Talking Points Balboa Park Speech

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO EVENT OVERVIEW Event Details Event:

Balboa Park Westside Entrance & Walkway Groundbreaking

Event Date:

Friday, August 21, 2009

Staff Advance:

Judson True

Notes Prepared By:

Mark De Anda

Location:

Balboa Park Station-Outside station, north end of Ocean Avenue

Event Start/End:

10 to 11:30 a.m.

Mr. Ford’s Start/End:

TBD

Mobile #:

415-606-3524

Attachment Mr. Ford’s Role (include time allotted for remarks) X

Remarks / Q&A

Featured Speaker

Keynote Speech

Drop by

Attend

Issuing Proclamation

Giving Award

Receiving Award

Stay for Meal

Background Today, BART breaks ground on its Balboa Park Westside Entrance & Walkway Project. This is BART’s “First-to-break-ground” stimulus-funded project. BART has been working closely with numerous project stakeholders, including the SFMTA, for many years.

Mr. Ford has been asked to give approximately three minutes of remarks at today’s groundbreaking ceremony. According to the event program, the speaking order is as follows: Tom Radulovich (Master of Ceremonies, Director/BART Board) James Fang (VP/BART Board) Supervisor John Avalos Leslie Rogers (FTA) Anne W. Halsted (MTC) Maria Lombardo (SFCTA) Bijan Sartipi (Caltrans) Dorothy Dugger (GM/BART) Nathaniel Ford (SFMTA) Mary Harris (District 11 Council) Additional Background Information BART will construct a new 1500 square foot mezzanine at the northwest side of the existing mezzanine to create a new entrance and fare gate area with ticket vending and change machines. The project also includes a new, 10-foot wide, ADA accessible concrete ramp from the new entrance plaza to Ocean Avenue. While the northern portion of this existing westside pathway will be demolished and reconstructed, the southern half towards Geneva Avenue will remain as is. All the pathway lighting will be upgraded to new District standards, and new security cameras will be installed.

The goal of the proposed project is to provide greater convenience and safety for low income and disabled passengers who access the BART and Muni system by modes other than the automobile. This project encourages and supports the use of public transportation and provides opportunities for low

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income residents and students to access the regional rail and local transit systems without the use of a car. This Project also showcases the close collaboration between BART, SFMTA and SFCTA. The Balboa Park Station Westside Entrance and Walkway Project will greatly enhance access to the northern part of the station area that includes City College, Lick-Wilmerding School, Balboa Park, and the Cayuga and Outer Mission neighborhoods.

Talking Points for Mr. Ford Good morning. Thank you, Dorothy.

The SFMTA and BART share not only common ground here at Balboa Park, but also a common goal: providing safe, accessible and convenient transportation alternatives for our customers.

The Balboa Park Westside Entrance and Walkway Project is, literally, a bridge to accessibility and the fruition of a vision born nearly a decade ago. Today it becomes a reality.

This ADA compliant concrete expanse and entryway will provide a safe and direct pathway for BART and Muni customers from the Balboa Park community and beyond.

The elevated walkway will also provide improved accessibility for low income and disabled customers who choose to access the station by means other than the automobile.

A collaborative effort between numerous agencies and the Balboa Park community, the Westside Project is the first of a series of projects designed to improve the transit experience for our Balboa Park customers.

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The forthcoming SFMTA Balboa Park Station Pedestrian and Bicycle Connection Project proposes additional measures to further pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Those measures include the development of a crosswalk and pedestrian activated signal at the intersection of Interstate 280 and Ocean Avenue.

And in spring of next year, working once again with our friends from BART, we will complete our “connective vision� by breaking ground on the Balboa Park Eastside Connection Project.

This follow-up to the Westside Project will further our mutual goals of safety and accessibility by converting a concrete planter into a pedestrian bridge connecting the Westside Walkway to a new Muni Metro platform on the east side of the station.

This project will create safe, accessible paths of travel for all Muni customers accessing the J and K lines and significantly reduce the number of customers who currently access the Metro along the trackway east of the station.

With partnership and perseverance, we have shown that it is possible to move forward in difficult economic times. Together, we will continue to combine our resources to provide safe, accessible and efficient means of serving our customers.

Staff Scheduling Lead:

Jaime Poblitz

Communications Staff:

Judson True

Event Contact/Phone:

Judson True, 606-3524

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