Published Monday, October 22, 2001, in the San Jose Mercury News

Roadshow

By Gary Richards
Mercury News Staff Columnist

[...]

Q: I am concerned about transportation planning -- especially on the 
BART-like train idea being floated. When I voted for the 
transportation tax last fall, I did not vote for a BART-like system. 
If the Valley Transportation Authority builds a non-BART solution to 
connect to BART, it will further fragment our transportation system. 
Another incompatible train system would force commuters to get off 
one train to get on another. Why are they even considering it? Cost? 
Control? What? What do we need to do to ensure that the planners 
don't succeed in thwarting our desire to have BART, and only BART, to 
the South Bay?

John Spitzer
San Jose

A: Your points are well made. Voters approved linking to the Bay Area 
Rapid Transit District by a whopping 71 percent majority last fall. 
The "BART-like" discussions may be a negotiating tool that could soon 
die. San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales will fight for BART until his last 
day in office. If anything other than BART is built, it would be a 
slap in the face to voters like you.