Dear CSUN Community,

I am writing to you today to share exciting news and my deep appreciation for your support.

Yesterday, the Metro Board of Directors voted to include mass transit projects in the proposed Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan that would significantly improve transportation for CSUN’s nearly 50,000 students and employees who come from all over the greater Los Angeles region. If approved by voters on the November 2016 ballot, these projects would directly benefit thousands more community members around campus and throughout the northern San Fernando Valley.

Metro’s Board of Directors voted to include $180 million to implement bus rapid transit (BRT) that will will serve CSUN, connecting the east and west ends of the Valley, helping decrease carbon emissions, traffic congestion and parking on and around campus.

I would like to personally thank State Senator Bob Hertzberg, who represents CSUN in the 18th Senate District and has been a heroic champion for CSUN over the years. The significant effort of community leaders like David Fleming, Richard Katz and Zev Yaroslavsky was essential to CSUN’s inclusion in this plan. I am grateful to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Councilmember Paul Krekorian, and Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian for their support. I am also grateful for the neighborhood councils and other community organizations who have been so important to this effort. This could not have happened without the leadership and responsiveness of the Metro Board Chair, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Metro Board of Directors and the excellent Metro staff. They have done a great job in creating this plan, and I am grateful for their support in bringing the real potential for transportation improvements to CSUN and our region.

The Valley Economic Alliance, Valley Industry Commerce Association (VICA), BizFed, numerous chambers of commerce and many more CSUN partner organizations are all strongly supporting this plan for the investment in critical transportation infrastructure to Los Angeles County.

Thank you to the entire CSUN community and all the Matadors who advocated for CSUN’s inclusion in this plan, which will provide a tremendous benefit to the entire region as well as the thousands of current and future students and employees.

Sincerely,

Dianne F. Harrison, President
California State University, Northridge