"O'Mahony voted onto transit board - Burlingame councilwoman will represent Central County' from Christine's article in the San Mateo Times:
BURLINGAME Twelve votes from a variety of San Mateo County mayors put City Councilwoman Rosalie O'Mahony on the San County Transportation Authority board. She was elected on Friday and will represent Central County. South San Francisco Mayor Joe Fernekes was elected to represent North County. San Mateo Mayor John Lee was reappointed to oversee Cities-at-Large, and Rosanne Foust is representing South County.
O'Mahony replaced former Burlingame Mayor Joe Galligan. Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Naomi Patridge and Foster City Mayor Linda Koelling also ran for the Central County seat. The Transportation Authority oversees the proceeds of Measure A, a 20-year, countywide, half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. "Transportation is something dear to my heart," O'Mahony said Saturday. "A good transportation system is the lifeblood for a successful economic environment. San Mateo County is a thriving business center and it has many areas that need help in public transportation, particularly on Highway 101." Her priorities include the Broadway interchange in Burlingame. This year, Caltrans signed off on the design and has been passed off to the Transportation Authority to do the environmental impact report. The authority will pay half of the $58 million project, and the city of Burlingame will pay the rest, O'Mahony said. Her focus is also on the Broadway Train Station and potential grade separation for the area. Because the Broadway station closed on weekdays, the authority has been funding the free shuttles that take commuters to the Millbrae station. O'Mahony said she hopes the Caltrain Peninsula Joint Powers Board will move forward on platform improvements for the Broadway station and grade separation. "We want Caltrain to do one of the two," she said. "If we have the platform improvements, the station would open once again. It's beneficial to the economic base, and traffic would move so much better. I'll be working hard to see that Caltrain is continually improved."
Some business owners on Broadway are happy that O'Mahony will be on the authority. While John Kevranian, owner for Nuts for Candy, doubts the Broadway train station will be reopened, he said Saturday that he's glad the area will be represented. "Having an individual from Burlingame is wonderful, but we need to have more say where the Broadway station is concerned," Kevranian said. "(Caltrain) promised us they will reopen it. I wish we had representation on the PJPB board also."
- Written by Fiona
Go Rosalie! We want that station open again!
Posted by: | January 30, 2006 at 04:52 PM