MTC Seeks to Add Missing Voices to Advisory Body

OAKLAND, Calif., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Metropolitan Transportation Commission – the Bay Area's transportation planning and financing agency – is recruiting interested Bay Area residents to fill four vacancies on its Policy Advisory Council. Vacancies include one at-large representative of the economy or the environment, and three representatives of either disabled, senior or low-income interests.

Applicants representing disabled, senior or low-income interests must be from San Francisco, Marin or Sonoma counties. Individuals interested in applying under the economy or environment categories can reside in any of the nine Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano or Sonoma). The Council meets the second Wednesday of the month from 1:30-3:30 p.m., and advisors are reimbursed for their transportation to and from the meeting.

The Policy Advisory Council was created by the Commission in November 2009, effectively margining MTC's three previous advisory committees – the MTC Advisory Council, the Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee, and the Minority Citizens Advisory Committee. The Council's mission is to advise MTC on transportation policies in the San Francisco Bay Area, incorporating diverse perspectives related to the environment, the economy and social equity. Current topics that the Council provides advice on include:

• Regional planning efforts linking transportation, housing and land use plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• A Bay Area effort to establish a framework and implementation plan for a more robust, financially viable transit system that is both cost effective and customer focused.

"The Commission needs to hear various viewpoints when making transportation policy and investment decisions," said MTC Chair Adrienne Tissier. "We need to incorporate differing viewpoints to enhance our decision-making process. I encourage interested individuals to apply and help us improve mobility for all Bay Area residents."

The application deadline is Wednesday, May 9, 2012. No specific educational background is needed for most seats – just a background in the specific application category, and an interest in transportation and how it affects residents in the nine Bay Area counties. Experience working on public policy issues or community-related issues is desirable. Appointed advisors are expected to attend monthly meetings at MTC's offices in Oakland and will serve through the term ending in July 2013. While positions are voluntary, Council members do receive a small stipend for their attendance at certain meetings.

MTC's appointing Commissioners will review all applications and finalize their selection this summer. To apply for a vacant position or to learn more about the Policy Advisory Council, visit www.mtc.ca.gov/get_involved/advisory, call 510.817.5757, or visit the MTC offices at 101 Eighth Street, Oakland, during regular business hours.

MTC is the regional transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission