Tremaine

Traffic reduction improves quality of life for us all. The largest contributor to traffic congestion in the Ross Valley has been identified as parents driving their children to school. The Safe Route to Schools program, which encourages adult supervised "walking school busses" and "bike trains," has proven to be a tremendous tonic to this problem.

Public transportation and car sharing MUST be encouraged and facilitated by local government. Fairfax's activism against the transit cuts to our community resulted in stopping the complete removal of Route 24 from the Golden Gate Transit system and we have to continue to fight for the restoration of what was cut. The council has improved pedestrian and bicycle access from east to west and these efforts must continue. Our advocacy for bio-diesel helped create the commercial availability of this alternative fuel in our community.

Prum

As an advocate of alternate transit, I feel that transportation is a key issue in Fairfax. Not only is Fairfax losing some bus routes, but little is actually getting done to encourage bicycle commuting. I've been asking the Town for bike racks in downtown for well over a year, yet they still haven't appeared. And the funds are there!

Weinsoff

My work on this issue is primarily through the regular discussions on transportation at the board meetings of the Marin Conservation League (MCL). I have been a member of the MCL board since 1998 and a participant in its deliberations and recommendations on the recent transportation ballot measures.

No plan by any traffic "expert" will dig Marin out of the traffic mess we suffer. I think planting a fixed rail line along the 101 corridor is a fiscally suspect idea, imposing 19 th century technology on a 21 st century problem. Bus service has never received the financial commitment from state and county government to make it a viable comprehensive solution to rush-hour gridlock. Targeted bus service for students is working, but in and of itself is not relieving the morning delays on Sir Francis Drake. The problem is a regional one, with traffic from over the hill combining with that in Fairfax to slow the commute. It is also a personal one, with each of us contributing a small part. In the absence of a magic think-tank bullet, I think we each have to consider how our individual commute patterns exacerbate the traffic problem, and to the extent possible adjust the timing of our commute or the means by which we commute.

Hailer

One of the main concerns regarding transportation is to try alternatives to cars, cars, and cars. When I commuted to the city, I did so using Golden Gate Transit and know the costs and benefits of that system. I've used both bus and ferry and have generally enjoyed both. Everyone knows the ferry is better because you can bring your bike and walk around while traveling and, of course, because of the booze (sorry, folks, I know that should be edited out, but I can't resist the chuckle factor).

We should try to push for convenient transportation solutions so that people will try them. It's tough to do this in a small town, but we can always find ways to make small victories. I would love to hear input on this topic. We are working on the land use and circulation elements currently in Planning meetings. Please come to the Women's Club on Park St. the first Thursday of each month at 7:30.

Bragman

With regard to my past endeavors, most of these issues are addressed in my response to Global Warming.

Over the next four years, we need to work on Safer Routes to School. I would like to see the Joe Breeze Safe Routes to School plan for Cascade Road built when we repave the road next year. There are an increasing number of school age children in that vicinity and there are no sidewalks or paths on this very fast traffic artery. We need to get a safe route item agendized and built in concert with the Marin Bike Coalition and other community groups. I would also like to see if public works would begin a street stenciling project for Safe Routes as was done in San Anselmo. This would provide more clarity for young riders and provide an increased awareness for drivers to share the road. I also would like to see a concerted effort to slow traffic in the neighborhoods. Whether this is done by speed bumps, speed dots, or increased police scrutiny, this is a major safety and quality of life concern that we need to address. We need to raise awareness that our streets are narrow and also serve as transit ways for vulnerable pedestrians and animals.