May 1, 2018
SMART Gets $21 Million for Windsor Extension
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District has received $21 million in state transportation funds to construct an extension to Windsor, train officials announced last week. The grant, coupled with $40 million proposed in the upcoming ballot issue Regional Measure 3, would allow SMART to complete the Windsor extension.
April 24, 2018
Richmond Bridge 3rd Lane Opens
Marin Economic Forum (MEF) is celebrating a significant transportation improvement. Last Friday, April 20, Caltrans opened the long-awaited third eastbound lane on the San-Rafael-Richmond Bridge. The third-lane is providing much-needed, instant relief to thousands of working commuters leaving work in the afternoons and evenings and is open from 2 pm to 7 pm weekdays. Highly functioning infrastructure is essential to talent attraction and worker productivity some of the issues we have been concerned about at MEF.
March 27, 2018
Robin Sternberg’s Attends CALED’s 38th Annual Training Conference
Last week Marin Economic Forum’s Chief Executive Robin Sternberg attended the 38th Annual Training Conference hosted by the California Associate for Local Economic Development (CALED). The event was held in Monterey with approximately 400 economic development professionals from nearly 100 communities in California. Robin was the only economic development representative from Marin. CALED’s mission is dedicated to advancing its members’ ability to achieve excellence in delivering economic development services to their communities and business clients. The association consists of public and private organizations that focus on the business of creating and retaining jobs.
March 14, 2018
Housing Shortage and Inequity
Today Marin Economic Forum had the opportunity to present Housing Shortage and Inequality data to the Board of Supervisors. The lack of supply versus the demand for housing in Marin is reaching a tipping point that is genuinely threatening our economy. In addition to social consequences, housing inequity profoundly limits the potential of people who live among us as well as the broader economy. A recent study of California counties found that Marin County is one of the state’s counties with the highest levels of economic inequality.
February 27, 2018
Richmond Bridge Expansion
As transportation officials consider options to expand the Richmond Bridge to mitigate morning commutes coming into Marin and evening commutes leaving the county, the concept of a third lane on the north side of the upper deck coming into Marin has risen to the top – yet only as a section of roadway for pedestrians and bicyclists. In January, however, Marin Supervisor Damon Connolly (full disclosure, Damon is on MEF’s board), said that the third lane should also be used for westbound (inbound) vehicles, especially during morning commute times.
February 20, 2018
We intend to use this space to highlight news and issues that impact Marin County residents and businesses, particularly in the areas that Marin Economic Forum (MEF) plays an instrumental role in affecting change and making Marin – which is pretty great already, a better place to live, work, grow a business, thrive and raise families. Look for something from us every Tuesday, as we plan to post regular blog items, and we will also periodically publish newsletters and announce when MEF is in the news.
-Robin
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