PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Citizens Watchdog Committee on 2000 Measure A Program Expenditures

5/2/2017 2:20 PM | Stacey Hendler Ross

PUBLIC HEARING: The Citizens Watchdog Committee (CWC) for the 2000 Measure A Transit Sales Tax Program is holding a ballot-required public hearing on FY 2016 Measure A expenditures to receive input from the community:

Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
VTA Auditorium
3331 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95134
(This location is served by VTA Light Rail and Bus Line 58.)

VTA is delivering transportation solutions that are critical to the vitality, prosperity and quality of life for all who live, work and play in Santa Clara County. In November 2000, Santa Clara County voters approved Measure A, a 30-year half cent sales tax devoted to specific public transit capital improvement projects and operations. Most of the ballot-defined projects are massive and very complex, requiring years to plan, design and construct. Although in just the 10th year of a 30 year program (tax collection started mid-2006), VTA has achieved significant results toward meeting Measure A goals including:

• Extending BART to the Santa Clara County cities of Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara - extension to Berryessa currently trending ahead of schedule and under budget, with opening projected for late 2017.
• Extending and improving light rail service - new line from Mountain View to Alum Rock is being established to connect with Caltrain and the new Milpitas BART Station to integrate VTA’s BART to Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension. Several integral projects, including Mountain View Double-Track and Santa Clara Pocket Tracks, have been completed.
• Increase Caltrain service and electrify the system from Palo Alto to Gilroy - VTA has partnered with Caltrain on implementation from Palo Alto to the Tamien Station. Environmental process has been completed and contracts awarded for design and construction and for purchase of electric trains.

The public is encouraged to attend the public hearing in person, but for those unable, written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on May 10 by email to: board.secretary@vta.org or by mail to: Office of the Board Secretary, 3331 N. First Street, Building B-1, San José, CA 95134-1927. Sign language and additional interpreter services will be provided upon request by contacting VTA Customer Service at least five days prior to the meeting at (408) 321-2300, TTY (408) 321-2330.

Copies of Measure A Program documents and reports are available for public inspection from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) offices at 3331 N. First Street, San Jose, CA in the Building B lobby. They are also available for viewing at local public libraries and at VTA’s website: www.vta.org (which includes accessible versions). Questions on the public hearing should be directed to: Stephen Flynn, Advisory Committee Coordinator, at (408) 321-5720 or to stephen.flynn@vta.org.

INDEPENDENT AUDIT: Fulfilling its ballot-defined responsibilities, the CWC commissioned an audit of the Measure A Program financial records and schedule for Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016). Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP, independent certified public accountants, conducted the compliance audit in accordance with attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. They issued an unqualified (“clean”) opinion on Measure A Program compliance with the ballot, making this the 11th consecutive audit receiving a clean opinion. Copies of the audit results and other related reports are available at the locations stated above and at www.vta.org.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Citizens Watchdog Committee on 2000 Measure A Program Expenditures

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