MTC Chair Scott Haggerty Salutes the Bay Trail on Its 20th Anniversary

Over 100 enthusiastic guests celebrated the 20th anniversary of the San Francisco Bay Trail project at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center on Saturday, June 6, 2009. The event honored State Treasurer Bill Lockyer for authoring Senate Bill 100, the 1987 legislation that helped authorize the Association of Bay Area Governments to develop and adopt a plan for a continuous recreational corridor edging San Francisco and San Pablo bays. ABAG, the administrating agency for the project, adopted the plan in 1989. Since then, over half of the Bay Trail, or 293 of 500 miles, has been completed.

The reception, hosted by the Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency, also recognized several of the Bay Trail’s advocates, supporters and partners. Special presentations were made by MTC Chair Scott Haggerty, ABAG Vice President Mark Green, Hayward Mayor Mike Sweeney, Hayward Area Recreation and Park District General Manager Rita Shue and Johan Klehs, former member of the State Assembly and the Board of Equalization.

The Bay Trail is funded by local, regional, state, federal and private sources and is made up of dirt, gravel and paved sections open to hikers, bicyclists, wheelchair users, strollers, joggers and even commuters.

 “The Bay Trail is more than just a recreation option, it’s an important commute alternative for bicyclists,” said Haggerty, who presented an MTC resolution of appreciation to ABAG Vice President Mark Green for the ongoing management of the Bay Trail. “The trail connects to numerous public transit facilities, including ferry terminals, light-rail lines, bus stops, and Caltrain, Amtrak, BART and VTA stations.”

MTC has been a major financial contributor to the Bay Trail over its 20 years.

“MTC provided over $2.4 million to our partner ABAG for the planning of the Bay Trail,” Haggerty said. “MTC also has helped finance the construction of various Bay Trail segments including the bicycle path on the Carquinez Bridge, and the upcoming opening of the bicycle/pedestrian path of the Benicia-Martinez Bridge and the impending East Span of the Bay Bridge, which will house a new bike/ped. path spanning from Oakland to Yerba Buena Island.”

For more information on the Bay Trail, go to www.baytrail.org.