Welcome to the ASERT website! We’ll be keeping you up to date about our region’s transportation developments. With budget cuts on the Local, State, and Federal level, regional transportation options like rail are even more viable. The 101 Improvements Project from Milpas to Hot Springs Rd. has run into financial problems, which makes widening to the Ventura County line look even further off than the proposed 15 years. ASERT is here to advocate for more Sustainable and Equitable ways to move people throughout the region. Along with better local transit options in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, that includes a commuter rail service between Oxnard and Goleta. Santa Barbara County’s Measure A 2008 includes $25M for the commuter rail service, and ASERT will be looking for Ventura County to include commuter rail in any future transportation tax measure they propose. I hope to see you at the forum in Santa Barbara on the 24th, and in Ventura on the 31st. You can learn how to change regional transportation options by attending the forums, and on the 31st you can participate in a workshop of your choice where you can learn how to make change happen.

COAST is a Santa Barbara County grassroots organization, the only local group dedicated to socially, economically and environmentally sustainable transportation. COAST brings to the table 15 years of experience advocating for transportation alternatives for all and is now taking the opportunity to broaden their regional impact.

PUEBLO is an economic and environmental justice organization dedicated to building the political power and leadership of low-income residents throughout Santa Barbara County by organizing and building leadership. PUEBLO has a dedication to working for commuting options for low-income workers.

The Central Coast Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) is a non-profit community planning and policy research center dedicated to promoting economic, social and environmental justice for working people in the region through policy advocacy, research, organizing, leadership development and community building.

Coastal Rail Now is an organization that advocates for the complete exploration of rail as an important component of the South Coast’s Transportation future. Above all else Coastal Rail Now brings to ASERT an enthusiastic advocacy for commuter rail. In a place like this where railroad tracks run parallel to a congested freeway – it seems like a natural solution.

ASERT’s newest member, VCCool is a Ventura County global warming action group who bring to the group a mission to address climate change by promoting a green economy and sustainable lifestyle through local community action, education, effective public policy, and an inspiring proactive vision.

At our National Train Day celebration at the Amtrak station a RailPAC petition urging release of $160M in Prop 1-B dollars for passenger rail rolling stock was signed by all those who stopped by the tables. Many of whom had just stepped off packed Amtrak trains and others were about to hop on the notoriously crowded southbound Surfliner train.

Scott Hadley of the Ventura County Star notes in a recent article that Amtrak ridership for the 2007-08 fiscal year almost hit 24 million. And if current trends continue, it could top 28 million over the next 12 months.

Dennis Story of Coastal Rail Now points out that the rail situation in our area is especially tricky because an effective commuter rail will cross county lines and fall into the jurisdiction of multiple agencies. However, he also cites that there are success stories around the nation and even here in California of successful commuter rail sharing existing tracks with freight and Amtrak.
Most importantly, commuters tired of being stuck in traffic must make their voices heard and let the government know that if they build it, we will ride.

So far ASERT has hosted two successful forums for experts in the transportation world to convene and talk about regional transportation here on the South Coast.

First, local elected officials and former Massachusetts Governor and Presidential nominee Michael Dukakis met at the Santa Barbara Library to address a full house of supporters on the possibility of rail as a viable transit solution for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. “Why the folks inside the beltway don’t get it is beyond me,” said Dukakis while he decried the current administration’s lack of support for rail and proclaimed it’s time to get started on the “Steel Interstate.”

Ventura County Supervisor, Linda Parks spoke for a renewed commitment to transit and rail in a time when reliance on the single occupant
Vehicle is breaking the bank.

All in attendance agreed that a fully integrated transit/rail system benefiting Ventura County residents working in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, and Goleta could provide an economically viable, environmentally sustainable alternative to many years of construction-related congestion.

Our second major forum coincided with Amtrak’s first annual National Train Day. This time around officials and experts met in Oxnard to discuss the specific regional need for an integrated transit system.

Following a Train Day celebration at the Santa Barbara Amtrak station where we handed out Train Day goodies and materials provided by Santa Barbara Car Free, RailPac and Coastal Rail Now. Local experts Rick Cole, Rob Dayton, Linda Perez and Ron Bottorf discussed possible solutions to the current problems in our regional transportation system.

There is great local need for an affordable solution for commuters in current economically unstable times. With stories of a down economy and expensive gas in the news on a daily basis and people spending hours in construction traffic the time has come to act . We need to let officials know that it is time to work towards an efficient, affordable integrated transit system for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

One key item on the agenda of the February 6th meeting of the Ventura County Transportation Commission included a feasibility study exploring the potential for a dedicated 1/2 cent sales tax to fund transportation in Ventura County. Such a sales tax would be similar to Measure A, which was approved by almost 80% Santa Barbara County voters, extending crucial funding to county-wide transportation improvements. Per California law, any new tax increases must receive 2/3rds approval from the voters. Early polling results show promise, even if we aren’t quite there–yet.

When asked whether they would support such an initiative, 54% of respondents were in favor, while 40% opposed and 6% had no opinion.

When additional information was read out regarding specific improvements the sales tax would fund, those numbers jumped to 63% in favor, 31% opposed, and 6% with no opinion. The inclusion of additional specific elements yielded even better numbers, with 67% approving, 28% opposing and 5% with no opinion.

The unveiling of the results of the poll as well as subsequent qualitative interviews with leadership figures show promising potential for a successful ballot measure, provided several key elements are in place. Experience from the Measure A campaign suggests several lessons that could point the way to success in Ventura County: the involvement of key constituencies and stake holders, especially in the drafting of the measure; a range of transportation initiatives, including bus, rail, pedestrian and bicycle safety and environmental elements, in addition to road maintenance; and ensuring that all areas of the county have a stake in the success of a sales tax measure by ensuring funds will target improvements that are localized to each municipality and area.  Below you can see the features most popular with likely voters.

That having been said, we are going to have to fight to make sure that any sales tax initiative delivers when it comes to alternative transportation: it’s great to balance the money between cities and make sure that all areas of the county are served through the funding, but we also need to be bold in the types of projects we hope to see funded.

New commuter rail service should aim to at least equal the $25M provided by the SB measure, raising the potential to match an additional $50M or more in Federal funds. Extending and increasing VISTA service (especially the Coastal Express), and improving local bus services between communities (especially Oxnard and the surrounding areas) is also important. And of course, safety improvements to some of the worst traffic intersections, as well as dealing with potholes, which would benefit car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike, are all going to need to be considered if we want to make any headway on congestion and creating a sustainable, regional and equitable transportation system.

Ventura county is currently the largest county in California without dedicated sales tax funding for transportation improvements. That means Ventura County projects often go to the back of the line in favor of counties willing to self-fund a portion of their projects. It also means that in the face of budget cuts, the crucial infrastructure projects so many see as vital to both putting people back to work and spurring economic development are threatened.

And if we want to see true, fundamental transportation solutions, including such important improvements in pedestrian and bicycle safety, rail, bus service and the resulting pollution reduction and improvements to water quality, a dedicated sales tax isn’t just a matter of if but when. And it is increasingly looking like 2010 will be the year to bring change in a big way.

Santa Barbara blog Noozhawk was on hand at ASERT’s Jan 24th Sustainable Transportation summit as both a sponsor and to provide great local coverage. Their article reporting on the event details remarks made by former Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Dukakis, who served as the keynote speaker.
Check out the article, Dukakis Gives Spirited Pitch for Public Transit .

‘Dukakis applauded Santa Barbara County voters for their recent passage of Measure A, a half-cent sales tax that will bankroll transportation projects for 30 years starting in 2010. On the South Coast, 45 percent of its share of that money will be used on alternative transportation projects such as buses, bicycle lanes and commuter rail.

But Dukakis also couldn’t help chiding the South Coast for its lack of commuter rail. “Rail from Oxnard to Goleta — why is that so difficult?” he asked.’

Dukakis is a great advocate for sustainable transportation, particularly commuter rail. His presentation was funny, lively and very effective. In fact, just this month he was featured in a WIRED magazine piece, High-Speed Trains Return to U.S. Fast Track, discussing the future of rail under an Obama administration.

But Dukakis is right–why is something as seemingly simple as an effective commuter rail line between Oxnard and Goleta so difficult? To help get things moving, Dukakis offered to broker a meeting between County Supervisor Salud Carbajal and Gene Skoropowski, Managing Director of the Capital Corridor commuter rail service. Skoropowski successfully navigated issues regarding right-of-ways for the Capital Corridor, which operates on Union Pacific owned tracks. Here’s hoping he can accelerate the process and bring everyone up to speed on how he managed to get things up and running.

In the meantime, here’s the video from KCOY about the ASERT event. Enjoy!

If you’ve ever used public transportation along the Central Coast, it will come as no surprise to you that the frequency of buses and trains is woefully inadequate for a population eager and ready for transportation alternatives.

Please join us to discuss how to achieve a better transportation system in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, one which supports our local economy and improves our environment and quality of life. Presenters include transportation advocates, elected officials, and representatives from the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union.