level than the street. there are also developments for bicycle lanes and other improvements coming from the bicycle plant that are now being implemented with the injunction. >> deputy for planning. just to answer your question more broadly, we know -- we are working with the mta to initiate their forays and piloting a bicycle facilities of the cycle track nature that you are talking about. for example, on the market street corridor, they are experimenting with different treatments, right turn restrictions. we are trying to see even what could be beyond that, boxes, but signals. the authority has also allocated funding for jfk boulevard through golden gate park. that is something that they are

also working on. in the next phase of our county- wide transportation plan, we are looking at an entire network that the bicycle coalition has proposed. commissioner maxwell: thank you. commissioner mar: colleagues, any other questions? is there anyone from the public that would like to comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed. colleagues, can we move this item ford with pregnant -- forward with recommendations? without objection. next item. >> item 5. recommend award of a two-year consultant contract to wmh corporation, in an amount not to exceed $1,600,000, for engineering and environmental services for the yerba buena island bridge structures and authorization for the executive director to negotiate contract terms and conditions. this is an action item. >> i am the project manager for

the yerba buena island structures project. just some history, we have been working with the past two years with the treasure island developer and authority and economic workforce here in the city for transportation improvements on the island. i want to give you an overview of this project in particular and highlight some of the eligibility good news we have in terms of other funding and then discuss with you the consult and contract in front of you. it is important to understand there are nine and bridge structures, as we see here on the west -- as we see here, on the west side that connects to the bay bridge. that is the focus of the project ahead of us. it is also important to

recognize preliminary bridge inspection reports indicate that they are seismically vulnerable. they are eligible for federal highway bridge funding. the good news is, we recently received funding for $1.57 million to start preparation of seismic strategy reports, to investigate what needs to be done to meet current seismic standards. all funding will be reimbursed not only by hbp federal dollars but also by treasure island development authority. they will be providing a local match, consistent with a memorandum of agreement that we executed a few years ago with tida. i will give you a brief overview out of the selection process for the consultant. the first thing we did is made with caltrans when we received eligibility.

they needed to go through the feconsultant selection process. we issued her rfq's october 15. we received six statements of qualifications, shore listed the four, interviewed last week, and have the no. 1 ranking recommendation to the committee to award a two-year contract with wmh corporation in the amount not to exceed $1.6 million for the engineering and environmental analysis. they have met all the goals and are consistent with federal requirements. if you have any questions, i may be able to answer. commissioner mar: let's open this up to public comment. is there anyone from the public that would like to comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed. colleagues, without objection, let's move this item forward with recommendations. thank you. next item. >> item 6.

state and federal legislative update. this is an information item. >> just a recap of where we stand, recent activities in sacramento. the legislature convened in session yesterday. both houses reelected the existing leadership and adopted rules. at the same time, the governor introduced a proclamation calling them into special session under the proposition 58 provision enacted a few years ago. the intent of the governor is to see if they can achieve up to $8 billion of reductions before the new governor takes office, a boost to address the $80 million shortfall. one of the key committee chairs was killed yesterday in the senate. mark leno was appointed the

budget chair. on the assembly side, assemblymember mal has been appointed as the assistant protem. the governor's approacproposal,l not go into details, other than to note that he wanted to see if we could close the $6 billion gap and leave the $19 billion budget gap for a new governor- elect jerry brown to address. he offered $8 billion worth of solutions. i think we talked briefly last time i was here, that this might unfold, and certainly, the legislature is more interested in dealing with the new governor. however, within the package that was introduced yesterday, there is one element that affects

transportation, and ironically, it may be the one element that its legislature in its waning days deals with. we had the fuel tax swap, and eliminate the sales tax on gas, state excise tax rate. generated about $1 billion, at that point in time, for general fund savings. the approval of proposition 22 by voters in november clouded those savings to the extent that it is believe that at least $800 million of that was not achievable. the governor's proposal -- believe it or not, they found a work around proposition 22 already. every time you think proponents will write these things in a buttoned down sort of way, there is always a work around. in essence, what they are doing is dedicating, going after a $800 million worth of funds

derived from truck weight fees that are deposited strayed into the state highway account, rather than into the other transportation accounts protected by proposition 22. so they will be able to redirect that money to pay for proposition 1b debt service. the rest of the fuel tax swap will stay, in effect, for the time being. as a net result, transportation resources are not divorced -- reduced. it is consistent with the levels that are adopted, estimated in the fuel tax swap early last year. the one valley i would add, by being able to achieve this general fund savings, it makes it easier for proposition 1b bonds to continue to be a source of funding. in other words, the motivation of the legislature to appropriate the bonds this coming year and in future years, is much more strengthened by the

fact that there is an actual non-general fund source to pay for the debt service. in a nutshell, that is what is affecting transportation, probably the one item that will be adopted in the coming month, as the senate and assembly take a look at the governor's proposals. that is my report for today. commissioner mar: thank you. commissioner maxwell? commissioner maxwell: who goes around and looks at these and crannies and comes up with this? >> they have a very creative staff. commissioner maxwell: obviously. >> the transportation manager and his staff, they are the ones that look at this proposition so carefully and they are looking at the funding streams. i guess they have enough time on their hands to find these loopholes. commissioner maxwell: so are you saying that this will always be available, the truck weight? >> that remains to be seen.

if i had to guess, yes. rather than those fees being used or made his rehabilitation on the highway system, supplementing other funds that are there, and then being back filled by the fuel tax swap, in essence, we have come to the same point as last february. it is just the identified source is more clearly delineated. commissioner maxwell: so at some point, they will have to repair the state systems, so the money they had, they no longer have. so that will have to back filled. >> that is correct. to put that in perspective, the total amount of fees collected in the state are about $1 billion. they're looking and dedicating about 800. i bet it will go up to $1 billion next year. the total amount of tax revenues available to caltrans for

maintenance and rehabilitation is in the $800 billion range. the total annual needs for just rehabilitation are in the range of $6 billion, and they are only able to afford about $2 billion. there is an existing $4 billion shortfall to begin with. i think the legislature will have their work cut out. commissioner mar: thank you. this is an information item. let's open this up for public comment. is there anyone from the public that would like to comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed. thank you so much. item 7. >> introduction of new items. commissioner mar: i believe there are no new items. colleagues? thank you. item 8. >> public comment. commissioner mar: is there anyone from the public that would like to comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed.

>> item nine. adjournment. commissioner mar: thank you for to everyone for being here. meeting adjourned.

>> welcome to culture wire. the arabs don't possible has bringing you the best of the arab film to the bay area. this year's festival is no exception.

consider the most important arab film festival outside of the arab world, the festival offers a rare window to the arab world and its diverse community. featuring 24 films from over 18 countries, it is also one of the only four runs that showcases new works by established and emerging arab filmmakers. the possible films in four cities. in addition, the festival organizers a film series for high-school students free of charge. this year's lineup offers something for everyone, including shorts, documentary's, comedies, and dramas.

>> [speaking arabic] the mission of the arab film festival, since it its inception in 1996, and it came about -- members of our community realized there was stereotyping of arabs in the media, and they wanted to change that proactively. they wanted to use the power of film to bring in the stories, to bring in authentic images and narratives of the arab world, here to american audiences, in order to fight the negative stereotyping, and to introduce the positive, authentic images

to america, which iraq california, -- throughout california, a teasing familiarity, establishing harmony between our communities. the selection this year it is really a good selection. it is perverse, comes from more than 18 countries. it has a bit of everything for everyone. -- it is diverse, comes from more than 18 countries. there are shorts, and from us, comedies, you name it. this year, the film festival takes place in the castro. there is a comedy film from nigeria that is pretty hilarious. you can get to know arabs threw

their laughing as well. [speaking in foreign language] >> when you come to see all the diversity, nationality, ethnic, skin color, dialect, anything that you can think of, that world is very rich in diversity. we are trying to represent that diversity so people can see the different parts of the arab world. [speaking in arabic] >> people should participate in the festival because of the benefits they can get. first, the educational benefit

of learning about the stories of the arab world. diverse stories. people in the united states sometimes think of the arab world as a lump sum. what is good about the arab film festival is the also have a festival for the school's program, which we have films where we invite free of charge, i schoolers to come and attend. every year, high schoolers to go out really with a good experience, attending and watching these films. the arab film festival is not only about the festival in october. we also have year-round programs. check out the film festival to run the year, not just in the fall. -- throughout the year, not just in the fall. the best thing that somebody can

take away from the arab on festival is the arab cinema is talent. it is beautiful. the stories have that they represent are good stories, beautiful stories. also, the art form is beautiful and well made. >> for a complete film schedule and to learn more about the arab film festival, visit

>> san francisco's buses and trains serve many riders who are blind or how low vision. muni is their lives line to get around. simple act of courtesy can help them access muni services safely. it is not just courtesy. it is the law. >> i used to take the 21 airlock. >> lot of times, when i would be waiting at the bus stop, the door would open and the driver would announce the bus line. >> 71. >> it is easier and preferable when a driver sees someone who is obviously visually impaired if they stop in front of me and say "this is the 71," "this is

the seven." >> our buses are setup to announce the lines when we pull up. when i see a customer with a guide dog or cane, make sure i let them know what line i am. >> every time i get on the bus, i tell the driver where i need to get off, even if i think there digital voice system is going to announce that. just so they know in the event that it is not working. i would say a good amount of the time, i do get acknowledgment, actually. >> good morning. >> morning. is your announcements system working? >> i'm sorry, it is not. >> could you let me know when we get to van ness and sacramento? >> i sure will. >> i have had a number of drivers be really helpful in terms of getting passengers to move down a few seats so i can sit in the front.

>> can somebody give this lady a seat? >> the bus driver was say, "please wait a moment. i want to make sure you have a seat." and i hear him or her announced that he needs a seat for a person with a disability. >> as soon as the person gets on the bus, i ask the passengers if we can have a seat for this person. >> anybody help us? thank you, sir. >> thank you. >> sides, federal law requires that the customers give their seats to the elderly and disabled if they should need it. >> buses should stop in zones that can accommodate multiple lines will stop behind one another. i cannot see what bus is behind -- i'm not even sure if there is a bus behind. the second bus does not come up to the front. oftentimes, it has caused me to

be passed up by bosses, by trains, and again, it makes me late for appointments. it makes me late for my job. >> i'm often anxious that i'm going to miss the bus that i need, simply because i'm not fast enough to scamper down and find out which bus is lined up behind the bus that is currently in front of me. what i'm going to work and i take the van ness street buses to work, sometimes, one of them will pull up right next to the other one. not in a bus stop, but parallel to it. and i do not know it is there. i also do not feel comfortable walking out into the street. >> is that my boss over there? i think that is my boss -- bus. i'm going to miss it. i don't know how many times i have missed buses because of this. >> i do not double park.

it is not safe for our customers, and especially the visually impaired. anything could happen, and it is muni's policy not to double park. normally what i do, if i can safely go in behind, i pull in the zone, offload my customers, load the customers that are waiting for me. when the bus in front of the leaves, i will pull to the front for the customers that did not see me. >> sometimes, the bus pulls up, and there is stuff in my way because the boys -- bus has not pulled up right in front of me. i have to figure out how to get around or through. i have to navigate through all of that in order to get onto the bus. >> when i pick up a visually impaired customers, i like to pull up right in front of them, make sure nothing is in the way so they can walk right on the coach.

>> okay, take one big step forward. >> when i drop off a visually impaired customers, make sure you do not pull up at the shelter. you want to give them a straight shot so they can go to the left or the right. you want to pull in front or behind the shelter. never around any trees or pose. i usually let them know that they have about 10 feet before you. a straight shot, and wallace 10 feet away, and they can make the decision what they want to do from that point. every now and then, and visually impaired customer wants to be dropped off right at the shelter. so they can go to the left or the right from there. >> ok, you want to take one big step when you step off. the shelter is straight ahead. >> if i get on the bus and asked a bus driver to please tell me when to get off at seven straight, the bus driver very often will tell me to just look at the sign, and i will say that

i cannot see the sign because and visually impaired. sometimes, the bus driver gets it. some of the time, the bus driver does not get it at all. it is really difficult when you do not see well to understand where things are. it is one of those issues where people do not see it from the outside. so when they see me having problems stepping off of curbs or stairs or running into the side of a building or things like that, it would appear to them as though maybe i had been drinking, but the problem is that there is no contrast between a great building and a sidewalk. >> it is difficult for some drivers i think to understand that i am blind. although i may look like i'm getting along very well, and it did happen to me on several occasions with drivers, questioning my ability to see. they would say, "well, you

really are not that blind." not only is that infuriating, but it is just something that cuts to my core. >> there are times that visually impaired customers get on the bus, and they are moving so well that makes me wonder how blind they are, but that is not for me to decide. i'm just here to take them some point a to point b safely. >> i moved all the way across the country specifically to live in san francisco because i knew they had great public transportation. i had the greatest interactions with muni drivers because i was thrilled to be on a bus and be able to get some more independently. i think the drivers can really feel proud that they are making people's lives possible in a way that it is not possible in other parts even of this country. >> the americans with disabilities act of 1990 is a wide-ranging federal civil- rights law that prohibits

discrimination against persons with disabilities. title two of the ada addresses access to public services, including public transportation for persons with disabilities. tips for respectful communication for people with disabilities brochures are available. call sfmta accessible services at 415-701-4485 for copies.

so are you going out tonight? i can't. my parents say i have to be home right after work. ugh. that's so gay. totally gay. ugh. that is so emma and julia.