How Do We Get There? Accessible and Affordable Public Transportation for All

A robust public transportation system is key to social and economic mobility for San Mateo County residents, as well as to carbon emissions reduction. However, public transit across the Bay Area remains inaccessible and unaffordable for many residents. How can we reimagine and advocate for transit systems that reduce socioeconomic and geographic barriers for our communities? What steps must we take to get there?

Join us on Tuesday, March 28, at the Burlingame Community Center (directly across from the Caltrain station) to learn about opportunities to advocate for policies and programs toward improving accessibility and affordability in public transportation. We will hear from community members on their experiences using public transit, followed by David Canepa, San Mateo County Supervisor District 5 as well as Laura Tolkoff, Transportation Policy Director, SPUR, and Adina Levin, Advocacy Director, Seamless Bay Area, followed by a group discussion about paths forward.

Note: This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided during the group discussion.

Location: 850 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame, CA 94010

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David Canepa, San Mateo County, Supervisor

David Canepa currently serves on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors representing District 5. Supervisor Canepa serves on many boards and committees, including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, and the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) Board of Directors. Supervisor Canepa has prioritized investing in affordable housing, enhancing public transportation, improving public safety, and ending discrimination in all forms during his career.

Adina Levin, Seamless Bay Area, Advocacy Director

Adina Levin is the Executive Director of Friends of Caltrain, a nonprofit organization supporting the successful modernization of Caltrain in the context of an integrated sustainable transportation system. She contributes to a variety of local and regional advisory bodies on transportation and connections between transportation and land use. She is a serial entrepreneur with a background in for-profit and nonprofit ventures.

Laura Tolkoff, SPUR, Transportation Policy Director

Laura Tolkoff is the Transportation Policy Director for SPUR. She oversees SPUR's transportation portfolio and focuses on public transit, land use integration, project delivery, governance change, and interregional coordination. Before joining SPUR, Laura was a Senior Manager in the energy and environment program at the Regional Plan Association in New York. She spearheaded federal, state, and regional reforms and launched a federal design competition that brought over $1 billion to local climate resilience projects.

Tuesday, March 28, 2:00 - 3:30 pm, Hybrid

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