable car conductor. But rigorous cable car grip program 17 years still she recalls the physical agility and later. “Pulling grip” for a cable car is no coordination required: “On rainy days, it was small feat for a man, let alone a 52-year- hard to stop the car. The driver has to put old single mother. sand on the cable tracks and use a pedal to As a San Francisco bus driver, Barnes pump the sand down on the slick tracks. noticed that all of her friends in the cable We had to stay away from moving the cable car barn were constantly happy. So at first car into certain positions, because there’s she decided to try out for the job of con- no such thing as reverse on a cable car.” ductor — and became one of only three In August 1998, Barnes was honored females to hold that position at the time. with the title of Systemwide Operator, In the cable car hierarchy, the job of con- an award given by the San Francisco Muni- ductor is actually higher up than the grip, NOAH BERGER cipal Transportation Agency to employees Fannie Barnes relaxes in her home away from home: the San Francisco cable car barn. although it’s less strenuous work, involv- exhibiting excellence. She now adds an MTC ing assisting on the back brake and collecting car at a steady pace of about nine miles an car line trainer. As a result, there is an elite 2008 Award of Merit to her list of honors. fares. It was a significant achievement for hour. To stop the car, the driver releases the crew of drivers — only about 35 at the While she was a grip for only about four Barnes, but she wanted to drive. Several of grip and applies the brakes. If the grip slips, time Barnes passed the test. years, and retired in 2007, her co-workers the other grips said she couldn’t do it — so does the cable car. It takes coordination, She wasn’t successful in her first attempt. still have a huge respect for her accomplish- that it was impossible because women strength and mental concentration. And But armed with her mantra — that a ment. “Fannie came along and changed the lack the upper-body strength. “Anytime I did we mention that a cable car weighs woman can do anything — she began term grip man to grip person,” said Byron hear someone say a woman can’t do it, I eight tons? a weight training program. A year Cobb, fellow grip and line trainer. want to do something about it,” Barnes said. The coveted job of being a cable later she was up to 65 pounds on Barnes had the honor of pulling the grip “I believe a woman can do anything.” car grip is a physically demanding one lateral pull-downs, 20 pounds on arm on Cable Car 9 as it carried the Olympic At the helm of a San Francisco cable — that is, if you make it through the train- strengthening exercises and 160 pounds torch up the Hyde Street hill in the run-up car, the driver is required to control the vehi- ing program. The 25-day training trial puts on a back-exercise machine. She was to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. cle by pulling a lever known as a “grip” — wannabes on the line, and approximately ready. Her determination impressed her As the only female to ever become a San a 260-pound device that attaches the car to 80 to 85 percent drop out within the first co-workers.Trainer Ahmad says he “put her Francisco cable car grip, she’s still carrying the cable. The driver must run the cable five days, according to Saadat Ahmad, cable through the paces like everyone else.” the torch. — Pam Grove
SPECIAL AWARDS
Doris W. Kahn Accessible Transportation Award: Making a Good Thing Better, With Carsharing Access for All Leave it to the city of Berkeley, birthplace — available to all members of City CarShare. member willing to drive. of the independent-living movement, to When the city won $25,000 in the National On average, the van is used twice a day take a good idea like car sharing and make Organization on Disability’s Accessible Amer- by the 30 participants in the Access Program. it even better by adapting it for wheel- ica contest in 2007, City CarShare matched Participant Danny Kodmur needs the van chair users. The AccessMobile, a shared the funds. The nonprofit brainstormed with for shopping in places not along a transit accessible van that can be rented by the the city and its Commission on Disability, and route and carrying large packages home. hour, became available to the public together they came up with the notion “The AccessMobile is an affordable resource in April 2008. of a van that would benefit both dis- to an underserved population,” Kodmur said. In 2004, Berkeley latched on to the abled and nondisabled members. Program expansion depends on demand benefits of car sharing and retired 10 Participants in the Access Program and funding, but if past is prologue, Berke- city fleet cars in favor of vehicles oper- can use the AccessMobile during business ley will find a way. At an average cost of ated by City CarShare, a Bay Area nonprofit hours, and during off hours, it is available to $8.50 an hour, the AccessMobile is a green that provides convenient, affordable, short- all City CarShare members. A first for City and accessible innovation by City CarShare term rental cars as an alternative to car CarShare’s fleet, the van can accommodate and the city of Berkeley, which share this NOAH BERGER Danny Kodmur, a member of City CarShare’s ownership. After business hours, the city up to two wheelchairs and four additional year’s Doris Kahn Accessible Transporta- Access Program in Berkeley, prepares to take makes its car-share fleet — now six vehicles people, and requires only a friend or family tion Award. — Pam Grove a ride in the new AccessMobile.
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Commissioners PRESORT Bill Dodd, Chair FIRST CLASS Napa County and Cities U.S. Postage Scott Haggerty, Vice Chair PAID Alameda County Oakland, CA Tom Ammiano Transactions City and County of San Francisco OCTOBER 2008 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Permit No. 854 Tom Azumbrado U.S. Department of Housing Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Urban Development Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter Tom Bates Cities of Alameda County 101 Eighth Street Dean J. Chu Oakland, California 94607 Cities of Santa Clara County 510.817.5700 TEL. Dave Cortese 510.817.5769 TDD/TTY Association of Bay Area Governments 510.817.5848 FAX Dorene M. Giacopini [email protected] E-MAIL U.S. Department of Transportation www.mtc.ca.gov WEB Federal D. Glover Contra Costa County Steve Heminger Anne W. Halsted Executive Director San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission Ann Flemer Deputy Executive Director, Operations Steve Kinsey Marin County and Cities Andrew Fremier Deputy Executive Director, Bay Area Toll Authority Sue Lempert Cities of San Mateo County Therese W. McMillan Deputy Executive Director, Policy Jake Mackenzie Sonoma County and Cities Randy Rentschler Director, Legislation and Public Affairs Jon Rubin San Francisco Mayor’s Appointee Brenda Kahn Editor Bijan Sartipi State Business, Transportation Joe Curley and Housing Agency Associate Editor James P. Spering Catalina Alvarado, Karin Betts, John Goodwin, Pam Grove, Georgia Lambert Solano County and Cities Editorial Staff Adrienne J. Tissier Finger Design Associates, Oakland San Mateo County Design and Production Amy Worth Paris Printing, Point Richmond Cities of Contra Costa County Printing Ken Yeager Printed on recycled paper. Santa Clara County ©2008 MTC. All rights reserved.