Summit Sponsorships Selling Quickly

Sponsorships are selling quickly for the 11th Annual Southern California Transportation Summit on Friday, Sept. 28 at the Disneyland Hotel. Don’t miss out on a unique marketing opportunity for your business while helping to bring more transportation funding to Southern California.

Available sponsorships include:

• Presenting Sponsor
• Platinum Sponsorships
• Closing Session Sponsor: Includes special recognition during closing session
• USB Drive Sponsor: Includes logo and pre-loaded marketing material on USB drive
• WiFi Sponsor: Includes name recognition as WiFi internet access sponsor, internet users will be directed to company website immediately after login
• Silver Sponsorship
  • Morning Coffee Break Sponsor
• Copper Sponsors (unlimited availability)
• Bronze Sponsors (unlimited availability, open to small businesses and nonprofits)

Click here to view more information about the sponsorship packages.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein Working to Bring Transportation Dollars Home

This month Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) shares some of the biggest challenges facing transportation and ways she plans to overcome obstacles to improve mobility in Southern California.

M21: You have been a leader in Washington, D.C. for the needs of California transportation stakeholders for many years. What are you most proud of in terms of your office’s transportation leadership?

DF: If I were to point at one accomplishment I was proudest of, it would be my work to increase fuel efficiency.

In 2007 I authored landmark legislation with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) that increased fuel economy standards on all vehicles for the first time since the 1970s. That bill will likely result in a fleetwide fuel economy average of 54.5 mpg by 2025.

I have called for the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency to establish stronger fuel-economy standards and increase consumer information to reduce pollution and save money for American families and businesses.

The agencies are currently establishing first-ever standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and for new cars, light trucks and SUVs for model years 2017 to 2025.

I am also very proud of my work to secure funding for new transit projects, highways, rail projects and goods-movement projects. These vital transportation initiatives reduce pollution, increase mobility and improve the lives of all Californians by reducing the amount of time they spend in traffic.

M21: Have you observed a change in how Californians are advocating for transportation in Washington, D.C. in recent years? Is the advocacy becoming more effective?

DF: The single most far-reaching change is the current ban on congressionally directed spending, or earmarks. This ban has eliminated Congress’ ability to direct federal funds to critical projects with demonstrated need.

With limited federal funds, programs such as the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan program (which leverages $10 in loans for every $1 of federal money) become even more important—and more competitive. That’s why groups like Mobility 21 play such an important role in keeping my office and the Department of Transportation aware of the most necessary projects.

One example is Riverside County’s State Route 91. For years I have urged federal funds be awarded to the Riverside County Transportation Commission so this critical and extremely congested highway can be widened. In April, that work paid off when Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood informed me that Riverside had been awarded the final portion of a $444 million loan that will allow construction to begin.

M21: What is the biggest challenge facing transportation systems or policy in California today and how do you propose to resolve the issue?

DF: A major challenge facing transportation policy is limited funding, which in many cases continues to shrink. We must make existing dollars go farther, and that means supporting the most cost-effective programs and making tough choices. I am working to address this in several ways, including the TIFIA loan program and expedited permitting processes.

TIFIA serves as a Transportation Infrastructure Bank in all but name, helping qualified projects advance that otherwise may be delayed or deferred because of their size, complexity or uncertainty over the timing of revenues. Each federal dollar can provide up to $10 in TIFIA credit assistance, which further leverages $30 in transportation infrastructure investment.

Additionally, we made great progress in April when $2 billion for mass transit investment was included in the Senate’s fiscal year 2013 Transportation Appropriations bill. The bill provides funding for seven mass transit projects in California, including two Los Angeles subway projects (the Westside Subway Extension and the Regional Connector Transit Corridor) that are at the heart of a plan to build a comprehensive transit system in America’s second-largest city.

Other projects included in that bill are the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Extension Project, the San Francisco Central Subway Third Street Light Rail, the Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit, the South Sacramento Corridor and the Fresno Area Express Blackstone/Keys Canyon Bus Rapid Transit.

Finally, I have worked to reduce the permitting burden in California by expanding the highly successful program under which NEPA is administered by Caltrans. In the Senate version of the surface transportation authorization bill, an amendment I authored will expand this program to include transit and rail projects.

M21: Based on feedback from your constituents, what would you say is the biggest transportation wish-list item that needs to happen in the state? 

DF: What I hear most from my constituents is the need to address traffic and goods-movement problems in Southern California. That challenge requires three things:

• a serious transit/subway system that matches the greatness of Los Angeles;
• a freight strategy to address rail crossings and truck traffic; and
• local investment in creatively financed roads including congestion pricing, local sales taxes, toll roads and good planning.

California has some of the most congested roadways in America.  According to the 2010 Urban Mobility Report, the average Los Angeles commuter spends 63 hours each year stuck in traffic, costing $1,464 per person. In greater Los Angeles, commuters spend 515 million hours stuck in traffic every year and waste 407 million gallons of fuel—an economic cost totaling $12 billion.

Heavy traffic congestion in many of the state’s urban centers has led to increased pollution, significantly longer travel times and lost productivity. Either we continue to depend on existing roads and airports or we build new and more efficient ways to move people and goods about the state.

Mobility 21 Executive Director Marnie O’Brien Primmer joins the Orange County Business Council’s Washington, D.C. advocacy trip in April to fight for transportation in our nation’s capitol.

Federal Long-Term Transportation Bill Headed to Conference

The clock is ticking for Congress to take action on passing a long-term transportation bill. At the end of April, Congress appointed conferees to reconcile the Senate-passed bill, S. 1813, with the House’s bill, H.R. 4348, which takes the place of the more comprehensive H.R. 7 package that did not receive enough support to make it through the House.

Tough negotiations while the legislation is in conference stand between a long-term transportation bill and the possibility of stop-gap extensions if Congress does not take action by June 30. With the Highway Trust Fund, the main source of transportation infrastructure funding, projected to run out before the end of the year, Congress is under pressure to find new sources of funding in the short and long term.

Passengers board the Metro Expo Light Rail Line for the first time on Saturday, April 28.

Los Angeles Celebrates Opening of New Metro Expo Light Rail Line

Last week, local and state dignitaries and members of the public celebrated the official dedication of the new Metro Expo Light Rail Line in Los Angeles.

Under construction since 2006, the new Metro Expo Line spans 8.6 miles between downtown Los Angeles and Culver City with more construction currently underway to expand the line another 6.6 miles to reach Santa Monica by 2016.

Expo links the Westside with downtown Los Angeles via a joint station serving the Metro Red, Purple and Blue lines at the 7th Street Metro Center Station. Together, these lines crisscross the region making connections with the Eastside, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Norwalk, Hollywood, North Hollywood, Pasadena and the San Fernando Valley.

On Friday, Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa joined state and local elected officials, along with Metro and Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority executives to officially celebrate the dedication of the new line at a special ceremony adjacent to the Expo Park/USC Station near the University of Southern California.

Then on Saturday and Sunday, the public celebrated with free rides on the new line and community events along the alignment. Regular revenue service began Monday, April 30.

About 280,000 vehicles travel each day along the SR-91 in Corona, which is the primary route for commuting, goods movement and tourism between Riverside County and Orange County. Traffic congestion is common not only during peak morning and evening commute hours, but also on weekends.

Relief is Coming to SR-91 Commuters

Almost every driver in Southern California has a nightmare to tell about State Route 91 (SR-91). Yet, thanks to good news in April from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), relief is on the way for beleaguered travelers between Orange County and the Inland Empire.

On April 24, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project would be eligible to receive a $444 million loan from the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA). This loan will clear the way for the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) to construct a $1.3 billion improvement to the SR-91 between Interstate 15 (I-15) and the Orange County line. This innovative project will extend the existing 91 Express Lanes by 11 miles into Riverside County while also reconstructing several interchanges through the City of Corona, including adding a new high-occupancy flyover connector to I-15. The project is funded by voter-approved Measure A sales taxes and toll revenue from the new Express Lanes.

“This is an enormous economic boost and will make it so much easier to travel to and from the entire region,” said RCTC Chairman and Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit.

A recent study by Beacon Economics indicates that the net economic and time savings benefit of the SR-91 Project will exceed $3.2 billion and create as many as 14,000 jobs during the five-year time-span of construction. The overall length of construction will be considerably shortened through the use of design-build contracting, an approach approved specifically for this project via state legislation authored by Assemblyman Jeff Miller (R-Corona) in 2010.

Securing this highly competitive funding from Washington required a bipartisan effort by government, business, and civic leaders across California. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona) and Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) took the lead in championing the SR-91 on Capitol Hill over the last year. Mobility 21 allies such as the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, the Monday Morning Group and Inland Action played a key role in voicing the private sector’s need for a better SR-91 for all of Southern California.

RCTC will now begin the process of selecting one of four pre-qualified design-build firms while the environmental document is finalized this summer. Construction of the expanded freeway is expected to begin in late 2013.

The new bridge replacing the existing Gerald Desmond Bridge will be built with a cable-stayed design. With 200 feet of clearance over the water, the new bridge will be high enough to accommodate the newest generation of the most-efficient cargo ships.

Project to Replace Aging Long Beach Bridge Eligible for Federal Loan

The SR-91 Project in Riverside County wasn’t the only project to receive good news from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The Port of Long Beach is also eligible to apply for a TIFIA loan for the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project.

The Gerald Desmond Bridge is a vital link in the nation’s trade system and a major commuter corridor. But the bridge, built in the 1960s, was not designed to handle today’s traffic volumes and is deteriorating. The bridge currently wears a “diaper” to catch falling debris.

A nearly $1 billion replacement project will ensure the safety of commuters and truck drivers and protect Southern California’s important role as a major trading hub. Construction is expected to last five years and generate, on average, 4,000 jobs per year.

Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member and Anaheim Transportation Network Executive Director Diana Kotler, pictured with scissors, celebrates new Anaheim Resort Transportation service to Buena Park and Santa Ana during a ribbon cutting ceremony with dignitaries.

Anaheim Transportation Network to Serve Buena Park and Santa Ana

The Anaheim Transportation Network recently announced two new routes linking the Anaheim Resort area with other destinations in Orange County. Route 18 will connect Anaheim to Buena Park and Route 19 will link to Santa Ana.

“We are very excited to provide an opportunity for guests who are staying in the Anaheim Resort to explore everything Orange County has to offer,” said Diana Kotler, Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member and Anaheim Transportation Network Executive Director, during a ribbon cutting ceremony. “Each route was very carefully designed to make sure we accommodate the residents of Buena Park and Santa Ana so they can have an opportunity to enhance their transportation options for work and play.”

ART is a fixed-route transportation system for the City of Anaheim and the greater Anaheim Resort area.

Completing the final 16 miles of the 241 Toll Road would complete Orange County’s 67-mile toll road system and would provide a desperately needed alternative to I-5 in South Orange County.

South Orange County Residents Share Support for 241 Toll Road

Every driver has a story. For the majority of drivers in South Orange County, their story includes tales of traffic congestion on the Interstate 5 (I-5) and hope for relief provided by the State Route 241 (SR-241) Tesoro Extension. Watch as five South Orange County residents share their stories in support of the Tesoro Extension. Visit www.relieveTraffic.org to share your story and show your support.

World Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast

Celebrate the kickoff of World Trade Week and join nearly 500 executives and members of the diplomatic corps at the 86th Annual World Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel on Friday, May 4!

Featuring Keynote Speaker:
Amy Liu
Program Senior Fellow, Co-Director and Co-Founder
Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program
Brookings Institution, Washington D.C.

Friday, May 4
Omni Los Angeles Hotel
Register | More Info

26th Annual International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26)

Great minds think electric! Register for the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) to hear from more than 200 speakers on the latest in the electric vehicles industry and visit more than 160 companies on the show floor. Drive current and future electric vehicles in the EVS26 exclusive Ride, Drive & Charge event.

May 6-9
Los Angeles Convention Center
Register | More Info

2012 Alternative Clean Transportation Expo

With soaring gas prices and mobile transportation sources being a major source of air pollution in Southern California, now is the time to plan and invest in an alternatively-fueled future.

The 2012 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo is North America’s largest convergence of alternative fuel industry stakeholders and will showcase the latest in vehicles, fuels, equipment and technologies across a broad range of applications. Mobility 21 is on board as an ACT Expo Event Supporter, which reinforces Southern California’s role as a leader in clean transportation technologies and emission reduction initiatives. Mobility 21 Advisory Board Members the South Coast Air Quality Management District and UPS among others are participating in the event as sponsors, exhibitors or event supporters as well.

For a current listing of speakers and agenda programming, please view the ACT Expo 2012 Agenda. The discussions that take place at ACT Expo 2012 will result in real projects and enduring air quality progress in the months and years ahead. Join Mobility 21 at the ACT Expo for cutting-edge discussions about the economic, environmental and energy-security benefits of alternative fuel use in transportation.

For more information about the ACT Expo, visit www.actexpo.com, call (888) 993-0302 or email info@actexpo.com. Visit the ACT Expo online at www.facebook.com/ACTExpo and on Twitter, @ACTExpo.

May 15-17
Long Beach Convention Center
Register | More Info

TRANSPORTATION EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Friday, May 4
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce: World Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast
more info | register

Friday, May 4
CMAA: Breakfast with Michael Blomquist and Mitch Alderman
more info | register

May 6-9
EVS26: Electric Vehicle Symposium
more info | register

May 14-17
ACEC: 2012 California Annual Conference, The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
more info | register

May 15-17
ACT Expo 2012: The Alternative Clean Transportation Expo
more info | register

Wednesday, May 16
Joint WTS-OC/SD Luncheon: Active Transportation Programs in Sustainability Strategies

May 22-23
California Transit Association: 46th Annual Spring Legislative Conference
more info | register

Wednesday, May 23
WTS-IE: Small Business Luncheon
more info | register

Friday, Sept. 28
Mobility 21 Annual Southern California Transportation Summit

Nov. 11-13
Self-Help Counties Coalition: Focus on the Future Conference
more info

Summit Sponsorships Now Open!

Sponsorships for the 11th annual Southern California Transportation Summit are now open to the general public! This year’s theme, “We’re All in This Together,” promises a diverse group of transportation stakeholders, engaging breakout sessions and high-profile keynote speakers. The Summit will take place on Friday, Sept. 28 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

2012 Summit sponsors will experience:

• Access to public and private sector transportation decision-makers
• Visibility at California’s largest one-day transportation Summit and Expo
• Pre-event publicity to thousands of transportation sector professionals
• Networking with business partners, clients, elected leaders and speakers
• Value for your investment, with highly competitive sponsorship rates

These companies have already signed up to sponsor this year’s Mobility 21 Summit. Don’t let your business be left out! Click here to view the sponsorship packages. E-mail Marnie O’Brien Primmer for more details or call 949.288.6884.

Advertise Online With Mobility 21

Looking for ways to maximize your transportation marketing dollar? Mobility 21 is now offering online ad space at competitive prices. Feature your company on our website homepage, in our monthly e-newsletter or in Southern California’s first transportation advocacy mobile phone app now under development. Contact Kristin Slocum for more information and pricing.

Mobility 21 Offers Rail~Volution
Local Host Sponsorship Opportunities

From Oct. 14-17, join more than 800 transportation practitioners from around the nation who believe strongly in the role of land use and transit to enhance livability at the annual Rail~Volution conference in Los Angeles.

This year, Mobility 21 will be hosting the Welcome Reception on Sunday, Oct. 14 at Los Angeles Union Station. Thank you to Stacy and Witbeck for their Welcome Reception Presenting Sponsorship!

Click here to view additional Rail~Volution Local Host sponsorship packages.

Special offer: Sponsor the Mobility 21 Summit and get 10 percent off a Rail~Volution local sponsorship! Contact Marnie O’Brien Primmer atmprimmer@mobility21.com or 949.288.6884 for more details.

Want to learn more about Rail~Volution? Click here to visit the conference website.

New California Transportation Commission
Chair Addresses Fiscal Challenges

This month, we turn our attention to new California Transportation Commission (CTC) Chair Joseph Tavaglione for an in-depth look at how the the Commission will handle economic challenges and California’s growing transportation needs.

M21: What are some of your goals as Chairman of the California Transportation Commission (CTC) this year?

Joseph Tavaglione: As the new Chair of the CTC, I will continue to work closely with the legislature and the administration to protect existing funding and to identify funding alternatives to address California’s transportation needs. I will also work to enhance and strengthen the state’s successful partnership with our regional transportation agencies and other stakeholders to focus on efficient and effective project delivery.

For nearly 10 years, the CTC has identified that limited transportation funding has been, and will continue to be, the key issue facing transportation in California. We continue to rely on static funding levels even though our ability to fund critical improvements has been eroded by increased vehicle fuel efficiency and fixed rates. Reliable, sustainable and growing transportation revenue sources are critical to California’s economic vitality and global competitive advantage.

The Commission’s collaborative partnership with Caltrans and our regional transportation partners in the delivery of projects is critical to the delivery of transportation improvements. The CTC recognizes that our regional partners are investing heavily in our transportation system, and are working closely with Caltrans to address critical state, regional and local needs. Stronger partnerships will allow us all to leverage available resources to address the most critical needs.

M21: What is the statewide needs assessment and what role will the CTC play in addressing it?

JT: The CTC launched the development of a statewide transportation needs assessment in order to better understand how we can best preserve, maintain and improve the state’s transportation system over the next decade. The goal of the assessment was to identify the multi-modal needs of our transportation system and to identify possible strategies and funding solutions to respond to such needs.

The needs assessment reflects a projection of anticipated federal, state and local revenues estimated at $240 billion (13 percent federal, 22 percent state and 65 percent local). The investment needs for California’s transportation system of pedestrian and bike facilities, transit, passenger/commuter rail, highways, local streets and roads, and access to ports and airports is estimated at $538 billion. The investment needs are composed of the cost of system preservation (rehabilitation and maintenance) — estimated at $341 billion, and system management and expansion — estimated at $197 billion. The shortfall between projected revenues and investment needs is estimated at $296 billion.

In order to address the funding shortfall, the Commission’s attention will now be directed at identifying process and regulatory improvements and possible funding scenarios to present to the Governor of California, the California Legislature and the California Congressional Delegation. The Commission will be pulling together our transportation stakeholders to thoroughly vet policy recommendations.

M21: With the economic challenges throughout the state and nation, what lies ahead for the CTC in the coming months?

JT: Notwithstanding the state’s economic challenges over the last few years, the Commission has been pretty busy with programming and funding transportation projects. However, this is a pivotal year for the delivery of some of the larger Proposition 1B programs. The Commission is on target for the delivery of the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) and State Route 99 programs. All remaining projects in these two programs are planned to be under construction by Dec. 31, 2012. The Commission expects to make close to $2 billion in allocations through June 2012 for Proposition 1B programs. These allocations should provide for badly needed economic stimulus and the creation of thousands of jobs.

The current economic downturn has provided one tangible benefit for transportation projects, that is, lower construction costs. Across the board, we have been able to utilize contract award savings to fund additional projects that would otherwise be shelved. In the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account of the Proposition 1B, as an example, the Commission expects to recycle almost $900 million in CMIA savings through the end of June 2012 and potentially another $300 million through the program’s December 2012 deadline. These savings (almost 25 percent of the original program) have and will result in additional performance improvements and at the same time create more jobs.

We have accomplished wonderful things, but we have a huge need ahead of us.  The end of the Proposition 1B programs should leave all of us wondering as to what lays ahead. The development of the statewide needs assessment is one tool we can use to build consensus around the state’s priorities. However, we do need to collectively keep focused on identifying strategies and funding solutions that allow us to plan for a better future.

M21: How do the state’s fiscal challenges impact Southern California?

JT: As I look back over the last few years as a member of the CTC, I am proud to say that we have accomplished amazing things with the collaborative efforts of Caltrans and our regional transportation partners. However, we need to continue to work together to address the many issues facing transportation in 2012 and beyond. We need to establish stable, sustainable and growing transportation funding alternatives that will enable California to meet its mobility, economic and environmental objectives, and provide Californians with the transportation network they expect and deserve.

Southern California, as other regions around the state, is in the midst of developing a forward-looking regional transportation plan. As this plan identifies regional transportation needs it will also be required to prioritize those needs within fiscal constraints. Southern California has a proven record of successfully working together and with state and federal agencies to identify innovative project delivery and financing options. The CTC will continue to work with all regions to look for innovative approaches to facilitate the successful implementation of those regional and state priorities.

Mobility 21 to Co-Host
CTC Orange County Reception

Join Mobility 21, WTS-OC, the Orange County Business Council’s OC Moves and the Orange County Transportation Authority at the April California Transportation Commission (CTC) reception.

It’s not too late to sponsor this event, which promises to be filled with the movers and shakers of the transportation industry. For $500, your company will be featured on pre-event marketing, event signage and during a brief presentation at the reception. Contact Marnie O’Brien Primmer if you are interested.

5:30 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 25
Irvine City Hall Lobby
Sponsor | Register

Lucy Dunn Reappointed
to California Transportation Commission

Yesterday, Governor Jerry Brown reappointed Mobility 21 Board Member and Orange County Business Council President & CEO Lucy Dunn to the California Transportation Commission. During her time as a commissioner, Dunn has been an important voice representing the transportation needs of Southern California. Join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved reappointment!

Congress Passes Short-Term
Transportation Bill Extension

Earlier this month Mobility 21 issued an action alert asking you to send a letter to your member in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a transportation bill before the current bill expires March 31.

Earlier this week, the House and the Senate agreed and passed a 90-day extension of the federal surface transportation program. The extension bill is “clean,” meaning it does not include any policy or funding changes from current law. It extends the highway and transit programs through June 30, 2012. This is the ninth extension of the program since the current transportation bill expired on Sept. 30, 2009. The President is expected to sign the extension legislation in time to avoid a March 31 shutdown of the program.

“I want to thank transportation advocates for answering Mobility 21’s call to action,” said Anne Mayer, Mobility 21 Vice Chair and Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director. “More than 75 Mobility 21 members from across Southern California sent a letter to Congress with the same message: get it done.”

This letter-writing campaign, together with those spearheaded by groups like the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Southern California Contractors Association, is critical to our continued fight to bring transportation investment to Southern California.

2011 Mobility 21 Chair Will Kempton, CEO of the Orange County Transportation Authority, welcomes the audience to the 10th Annual Southern California Transportation Summit.

Mobility 21 Named Organization of the Year

Each year, the California Transportation Foundation (CTF) awards outstanding transportation projects, people, programs and organizations. This year, Mobility 21 will receive the “Organization of the Year” award.

“I’m proud of what Mobility 21 accomplished last year. We moved the needle on several legislative elements now being considered in Congress, including the America Fast Forward and Breaking Down Barriers initiatives to accelerate projects and get our economy moving.” said Gary Toebben, Mobility 21 Chair and Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO. “In Sacramento, Mobility 21 advocacy helped ensure the passage of the gas tax swap to protect 63,000 jobs and prevent the loss of $2.5 billion in funding for transportation.”

CTF will present Mobility 21 with the “Organization of the Year” award for our coalition’s work in 2011 at the 23rd Annual Transportation Awards Luncheon on May 23 in Sacramento. Click here to register.

SCAG to Consider Adoption
of Final RTP at General Assembly

On March 21, the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) Policy Committees convened a joint meeting on the Draft 2012-2035 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) / Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS). The Policy Committees overwhelming recommended to the Regional Council the adoption of the Proposed Final 2012 – 2035 RTP/SCS.

The plan presents housing and transportation options that encourage creation and revitalization of communities that are bike and pedestrian friendly, affordable and sustainable. This will result in people spending less time in their cars and thereby reducing traffic congestion and pollution and benefiting from a healthier environment.

“This is the first time in our agency’s history when land use, transportation and housing planning all were included in the plan,” said Hasan Ikhrata, SCAG Executive Director and Mobility 21 Board Member. “Not only does the plan meet state and federal requirements for transportation and air quality, but it also identifies current and future funding options that address the challenges facing our region over the next couple of decades.”

With the action, the Regional Council will consider adoption on April 4 at this year’s General Assembly at the Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. To view the complete plan, summary of benefits, economic analysis fact sheet and other information, visit SCAG’s website.

April 4–5
Bonaventure Hotel
Downtown Los Angeles
Onsite registration available

Mobility 21 Welcomes
New SANBAG Executive Director

The Board of Directors of the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) recently named Dr. Raymond W. Wolfe as the new Executive Director of the agency. Dr. Wolfe has been the District 8 Director of Caltrans, which encompasses Riverside and San Bernardino counties. He will succeed Interim Executive Director Ty Schuiling, who has been serving in that capacity since Deborah Barmack retired as SANBAG Executive Director in August 2011.

“Dr. Wolfe’s experience with Caltrans and the SANBAG Board has given him the foundation upon which to begin this important endeavor at SANBAG,” stated SANBAG President Larry McCallon, who is also the Mayor of Highland. “He has broad knowledge and expertise in transportation, is familiar with regional and local issues and has worked effectively with local partners.”

Once Dr. Wolfe assumes his new position on April 9, he will join the Mobility 21 Board of Directors.

Archaeologists work to uncover a water-wheel grist mill built in the 1820s.

Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority
Unearths Historic Los Angeles Artifacts

Archaeologists have found thousands of historic artifacts while excavating in the railroad right-of-way near the San Gabriel Mission, founded in 1771. The excavation is part of the ongoing preparatory work prior to the construction of the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority’s (ACE) San Gabriel Trench grade separation project, set to begin later this year.

The newly found cultural resources uncovered during the archaeological excavation adjacent to Main Street between Mission Road and Ramona Street in the City of San Gabriel include remnants of a ”mill race” or water-course channel that powered a water-wheel grist mill built in the 1820s, the foundation of an adobe building dating from the early 1800s, an 1816 silver coin depicting King Ferdinand VII of Spain minted in Lima, Peru, Native American shell and European glass beads and thousands of other artifacts from California’s Mission period and later.

“The archaeological finds are an exciting link to the region’s past and shed insight on the important history of the San Gabriel Mission, the City of San Gabriel and the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribe,” said ACE Board Chairman and San Gabriel Mayor David Gutierrez.

The 2.2-mile San Gabriel Trench grade separation project will result in the lowering of a 1.4-mile section of Union Pacific railroad track in a trench through the City of San Gabriel with bridges constructed at Ramona Street, Mission Road, Del Mar Avenue and San Gabriel Boulevard, allowing vehicles and pedestrians to pass over the tracks. Once completed, the grade separation project will eliminate congestion, emissions from idling vehicles, train warning horn and bell noise, delays for emergency responders and the potential for crossing collisions.

Association for Commuter Transportation Conference

“The New Frontier” represents the many changes on the horizon in the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) industry. This year’s Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) Southern California Regional Conference will bring together TDM’s brightest stars to help navigate the latest technologies and theories.

April 2-3
Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Register | More Info

2012 Alternative Clean Transportation Expo

The 2012 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo is North America’s largest convergence of stakeholders committed to air quality improvement by reducing emissions from mobile sources, representing an array of clean vehicle technologies for various applications. This event will showcase all alternative fuel types including electric, hybrid, hydrogen, natural gas, propane and renewable fuels. Over the course of three days, the ACT Expo agenda will feature keynote speakers, plenary and breakout sessions, networking events, technical tours and a ride-and-drive event to walk attendees through the economic, energy and environmental benefits of alternative fuel use.

The discussions that take place at ACT Expo 2012 will result in sustainable alternative fuel projects and enduring clean transportation initiatives in the months and years ahead.

May 15-17
Long Beach Convention Center
Register | More Info

TRANSPORTATION EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

April 2-3
Association for Commuter Transportation Southern California: Regional Conference
more info | register

April 4-5
SCAG: General Assembly
more info

Thursday, April 12
BDA-OC: League of California Cities Luncheon
more info | register

Thursday, April 19
CMAA: Los Angeles World Airports
more info | register

Thursday, April 19
WTS-SD: The Legislative Lay of the Land, Sea & Air
more info | register

Wednesday, April 25
OCTA, Mobility 21, OC Moves, WTS-OC: Orange County CTC Reception
more info | register

Thursday, April 26
WTS-LA: LADOT GM Jaime de la Vega on Moving Los Angeles Forward
more info | register

Friday, May 4
CMAA: Breakfast with Michael Blomquist and Mitch Alderman
more info | register

May 14-17
ACEC: 2012 California Annual Conference, The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
more info | register

May 15-17
ACT Expo 2012: The Alternative Clean Transportation Expo
more info | register

May 22-23
California Transit Association: 46th Annual Spring Legislative Conference
more info | register

Friday, Sept. 28
Mobility 21 Annual Southern California Transportation Summit

Nov. 11-13
Self-Help Counties Coalition: Focus on the Future Conference
more info

Mobility 21 Fights for Transportation, Jobs
in Washington, D.C.

Members of Mobility 21, Southern California’s transportation advocacy coalition, met with key legislators and policy makers this week amidst intense federal transportation bill negotiations during an advocacy trip to Washington, D.C.

Transportation executives and business leaders called on members of Congress to pass the urgently-needed transportation bill and stay focused on what matters — job creation for millions of American workers.

“There’s no question that we need a robust federal transportation bill,” said Gary Toebben, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO and Mobility 21 Chairman. “What we’re asking for is a multi-year bill to give transportation planners more certainty in funding future transportation projects, and that means job creation here at home. With the extension of the current bill expiring on March 31st, we can’t afford to put this off any longer.”

Trip participants were armed with suggestions to stretch tax dollars further, cut red tape that holds up job-creating projects and maintain global competitiveness through investment in freight movement infrastructure.

“We’re not looking for a handout from the federal government. But we do need more flexibility to better use the money we raise locally through sales tax measures,” said Art Leahy, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO and Mobility 21 Board Member. “With financing tools in America Fast Forward that make it easier to borrow money coupled with faster regulatory processes, we can deliver transportation projects years ahead of schedule and create jobs much sooner.”

Mobility 21 members met with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Bob Filner (D-Calif.) and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and other members of Congress integral in the passage of the transportation legislation.

“Nearly 40 percent of the nation’s goods enter the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. These goods travel on freeways and railroads through the Inland Empire and out to the rest of the nation, creating 3.4 million jobs nationally and $29.9 billion in tax revenue,” said Anne Mayer, Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director and Mobility 21 Vice Chair. “We’re looking to Congress to invest in the national freight infrastructure assets here in Southern California.”

View Mobility 21’s legislative visit meeting materials on top priorities for 2012, transportation bill recommendations, innovative federal financing tools, the need to protect funding for transportation, recommendations toimprove federal processes that delay transportation projects and the importance of goods movement.

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is responsible for implementing the Administration’s priorities for transportation, including safety, creating jobs and sustainability. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Feature Interview:
Secretary Ray LaHood Tackles Funding Issues,
Alternative Technologies and High-Speed Rail

M21: With the stimulus program winding down and nothing in sight in terms of a gas tax increase or other alternative revenue sources for transportation, how are we going to avoid draining the Highway Trust Fund and bringing the federal transportation program to a halt?

RL: At this make-or-break moment for the middle class, the President has proposed a six-year transportation jobs plan that puts people back to the much-needed work of rebuilding our infrastructure. He has boldly proposed that we take the money that we’re saving from winding down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the other half on a six-year transportation plan that lets American workers do some nation-building right here at home.

M21: Study after study has documented the need for a greater investment in transportation infrastructure. Why can’t the President and Congress make any progress on addressing the issue so that we can adequately maintain and improve the country’s transportation system?

RL: The good news is that transportation has been in the news a lot lately and both the House and Senate are debating long-stalled legislation. President Obama and I are supporters of the Senate’s bipartisan approach, and we’re pleased with the progress in the Senate. Also, the President has proposed a six-year transportation jobs plan, part of his blueprint for an America Built to Last, that would create jobs investing in our infrastructure, spur innovation across our transportation systems and maintain our laser-focus on safety, our number one priority. The President’s plan would be paid for by winding down our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Obama is doing all he can to get transportation projects moving, including calling on agencies to slash red tape to speed the delivery to save money and get workers on job sites more quickly.

I am hopeful that as more and more Americans become aware of what is at stake we will start seeing progress on this front.

M21: Do you think that a VMT tax will eventually replace the traditional gas tax?

RL: As the President has noted, too many families today find themselves taking on more and more debt just to keep up.  For this reason, the President has made it clear that he does not support increases to the gas tax or a VMT tax.   President Obama has proposed a better way to pay for needed increases in transportation funding, especially as the economy recovers, by using the money we are saving by winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

M21: What role do you think electric vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles will play in increasing overall auto fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

RL: The Department of Transportation believes that electric vehicles show great promise as a safe, fuel-efficient and energy-independent option for American drivers. As manufacturers continue to develop and improve the technology in this area, we expect increasingly efficient vehicles that not only save consumers money at the pump, but also help protect the air we breathe and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The promise of this technology is one reason USDOT and the Environmental Protection Agency included incentives for developing these vehicles as part of the latest proposed fuel economy and greenhouse gas reduction program for MY2017-2025.

M21: California’s high-speed rail project is mired in controversy – in part because it is dependent on federal funds for a portion of its overall funding and the required long-term commitment of federal funds is not in place. How can a major project like this proceed without its funding sources being on a firmer foundation?

RL: High-speed rail is absolutely essential to California’s economic future.  Earlier this month, I traveled to Fresno, Sacramento and Los Angeles where I met with elected officials and manufacturers who were excited about the potential for high-speed rail.  They were exited not only because high-speed rail is a game changer for U.S. transportation, but because of the great things it means for American jobs and American manufacturing.

The President’s budget request provides $2.5 billion for the first year of a six-year, $47 billion rail investment plan.  This will help the Federal Railroad Administration continue to work with states as they plan and develop high-speed and intercity passenger rail corridors across the country.  It will also place high-speed rail on equal footing with other transportation programs, revitalize domestic rail manufacturing, and ensure that the nation can reach President Obama’s goal of providing 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years.

California’s highways are among the most congested in the nation, costing residents and businesses in Los Angeles and San Francisco alone nearly $13.5 billion a year.  Delayed flights at six of California’s major airports have an economic cost of more than $1 billion a year.  With the state’s population set to grow another 60 percent by 2050, we simply can’t build enough freeways and runways to accommodate all of those new commuters and travelers.   Even if there was enough space to add sufficient additional lanes to highways and runways, the estimated costs for that approach run more than $170 billion, almost double the highest estimates for high-speed rail.

We can’t afford not to invest in California high-speed rail.

Move LA Hosts Transit Conversation

Move LA, a coalition dedicated to the advancement of public transportation in Los Angeles County and championing strategies to accelerate its implementation, hosted its 4th Annual Transportation Conference. Nearly 300 transportation professionals convened at the old ticket room at LA Union Station to hear an update on Los Angeles’ 30-10 Plan, potential funding sources and transit-oriented developments.

Art Leahy, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO and Mobility 21 Board Member, addressed why the 30-10 Plan, now known nationally as America Fast Forward, must be accomplished. “This is essential — this is indeed a bold endeavor of great importance,” said Leahy during his presentation. “Our goal is create a quarter of a million jobs sooner, not over a 30-year period, but in a ten-year period.”

Move LA created the coalition which led to the formulation and passage of Measure R on the November 2008 ballot. The result: voter approval for a half-cent sales tax increase that will provide an estimated $40 billion in funding for transportation projects in Los Angeles County over the next 30 years. Approximately 70 percent of these funds will be used for clean public transit projects and programs.

Sen. Feinstein Reaffirms Commitment to
Goods Movement in Riverside County

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) joined members of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce this month to provide an update on federal issues impacting Southern California. Feinstein focused much of her discussion on ways she and other members of Congress are providing assistance to homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage, as well as her work as Chair for the Senate Committee on Intelligence.

But when asked if she supports funding for goods movement and national corridors of significance, especially in the upcoming transportation bill, Feinstein emphatically answered, “yes.”

“I have supported goods movement and I’ve used this county, and particularly this city, as an example. We have these trains going out of Long Beach and Los Angeles harbor, coming into the heartland of America. The trains are going through Riverside with no separate rail, having to stop and creating all kinds of problems. This is a particularly vexing issue, because it’s long-term and it’s going to need some below-grade movement. It’s going to need a great deal of effort to get this job done and substantial funds. I have been a supporter from the beginning and I intend to continue that support.”

Mobility 21 applauds Feinstein’s commitment to goods movement investment.

IE511 App Offers
Commuter Breakthrough

Every day, Southern Californians waste 1.8 million vehicle hours stuck in traffic. If you ask most people about their commute, it’s the worst part of their day.

Now a new free app for IE511, the online traffic service for Inland Empire commuters, delivers a quality on-the-go solution for re-routing their commutes around congestion. The app is available in both the iTunes Store and Android Market.

“We see this as an excellent return on taxpayer investment,” commented Riverside County Transportation Commission Chairman John J. Benoit, a Riverside County Supervisor and former CHP Commander. “This new free app is not only a great service, it helps the people we serve save time and money. They can get to work on time, get home sooner and save money on gas.”

The app features real-time traffic information, incident and sig alert information, cameras and advisories posted on changeable message signs.

Mayor Villaraigosa Urges Congress
to Approve Funding in President’s Budget

Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa welcomed the inclusion of $50 million in President Obama’s proposed FY13 Budget for the Westside Subway Extension and $31 million for the Regional Connector Project, calling the actions a vote of confidence for two priority, regionally significant transit projects that will bring improved mobility, jobs and economic development to the Los Angeles region.

The proposed funding within the President’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget — if approved by Congress later this year — can be combined with L.A. County’s voter-approved Measure R sales tax revenue and could jumpstart construction of both projects in 2013. Funding for the subway would go toward extending the Metro Purple Line to Westwood, and the Regional Connector would link several rail lines together in Downtown L.A.

“President Obama’s proposed budget makes it more likely than ever that shovels could soon break ground on these transit improvements that will greatly expand connectivity throughout the L.A. region,” said Villaraigosa. “The President has come through for Los Angeles County. Now it’s Congress’ turn: the House and Senate should pass the New Starts transit funding in the President’s budget so we can put people back to work.”

READ MORE

SCAG General Assembly
to Focus on Sustainability

Be sure to attend the 2012 Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Conference and General Assembly, April 4–5, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. This year’s theme, “Towards a Sustainable Future in Southern California,” promises to be as exciting and interesting as ever. Join elected officials and transportation, environmental, economic, business and community leaders from throughout the region as they address issues vital to Southern California’s future. Visit SCAG’s website for registration, sponsorship and other information.

Mobility 21 to Co-Host
CTC Orange County Reception

Don’t miss your next opportunity to mix and mingle with members of the California Transportation Commission and top transportation executives at the reception co-hosted by Mobility 21, the Orange County Transportation Authority, OC Moves, and WTS Orange County.

5:30 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 25
Irvine City Hall Lobby
Sponsor | Event Flyer

$500 sponsorship includes:
Logo on all pre-event marketing materials
Logo on event signage
Company name recognition during the event

California Maritime Leadership Symposium
Draws Port Professionals to Annual Conference

Over the past 12 years, the California Maritime Leadership Symposium (CMLS) has become one of the premier events focused on briefing Sacramento’s policymakers on key matters related to the entire maritime transportation system. It is the only comprehensive forum for port executives, commissioners and other stakeholders across the state to seek resolution to the growing challenges the maritime transportation system faces.

The CMLS is hosted by a broad-based coalition of the maritime industry. Each year, the coalition develops an exciting agenda and roster of high-profile speakers to address the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the maritime transportation system in California. Speakers include elected officials, California agency heads, port executives, industry executives, union leaders, leading economists and innovative technology developers. As a result of a strong agenda, the CMLS has been able to garner the attendance of a “who’s who” of the maritime transportation system in California and the nation.

This year’s 12th Annual symposium highlighted the extraordinary maritime service of by California State Senator Alan Lowenthal and Richard D. Steinke, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach. Lowenthal was honored as the 2012 Symposium Honoree of Merit and Steinke was selected to receive the 2nd Annual Gary L. Gregory Lifetime Achievement Award.

TRANSPORTATION EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Friday, March 2
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Complete Streets Initiative: Complete Streets for California 2012
more info

March 5-7
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce:
Access Washington, D.C. Advocacy Trip
more info | register

Friday, March 9
Southern California Transportation & Logistics Summit
more info | register

Tuesday, March 13
Washington, D.C. California Transportation Reception
register

Wednesday, March 21
WTS-OC: Monthly Luncheon Featuring Metro and Caltrans Update
more info | register

Wednesday, March 21
ACEC: Public-Private Partnerships Luncheon
more info | register

Wednesday, March 28
WTS-IE: SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project Update
more info | register

Thursday, March 29
CMAA: LACMTA Regional Connector Transit Connector
more info | register

April 4-5
SCAG: General Assembly
more info | register

Thursday, April 19
CMAA: Los Angeles World Airports
more info | register

Wednesday, April 25
OCTA, Mobility 21, OC Moves, WTS-OC: Orange County CTC Reception
***corrected date***
more info | sponsor

Friday, May 4
CMAA: Breakfast with Michael Blomquist and Mitch Alderman
more info | register

May 14-17
ACEC: 2012 California Annual Conference, The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

May 22-23
California Transit Association: 46th Annual Spring Legislative Conference
more info | register

Friday, Sept. 28
Mobility 21 Annual Southern California Transportation Summit

Nov. 11-13
Self-Help Counties Coalition: Focus on the Future Conference
more info

IRVINE, Calif. – Members of Mobility 21, Southern California’s transportation advocacy coalition, will be meeting with key legislators and policy makers this week amidst intense federal transportation bill negotiations during an advocacy trip to Washington, D.C.

Transportation executives and business leaders will call on members of Congress to pass the urgently-needed transportation bill and stay focused on what matters — job creation for millions of American workers.

“There’s no question that we need a robust federal transportation bill,” said Gary Toebben, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO and Mobility 21 Chairman. “What we’re asking for is a multi-year bill to give transportation planners more certainty in funding future transportation projects, and that means job creation here at home. With the extension of the current bill expiring on March 31st, we can’t afford to put this off any longer.”

Trip participants will be armed with suggestions to stretch tax dollars further, cut red tape that holds up job-creating projects and maintain global competitiveness through investment in freight movement infrastructure.

“We’re not looking for a handout from the federal government. But we do need more flexibility to better use the money we raise locally through sales tax measures,” said Art Leahy, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO and Mobility 21 Board Member. “With financing tools in America Fast Forward that make it easier to borrow money coupled with faster regulatory processes, we can deliver transportation projects years ahead of schedule and create jobs much sooner.”

Mobility 21 members will meet with Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Bob Filner (D-Calif.), Laura Richardson (D-Calif.), Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), Bill Shuster (R-PA), Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and other members of Congress integral in the passage of the transportation legislation.

“Nearly 40 percent of the nation’s goods enter the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. These goods travel on freeways and railroads through the Inland Empire and out to the rest of the nation, creating 3.4 million jobs nationally and $29.9 billion in tax revenue,” said Anne Mayer, Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director and Mobility 21 Vice Chair. “We’re looking to Congress to invest in the national freight infrastructure assets here in Southern California.”

View Mobility 21’s legislative visit meeting materials on top priorities for 2012, transportation bill recommendations, innovative federal financing tools, the need to protect funding for transportation, recommendations to improve federal processes that delay transportation projects and the importance of goods movement.

###

California Transportation Commission Receptions
5:30 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22
Academy Ballroom 2, Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel
Register | Sponsor | Event Flyer
Co-Hosts: Metro, FAST

5:30 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 24
Orange County, location TBD
Co-Hosts: OCTA, OCMoves and WTS-OC

The who’s who of transportation throughout California will gather to honor members of the California Transportation Commission. Join directors and executives from local transportation authorities at two upcoming receptions. Get your business noticed by key clients and teaming partners by sponsoring one or both receptions.

Sponsorships are available for $500 for either reception. Sign up to sponsor both receptions and we’ll give you a $50 discount!
Sponsorships include: Logo on all pre-event marketing materials and dedicated event web registration page, logo on event signage at event, sponsors will be listed in a future e-news article about events and acknowledged from the podium during the reception.

Mobility 21 Summit Sponsorship
Friday, Sept. 28

Join us for the largest one-day transportation conference in the state. It’s the only place where you can mix and mingle with every transportation CEO in Southern California, policy makers, leading academicians and nationally-known transportation experts. It’s the best investment for your transportation marketing dollar. Sponsorships are now open to last year’s sponsors and will be available to the general public in March.

Rail~Volution Welcome Reception Sponsorship
Sunday, Oct. 14

Join more than 800 transportation practitioners from around the nation who are passionate about creating livable communities at Mobility 21’s reception during the annual Rail~Volution conference. Click here to view the sponsorship packages.

Interested? Contact Marnie O’Brien Primmer atmprimmer@mobility21.com or 949.288.6884 for more details.

Federal Transportation Bill

Heating Up on the Hill

Federal legislation to replace the existing expired transportation bill is moving quickly as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up its $260 billion transportation bill last week. The House bill, called the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, funds transportation over the next five years, consolidates existing programs, provides greater flexibility to transportation planners and cuts federal red tape blocking projects from breaking ground.

The Senate Banking Committee’s two-year transit funding bill was also approved last week for incorporation in the Senate bill. Late last year, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously approved Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, a two-year, $109 billion surface transportation bill.

Mobility 21 is carefully reviewing the newly-released bill and its fiscal impacts on regions like Southern California. As expected, the House and Senate have significantly different views on structuring our nation’s transportation programs, and how the programs should be funded. Each bill contains provisions of the Breaking Down Barriers and America Fast Forward initiatives, both bills expand the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan program and both bills give freight movement its rightful place in a national surface transportation bill — legislative reforms Mobility 21 has been pushing for the past 18 months.

However, the bills differ in how prominently freight features, where funding should come from, and how quickly a freight program should be implemented. There will also be real battles over more controversial aspects of the legislation including the duration of the bill, transit and active transportation provisions (or lack thereof), positive train control, and program consolidation.

“There’s no question that we need a robust federal transportation bill,” said Gary Toebben, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO and Mobility 21 Chair. “A long-term bill gives transportation planners more certainty in funding future transportation projects, and that means job creation here at home. With the extension of the current bill expiring on March 31st, we can’t afford to put this off any longer.”

Now that both bills have been released, the next steps will be to identify funding for the final form of the bill, and to unify both pieces of legislation into one bill that can be passed by both houses and signed by the president. No easy task in these partisan times.

Mobility 21 leaders will be meeting with legislators, committee staff and Department of Transportation officials during the annual Board of Directors Washington, D.C. trip in late February. March 31 is looming large, and legislators have a heavy lift to get this bill passed before the current extension of the transportation bill expires.

“With the presidential race heating up, it’s urgent that Congress act now,” said John Barna, AECOM Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member. “If we wait, we face losing momentum until next year, which will delay important projects and the resulting job creation we sorely need.”

Mobility 21 urges our representatives not to let partisanship hijack the urgently-needed transportation bill, and to stay focused on what matters: job creation for thousands of American workers. Mobility 21 is carefully reviewing the newly-released bill and its fiscal impacts on regions like Southern California. Watch for Action Alerts from Mobility 21 in the coming days as we focus our advocacy on making sure that Congress understands what’s at stake for our country if they fail to pass a transportation bill that keeps goods and people moving.

Assemblymember Lowenthal Leading

Charge for California’s Transportation Future

M21: What’s going to happen this year in transportation? What’s on tap for the Assembly Transportation Committee in the coming months?

BL: High-speed rail is a top priority. We really are at a pivotal point. Federal money starts to melt away if we haven’t used it by 2017. That may sound like a long way off, but it’s not.

Naturally, I still have questions about the 2012 Draft Business Plan published by the High-Speed Rail Authority. I know the Governor and his advisors are working hard on the program. I hope with a bit more nudging, the Authority can deliver a plan that is cost-effective, stays true to the wishes of the voters, minimizes financial risk to the state, encourages private investment sooner than later, and provides immediate relief to our ever-increasing transportation demands.

Beyond high-speed rail, we have got to figure out how we’re going to provide adequate, reliable funding for transportation. We need to seriously address how we maintain and protect our existing infrastructure. It is degrading at an alarming rate. There are several ideas floating around about how we might approach this. I am anxious to learn more about these and would encourage folks to come share their solutions with me.

M21: What will be your Committee’s role with high-speed rail this year? What are your views on the project, the new business plan and the peer review committee’s recommendations?

BL: As I said, I am a fan of high-speed rail. I want it built. I want to buy a ticket. But my desire to climb aboard is tempered by my determination to proceed in a judicious manner so we can deliver a rail line worthy of the name California.

There are legitimate criticisms about the High-Speed Rail Authority’s current approach. So I am hopeful that the word “draft” in Draft Business Plan means we will see significant improvements to the final product.

The decision about funding for the project rests first with the legislative budget committees and not my committee, the Assembly Transportation Committee. Naturally, however, my colleagues and I work closely together on this and other issues and we will no doubt be a part of that decision-making process. Beyond that, of course, there will be ample opportunity to guide, direct, and oversee policies affecting the project for years to come. These discussions will generally be within the purview of my committee.

M21: As California’s economy looks to rebound, what policies are you preparing to address this year that can increase the number of jobs created by transportation projects?

BL: We must find ways to move projects forward and put people to work. I will be meeting with industry representatives, state and regional transportation officials, and other stakeholders about what we need to do to pry open the floodgates and allow these projects to move forward.

I am particularly interested in looking at the broadest array of financing options available for our infrastructure.  We have made some strides in this regard but I think we need to intensify our efforts.

M21: Having chaired the Assembly Transportation Committee for almost two years now, what are the top three things you want Californians to know about their state’s transportation system?

BL: First, I sincerely believe we have immense, as yet untapped potential in our transportation resources.

We have high-caliber people in the transportation industry—from transportation officials, contractors, engineers, planners, manufacturers and operators. What I mean is, we do have the brain power to make a lot of progress.

Second, I believe transportation is one of the single-most important services government can provide to its citizens.

Imagine a California without roads, highways or bridges. It’s absurd. Maintaining and improving our system is a challenge that absolutely must be met. One of the reasons I love being the chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee is because I believe the work we do has a direct and often profound impact on our quality of life and, consequently, it is very rewarding work.

Third, it belongs to the people.

It’s your system. You pay for it, you rely on it, you demand changes and improvements, and you have every right to. Don’t let anybody kid you. This gigantic transportation system belongs lock, stock and barrel to the people of California.

M21: How can we best move forward on critical goods movement improvements that will maintain and create good jobs – like the 710 truck lanes – with limited financial resources and challenging environmental and community approval processes?

BL: This is a tough challenge but I think the answer is really quite simple:  we need to design and present solutions that make sense and, ultimately, will win the day based on the merits of the solution. Take for example our self-help counties. Even some of California’s most tax-adverse counties have successfully passed sales tax measures for transportation. In fact, 85 percent of Californians live in counties with sales tax measures for transportation. Why have self-help counties been so successful at a time when the anti-tax sentiment generally is so high? I believe the answer is because the sales tax measures include expenditure plans.

People have demonstrated over and over their willingness to be taxed when they know specifically what they are being taxed for and can weigh the cost of that tax against the burden of not having the transportation improvement. Resoundingly, voters have supported the sales tax. Similarly, we need to build good cases supporting the solutions we present and we need to give folks the opportunity to decide whether the cost of the solution is worth it.

M21: The approval of local transportation sales tax measures in California shows that people will support higher taxes for transportation if they are assured that they will benefit in the form of better roads and transit in their area. How can this model be used going forward? Can this be achieved at the state level?

BL: This is something I’ve been mulling about for some time. Again, I think the key to implementing this model on the statewide level is in the expenditure plan. I’m not yet sure how to implement such a plan at the state level but I think that this is ultimately where we need to head. And, of course, once we set forth such a plan, we have to be accountable to the voters to deliver it.

M21: A lot of discussion lately has focused on how we will pay for the transportation system moving forward. What are your thoughts on this? Who should pay and how much?

BL: I think there a couple of possible answers to this question. First, as I mentioned earlier, transportation is one the most important services government can provide.  There is a sort of baseline benefit that we all derive from have a working transportation system—such as, delivery of goods, access to services, and personal mobility.  Consequently, we should all contribute to the basic provision of transportation at some level.

Beyond this basic level of service, perhaps we should begin to think of transportation as a commodity and market it accordingly. A good example of this is high-occupancy toll roads (HOT). Not everybody uses HOT lanes all the time; however, there are times when getting somewhere more quickly is more than worth the cost of tolls.

And we’re going to have to think of a replacement for the gas tax. As more vehicles travel farther and farther on less and less gas, we’re going to need a steadier source of revenue. That’s why last year I urged federal transportation officials to take a look at taxing miles traveled rather than fuel purchased. It’s in the early stages. It needs study.

Of course, this represents a huge paradigm shift and implementing it might scare a lot of people. Nonetheless, I think it would behoove us to begin thinking of our systems as such and setting our revenue structures accordingly.

Planning for First Segment

of 241 Toll Road Extension Underway

With approval from the Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) Board of Directors in late 2011 to extend the SR-241 toll road in segments, TCA staff continued analysis to determine the terminus location of the first four-mile extension. The first segment will extend to an interim terminus at Cow Camp Road, a major east-west arterial roadway planned in the San Juan Capistrano area. When the adjacent local transportation system is complete in the unincorporated area north of Ortega Highway and east of Antonio Parkway, a permanent SR-241 interchange will be built at future G Street.

The engineering, environmental, traffic and financial analysis is scheduled to be complete in October 2012 and construction could begin shortly thereafter. One of the design features included in the $200 million 4.8-mile project is the construction of three wildlife crossings to protect wildlife movement through the area.

The governor’s proposed budget for FY 2012-13 forecasts a $9.2 billion shortfall, a sharp drop from the $27 billion deficit the legislature faced last year. Going forward, the budget forecasts a structural shortfall of $5 billion, down from $20 billion a year ago.
Photo Credit: Associated Press

Governor Brown’s Budget Proposes

Consolidated Transportation Agency

Released earlier this year, Governor Jerry Brown’s FY 2012-13 budget proposes several changes to the structure of transportation planning at the state level, provides funding continuity during late budgets and continues the Proposition 1B program.

One measure proposed by the governor is the transfer of non-transportation departments in the Business, Transportation & Housing Agency to other existing agencies, while creating a Transportation Agency. The new agency would include Caltrans, DMV, CHP, the Board of Pilot Commissioners and the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

Read an overview of the proposed budget’s transportation provisions from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission here: http://bit.ly/xr4ciE

Senator Boxer Touts Transportation

Investment in Inland Empire

Sen. Barbara Boxer paid a visit to Riverside’s Magnolia Avenue Grade Separation Project during a press conference to call on Congress to pass a long-term transportation bill to create jobs and get the economy moving.

“This is an example of what America should be doing now,” said Boxer. “Jobs, jobs, jobs are our No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 priorities. Goods movement — If you can’t move goods, the economy loses money. The Magnolia Avenue Grade Separation Project to me symbolizes exactly the right thing to be doing these days.”

Boxer urged Congress to focus on projects like the Magnolia underpass to help keep freight moving quickly without adding delays to commuters. Once complete, the Magnolia Avenue Grade Separation Project will separate train traffic from the roadway and increase safety, reduce congestion and create more than 500 local jobs.

California Transportation Foundation

Conference Draws Hundreds to Sacramento

Over two hundred transportation leaders and industry professionals gathered in Sacramento last week for the annual California Transportation Foundation (CTF) conference.

“CTF is dedicated to informing, motivating and inspiring Californians to support transportation,” said Will Kempton, OCTA CEO, Mobility 21 Board Member and CTF Chair. “We need your help to build a transportation system that will carry this state and nation into the 21st century.”

Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, addressed high-speed rail and her enthusiasm to get the project going on the right track. “To the high-speed rail critics — thank you. Thank you for forcing us to bring our ‘A’ game to this project. A project of this magnitude deserves no less.”

Mobility 21 Board Members Anne Mayer and Lucy Dunn also gave presentations at the conference. Mayer, Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director, shared her insights on public-private partnerships from the local agency perspective. While not every project is a good candidate for this project delivery method, Mayer expressed the importance of protecting public-private partnerships as a viable option to building transportation projects. Dunn, Orange County Business Council’s President and CEO, discussed the Southern California Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Dunn explained the need for an RTP and Sustainable Communities Strategy to keep up with California’s growing population.

Metrolink’s New Website

Makes Trip Planning Easier

Metrolink recently launched its newly designed website, which features a fresh new look and feel and a host of new features. The site’s homepage now welcomes visitors with a clean, uncluttered design that is focused on the Metrolink riders’ needs with easier access to improved travel planning tools. In redesigning the website, the focus was to create a site easy to use for a new rider unfamiliar with the Metrolink system.

The new train schedule page offers schedule information by line, by station, station to station and downloadable timetables in pdf format. The new “My Metrolink” section allows visitors to create a personal account to customize their experiences, subscribe to e-newsletters, set preferences for favorite station pairs and track lost items.

ASCE Unveils California’s

Infrastructure Report Card

Mark your calendars for the release of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2012 Infrastructure Report Card.

9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29
State Capitol Building, Sacramento
More info

Transportation Events in the Community

Thursday, Feb. 2
CMAA: Owners’ Night
more info | register

Thursday, Feb. 9
Orange County Business Council Annual Dinner: Nothing Rhymes with Orange
more info | register

Thursday, Feb. 9
WTS-OC: Annual Diversity Event – Power & Progress of Diversity in Transportation
more info | register

Feb. 9-10
2012 California Chip Seal Association Pavement Preservation Workshop/Conference
more info

Wednesday, Feb. 15
ACEC: Los Angeles World Airports – Capital Program Updates
more info | register

Thursday, Feb. 16
CMAA: Design Management for the Design-Build Environment
more info | register

Wednesday, Feb. 22
WTS-LA: From the Boardroom: Insights from LAWA, Metro and POLA Board Members
more info | register

Wednesday, Feb. 22
Mobility 21 & FAST: Los Angeles CTC Reception

Friday, Feb. 24
Move LA: LA on the Verge of a Transit Breakthrough
more info | register

Friday, March 2
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Complete Streets Initiative: Complete Streets for California 2012
more info

March 5-7
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce:
Access Washington, D.C. Advocacy Trip
more info | register

Thursday, March 15
Washington, D.C. California Transportation Reception
register

Wednesday, March 28
WTS-IE: SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project Update
more info | register

Tuesday, April 24
OCTA, Mobility 21, OC Moves, WTS-OC: Orange County CTC Reception

May 14-17
ACEC: 2012 California Annual Conference, The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

Chairman Mica’s New Direction
for Federal Transportation Policy

As we anxiously await the release of the House Transportation & Infrastructure’s version of the surface transportation reauthorization, Chairman John Mica took the time to answer a few questions about his vision to reduce red tape and get people and goods moving in Southern California.

M 21: How will your transportation bill benefit Southern California, which has significant urban congestion and goods movement challenges?

CM: Most importantly, this proposal will provide long-term stability for states to plan major infrastructure improvements. When federal transportation programs are funded for short periods of time, such as a few months or even one to two years, states are unable to rely on a steady source of funds for long periods of time. This makes it nearly impossible to plan and undertake large transportation projects that both provide much-needed infrastructure improvements as well as long-term construction jobs. A five-year bill will provide this essential stability that allows states like California to move forward with significant projects to address growing congestion and freight mobility.

This proposal will also benefit heavily congested areas like Southern California by reducing the federal bureaucracy and red tape involved in moving a project forward, and providing more flexibility to states to determine their most critical infrastructure needs. By reducing the costly bureaucracy and trimming the amount of money it takes to operate over 100 federal surface transportation programs, more of the gas taxes Californians pay at the pump will be returned to the state to be dedicated to infrastructure improvements. And by streamlining the project approval process, projects to reduce congestion can proceed in an expedited fashion.

M 21: So much news from D.C. is about partisan gridlock. What are some of the areas of strongest bipartisan and bicameral agreement on transportation policy in Washington, D.C.?

CM: Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate share many of the same goals for this legislation. Reducing the amount of red tape required to approve transportation projects, consolidating and eliminating many of the duplicative and unnecessary transportation programs and increasing the use of programs – such as the TIFIA (the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) program – that allow federal resources to be more effectively leveraged with private sector and other resources are areas in which members of both parties have found common ground.

M 21: Describe some specific ways your transportation legislation will reduce costly delays to transportation projects?

CM: According to the Federal Highway Administration, highway projects can take up to 15 years to complete. While state and local governments deal with the seemingly endless review process, transportation capacity and safety improvements stall, construction costs escalate and job creation remains on hold.

Project reviews are necessary to help protect the environment, but a more reasonable process is essential to using our resources more effectively. It can be done. For example, when a design flaw caused the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minnesota in 2007, the replacement was contracted to be completed in just 437 days and was completed significantly ahead of schedule using innovative contracting methods and a streamlined environmental review process.

The House proposal will streamline and condense the project review process by cutting bureaucratic red tape, allowing federal agencies to review transportation projects concurrently, setting hard deadlines for federal agencies to approve projects and delegating more decision making authority to states.

We can ensure environmental protections remain in place but by cutting the project review process time in half, we can limit project cost escalations caused by delays and invest our infrastructure resources in a much more effective manner.

M 21: What can Southern California residents do to have their voice heard on your transportation bill?

CM: By contacting Members of Congress and the Senate and urging the completion of action on a long-term transportation bill that streamlines federal programs, cuts red tape and effectively utilizes our federal resources, residents of Southern California can help ensure this critical legislation to reduce congestion, improve our transportation systems and create jobs moves forward.

Mobility 21’s Top 11 in 2011

This year, Mobility 21 continued to grow and expand its network to help bring investment to Southern California’s transportation system. With your help, we influenced important legislation and celebrated several milestone moments:

1. Mobility 21 advocacy helped ensure the legislature ratified the passage of California’s gas tax swap and the governor’s truck weight fee proposal. This prevented the loss of $2.5 billion in funding for critical state, regional and local transportation projects, and gave $1 billion in relief to the general fund while helping to create or save 63,000 jobs.
2. Mobility 21 pushed hard to save California’s fall bond sale to protect thousands of good-paying jobs and save millions of taxpayer dollars.
3. Mobility 21 worked to educate elected leaders on the importance of investing in Southern California’s goods movement projects as a means to secure our nation’s prosperous future.
4. Mobility 21 fought for transportation funding during the State budget negotiations.
5. Mobility 21 supported confirmation of key Southern California transportation leaders Fran Inman and Yvonne Burke to the California Transportation Commission.
6. Mobility 21’s Annual Transportation Summit drew a record turnout with over 1,000 transportation leaders and professionals at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live on Sept. 6.
7. Mobility 21 advocacy resulted in several key policy points being included in Senator Barbara Boxer’s two-year surface transportation bill, MAP-21. Namely, elements of America Fast Forward, Breaking Down Barriers and a new national freight policy found their way into the bill.
8. Mobility 21 strongly supported Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee John Mica’s announcement that he will seek additional Highway Trust Fund revenue sufficient to maintain current funding levels for our nation’s highway and transit programs.
9. Mobility 21 advocated effectively for federal TIGER III grants, resulting in $37 million for the SR-91 in Riverside County and rail enhancements at the Port of Long Beach.
10. Mobility 21 supported Sen. Lautenberg’s successful substitute for S. 1950 (Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2011) and Sen. Cantwell’s Amendment 1 to that substitute to include planning and resources for freight movement in the next surface transportation bill.
11. Mobility 21 has actively pushed for the expansion of the TIFIA program which has been touted by the chairs of both House and Senate committees as an effective tool for leveraging scarce federal dollars.

We’re All in This Together:
Mobility 21 Summit Call for Speakers

The 11th Southern California Transportation Summit will be held on Friday, Sept. 28 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. As planning for the annual event kicks off in early 2012, those interested in joining the lineup of speakers are invited to e-mail discussion topics and white papers to Kristin Slocum, communications manager.

“We don’t want to preach to the choir at our next Summit,” said Mobility 21 Executive Director Marnie O’Brien Primmer. “It’s time to expand transportation’s reach because we’re all in this together — transit providers, regional planners, environmental groups, water conservationists, law enforcement, the health care industry, educators, labor leaders, businesses and housing developers depend on a strong infrastructure system.”

Sponsorship opportunities for the 2012 Summit will be released to last year’s sponsors in January and will open to new sponsors in March.

Mobility 21 Touts $37 Million
Federal Funding Award for So Cal Transportation

Two transportation improvement projects received a boost from the federal government with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) recent funding award to the State Route 91 (SR-91) improvement project in Riverside County and the Port of Long Beach’s rail realignment project.

Through the third round of the federal grant program known as the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER III, federal officials awarded $510 million for grants across the nation.

A scarcity of funding for transportation, particularly at the federal level, made the TIGER grant program highly competitive this year. Of the 848 applications DOT officials reviewed, only 46 received grants. While counties across the nation have opted to tax themselves to help pay for transportation improvements, local dollars do not always fully cover the cost to pay for major construction projects.

According to the Southern California Association of Governments’ draft Regional Transportation Plan, the transportation funding breakdown in our region looks like this: 11 percent comes from the federal government, 15 percent is state-funded and 74 percent of the money for Southern California’s transportation projects is raised locally through sales tax measures.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) was awarded a $20 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) subsidy payment through the TIGER III grant program for the SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project. The $1.3 billion project, which focuses on reducing congestion on one of the most heavily traveled freeways in Southern California, plays a pivotal role in the region’s goods movement network. The project will extend the 91 Express Lanes from the Orange County border into Riverside County and add a lane in each direction.

“While Southern California is not just waiting on Washington to fund critical transportation projects, the grant award for the 91 freeway is a huge step forward in helping to improve one of the nation’s most congested freeways,” said Will Kempton, Mobility 21 Chair and Orange County Transportation Authority CEO. “Southern California’s construction industry has suffered tremendous unemployment over the past few years. Transportation projects have a positive track record for creating good-paying jobs.”

The Port of Long Beach received a $17 million grant for its Major Rail Realignment at Ocean Boulevard Project. As part of the larger San Pedro Bay Ports Rail Enhancement Program with the Ports of Los Angeles and the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, this project will create 340 full-time jobs, enhance both our region’s and nation’s long-term economic competitiveness and increase the safety, environmental sustainability and livability of the region.

“With the highly competitive nature of the TIGER grant program, we appreciate the federal government’s commitment to keeping Southern California moving,” said Anne Mayer, Mobility 21 Treasurer and Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director. “Fixing the 91 freeway and relieving chokepoints at the ports will help get goods to market faster, create thousands of much-needed jobs and boost our economy.”

Mobility 21 continues to push for funding for other regionally significant projects. A list of Southern California’s TIGER III applications can be found on the Mobility 21 website: http://bit.ly/uqN39Z

Need a Last-Minute Gift Idea?
Help a.ker.fa Change Lives One Bike at a Time

At Mobility 21’s 2010 Summit at the Disneyland Hotel, lunchtime presenters Dustin McBride and Vaughn Spethmann inspired conference attendees with their passion for helping others. Their organization,a.ker.fa, nurtures the Zambian-led company, Zambikes, which provides affordable and dependable transportation resources to the developing world.

It’s not too late to make a tax-deductible donation to a.ker.fa:

Individual Donations 
$25: Equivalent of putting on a mechanic training
$50: Equivalent to monthly wage in Zambia
$200: Equivalent of one bicycle

Corporate Donations 
$800: Equivalent of one bicycle, a bicycle ambulance, canopy, tool kit, spare parts and training on delivery
$8,000: Equivalent of ten bicycle ambulances, bikes, tool kits, trainings and transportation to save lives

Click here to donate!

M 21 Advocates for National Freight Policy

Last week, Mobility 21 urged members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to approve Sen. Lautenberg’s substitute for S. 1950 (Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2011) and Sen. Cantwell’s Amendment 1 to that substitute. These pieces of legislation, which could ultimately be merged with the two-year transportation bill passed by the Senate, are essential to provide the planning and resources necessary to improve and maintain our nation’s freight network. Under the substitution, a National Freight Infrastructure Grants program would be established. The program would be funded by new revenues and structured as a merit-based, competitive grant program, designed to focus funds where they will provide the most public benefit.

The committee voted to approve Sen. Lautenberg’s substitute for S. 1950 and Sen. Cantwell’s amendment, supporting a systemwide approach to the infrastructure that carries our goods and providing long-term economic stability to the country.

Protest Reminder of Ports’ Importance

Earlier this month, Mobility 21 issued a warning to the organizers of the “West Coast Port Shutdown,” an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement, that an interruption at the ports could do more harm than good — hurting the workers they were trying to help.

On the morning of Monday, Dec. 12, a group of 200-300 demonstrators marched from the Queen Mary to the south gate of the Port of Long Beach’s Pacific Container Terminal, which is operated by SSA Marine and COSCO. As they rallied at the back gate between 5:30 and 9:30 a.m., trucks entering the port were diverted to the north gate.

Fortunately, the Port of Long Beach reported little interruption, but it’s threats like this to the heart of our region’s economy that remind us of the significance of goods movement. If the magnitude of the protest had been expanded, a day-long shutdown at the ports could be devastating to workers and businesses who rely on efficient transportation of goods at the ports.

Before the demonstration, we reached out to the ports to learn what the impacts could be:

• The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which is the largest workforce within the ports, did not officially supported the group and may have had to work overtime to make up for lost time, costing the terminals more money.
• Truck drivers, who are paid by the load, would probably be the most negatively impacted. There are approximately 5,000 truck drivers a day working at the ports and depending on how many loads they miss, thousands of dollars in wages could be lost.
• More than $325 billion worth of goods come through the ports, supporting about 800,000 jobs in California. A shutdown at the ports for a day would have a ripple effect on the millions of jobs it supports nationwide.
• If importers sense significant labor unrest on the West Coast, it is more likely that the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will lose business to the East Coast.

But it’s not just about the jobs here in Southern California. Our region’s ports move nearly 50 percent of the nation’s imported cargo, which impacts 3.4 million jobs nationwide. At a time when our local and national economies continue to struggle, our workers can’t afford a shutdown at the ports.

Here’s what you can do to make sure the federal government invests in our economic future at the ports:

• Find your U.S. Representative on the right side of our website. Urge your legislator to pass a robust, long-term transportation bill that addresses the importance of goods movement investment. For more message points, see our brochure on goods movement and our fact sheet on why a federal investment in transportation is so important.
• Join us by signing up to receive Mobility 21 e-mails at the top right of our webpage. We’ll let you know when we need you to urgently send an email or make a phone call to your representative.

Anaheim Resort Transit to Host Public Hearing

The public is invited to join the Anaheim Transportation Network Board of Directors at a hearing to consider service expansion and new fare media for the Anaheim Resort Transit system.

Proposed routes include:
Route 18 – Service between the Anaheim Resort District and the City of Buena Park

Route 19 – Service between the Anaheim Resort District and the City of Santa Ana

3 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25
Anaheim Convention Center Mezzanine Conference Room
800 West Katella Avenue
Anahiem, Calif.

National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) Annual Meeting

Jan. 21-25
Palm Desert
More info

Mark your calendar for NAPA’s 57th Annual Meeting in Palm Desert, Calif. Power-packed plenary sessions, cutting-edge educational workshops and networking opportunities will combine for a dynamic event.

California Maritime Leadership Symposium

Feb. 1-2
Sacramento Convention Center
More info

Over the past 12 years, the California Maritime Leadership Symposium has become one of the premier events focused on briefing Sacramento’s policymakers on key matters related to the entire Maritime Transportation System. It is the only comprehensive forum for port executives, commissioners and other stakeholders across the state to seek resolution to the growing challenges the Maritime Transportation System faces.

2012 California Chip Seal Association Pavement Preservation Workshop/Conference

Feb. 9-10
Sacramento
More info

This workshop will encompass many new and information-packed sessions and round table discussions. An afternoon will be dedicated to breakout sessions with hands-on demonstrations of materials testing, test equipment, test result analysis and correct sampling procedures for materials (liquids/aggregates) used everyday in the treatments that professionals depend and rely on to keep roads in good shape.

Complete Streets for California 2012

Friday, March 2
Kyoto Grand Hotel, Los Angeles
More info

The second annual UCLA Complete Streets conference will look back at past accomplishments and will concretely analyze the most recent evolution of complete streets through research and examples of implementation. Streets play a critical role in creating a more vibrant, productive and sustainable California. However, despite the benefits of complete streets, challenges still remain as many of the roles of streets are often competing. This gathering of interdisciplinary professionals, faculty and students will discuss safety, multi-modality and a holistic approach to streets.

TRANSPORTATION EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Wednesday, Jan. 11
WTS-LA: Introducing the New Executive Director for the Port of Long Beach
more info | register

Wednesday, Jan. 18
WTS-OC: 2012 OCTA Look Ahead featuring Will Kempton, CEO
more info | register

Thursday, Jan. 19
WTS-IE: Scholarship & Awards Dinner
more info

Jan. 21-25
National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA): Annual Meeting
more info

Tuesday, Jan. 24
California Transportation Foundation: Transportation Forum
more info | register

Wednesday, Jan. 25
Anaheim Transportation Network: Public Hearing
more info

Feb. 1-2
California Maritime Leadership Symposium
more info

Thursday, Feb. 9
WTS-OC: Annual Diversity Event – Power & Progress of Diversity in Transportation
more info | register

Feb. 9-10
2012 California Chip Seal Association Pavement Preservation Workshop/Conference
more info

Friday, March 2
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Complete Streets Initiative: Complete Streets for California 2012
more info

• The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which is the largest workforce within the ports, has not officially supported the group and may have to work overtime to make up for lost time, costing the terminals more money.

• Truck drivers, who are paid by the load, would probably be the most negatively impacted. There are approximately 5,000 truck drivers a day working at the ports and depending on how many loads they miss, thousands of dollars in wages could be lost.

• More than $325 billion worth of goods come through the ports, supporting about 800,000 jobs in California. A shutdown at the ports for a day would have a ripple effect on the millions of jobs it supports nationwide.

• If importers sense significant labor unrest on the West Coast, it is more likely that the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will lose business to the East Coast.

• Find your U.S. Representative on the right side of our website. Urge your legislator to pass a robust, long-term transportation bill that addresses the importance of goods movement investment. For more message points, see our brochure on goods movement and our fact sheet on why a federal investment in transportation is so important.
• Join us by signing up to receive Mobility 21 e-mails at the top right of our webpage. We’ll let you know when we need you to urgently send an email or make a phone call to your representative.

Construction on the Rice Avenue / US-101 Interchange will improve access to the Port of Hueneme in Ventura County.

Talking Transportation With Ventura County’s Darren Kettle

In this month’s interview with a top transportation leader, Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) Executive Director and Mobility 21 Board Member Darren Kettle shares the latest transportation news in Ventura County, his insights on local funding and what’s next for the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor.

M 21: What’s new in Ventura County? What are some of the transportation projects under construction or in the pipeline?

DK: The 101 corridor is “Main Street” Ventura County and that is where our action is for the next several years. Currently under construction are two major local freeway interchange projects, one at Rice Avenue and the 101 in the City of Oxnard and a second, known as Springville, in the City of Camarillo. The Rice Avenue/101 interchange is partially funded from Proposition 1B Trade Corridor funds as Rice Avenue is part of the Port of Hueneme Freight Movement corridor. Construction will be starting soon on the Wendy Avenue/101 interchange in the City of Thousand Oaks. Another major project that will be starting construction in early 2012 is widening of the 101 along the coast between Ventura and Santa Barbara. Currently the 101 narrows to two lanes at the north end of Ventura County and this project will add a lane in each direction for about seven miles. Construction will last about three years and is fully funded from Proposition 1B Corridor Mobility funds.

Lastly, working cooperatively with Caltrans and the City of Thousand Oaks, VCTC used federal stimulus dollars to fund the design for the expansion of the 101/23 freeway-to-freeway interchange in the City of Thousand Oaks. The city is managing the project and has retained CH2M Hill to do the design, while Caltrans is ensuring that the design meets their standards and requirements. The bad news … design will be complete by mid-2012, but due to limited funding, it is not slated for construction until 2015/16 at the earliest.

M 21: Why is it important to have adequate local funding to implement transportation programs?

DK: Well, therein lies part of Ventura County’s greatest transportation system challenge … we do not have a local funding stream. With the exception of the Springville project mentioned above, which is funded primarily from developer fees, all the other projects are funded from federal and state revenues. While over the next couple of years construction will be happening along the 101 corridor, the shelf of new projects is bare.

Nearly two years ago, VCTC launched its first countywide comprehensive transportation planning effort that involved substantial public and stakeholder involvement. The plan looks at the transportation system as a whole and recognizes the importance of freeways and highways, local streets, bus and rail transit, bicyclists and walkers, freight movement and commerce and environmental mitigation. The financial element of the plan identifies an overall funding gap of nearly $3 billion over the next 30 years with the greatest gaps in funding being in the local road program and the major freeway corridor program. Not having a local revenue stream to support local roads and leverage federal and state funds for major freeway projects means our roads will fall into disrepair and congestion will worsen on the US-101 and SR-118 freeway corridors. Not to be left out, while bus and rail transit should continue to receive a steady flow of funding, expansion of Metrolink or express bus service is unlikely without a local transportation revenue source.

M 21: What’s next for the LOSSAN Corridor and how will it impact riders? What are the opportunities and challenges of improving rail service in Southern California?

DK: Ventura County is served by both Metrolink and the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, which serve the LOSSAN corridor from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. As mentioned above, due to limited revenues, Metrolink service in Ventura County is pretty limited and has seen no expansion in the last decade. Commuters from Ventura County are able to use the Rail2Rail program, which allows riders to board a Surfliner train with a Metrolink ticket, a great convenience for Ventura County rail users. Both Surfliner and Metrolink run on what is known as the Coast Mainline, owned by the Union Pacific Railroad north of the City of Moorpark. The challenge to improving service north of Moorpark is primarily financial as much of the Coast Mainline is single track (and very old track at that) and to expand service it will be necessary to double-track stretches of the Coast Mainline and purchase new rolling stock. The counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo do not have the population of the counties on the southern segment of the LOSSAN corridor, but the needs are no less important. Southern Californians are beginning to look toward alternatives to driving and the Surfliner can serve as a viable alternative to driving a car along the bumper-to-bumper traffic on the 101 Freeway (by the way, the scenery from the observation car is nothing short of amazing).

M 21: How does the Ventura County business community play a role in transportation?

DK: The Ventura County business community is one of our greatest advocates for continued investment in the transportation system as it is that system that moves commerce, tourism, employees, and with construction, creates jobs. Over the last several years, VCTC’s business partner in the Mobility 21 coalition has been our local chambers of commerce led first by retired Camarillo Chamber President Tom Kelly, and now Oxnard Chamber President Nancy Lindholm. At the countywide level, the Ventura County Economic Development Association led by Bill Buratto and the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County and their Executive Director Bruce Stenslie have been true transportation champions.

SCAG Nears Completion on Regional Transportation Plan

As the Metropolitan Planning Organization for six counties in our region, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is responsible for developing a long-range transportation plan. The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) provides a vision for transportation investments and uses growth forecasts and economic trends to identify regional transportation strategies. In early December, SCAG will release the draft RTP, setting the 20-year outlook for transportation projects in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

With the enactment of Senate Bill 375 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light duty trucks, SCAG is developing a Sustainable Communities Strategy to integrate transportation and environmental planning. Under the RTP, $450 million in road, transit, pedestrian and biking projects have been identified — yet there is a budget shortfall of at least $125 million over the course of the plan. The strategy also identifies alternative funding mechanisms, including an increase in the state and federal gas taxes, a vehicle miles traveled tax, freight fees, tolling and congestion pricing.

You’ll have the opportunity to comment on the draft RTP when it is released in December before its final adoption in April 2012.

San Diego Adopts Transportation Plan With 40-Year Outlook

Excerpt from SANDAG’s rEgion E-newsletter

After two years of careful work and extensive public input, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board of Directors adopted the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), a balanced vision for the evolution of the San Diego region’s transportation system over the next 40 years.

While SANDAG has been updating regional transportation plans for many years, the 2050 RTP is unique in that it covers an unprecedented 40 years and includes a new SCS, now required by state law. The San Diego region was the first in the state to comply with this new law, drawing a great deal of attention locally, statewide and nationally. The 2050 RTP lays out a plan for investing an estimated $214 billion in local, state and federal transportation funds. The largest proportion of the funds will go toward transit, which will receive 36 percent of the funds in the first 10 years, with 34 percent going to highway improvements (largely for the addition of high occupancy vehicle lanes to existing freeway corridors to support transit services, carpools and vanpools) and 21 percent to local roads and streets. The percentage dedicated to transit will grow each decade, up to 44 percent from 2021 to 2030, 47 percent in the third decade and 57 percent the last decade of the plan. The RTP stimulates $4.4 billion annually in projected regional economic output, creates 35,600 jobs per year in the San Diego region and calls for equitable distribution of investments throughout the region.

Remembering Larry Zarian

Mobility 21 sends our condolences to the family of former Glendale City Councilmember Larry Zarian, who passed away in October, and remembers the many contributions he made to transportation. Zarian — a businessman, public servant, community leader, radio talk show host and a local cable TV talk show producer — was deeply committed to improving transportation on both local and national levels. The 73-year-old also served as a board member for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and as a California Transportation Commissioner. Zarian was instrumental in the expansion of the Glendale Beeline from a two-bus shuttle on Brand Boulevard to a multi-line system that now includes the communities of La Crescenta and Montrose. He also spearheaded a campaign to revive the Glendale train station as a full-fledged transportation center, including interface between rail and bus services. Zarian was a recipient of the 2010 Mobility 21 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Chris Lytle announced as Port of Long Beach Executive Director

Last month, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners voted to name Chris Lytle as the Port of Long Beach’s new Executive Director.

“Chris’ extensive public and private experience make him the ideal leader for our Port,” said Harbor Commission President Susan E. Wise. “On the private side, he’s operated shipping terminals around the world, and fully understands the unique issues facing public ports in California. He has a great rapport with our customers, and while he understands the industry, he’s also very open to new ideas and innovations.”

Lytle, a Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member, will succeed Dick Steinke’s 14-year leadership as Executive Director.

Port of Long Beach Hosts Greenhouse Gas Grant Workshops

Nonprofit organizations and government agencies are encouraged to apply for the Port of Long Beach’s $5 million grant program to fund local projects aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible projects include renewable power, energy efficiency, clean transportation, tree-planting and others.

Applicants may seek funding for more than one project, for a total grant request of up to $1 million. Join the Port of Long Beach at an upcoming workshop to learn more about the grant opportunity:

Thursday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m., Long Beach Neighborhood Resource Center
425 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, 90802

Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m., Long Beach City Council Chambers
333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 90802 (Motorists enter parking structure on south side of Broadway between Chestnut and Cedar avenues)

Grant applications and guidelines for the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Grant Program and more information are available atwww.polb.com/greenhousegrants. Or contact the Port at grants@polb.com or 1-888-789-GRANT (1-888-789-4726).

Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez shares the history of Colton Crossing at a groundbreaking ceremony. Once complete, the grade separation of Colton Crossing will help improve safety, air quality and the efficient movement of goods to other parts of the country.

Construction Begins on Historic Colton Crossing

Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez joined state and local officials to help break ground on the $208 million Colton Crossing Rail-to-Rail Grade Separation Project. The construction of an overpass bridge in the City of Colton at this historic crossing will allow trains traveling on the Union Pacific Railroad to pass over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks. The two lines have intersected each other for more than a century, causing delays for more than 135 freight trains daily.

“SANBAG was involved throughout the environmental and design alternative process on this historic project,” stated SANBAG Interim Executive Director and Mobility 21 Board Member Ty Schuiling. “We and our partners on the project worked closely with the community to develop and select an alternative that addresses their concerns. The construction phase has now begun under the leadership of the Union Pacific Railroad.”

During the press conference, Mendez touted the job creation power of infrastructure projects. “It is helping put people in Southern California back to work, stimulating the local economy and boosting the region’s competitiveness by ending a major shipping bottleneck.”

Notable speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included U.S. Congressman Joe Baca, California Department of Transportation Acting Director Malcolm Dougherty, California State Senators Bob Dutton and Gloria Negrete-McLeod, California State Assemblymember Wilmer Amina Carter, County of San Bernardino Supervisor Josie Gonzales, California Transportation Commissioner Joe Tavaglione, SANBAG President Larry McCallon, Colton Mayor Sarah Zamora and Riverside County Transportation Commissioner Bob Botts.

Metro Begins Testing Light-Rail on Exposition Line

Train testing continues for Phase I of Los Angeles Metro’s 8.6-mile Exposition Line, as finishing touches are applied. When completed, the $932 million light-rail line will have 12 stations serving USC, Exposition Park, the Mid-City communities, the Crenshaw District and Culver City.

Pre-revenue service — when trains run on a simulated schedule but without passengers — will begin soon. Metro will select an opening date for the public once all systems and trains are thoroughly tested.

The Metro website metro.net (go to Transit Safety) is reminding pedestrians and motorists to pay attention to signs around the tracks and at intersections, in particular the “keep clear” and “wait here” signs painted on streets and sidewalks. The public also is being cautioned to watch for flashing “train” signals, listen for bells and obey all traffic signals and lowered crossing gates.

Phase II of Expo, from Culver City to Santa Monica, is funded by the Measure R half-cent sales tax, approved by voters in 2008. Phase II broke ground this fall.

American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Western Region Meeting

December 5 – 6
The Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel
www.artba.org/regionalmeetings

At ARTBA’s upcoming Western Regional Meeting, the association’s top staff and industry experts from the public and private sectors will provide conference attendees with key federal and regional transportation policy updates, a current market conditions report and 2012 forecast, along with reports about regional or state infrastructure projects. The meeting will also include plenty of time for networking and business development discussions.

California Transportation Foundation Forum

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012
Sheraton Grand in Downtown Sacramento
www.transportationfoundation.org

California’s transportation policy makers will bring attendees up to speed on what to expect in the new year. Learn what the Legislature, Administration, Congress and interest groups have in store, including high-speed rail, federal funding, state budget shortfall impacts to transportation and more.

TRANSPORTATION EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Dec. 5-6
American Road & Transportation Builders Association: Western Region Meeting
more info | register

Tuesday, Dec. 6
WTS Orange County:
Annual Awards Gala
more info | register

Tuesday, Dec. 6
Community Outreach for Public Infrastructure Projects Seminar
more info | register

Wednesday, Dec. 7
BDA/OC:
Holiday Social
more info | register

Thursday, Dec. 8
Association of California Cities Orange County: Holiday Reception
more info | register

Monday, Dec. 12
WTS San Diego:
Annual Holiday Luncheon
register

Thursday, Jan. 19
WTS Inland Empire:
Annual Awards Dinner
more info

Tuesday, Jan. 24
California Transportation Foundation: Transportation Forum
more info | register

Sometimes it’s easy to forget about all of the great transportation innovations and options we currently have in Southern California. While improving transportation is the name of the game for Mobility 21, this is the time of year when we think about what we’re most thankful for.

So, tell us — when it comes to transportation, what are you most thankful for this year? We’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Caltrans on Balancing Challenges and Opportunities:
Interview with Malcolm Dougherty

This month we’re turning our attention to the California Department of Transportation, better known as Caltrans, for a behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on at the state level of transportation.  In the 2010-11 fiscal year, Caltrans planned to deliver 346 projects worth $3.9 billion. Statewide, Caltrans manages more than 50,000 miles of California’s highway and freeway lanes, provides inter-city rail services, permits more than 400 public-use airports and special-use hospital heliports and works with local agencies.

In our interview, Caltrans Acting Director Malcolm Dougherty discusses the recent Statewide Needs Assessment Report and other pressing transportation issues for California.

In case you missed last month’s interview with Senator Barbara Boxer, read her insights on the next federal transportation bill on our website.

M 21: What’s the magnitude of the statewide needs assessment that will soon be presented to the California Transportation Commission?

MD: Caltrans needs a stable source of funding for all transportation infrastructure. The total cost of all system preservation, management, and expansion projects during the ten-year study period, as presented in the draft report to the CTC, is nearly $536.2 billion. The total estimated revenue from all sources during the ten-year study period is estimated to
be $242.4 billion. This represents about 45 percent of the overall estimated costs of projects and programs that were identified in the needs analysis, and leads to a shortfall of about $293.8 billion over the ten-year period.  Investments to preserve transportation systems have not kept pace with the demands on them. A stable source of funding, especially from the federal government, is needed to ensure we keep pace with growing infrastructure needs.

M 21: How do the state’s ongoing fiscal challenges impact Caltrans and what do these budget issues mean to motorists?

MD: The economic downturn has led to decreased fuel consumption, which has lowered transportation revenues. Over the years, travel on the state highway system has increased, while the “value for money” has decreased as inflation has caused higher project costs. On the other hand, the economic downturn has made the construction market highly competitive, resulting in significant construction savings over the last three years, which has served to counterbalance some of the loss of buying power experienced over the last decade.

In the absence of new revenue sources, maintaining the transportation system will continue to be a challenge. The increase in vehicle miles traveled, coupled with the age of the system, is causing a faster rate of pavement and bridge deterioration along with increased hours of traffic congestion.

Despite these challenges Caltrans strives to maintain the state highway system with the highest priority given to those projects that ensure the safety of the traveling public. The Department has leveraged federal funding in an effort to stretch our transportation dollars further and provide a world-class transportation system.

M 21: How many highway projects are currently underway in California and where does the funding for those projects come from? What are some major projects Southern Californians would be familiar with?

MD: As of November 1, 2011, Caltrans has 715 projects valued at almost $10.3 billion in construction throughout the state.

The major funding sources for transportation include state, local, and federal funds as well as state bond funds. Locally controlled resources represent more than half of the total transportation resources in the state. The passage of the Proposition 1B transportation bond by voters in 2006 invested a total of $19.9 billion in funding for current and future road, bridge, and transit projects.

Transportation projects are providing jobs and improving mobility for people and businesses in California.

Some of the projects that most Southern Californians are familiar with:

Interstate 405 Carpool Lane Project

• $1.34 billion project to build a carpool lane on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) from U.S. 101 to Interstate 10 in West Los Angeles.
• Once complete in 2013, there will be 72 miles of continuous carpool lanes from the San Fernando Valley to the Orange County line – the longest carpool lane in the world.

Interstate 710 Long Life Pavement Project

• Caltrans is rehabilitating the Long Beach freeway (I-710) from Firestone Boulevard to Atlantic Boulevard, which will extend the service life of the pavement by several decades while providing a smoother ride for the traveling public.
• The $65 million project is scheduled for completion by spring 2012.

Interstate 5 Carpool Lane Project

• Caltrans is constructing a carpool lane in each direction on Interstate 5 between the Hollywood Freeway (SR-170) and SR-118, a distance of 6.8 miles.
• The project includes a direct carpool lane connector that allows for freeway-to-freeway transfers without exiting the carpool lane.
• The $140 million project will alleviate congestion, encourage carpooling, improve air quality, and provide a smoother ride for motorists.
• Work began in August 2010 and is on track for completion in late 2013.

M 21: A recent article in the LA Times noted that California is paying interest on $9.1 billion in infrastructure bonds that have been sold, but not yet allocated to projects. What will happen to this money if it is not spent in a timely manner? Will there be a need for additional bond sales on previously approved bonds?

MD: In mid-October, 2011, the State Treasurer’s Office was successful in selling bonds, a portion of which has been allocated to transportation. The new funds, when combined with existing cash balances, will be used to keep projects already in construction moving forward and will also allow Caltrans to recommend additional projects to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for allocation.

The funds will be spent in a timely manner. Just last month, the CTC allocated $695 million in Proposition 1B funds to 41 projects. Caltrans expects that with the current bond sale schedule, funds will be allocated to projects through June 2012, drawing down the balance. Future bond sales will continue to fund existing projects while moving ready to list projects into construction.

M 21: There has been a lot of focus lately on public-private partnerships and alternative project delivery methods. What are your thoughts on the design-build project delivery method as well as having private firms perform more of the project design work to help deliver projects and spur job creation?

MD: Caltrans is invested in innovative project delivery methods that could accelerate projects, potentially save taxpayers money, and introduce new funding or financing options for transportation projects. Alternative delivery methods such as design-build and public-private partnerships (P3) are valuable tools that can be utilized for the right projects. The vast majority of our projects will still be delivered through our traditional processes, but there will also be some projects that will greatly benefit from the use of alternative delivery methods.

In 2009, the Legislature authorized an unlimited number of P3 partnerships. In January 2011, Caltrans signed the Presidio Parkway agreement, the first P3 approved under that legislation. The project will replace the existing southern access to the Golden Gate Bridge with a seismically safe structure.

In addition, Caltrans was also recently granted the authority to use design-build as a method of contracting on 10 projects as a pilot program. This allows us to award a single contract for both a project’s design and construction, saving time and money. Caltrans recently began construction on the $33 million Madera 99 Freeway Rehabilitation Project in Madera County, the first Caltrans project to use design-build. It is estimated that the project will be completed one year sooner by using the design-build method. Other projects, such as the I-405 Carpool Lane, were done by design-build under separate authority in partnership with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

M 21: Since Governor Brown took office, what is your sense of his priorities and vision for transportation in California?

MD: The strategic mission at Caltrans is still to deliver quality transportation projects that create jobs, protect California’s resources and assets, and keep people safe.

Mobility 21 Co-Hosts Delegation from Shanghai

A delegation from Shanghai, China sat down with members of the Southern California Contractors Association (SCCA) and Mobility 21 to learn about the infrastructure market in our region and future business opportunities. The delegation of six professionals from the Shanghai Urban Construction Design & Research Institute and the Shanghai Construction Group listened to presentations given by Mobility 21‘s Vice Chair Gary Toebben, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Larry Russell, Executive Vice President of SCCA and Jerry Givens, Los Angeles Area Manager of Parsons Brinckerhoff.

The Shanghai delegation asked questions about the design, environmental review and construction process, as well as public-private partnerships. A common theme throughout the presentations was the scarcity of funding for transportation, particularly at the federal level. “There is simply not enough money if you wait for the federal government to fund highway and transit projects,” explained Toebben. “States and local communities have decided to tax themselves to help pay for transportation.”

According to the Southern California Association of Governments’ draft Regional Transportation Plan, the transportation funding breakdown looks like this: 11 percent comes from the federal government, 15 percent is state-funded and an astounding 74 percent of the money for Southern California’s transportation projects is raised locally through sales tax measures.

Building Safer, More Walkable Communities

There are some pretty staggering statistics showing the importance of an active community. For the first time in history, children have a lower life expectancy than their parents. According to the 2009 National Household Travel Survey, 21 percent of all trips made in the Southern California Association of Governments region are done via walking and/or biking. Creating safer, more walkable communities are an essential part of a comprehensive transportation system.

“Mobility 21 supports a multi-modal approach to transportation that includes investment in first and last mile transportation solutions,” said Marnie O’Brien Primmer, Mobility 21 Executive Director. “Creating a transportation network that gives residents safe access to active transportation as well as more transit choices and world-class highways is at the heart of what Mobility 21 is working on for all Southern Californians.”

Last month, Mobility 21 joined the San Diego chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar and the Institute of Transportation Engineers at an educational seminar on active transportation, complete streets and safe routes to school. Speakers from Caltrans, the California Department of Public Health, WalkSanDiego and the San Diego Association of Governments discussed implementation of safe routes to school programs.

While goods movement plays an important role in our economy, it also is a major contributor to air pollution. The South Coast Air Quality Management District regulates air quality in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

AQMD Calls Southern California to Action:
Transportation’s Role in a Greener Tomorrow

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) held its regional conference last month to inspire transportation professionals and other stakeholders to plan a greener, cleaner transportation system of the future.

During the conference, SCAQMD Executive Director Barry Wallerstein discussed the need for cleaner technologies to combat public health and air quality issues. Emissions from cars, trucks, trains, ships and aircrafts contribute to 90 percent of regional air pollution. Much of this comes from goods movement.

“Infrastructure and public policy should be focused on building transportation systems that help goods get to market more efficiently, meet our growing population needs, offer mobility options that work in concert and address our environmental and public health concerns,” said Fran Inman, Sr. Vice President of Majestic Realty. “We can’t build an effective system if we don’t all work together.”

California State Senator Alan Lowenthal highlighted that Southern California shoulders the negative impact of goods movement while providing a service to the rest of the nation, yet there is no federal program to regulate or invest in it. Lowenthal pointed out that any future national surface transportation bill should feature goods movement as the centerpiece.

Other notable conference speakers included:

• Hon. Laura Richardson, Representative, U.S. House of Representatives
• Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles
• Ed Begley Jr., Actor and Environmentalist
• Dr. William Burke, Chairman, SCAQMD
• Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments and Board Member, Mobility 21
• Fran Inman, Sr. Vice President, Majestic Realty
• Mary Nichols, Chairman, California Air Resources Board
• Kathryn Phillips, Director, Sierra Club California

The Transportation Corridor Agency Board of Directors recently took a step toward starting construction on an initial phase of the 241 completion project. Mobility 21 agrees that there is a growing traffic problem between San Diego and Orange counties that needs to be addressed or it could grow to gridlock properties and damage the economies of the area.

241 Toll Road Four Miles Closer to Completion

Last month, the Transportation Corridor Agencies Board of Directors voted to move forward with the first of three segments to connect the 241 Toll Road with the I-5. The agency will develop an engineering plan, complete environmental assessments and develop a financial strategy to build a four-mile segment from the current terminus at Oso Parkway to the vicinity of Ortega Highway.

The connection between the 241 Toll Road and the I-5 has been part of the comprehensive county, state and federal transportation planning effort for 30 years. When completed, the SR-241 will provide a critical alternative to the already congested I-5 and accommodate future growth in the area — all paid for without tax dollars. The $3.9 million analysis of the first four-mile segment is expected to take 12 months.

O.C. Bridges Project Begins in Placentia and Fullerton,
Destined to Enhance Safety and Reduce Traffic Delays

Excerpt from OCTA’s Weekly Update

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and Placentia city officials hosted a kickoff event for the O.C. Bridges program last month in Placentia, marking the start of two major construction projects that will mitigate traffic problems and safety issues along railroad crossings.

OCTA CEO and Mobility 21 Chair Will Kempton along with OCTA Chair Patricia Bates and Board Directors Bill Campbell, Lorri Galloway and Carolyn Cavecche participated in the groundbreaking. Placentia city officials at the event included Mayor Scott Nelson and Councilmember Jeremy Yamaguchi as well as City Administrator Troy L. Butzlaff.

“We must continue to remain competitive as a region, and improving goods movement infrastructure is a vital part of doing so,” Campbell said. “Separating street and rail traffic saves commuters time, money and improves air quality.”

The nearly $600-million grade separation program will separate street traffic from train tracks at seven railroad crossings, eliminating the need for drivers and pedestrians to waste time waiting at rail crossings for trains to pass.

Placentia Avenue, which borders the cities of Fullerton and Placentia, and Kraemer Boulevard, in the cities of Placentia and Anaheim, are the first of the seven projects to begin construction. The additional crossings will begin construction on a staggered basis over the next two years and include Orangethorpe Avenue, Tustin Avenue / Rose Drive, Lakeview Avenue, Raymond Avenue and State College Boulevard.

“Close to 70 Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains use this rail line through Anaheim, Fullerton and Placentia every day, causing delays, restricting emergency response and creating pollution and noise,” Bates said. “These bridges will eliminate the need for commuters and commercial vehicles to stop, wait and waste time at railroad crossings as seemingly endless freight trains pass. These delays are not only frustrating, they also are bad for the economy and our environment.”

Transportation officials anticipate the number of trains along the BNSF rail line will increase more than 45 percent or trains running every 10 minutes by 2030.

Community Outreach for Public Infrastructure Projects Seminar

In this day and age, community outreach is an essential component of a successful infrastructure project. Those tasked with delivering a highway, road, rail or city development project on time and on budget often struggle with developing effective and low-cost methods of communicating with the local community and others heavily impacted by construction.

Speakers will share best-practices and tactics you can immediately implement at your agency that will enhance your relationship with the community during construction and ultimately add value to your project. Additionally, this event will provide an invaluable opportunity for you to network with other communication and public infrastructure professionals.

A driving tour of the West County Connectors Project will be available at the end of the seminar for the first 16 attendees who RSVP.

Date:      Tuesday, Dec. 6
Time:      8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where:   Rush Park Auditorium, 3021 Blume Drive, Rossmor, CA
RSVP:    Christina Byrne

Westside Mobility Plan Public Meetings

The City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation are hosting meetings to provide the communities in the Westside an opportunity to learn more about the Westside Mobility Plan. The meetings will provide follow up to the Westside Mobility and Rail Connectivity Study meetings conducted in June, which looked at potential transportation improvements and programs to enhance system capacity, reduce vehicle trips and miles traveled and improve rail and transit connectivity. The project team is interested in hearing community members’ ideas on improving circulation, parking and ways to get people moving quickly through the Westside.

Monday, Nov. 7, 6 – 8 p.m.
Paseo del Rey Natural Science Magnet, Auditorium
7751 Paseo del Rey, Playa del Rey 90293

Wednesday, November 9, 6 -8 p.m.
Westside Pavilion, Meeting Room B (behind Landmark Theatres)
10800 W. Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles 90064

Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 – 8 p.m.
Henry Medina West LA Parking Enforcement Facility
Second Floor
11241 W. Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles 90064

For more event information, please visit the project website.

TRANSPORTATION EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Wednesday, Nov. 9
WTS Los Angeles:
Annual Scholarship & Awards Dinner
more info

Thursday, Nov. 10
WTS San Diego: Downtown San Diego: Past, Present and Future
more info | register

Nov. 13 – 15
Self-Help Counties Coalition:
Focus on the Future Conference
more info | register

Wednesday, Nov. 16
WTS Orange County: Aviation Updates
From our Local Airports
more info | register

Wednesday, Nov. 30
CMAA Southern California: Transportation Night: Capital Program Updates
more info | register

Wednesday, Nov. 30
WTS Inland Empire:
Bus Rapid Transit Breaks Ground in the IE
more info | register

Tuesday, Dec. 6
WTS Orange County:
Annual Awards Gala
more info | register

Thursday, Jan. 19
WTS Inland Empire:
Annual Awards Dinner
more info