On Transportation
"Responsibilities come hand in hand with opportunity. High-tech, high-wage jobs mean nothing if our daily commute is a daily dose of gridlock. First, we need to bring BART to San Jose. It just makes sense to do it now. Second, we need to construct infrastructure that facilitates access to public transit, including better roads, intermodal transit stations, and expanded carpool rides. In Congress, as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Subcommittee on Aviation, Highways & Transit, I have worked with my friend, Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta, to make real progress in these areas. We have a shared responsibility to build better transportation services for Silicon Valley's next generation."
          - Congressman Mike Honda
PROVEN RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ON TRANSPORTATION
From the San Jose Planning Commission to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to the State Assembly to the United States Congress, Mike Honda has produced consistent results on transportation issues that affect Silicon Valley residents. In Congress, Mike has been leading the fight for federal funding to bring BART to San Jose. He has also been a leading advocate of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Regional Transportation Plan.

As a Supervisor, Mike led the campaign to bring Caltrain to southern Santa Clara County, to double the number of trains on the San Jose-Gilroy line, and to extend light rail service to Almaden, Tasman Corridor, East Side/Capitol Corridor, and West Valley. As an Assemblymember, Mike Honda authored legislation (AB 2365) to ensure timely and efficient implementation of Santa Clara County's Measure B on transportation improvement, which he supported along with Measure A. As a member of the Revenue and Taxation Committee, he supported a bill (AB 1706) to eliminate the double tax on gasoline.
SECURITY
On September 11th, our nations aviation system was taken hostage and used as an instrument of terror against the American people. As a member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, and vice chair of the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security, Mike was among the leaders in drafting new guidelines and legislation to help secure out airports and airways.

Shortly after the attacks, Honda helped author a bill that would improve airport security through the use of cutting edge technologies such as biometrics and wireless communication. He also was one of the first to call for the federalizing of security screeners.

Mike also joined with San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzalez to form the Silicon Valley Blue Ribbon Task Force on Aviation Security & Technology. The Task Force, which included technology executives, community leaders, and academics, recently released a report that the Transportation Security Administration has used as s model for other communities nation-wide.
EXTENDING RAIL SERVICE TO SILICON VALLEY
With the slow-down in the economy and Silicon Valley home prices continuing to remain high, more and more people face long commutes every day. Mike Honda wants to relieve the pressure on our highways and reduce traffic congestion by continuing to expand Caltrain and Light Rail service in Santa Clara County, and by bringing BART to San Jose.

In Congress, as a member of the Transportation Committee, Honda has pushed for increased federal funding to support these critical local projects and has advocated for nearly $850 million in Federal Transit Administration New Starts funding for BART to San Jose.
SUPPORTING ZERO AND LOW EMISSION VEHICLES
California has long led the country in the effort to reduce automobile emissions, but there is much more to be done. Mike Honda supports raising pollution standards so that new automobiles have to be more efficient and run cleaner. He also supports tax credits and other incentives to assure that industry produces next-generation vehicles that run cleaner and more efficiently.

As a member of Congress, Honda continues to push for tax credits and other governmental support for research and development of alternative fuel sources and zero-emission or ultra low-emission vehicles. Mike has also secured millions of dollars in federal funds for VTA and SamTrans to procure zero-emission buses—a groundbreaking effort that will keep our region as one of the most progressive in the nation.
LOCATING HOUSING CLOSER TO PUBLIC TRANSIT AND TO JOBS
Urban sprawl moves housing away from jobs and public transit, resulting in long commutes and traffic congestion. In Congress, Mike Honda supports allowing local governments to raise money to combat sprawl.

In the Assembly, Honda supported an amendment to the California Constitution (SCA 3) that would have given California communities increased power to raise money to fund transportation projects. Mike Honda supports putting housing closer to jobs and transit, and he supports efforts to find regional solutions to regional transportation problems.