We held a major rally for Measure B on Wednesday at the Diridon station in San Jose that demonstrated that tremendous support for bringing BART to Silicon Valley. Two top experts in transportation -- former U.S. Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta and Caltrans director Will Kempton backed BART and talked about the importance of connecting BART to Caltrain and light rail. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed emphasized how it would add thousands of jobs to the local economy.

If BART extends to San Jose, all of Santa Clara County would reap the economic benefits, according to an economic impact study commissioned by the Valley Transportation Authority.

The 13-page study estimated that by 2030 the county's gross product would increase between $4 billion and $7 billion and travel time savings would total between $2.5 billion and $4.7 billion. Employment figures are also expected to increase by between 1,600 and 5,700 jobs in Santa Clara County.

This Election Day voters will be considering Measure B to bring BART service to San Jose, and from the perspective of a blind traveler this is a wonderful idea. There are many challenges persons with disabilities face daily, none more daunting than transportation. While some services have made vast improvements in general accessibility issues (ramps, wheelchair lifts, etc.) one major hurdle remains: availability. The BART extension will open new possibilities for employment, recreation and health care to many thousands of taxpaying Californians with disabilities.