When I think about the facilities at Tullamarine Airport, the state-of-the-art airport opened in 1970 and not expanded since, I really feel that we are being left behind. Today I arrived at the fabulous Harvey Milk terminal 1 at San Francisco airport. Dedicated to the memory of assassinated first openly gay man to be elected to public office, this terminal is spacious, modern, and clean. It also connects seamlessly with the international terminal, from which suburban trains link with the San Francisco Bay area.
Before leaving home, I had downloaded the Clipper pass, the ticket required to travel on the San Francisco Bart. I had also loaded a small amount of money to cover the fare, should I decide to use the system today. I had figured that if a train links to the airport, there is space to store luggage. There is not, but that doesn’t matter because few people use the train this morning.
After an hour, mostly underground, I arrive at Downtown Berkeley station; the exit is almost opposite my hotel. Personally, I could not have made a better transportation choice and with its ease of use and extremely inexpensive fare of USD$5.35, it is a great way of travelling from A to B hassle-free. I do not understand why our politicians in Australia, particularly in Victoria, cannot link our airport with the city without trying to reinvent wheel. The rail link to Tullamarine has been discussed since its opening in 1970 and now, fifty-two years later, we are still waiting.
Berkeley is a university town – probably one of the best-known Californian universities is located here. But that’s not why I’m here. More on that tomorrow.
Quote: Harvey Milk
Hotel: Hotel Shattuck Plaza, 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley CA, 94704
BART: San Francisco International Airport to Downtown Berkeley $5.35
Restaurants: Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen, 2261 Shattuk Avenue, Berkeley CA, 94704
