San Mateo 101 Express Lanes honored with Innovative Transportation Solutions Award

101 Express Lanes Freeway photo

Media Contact: Randol White, 415-515-7624 

The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) is honoring the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Authority (SMCEL-JPA) with its annual Innovative Transportation Solutions Award for the Community Transportation Benefits Program.   

“We are pleased to recognize this program for providing a creative solution to minimize mobility challenges in underserved communities,” said Chapter President Jasmin Mejia. 

The award announcement from WTS said the SMCEL-JPA was selected because of the team’s exemplary work, efforts, and initiatives in facilitating professional opportunities and successes for women and minorities. The announcement also noted the project’s significant contributions to promoting diversity, inclusion and multicultural awareness within the transportation industry. 

The Community Benefits Program helps cover transportation costs for people who qualify in San Mateo County. It offers a one-time $100 toll credit on a FasTrack Transponder or an annual $100 transit credit on a Clipper Card. 

“It's a great honor to have this important program recognized by the team at WTS,” said SMCEL-JPA Board Chair Alicia Aguirre. “This award highlights the SMCEL-JPA’s hard work and dedication to the community, which are exemplary.”  

The WTS Board will host a ceremony on June 20 at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center to present the award to the SMCEL-JPA.

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About the Transportation Authority (TA): Created to administer Measure A, San Mateo County’s ½ cent sales tax, the TA provides funding for transportation projects and programs in San Mateo County. In 2004, more than 75 percent of San Mateo County voters reauthorize Measure A for an additional 25 years. In 2018, voters approved Measure W, the San Mateo County Congestion Relief Plan an additional ½ cent sales tax. The TA will administer half the revenue of Measure W and the San Mateo County Transit District will administer the other half to fund and implement the Congestion Relief Plan.

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About the SMCEL-JPA: The San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) and the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG) formed SMCEL-JPA in 2019 to manage the express lanes. The SMCEL-JPA is responsible for setting policies for operations of the express lanes. Caltrans managed the design and construction of the San Mateo 101 Express Lanes in partnership with SMCTA and C/CAG. The Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority, a Joint Powers Authority between the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Toll Authority, will operate the express lanes under contract by the SMCEL-JPA. For more information about the express lanes, visit https://smcexpresslanes.org/.