San Fernando Valley Service Council Chair Michael Cano, Metro CEO Art Leahy, L.A. City Councilman and Metro Board Member Paul Krekorian and L.A. Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti.

Metro Debuts Valley-Westside
Express Nonstop Bus Service

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) launched a brand new Valley-Westside Express bus service Monday, Dec. 15 to provide transit riders with a faster, easier way to travel between the San Fernando Valley and West Los Angeles.

The new service takes full advantage of the recently completed network of I-405 carpool lanes that now travel both north and south through the Sepulveda Pass providing frequent, nonstop service between the Sepulveda Metro Orange Line Station in Van Nuys directly to and from Westwood.

“My back to basics agenda is about focusing our resources where they can make the greatest impact, and the new Valley-Westside Express is targeted at one of L.A.’s most notorious choke points,” said L.A. Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti. “It will not only cut 40 minutes of commute time for its riders, it’ll reduce the number of cars on the 405 to reduce congestion for us all.”

Metro riders can save at least 20 minutes of time in each direction compared with current Metro bus service that utilizes local streets to traverse the Sepulveda Pass. Metro’s 45-foot advanced composite buses provide weekday service approximately every 15 minutes during peak morning and afternoon periods. Express bus riders also benefit from a single transfer connection to places including Woodland Hills, Chatsworth and North Hollywood. Regular transit fares apply for the express service.

In addition to the nonstop freeway component of the service, the line also provides needed bus service along the Van Nuys Boulevard corridor to and from Arleta in the northern portion of the San Fernando Valley, making all Rapid stops along the way. The line also includes an additional stop at the Van Nuys Metro Orange Line Station. Both the Van Nuys and Sepulveda Orange Line stations offer free parking lots for drivers who want to park and then ride the new service.

“This is a necessary step to increase mobility and better connect people in the San Fernando Valley and the Westside of Los Angeles,” said Paul Krekorian, L.A. City Councilmember and Metro Board member. “It’s also one of several bus service improvements that Metro is bringing to the Valley, all of which make it easier for commuters to get where they need to be.”

Metro will monitor usage of the new line and is prepared to augment service frequencies based on demand. Metro also plans to extend the line south from Westwood to the new Sepulveda Expo Line Phase 2 station when it opens in 2016 to create even greater transit connections for the West L.A. area.

“The Valley-Westside Express creates a critical north-south linkage to key transit services in both sides of the Sepulveda Pass, creating a closely integrated network of fast, frequent Metro service,” said Sheila Kuehl, L.A. County Supervisor and Metro Board member. “It offers a better way to connect UCLA, Warner Center and other economic centers, institutions, businesses and residential neighborhoods in both the Valley and Westside.”


Top: CTC Commissioner Jim Madaffer, CTC Vice Chair Lucy Dunn, CTC Executive Director Andre Boutros, CTC Chair Carl Guardino, CTC Commissioner Fran Inman, CTC Commissioner Joe Tavaglione. Bottom right: Mobility 21 staff Kristin Slocum and Jenny Larios.

Mobility 21 Honors California Transportation Commissioners During Holiday Reception

Mobility 21 was proud to join the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Inland Empire Economic Partnership, Inland Action, Monday Morning Group, Riverside County Transportation Commission and San Bernardino Associated Governments last week for a holiday reception honoring the California Transportation Commission (CTC). Nearly 200 guests, including elected officials from throughout the region, gathered in Riverside for the event, which also celebrated the retirement of CTC Executive Director, Andre Boutros. Mobility 21 is looking forward to co-hosting the next Southern California reception in March in Orange County. Check out our Facebook page for more photos from the reception.


Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Fran Inman
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Majestic Realty Co.

Fran Inman directs government relations and community affairs activities for Majestic Realty Co., one of the nation’s largest privately held real estate development companies. With a real estate portfolio totaling approximately 70 million square feet of commercial properties, Majestic Realty has offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Bethlehem, Dallas, Denver and Las Vegas. Last year, Inman was co-Chair of BizFed’s Goods Movement Committee.

Inman is recognized as a leader in the push to improve the nation’s failing transportation infrastructure. With Majestic properties playing a critical role in the supply chain, Inman is an outspoken advocate for transportation infrastructure funding in Los Angeles and beyond. Widely recognized for her leadership and ability to develop solutions and build consensus, Inman possesses a unique portfolio of skills that combine a profound understanding of the balance required to build sustainable communities. Inman was recently re-appointed by Governor Brown to the California Transportation Commission where she has served since 2010. In 2013, Inman was also appointed to the National Freight Advisory Committee and co-chairs the sub-committee on project delivery and operations.

Widely recognized for her leadership and ability to develop solutions and build consensus, Inman possesses a unique portfolio of skills and a profound understanding of the balance required to build sustainable communities. The Southern California Council of Governments (SCAG) recently honored Inman as 2013 Business Leader of the Year.

Inman is past chair of the board of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership. Inman also serves on the board of governors for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), and as the vice chair for the California Business Properties Association (CBPA). Inman is also a founding board member of FuturePorts and a member of Inland Action and is on the Advisory Board of Mobility 21. She is also a long-time member of the Coalition of America’s Gateway and Trade Corridors.

Also recognized as a leader in the philanthropic community, Inman is the founding president of the Majestic Realty Foundation. Established in 2002, the Majestic Realty Foundation provides grants and other support to various charitable community partners that work the areas of youth, family, education, health, and violence prevention in the communities where Majestic Realty Co. does business.

Equally passionate about her role in the nonprofit sector, Inman focuses her leadership efforts to help expand capacity and build coalitions with the organizations that serve at-risk and under-served neighborhoods. Inman further demonstrates her commitment to active community engagement through her service as board member of THINK Together, a nationally-recognized non-profit providing extended learning programs that serve more than 100,000 at-risk and low-income students daily across California. Charitable Division advisory boards for the QueensCare Health & Faith Partnership. Inman is also a trustee for Three Square, the regional food bank in Las Vegas, Nevada, and serves on the board of trustees for the University of Redlands as well as the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Advisory Board.

A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Inman holds both a BA and a MBA in finance. In 2010, Inman was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Woodbury University. She and her husband Ron have three adult children – Chris (and Emily) Inman (Denver, CO); Kelly (and Todd) Rohs (Ft. Collins, CO) and Melinda Inman (Wheaton, IL) – and the delight of her life, granddaughters Katherine, Caroline, and Claire Inman (Denver, CO).


73 Toll Road Bonds Refinanced, Stabilizing Transportation Corridor Agencies’ Long Term Finances

More than half of the bonds issued to fund construction of the 73 Toll Road in Orange County were successfully refinanced in November improving the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency’s (TCA) long-term financial health by lowering annual debt service payments and improving financial flexibility.

By taking advantage of current low interest rates and selling bonds valued at $1.4 billion with a nominal maturity of 2050 – compared to the current 2042 – the annual debt service growth is reduced from 8.8 to 1.7 percent over the next ten years. The interest rate on the restructured bonds averages 4.74 percent. The previous average was 5.72 percent – a reduction of nearly 100 basis points.

“The new sustainable debt structure and conservative growth rate for the 73 Toll Road will allow the agency to moderate future toll rate increases, withstand economic downturns and potentially pay off the debt ahead of the 2050 final maturity date,” said Amy Potter, chief financial officer for TCA.

The refinance not only improves TCA’s long-term financial health, but steers Orange County’s toll roads in a direction that will benefit customers and provide long term stability for the region’s transportation network.


Residents, commuters and tourists explore the newly opened Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center.

 

City of Anaheim Celebrates Grand Opening
of ARTIC Transportation Hub

Last week, the City of Anaheim held a grand opening ceremony for the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC), a multi-modal, state-of-the-art transportation hub located between the Honda Center and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. ARTIC offers residents, commuters and tourists a unique variety of transit, dining, retail and entertainment options. The transportation hub brings together the services of Orange County Transportation Authority, Metrolink, Amtrak, Anaheim Resort Transportation, Greyhound, Megabus.com, taxis, bikes and other public/private transportation providers. The 67,000 square foot facility is LEED Platinum for it’s environmentally friendly design features.


California Maritime Leadership Symposium

Feb. 24-25
Citizen Hotel, Sacramento
More Info | Register

The 15th Annual California Maritime Leadership Symposium, scheduled for February 24-25 at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento, has become one of the premier events focused on briefing policymakers on key matters related to the entire Maritime Transportation System. It is the only comprehensive forum where all stakeholders across the state discuss resolutions to the challenges facing the Maritime Transportation System.


Transportation Events in the Community

Sunday, Jan. 11
WTS International: Winter Reception at TRB
More info | Register

Tuesday, Jan. 13
SMPS-OC: A/E/C Update: Tustin, Irvine, Anaheim
More info

Tuesday, Jan. 20
OCBC: Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast with Gina Marie Lindsey
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Wednesday, Jan. 21
ACEC-LA: County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works – Monthly Luncheon
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Thursday, Jan. 22
WTS-IE: 10th Annual Scholarship & Awards Dinner
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Thursday, Jan. 29
IEEP: Annual Dinner
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Thursday, Jan. 29
LA Chamber: Inaugural Dinner
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Thursday, Jan. 29
CMAA: Owner’s Night
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Jan. 29-31
New Partners for Smart Growth Conference
Baltimore, Maryland
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Thursday, Feb. 19
OCBC: Annual Dinner
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Feb. 23-24
OCBC: One Voice, Two Capitals Advocacy Trip to Sacramento
More info | Register

Feb. 24-25
California Maritime Leadership Symposium
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May 4-7
ACT Expo 2015
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Tuesday, May 5
LA Chamber: World Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast
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Friday, Aug. 28
Mobility 21: 2015 Summit at Disneyland Hotel