(Image source from: East Bay Times)
Indian-American urban planner Anu Natarajan, a veteran of San Francisco East Bay politics, is making a run for a seat on the Bay Area Rapid Transit-BART- board.
BART is a mass transit system, connecting residents through most of the San Francisco, California, Bay Area. Natarajan, who formerly served on the Fremont, Calif., city council; on its planning commission, and briefly as the town's mayor, will contest from BART District 6.
Voters will make their choice in the November 6 general election.
BART provides a transit spine in the Bay Area. Three counties- San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa- supported the construction of BART originally in the 1970s.
An extension is also planned further south in Berryessa, a neighborhood in San Jose. Plans are in place to extend the system to downtown San Jose. BART also launched new service to Antioch, Calif., in May.
"The funding is in place to take BART to Downtown San Jose. I am excited that for each mile of track that is placed we are one step closer to completion of a BART system that will finally connect the three largest cities, and job centers in the Bay Area," Natarajan told a media source.
"Given the regional interconnectedness of the job market, it makes sense to extend BART to San Jose in partnership with VTA," said Natarajan, referring to Santa Clara County's light rail system.
"It's now time to focus on the consumer experience. After years of commuting daily on BART, I know first-hand the impact train delays, fare increases, and dirty, deteriorated stations have on our lives,” said Natarajan in a press statement, announcing her campaign.
The candidate has garnered the endorsements of several local politicians, including Indian American Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and California state Assemblymember Ash Kalra. Natarajan has thus far raised more than $30,000 in contributions, according to a campaign announcement.
By Sowmya Sangam
