Speaker Highlights - Visionary Panel
David Canepa
President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
We need a multimodal future — and voter support for SB 63. Think about people like my eight-year-old son — what will they need? The ballot measure coming out of SB 63 could be transformational. Public transit can mean job creation — look at Millbrae, which has Caltrain, BART, and SamTrans. We need better east–west connections, not just north–south service.
Adina Levin
Executive Director, Seamless Bay Area
I got involved during one of Caltrain’s periodic financial crises. Things have gotten better for Caltrain, with frequency and improved speeds building rider confidence. It used to be that the deepest discounts went to tech riders, but that is now reversed. Equity matters — discounts must meet the needs of diverse riders, including workers.
Benjamin McMullan
Systems Change Advocate, Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities
People with disabilities rely on public transit. Accessibility and wayfinding are not extras — they’re essential for independence, health, and participation in community life. As a member of the disability community, I moved to San Francisco because of its reliable transit–everyone should have that.
Laura Neish
Executive Director, 350 Bay Area, 350 Bay Area Action
We need just, clean, reliable transit that serves both urban and less-dense communities. We need electrification (not just EV cars), equity, and ripping the car culture out by the roots so we can get people to think in a more vibrant way. From a comms perspective, make the policy simple and relatable enough to be understood by all.
Alicia Trost
Chief Communications Officer at BART
Transit gives families freedom. We need full funding so service isn’t cut, and hubs include daily needs like libraries and childcare, making transit convenient for every neighborhood. BART is highlighting kids on the spectrum, kids with grandparents, folks who are taking transit today to get everyone excited. Look up BART SpeedRun for fun!
Left to Right: Adina Levin, David Canepa, Laura Neish, Alicia Trost, Benjamin McMullan, Chris Lepe
Keynote Q&A with Senator Scott Wiener
Bus or Train?
I love a good bus; it’s easy to get on and off.
How’d you find transit?
I went to Santiago, Chile, and used their amazing microbus system. Then went to law school in Boston, and rode everywhere on the T. A city without transit isn’t a city.
On High-Speed Rail
We’ve gone through 10 years of propaganda – “the train to nowhere.” It’s too bad we didn't start in the Bay Area, and it’s great that we kept $1B in Cap & Invest for high-speed rail.
Are you Open to other revenue sources?
Yes, open, if we have the time to explore how to implement it. Sales taxes already exist so they are easier to implement.
Synergistic Current Policy Initiatives
SB 63 (revenue measure for Bay Area transportation) + SB 79 (more housing by transit).
Speaker Highlights - Shared Successes
Tilly Chang
Michelle Bouchard
Michelle Bouchard
Executive Director, San Francisco County Transportation Authority
I’m a daughter of the region–I grew up in San Jose, had my first kid in Mountain View, second in San Mateo, and now I live in San Francisco with two free-range kids, thanks to public transit. Van Ness BRT is a game-changer and the first Bus Rapid Transit center lane in the US. We need continued innovation, safety, and political support to keep progress moving.
Michelle Bouchard
Michelle Bouchard
Michelle Bouchard
Executive Director, Caltrain
Transit is an equalizer that shapes generations– “I don’t just see kids, I see future riders.” Electrification means cleaner, faster rides — but success needs coordination across agencies and strong political and community backing. Tips: use every milestone to have a party. We are looking at maximizing our assets from real estate, the fiber optic backbone, and energy storage.
Jeff Gee
Dominica Henderson
Dominica Henderson
Redwood City Councilmember
Unfortunately, California does not measure up — we invest less in transit than other states. Designing cities around transit boosts economic growth. We need a unified vision to eliminate transit deserts — “youth don’t like cars, and seniors don’t trust Uber and Lyft.” Creative funding solutions include public–private partnerships, such as what Tilly talked about — the Chase Center including a Muni ticket as part of every Warriors ticket.
Dominica Henderson
Dominica Henderson
Dominica Henderson
SFMTA Board Director
I want to ensure that people on the edge of a city have the same diversity of options as people in the center. Bayview Shuttle shows how on-demand service connects people to opportunity, and we need creative funding solutions and centering communities to pay for these innovations. I work in housing and want to see more “everything in one” solutions like Fruitvale with childcare, affordable and market-rate housing, grocery stores, and restaurants all in one place.
Discussion Activity Highlights
We invited participants to visualize a future where the West Bay has become a national model for sustainable and healthy transportation by 2040. They were asked to consider this question from the perspective of different community members, such as bus/train drivers, commuters, families, students, seniors, and more. See below for key takeaways from each of the discussion questions.
A heartfelt thank you to our sponsor
Thank you to our participating partners
Organized by Move Bay Area
Move Bay Area brings climate, health and transportation leaders with community in-person to discover commonality and regional solutions to our transportation challenges with the goal of building a regional transportation vision together.
