Richmond Residents Sought for Geary Transit-corridor Study

Local residents are being sought to take part in a transit study of Geary Boulevard.

The Geary corridor is one of the busiest transit corridors in the region, with more than 56,000 transit trips per day. The Geary Corridor Study will examine options for improving travel time and transit service capacity and reliability, with emphasis on expediting implementation of cost-effective solutions.

The Geary Citizens Advisory Committee (GCAC) will be determined by the SF County Transportation Authority. It will have 13 members and five alternates; all members will be appointed at-large by the transportation authority. All must be residents of San Francisco.

The GCAC structure provides for eight positions for individuals who live or work along the Geary corridor and its transit catchment area, and an additional five positions for representatives of citywide interests. Living or working along the corridor is not a requirement for the citywide positions.

As well, the authority says it is committed to ensuring the GCAC reflects San Francisco's diversity.

The role of the GCAC will be to enhance the study process by bringing in the perspectives of the diverse interests located along the corridor, which traverses the entire City from the ocean to downtown. In particular, members will:

· Advise on the study's scope and objectives, particularly where prioritization, trade-offs or other policy input is needed;

· Assist with outreach to neighborhood organizations or constituencies and advise on strategies for effective outreach;

· Communicate project progress to stakeholders and solicit broad feedback on the project, including design alternatives.

The GCAC will meet regularly throughout the 12-to-18-month study period and consistent attendance is required. A regular meeting date and time will be established after the GCAC is appointed; meetings are expected to be on weekdays, in the early evening.

Members of the public who are interested in being considered for inclusion in the committee should visit the SF Transportation Authority's website at www.sfcta.org, and go to "announcements" for more information and to download an application.

Individuals intending to apply are encouraged to attend the Nov. 18 meeting of the Transportation Authority's Plans and Programs Committee to introduce themselves and speak on behalf of their candidacy for appointment.

The application deadline is Nov. 11, at 5 p.m.

The committee meeting date may change, but the transportation authority will contact all applicants with the final date, time and location.

For more information about the Geary Boulevard transit study, contact Tilly Chang, manager of planning, at (415) 522-4832.