Issue Position: Transportation

Issue Position

Contra Costa County and the burgeoning Northern California region have benefited from numerous transportation and mobility improvements resulting from the strong partnership between Senator DeSaulnier, Congressman George Miller, Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher and Assembly Member Tom Torlakson. DeSaulnier's Capitol Hill advocacy secured increased transportation funding for the expansion of Highway 4, eBART to eastern Contra Costa County, development of a fourth bore in the Caldecott Tunnel, and improvements to other Bay Area roadways.

During his 10 years on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, DeSaulnier and his fellow commission members oversaw the most recent edition of the long-range plan, Transportation 2030, which charts a new course for the agency, particularly with regard to promoting "smart growth' development patterns. DeSaulnier also guided the development and implementation of the FasTrak electronic toll collection system and the 511.org traffic information system to ease traffic congestion and speed travel throughout the Bay Area and surrounding communities.

In response to the 2007 fiery tanker truck crash that closed the MacArthur Maze, DeSaulnier co-authored legislation (Assembly Bill 1612) that cracked down on hazardous materials truck operators who had operated without regular safety inspections. DeSaulnier has been a strong champion for the expansion of the light rail eBART extension into Eastern Contra Costa County (expected operation by 2013-14).

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