VTA’s Nuria Fernandez Shares Top Priorities, Projects to Support Biking in Silicon Valley

[retweet][facebook]Nuria Fernandez, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), is one of the highlighted speakers at the 5th Annual Silicon Valley Bicycle Summit, hosted by SVBC and presenting sponsor, Stanford Healthcare, next week, Wednesday, August 26 at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto.The future of safety and bicycling in Santa Clara County are key issues for the Summit, and Nuria took the time to share how VTA is addressing these issues and give us a sneak peek at what she’ll be talking about at the Summit.What are the top priorities and projects for the Valley Transportation Authority?VTA’s Envision Silicon Valley process, which began last year and will continue into 2016, is gathering elected officials and stakeholders to examine our transportation network, identify the gaps and find ways to fill those in. It’s a big job that could result in VTA going to voters with a sales tax to help fund the identified projects.VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Extension: Phase I, the extension from Alameda County to the Berryessa area of San José, is halfway through construction, and it’s time for work to begin on Phase II. The preliminary work includes community meetings and pursuing funding for VTA’s extension of the line farther into Santa Clara County.Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): VTA broke ground on the first BRT line in the Bay Area last year, and this year will continue planning for a second line, down El Camino Real. As a viable alternative to trips made in cars, BRT is expected to help relieve congestion on Santa Clara County roadways.Service to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl 50: With one season of service to the San Francisco 49ers new home stadium under our belt, VTA will spend this year preparing for the biggest NFL matchup of the year. Super Bowl 50 is expected to bring 75,000 people to Levi’s Stadium, and our focus is moving transit riders quickly and safely.How can VTA support cities, like San José, that enact Vision Zero policies, which aim to eliminate deaths and life-altering injuries on our roadways?One big component is data collection and analysis. We have traffic modeling we can use to understand the volumes of cars and what's going to be on the streets for bikes to contend with. That helps plan for safer routes for bicyclists.Another way is funding thru our existing grant programs to fund improvements for bike safety, safe routes to schools, and safety education for kids. We can fund more in the way of bike trails and safer ways to cross train tracks for bicyclists and pedestrians. We are also working with operators to continue to ensure they operate safely around bikes.What do you see as the role of your agency in promoting bicycling and walking in Santa Clara County?VTA can set an example for others in using and promoting bicycling and walking. VTA is a major promoter of Bike to Work Day and have taken part in the event the last two years, encouraging employees to bike or take public transportation to work during the month of June, which we hope will turn into a long-term habit. VTA also provides bike parking at park and ride lots and transit stations; bike racks on buses and light rail trains, and has been instrumental in advocating for the expansion of the Bay Area Bike Share network in Santa Clara County, allowing Mountain View and Palo Alto to continue their participation for another year.VTA and SwiftMile are partnering on a demonstration pilot project that would allow employees to check out electric bikes that are reserved and tracked using a mobile app and are secured and charged using a solar power station. These bikes will be part of our larger effort to put together a bike share program for employees so that they can use bikes for personal errands and exercise while at work. It is intended to be an incentive to take public transit and/or carpool to work, since you know you will have some way to get around town during the day.What are the potential benefits of convening so many cities and transit agencies at the Silicon Valley Bike Summit on August 26?Sharing knowledge and the pollination of ideas coming together. There’s a lot of really good bicycle planning and bike infrastructure design around the county, from Palo Alto’s Safe Routes to Schools program to the City of San Jose’s trail program and innovative new bikeways that they are installing.What are a few teasers for what you will you be sharing with us during your plenary at the Silicon Valley Bike Summit?Envision Silicon Valley may be something that can help fund the improvement of biking infrastructure locally. We may be talking about how biking interests fit into the Envision Plan. Also, some of the things that have changed countywide in the biking world and how that relates to improving transportation in the valley. Examples include green bike lanes and cycle tracks (protected bike lanes). When you build bikeways that are safer and feel more comfortable, more people will ride and get out of cars.Do you have any favorite bike trails in the area?The Guadalupe Trail is certainly among my favorites because it’s close to my home so it’s easy to use and it goes straight to the VTA headquarters so it’s a great trail to encourage our employees to use.What was your first bike growing up? Who taught you how to ride?I have a wonderful memory of my older brother and I getting our first two-wheelers one Christmas and my father took us out and taught us how to ride Christmas morning.The Silicon Valley Bike Summit is the region’s largest gathering of active transportation leaders and organizers from government, law enforcement, non-profit, and the public. Join us to hear fresh ideas about the future of safety and bicycling in Silicon Valley and mingle with colleagues and friends at a post-summit happy hour. Registration is $35, sign up today!