Received Feb 06 2009
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RECEIVED FEB 06 2009 DSTWCT SECRETARY'S Pamela Belchamber 1633 Grant Street, Berkeley, CA 94703 • 510.549.2839* [email protected] February 5,2009 Rocky Fernandez President, Board of Directors Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District 1600 Franklin Street, 10th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 Re: Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District Director-at-Large Vacancy Dear President Fernandez, Following a successful 25-year career as General Manager of Public Transit for the City of Vallejo, I am busily fulfilling many retirement dreams. I am passionate about the environment and a dedicated public transit advocate, but I miss being involved in strategic decision-making that affects public transit. I have the time, interest and passion to use my talents and knowledge to benefit the AC Transit system. As soon as I heard about the vacancy on the AC Transit Board, I knew I wanted to serve on the Board. I have worked with and led countless collaborative teams and committees over a lifetime. I am a knowledgeable, collaborative team player and I know how to get things done. Basically, it could be said that I built Vallejo's Transit Program from the ground up. What was a limited, 10-bus local service when I was hired in 1980, is now a complex 65-bus system connecting the Vallejo's community, workers, students, and transit-dependent residents to every city in Solano County. What was essentially a small town local service, became a regional transit link that now includes high-speed ferries to San Francisco, an express bus link to the BART system, and a planned "transit village" that links downtown Vallejo to the Vallejo waterfront with access to a transit hub for all modes. I was instrumental in designing this program and bringing it to fruition. I successfully sought and secured local, state and federal funding for transit projects; increased the number of union jobs, and regularly represented the City of Vallejo in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's, the Solano County CMA, and various public forums in the transit planning and financing process. I like the challenge of finding my way around barriers that block progress, and I have been successful doing it. I believe I can make a positive contribution to AC Transit which is in my own back yard, where I have lived, raised a family, and been an active member of the community for forty years. Thank you so much for consideration of my candidacy. Sincerely, Pamela Belchamber Enclosures: Resume Letters of Recommendation: Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner AD 14; Mayor Pro Tern Janet Abelson, City of El Cerrito; Karen Hemphill, Berkeley School Board, Mayor Terry Curtola, City of Vallejo Pamela Belchamber 1633 Grant Street, Berkeley, CA 94703 • 510.549.2839 • [email protected] Director-at-Large Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District Board of Directors SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS > Uniquely qualified through 25 years experience as general manager of public transit for City of Vallejo > Working knowledge of and experience with Bay Area transit agencies and their operations, transportation legislation and funding opportunities > Innovative problem solver with proven success in developing transit programs relevant to complex issues and challenges facing AC Transit > Team Player with ability to build and fully participate in collaborative action-oriented teams moving toward a common goal > Passionate environmentalist and dedicated public transit advocate who understands importance of integrating all regional transit modes SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS City of Vallejo 1980 to 2005 Superintendent of Transportation Local Public Transit Development • Built Vallejo's Transportation Program from the ground up - from existing 10-bus local service to 65-bus system connecting city's residents with all essential services • Successfully delivered cost-effective fixed routes, paratransit and half-fare taxi services to workers, students, elderly, disabled, transit-dependent and low income groups • Secured funding for and oversaw construction of new maintenance facility which enabled acquisition of additional buses and significant expansion of service • Secured long-term funding commitments from Metropolitan Transportation Commission to increase fleet size, and provide for passenger facilities, and off street transit hubs. Regional Public Transit Development • Envisioned, implemented and managed development of Vallejo's multi-modal regional transit services, including express bus and high-speed ferry service to San Francisco • In 1985, developed highly successful BARTIink express bus system connecting Solano County with San Francisco, del Norte BART, and ACTransit • Successfully lobbied for $10M earmark in Prop. 116 funds and $17M from federal ISTEA to purchase two high-speed ferries to implement Vallejo ferry service, later expanding fleet to five vessels • Supervised detailed ferry system planning, managed development of specifications, and negotiated contracts for vessel and facility acquisition and construction • In 1997 successfully inaugurated Baylink ferry services providing major regional link between North Bay, Solano County and San Francisco • Secured funding commitments of $50M in RM2, state and federal funds for increased operating funds and the "Vallejo Station," a "transit village" linking downtown Vallejo to Vallejo waterfront and transportation services Page 1of2 Pamela Belchamber Other Significant Accomplishments • Established Vallejo as major transportation player in MTC region. • Negotiated on Vallejo's behalf in many regional forums to secure federal, state and local funding • Secured Project funding included a new ferry dock and terminal, and a total of five new ferries • Negotiated, implemented and managed numerous major capital construction contracts for facilities, vehicles and vessels • Negotiated numerous service contracts for transportation services and successfully expended service, increased jobs, and maintained equitable wages and benefits from perspective of both Union and City • Developed and managed five-year transit planning process which helped ensure approval and funding for Vallejo operations and capital projects • Achieved increased ridership across all bus and ferry services, maintained high farebox recovery of more than 50%. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Co-Chair, Berkeley-Albany-Emeryville United Democratic Campaign September through November, 2008 Nancy Skinner for Assembly Campaign, Full-time Volunteer January to August, 2008 National Women's Political Caucus, Vice Chair and Fundraising Chair 2006 - Present AFFILIATIONS Golden Gate Audubon Society Community Conservation Centers, Inc. Bay Area Follies EDUCATION University of California, Berkeley B.A., Anthropology Page 2 of 2 RECEIVED FEB 0-jS 2009 January 22, 2009 °8IW0T8ECflETAW8 ofrce Rocky Fernandez President, Board of Directors Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District 1600 Franklin Street, 10th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 Dear Members of the AC Transit Board of Directors I am very happy to support the appointment of Pam Belchamber to serve the remainder of Director Rebecca Kaplan's term on the AC Transit Board of Directors. AC Transit is very lucky to have someone with 25 years of experience in transportation management eager to serve the District. How fortunate we are. I say "we" because although I am transit dependent and a frequent user of AC Transit and other forms of public transit, I have also worked closely with you, as well as with county, regional, state and federal transportation organizations and officials and numerous committees to provide good service to our community. I have been deeply involved with transportation policy. In addition to being a council member and mayor of El Cerrito since 1999,1 have served as a member of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority for 8 years and the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee since 1999. My many years of service on the AC Transit Accessibility Advisory Committee, AC Transit Riders Advisory Committee, the Service Review Advisory Committee of the East Bay Paratransit Consortium and the MTC Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee make me eminently qualified to judge Pam Belchamber's qualifications for this seat on the AC Transit Board. I am very proud to lend my name and reputation to her candidacy. I hope that you will appoint her. Let me explain why. This is an At-Large position and as such will require someone who has experience and insight into the needs of regional and local transportation. Pam Belchamber spent 25 years as Superintendent of Transportation for the City of Vallejo. During that time she successfully built Vallejo's Transportation Program from a 10-bus local service to a 65-bus system that connected citywide residents. Of great importance to me was her ability to deliver cost-effective fixed route, paratransit and reduced-fare taxi service to elderly and disabled people who were transit dependent Way back in 1985 she developed a BARTlink express bus system that connected Solano County with San Francisco, Del Norte BART and AC Transit. I have personally used the Vallejo transit system she developed and especially admire the fixed route transfer hub where it's possible to transfer freely from one route to another without waiting because of the timed transfers that work. That's the kind of service I want and the kind of service our riders deserve. In 25 years of doing her job, she acquired the knowledge, skills and methods to ensure high quality transit access in Vallejo. At the same time, she established herself among transportation professionals