UC Long-Range Development Plan
UC Berkeley plans huge expansion into City of Berkeley
and Dave Campbell (President, BFBC)
January 10, 2005
The revised version of UC's Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) 2020 has been published, and it doesn't bode well for the city of Berkeley and the people who live in and frequent the city. UC still has not addressed the impact and cost of their new construction of housing, research facilities and parking structures on the City and citizens of Berkeley.
The entire LRDP is here: http://www.cp.berkeley.edu/LRDP_2020final.htm. The section for changes from the draft of last year is "9.1". It's not long and they haven't changed much in response to feedback to the draft, including BFBC's comment letter expressing serious concerns of bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Planned construction, housing, research facilities and parking lots will pack Berkeley's already congested streets. UC is not addressing these concerns.
Mayor Tom Bates has made a strong statement against the plan, which you can read here. You can also read an opinion piece by Transportation Commission Chair Rob Wrenn here.
Write a letter to UC Regents expressing your concerns (OK, outrage). And please emphasize the importance of bicycle and pedestrian safety concerns caused by increased traffic.
It is recommended that letters go to UC Regents, so they understand the points below. They may not know the cost of parking, for example. They may not know how many people are outraged by UC's arrogance in creating a plan that ignores the needs of the city they occupy. It is also important to send copies of your letter to Berkeley City Council, Robert Birgeneau (the new Chancellor), Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, and Jennifer Lawrence, UC Berkeley's Facilities Services.
Comments are due to UC by January 20, 2005. Not much time, so sharpen your keyboards. It's best to snail mail or fax your letters. Contact info:
- UC Regents contact info http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/contact.html.
- Berkeley City Council: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/email/email.html.
- Assemblywoman Loni Hancock: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a14/contact_form.htm.
- UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau: chancellor@berkeley.edu.
- UC Berkeley point person Jennifer Lawrence: 2020LRDP@cp.berkeley.edu.
Here are points to address in your LRDP letter. Thanks for your help!
1. Demand that UC Berkeley pay for city services. As part of the land grant status of the UC system, the UC's do not pay for city services throughout the state. This needs to change. The cumulative impact of the LRDP can literally bankrupt the city of Berkeley. UC Berkeley does not pay for infrastructure, streets, sidewalks, sewers, yet the construction of research facilities, housing and parking will clearly create a significantly increased need for those services. The city has been covering the cost of all these services and more, and is currently running a budget deficit.
2. Demand that UC's LRDP create NO increase in traffic, and further, NO increase in SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES. This is doable, but the University is taking no action to mitigate the impacts of their construction.
3. Mention that UC themselves will not be able to afford to build all the parking they are planning to build. Income from current parking fees will not cover future construction. Parking spaces cost a minimum of $20,000 each for surface, and at least $40,000 each in structured lots.
4. Demand UC Berkeley do what other large employers do: provide a $100 monthly stipend for staff to use alternative modes of transportation as an incentive. Currently, UC offers staff a $20 per month AC Transit Bear Pass, only available to staff who live in the AC Transit district. Other employers stipends cover any means of alternative transportation the employee chooses.
5. Recommend to legislators, i.e. Loni Hancock, that they hold up UC's budget until they: a) come up with a real Transportation Improvement Plan, a b) Pedestrian Improvement Plan, c) pay mitigation and in-lieu fees for services they will need from the city, and d) ensure there is no increase in traffic, and definitely no increase in Single Occupancy Vehicles.
6. Demand that UC Berkeley pay for the needed increase in parking and traffic enforcement officers, resulting from their future increase in student and staff population, and increase in parking spaces.
7. Demand that UC Berkeley adhere to the recommendations in Berkeley's own Transportation Demand Management study: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/transportation/TDM/Study/Introduction.html
8. Support and congratulate Mayor Tom Bates for standing in opposition to UC's Long Range Development Plan.