Update from Kate – Yellow School Buses Soon to Roll in Mill Valley

 

County of Marin, City of Mill Valley and Mill Valley School District

Join Together to Pilot A 2-Year Yellow School Bus Program

To Reduce Traffic Congestion and Create the

Next Generation of Transit Riders

 

 

Supervisors Kate Sears and Steve Kinsey are delighted to announce that yellow school buses will be rolling on the streets of Mill Valley in the 2016-2017 school year thanks to an exciting collaboration among the County of Marin, City of Mill Valley and the Mill Valley School District. Key to this initiative is the involvement of Marin Transit, coordinator of successful school transportation programs in the Ross Valley and along the Strawberry/Tiburon Peninsula.

 

The Marin County Board of Supervisors expects to take action at its March 1 meeting (consent agenda item CA-3) to approve funding to support the school bus initiative. Supervisors Kate Sears and Steve Kinsey both represent residents in unincorporated Marin County whose children attend schools in the Mill Valley School District. The County and the City of Mill Valley are jointly funding approximately $220,000 of the total cost of the 2-year yellow school bus pilot program. The Mill Valley School District is contributing funds to administer the program and parents too will help underwrite the service.

 

“I hear from families living in Strawberry struggling against traffic to get their children to Edna Maguire School, while Mill Valley parents are caught in traffic going the other way to Strawberry Point School,” said Supervisor Kate Sears. “Getting the yellow school buses rolling will ease congestion and alleviate frustration at the E. Blithedale-Hwy 101-Tiburon Blvd overcrossing, restoring much needed peace of mind to us all.”

 

This program is an important investment in local transit and a chance to raise the next generation of transit riders as well. County Supervisor and former Metropolitan Transportation Commission Chair Steve Kinsey reflected, “Young people enjoy riding transit, giving them a wider sense of community and independence at a formative time. With transit as a growing part of our low-carbon future, it’s never too early to start, especially on a friendly yellow bus.”

 

The yellow school bus initiative is the centerpiece of the City of Mill Valley’s successful Traffic and Congestion Task Force formed with broad representation from local government, transportation agencies, business, neighborhood leaders and schools. Led

by Mayor Ken Wachtel and City Manager Jim McCann, the Task Force identified various strategies to address traffic congestion with the yellow school bus program topping the list.

 

Share this great news with friends and urge them to subscribe to my news and information by signing up. For further information, contact Supervisor Kate Sears at ksears@marincounty.org or call the office at (415)473-7331.