Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Senator Torlakson and SVMG invite your attendance at a hearing of the
Senate Select Committee on Bay Area Infrastructure on March 18, 2005 at
ALZA Corporation, 1900 Charleston Road, Auditorium-Building M10,
Mountain View, California from 9am - noon. A map is attached. The
hearing will focus on Transit-Oriented Development and Transportation
Financing. In addition to the Chair, other members of the Bay Area
Senate and Assembly delegation will be in attendance. SVMG and ALZA are
hosting the hearing.

The hearing is part of an ongoing effort by the Senate to gather ideas,
suggestions, and direction from interested parties about infrastructure
needs in the Bay Area and statewide. The hearing will focus on two major
topics that the Legislature will address this year: transit-oriented
development and transportation financing. Infill housing around transit
centers holds considerable promise to reduce congestion, provide more
affordable housing, and build more livable communities. A panel of
speakers will address successful models for such housing, as well as how
the Legislature can provide incentives for more infill development.

Meanwhile, California faces a crisis in transportation funding.
Available revenues have declined far below current and future needs.
Speakers will tell the Select Committee the extent of this dilemma, and
how California can begin restoring stability to the transportation
budget.

We urge your participation at this important hearing. We urge you to
rsvp for this event to facilitate your entrance into the hearing room
given ALZA's security needs. ALZA will provide name badges for all
participants. You can rsvp by responding to this e-mail or by calling
SVMG at 408/501-7864. An agenda for the meeting will be available
shortly.

We look forward to seeing you on March 18th. Please feel free to contact
us if you have any questions.