Progress on Measure B Equity Guidelines: Thank you Supervisor Cortese

Thank you to Supervisor Cortese for his support for increasing the equity component used to decide which bike and pedestrian projects are funded using 2016 Measure B funds. This came after SVBC’s successful campaign to keep this scoring criterion for disadvantaged communities in VTA’s Measure B grant guidelines.The Supervisor submitted a letter to the VTA board on July 31st, “…to request your consideration to increase the ‘Targets Populations with Specific Needs’ criteria from 5 points to 10 points.” This is the same recommendation that the VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee made to the VTA Board. If approved, this change will increase the weight given to this criterion from about 4% to 8% of the total project score. “Targets Populations with Specific Needs” in this case means low income and traditionally disadvantaged residents defined as “Communities of Concern” by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.Supervisor Cortese stated he was asking for the change because “As a public agency [VTA], it is imperative that we ensure that our low-income, minority, disabled and elderly populations are provided equitable resources to bicycle and pedestrian projects within their neighborhoods.”SVBC wholeheartedly agrees. We have been working on ensuring more equity in the how 2016 Measure B are invested this past year. Our most recent blog gives more details. Our Cultural Humility and Social Justice Framework includes the following reason why we support this change; “Equity – We recognize that present and historical injustices stemming from systemic oppression have led to inequities in society and in biking. We see transportation advocacy as social justice work, and focus on removing social, economic and physical barriers that have excluded many people from biking."The VTA Board considered Cortese’s recommendation and voted to refer the recommendation to the Policy Advisory Committee for their evaluation of the impact of this change.Next StepsSVBC will continue to advocate for increasing the “Targets Populations with Specific Needs” criteria from 5 points to 10 points in the 2016 Measure B funding program. We believe our society and residents deserve systems that will help amend past inequities. Giving projects which improve biking and walking in Communities of Concern a little leg up compared to projects in wealthier communities is a step in the right direction.