compiled by El Reportero’s staff
WASHINGTON – The construction of a new transit center in downtown San Francisco just received a financial boost from a $171 million federal loan, The new Transbay Transit Center will connect the Bay Area to the rest of California, making daily commutes and longer trips easier, faster and more convenient.
The new, modern, green, multi-modal, regional facility will become the ‘Grand Central of the West,’ connecting eight counties, nine transit systems, and communities throughout the state with long-distance bus and rail service, including high- speed rail. In addition, with the associated development of housing and businesses, Transbay is on its way to becoming the heart of a revitalized neighborhood and a national model of transitoriented development.”
The Department’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan will also finance ramps to the Bay Bridge, a bus storage facility and the design of the underground transit facility as part of the project’s fi rst phase.
The second phase, which is still subject to fi nancing commitments, will extend Caltrain service, the California commuter rail line, 1.3 miles to the new center. Overall, the new Trans-bay Transit Center will serve more than 45 million passengers annually and house nine transportation systems, including the San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI), California high-speed rail and Greyhound. The new facility will improve commutes within northern California and connect that region to the rest of the state and the country. It is part of a larger plan to revitalize the downtown area.
Construction cost for phase one of the project is $1.189 billion. The total project cost is slated at $4.2 billion.
Teacher’s aide acquitted after evidence contradicts officer’s story
A woman who was injured and falsely arrested by police in September has been acquitted of battery upon an officer and resisting arrest, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today.
Tisha Harvey, a 29-year-old teacher’s aide for disabled preschoolers, is currently cooperating with an Office of Citizen Complaints investigation against the police officer involved in the incident. Jurors unanimously found Harvey not guilty on December 31 after deliberating for one day.
On September 2, 2009, Harvey, who had no criminal history, was handcuffed and thrown to the ground by a San Francisco Police Department officer who claimed she ran a stop sign at Rutland Street and Sunnydale Avenue. Through police dispatch records presented at trial, Deputy Public Defender Serena Orloff established that the officer believed Harvey’s 2008 Chevrolet Impala was a stolen vehicle and fabricated the stop sign 3violation as a reason to approach the mother of two after she parked in front of a neighborhood community center.
Bernal Branch Library reopening
With great participation of people in the community and politicians, the Bernal Heights Library at 500 Cortland Ave. finally opened after several years of renovation. The grand reopening was held on Jan. 30.
The Bernal Heights Branch is the 13th branch to be completed under the Branch Library Improvement Program, which is funded by a $105.9 million bond measure passed by voters in November 2000.
The program is supporting the renovation of16 branch libraries and the construction of eight new library buildings around the City. Project costs for Bernal Heights totaled $5.7 million. A separate fundraising campaign by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library provided new furniture and equipment for the branch.
The event was entertained by Lion dancers, Jing Mo Athletic Association; Aztec dancers: Danza Xitlalli-Xolotl; musical entertainment: Ralph Carney & Friends; Jackie Jones & Her Tap Dancing Cat; and Circus Finelli.
