Council reconsidering BART stance Council reconsidering BART stance (January 14, 2005)

Long-term transit plan under discussion

By Jon Wiener

Two transportation representatives presented the region's long-term plans to the Mountain View City Council on Tuesday, prompting discussion over the impact on the city.

Chief among the city's concerns was BART-to-San-Jose, which has already led to the ouster of a top county official and cost Greg Perry the vice mayor position.

Many warn the $4.2 billion project will drain resources needed to run buses and light rail trains in North County cities like Mountain View.

Last week, the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) board approved a $334,000 buyout package for general manager Pete Cipolla, after he suggested studying a phased approach for BART-to-San Jose. Then Perry lost his bid to be vice mayor when fellow Council member Mike Kasperzak suggested his opposition to the project ran counter to the city's official stance.

Perry is a member of the VTA Policy Advisory Board, which has been leading the charge for the phased approach. The idea was backed by the County Board of Supervisors but failed to garner enough support from the San Jose-dominated board at last week's meeting.

At the study session, council members asked why the $8.3 billion plan known as VTP 2030 contained comparatively few projects in Mountain View. City transportation manager Joan Jenkins said the plans were "based on need" and pointed out that the $124 million cost to upgrade the Highways 85/101 interchange in Mountain View made it VTA's largest highway improvement project ever.

"Overall, we're actually in better shape than other cities," said Jenkins.

But council members cited Caltrain upgrades -- specifically a parking deck at the downtown station and grade separation at Rengstorff Avenue -- among the chief priorities they wanted to see included in the plan.

"I can't help but feel like we've got more dollars we could spend here," said Council member Matt Pear.

Council members Mike Kasperzak and Laura Macias asked to see some sort of accounting incorporated as well.

"It's really hard for me to say 'yes, it makes sense to continue to build,' when we don't have any measuring points," said Macias, who has a background in business management.

The VTA board will vote on VTP 2030, which staff members say will be amended to include comments from Mountain View and other cities, at its Feb. 3 meeting.

City Manager Kevin Duggan said the council will hold a longer study session in February to focus on the BART project.

E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener@mv-voice.com

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