Mobility 21 to Host Sacramento Legislative Reception Next Tuesday
Join the Mobility 21 Board of Directors and Advisory Board Members in honoring California’s transportation leaders at a reception in Sacramento.
Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018
5-7 p.m.
The Citizen Hotel
926 J Street, Sacramento
Sponsor the Event
$1,000: Includes complimentary attendance for three and logo on promotional materials and signage at the event
$500 (open to registered small businesses and nonprofits only): Includes complimentary attendance for one and company name on promotional materials and signage at the event
Contact Kristin Slocum to sponsor the event.
Registration
$65 Private Sector
$35 Public Sector/Nonprofit
Elected Officials and Elected Staff complimentary
Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Jim McCluskie
Vice President, Moffatt & Nichol
James (Jim) McCluskie is a transportation professional with more than 30 years of engineering management and project oversight experience. As Moffatt & Nichol’s Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Jim is a key driver in expanding Moffatt & Nichol’s transportation capabilities to keep pace with client visioning in the 21st century marketplace. He also serves as Project Executive for the $1.9 billion I-405 Improvement Project and as vice president for the project’s design team, Pacific Infrastructure 405 Designers, a joint venture comprising Moffatt & Nichol, H.W. Lochner, Inc. and Arup North America Ltd.
As an active member of the Southern California business community, Jim is the current Vice-Chairman of Economic Development for the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Officers & Leadership Cabinet.
Throughout his career, Jim has actively worked on major transportation projects through design-build, public-private partnerships (P3) and design-build-finance-operate procurement methods, bringing value through his strategic management skills in long-range planning and programming.
Prior to joining Moffatt & Nichol, Jim was a Senior Vice President with PBS&J, and, as President of AMEC Infrastructure, he managed offices throughout North America.
Moffatt & Nichol’s transportation practice provides planning, design, economic, and strategic advisory services to transportation clients in North and South America, and to global supply chain clients worldwide.
Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Avygail Sanchez
Policy & Community Engagement Manager, Parsons Corporation
For the past four years, Avygail Sanchez has served on the Annual Mobility 21 Summit Planning Committee and supported Parsons executives who were Mobility 21 Advisory Board members. Now, Avygail herself has become an Advisory Board member, joining the Advisory Board at the end of 2017.
From Parsons’ world headquarters located in Pasadena, Avygail’s Policy & Community Engagement work is focused throughout Southern California with a special emphasis on Los Angeles-based agencies such as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles World Airports, to name a few. Recently, Avygail convened Los Angeles County-based transportation agencies for the launch of the Small Business Partnership Program, creating a collaborative space to promote, connect, mentor and grow local small businesses.
As a technology-driven engineering services firm, Parsons specializes in engineering, construction, technical, and professional services, and very often partners with small and disadvantaged businesses on infrastructure and construction projects for federal, regional, and local government agencies, as well as private industrial customers worldwide. Some of Parsons’ current Southern California projects include development of a modernized big data regional transportation information platform for the greater Los Angeles area and adjacent counties; improvements to the I-605/I-5 Freeways as well as the I-405; the West Valley Connector bus rapid transit corridor; the Purple Line subway extension; the Gerald Desmond Bridge; the Landside Access Modernization Program at Los Angeles International Airport, and numerous water projects.
Avygail has more than 15 years of community and business development experience in Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles and a master’s degree in urban planning from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. While studying at UCLA, Avygail served as Field Deputy for a former Los Angeles City Councilmember, and worked on the transition team of another Los Angeles City Councilmember. She is a Riordan Leadership Institute Fellow and a graduate of Leadership LA ’15, both of which are Southern California Leadership Network programs.
CH2M is Now Jacobs
Jacobs has acquired CH2M, resulting in a new company unlike any other in our industry. As a leading solutions provider, Jacobs is now an even stronger partner, offering best-in-class technical and delivery capabilities to meet any need. Our top priority is uninterrupted service to our clients and their stakeholders. In areas that matter most to our clients’ success, Jacobs and CH2M are fully aligned. Our shared values include safety, integrity and ethics; a focus on quality and long-term client relationships; a commitment to sustainability; and serving clients with the best talent in the industry.
In Southern California, the combination of Jacobs and CH2M means we are even more capable of taking on our clients’ most complex transportation challenges and solving them in ways not thought of before. Our people—the most talented professionals in the industry—are the secret to our success, and we have hundreds of projects across the southland that prove this. Our passion lies in helping our clients in every aspect of mobility—aviation, bridge, highway, port, transit, rail, tunnel, road, and active transportation projects—with expert planning, environmental, design, engineering, project and construction management services. We are also neighbors and community members, thriving on the larger purpose behind what we build—linking communities and advancing economic and social mobility.
Together, Jacobs and CH2M have a longstanding and continued commitment to Mobility 21 and its member agencies, and the new Jacobs looks forward to continuing this partnership.
For more information, contact Judy.Johnson@ch2m.com or Jared.Moore@jacobs.com.
APTA Board of Directors Selects
Paul P. Skoutelas as New President and CEO
In a unanimous vote, the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Board of Directors named Paul P. Skoutelas to serve as its new President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 8, 2018.
Skoutelas has been a highly successful and respected national leader in the public transportation industry for more than 40 years. He served as CEO of public transit systems in Pittsburgh and Orlando, and most recently as Senior Vice President of WSP USA, one of the world’s largest architectural and engineering firms. View his bio here.
APTA Chair Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., who is CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority said, “Paul Skoutelas’ strong leadership skills, vision and energy are ideal to lead APTA in these transformational times for public transportation. He is a collaborative leader who brings the right blend of expertise and passion to ensure that the public transportation industry continues to play a critical role in connecting people to economic opportunities and a better quality of life.”
“I am honored to be appointed to lead APTA, a great association that has played an important part in my career,” said Skoutelas. “Every day public transit connects millions of people to jobs, family, vital services and new opportunities. I pledge to work together with APTA members, our stakeholders, and elected officials so that we make the necessary transportation policy decisions and investments to grow our communities and our nation.”
The appointment is the culmination of an extensive search process by a task force of APTA members chaired by Immediate Past Chair Doran J. Barnes, CEO of Foothill Transit.
Ford also commended Richard A. White, APTA’s acting president and CEO, for his strong and steady leadership during the last 19 months. White will remain at APTA for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition.
California High-Speed Rail Authority Names Brian Kelly as New CEO
As the California High-Speed Rail Authority continues to move from the planning phase to full construction of the nation’s first high-speed rail system, the Board of Directors announced this month that it has selected a new Chief Executive Officer, Brian P. Kelly, to lead the organization, effective Feb. 1, 2018.
“Brian Kelly is a proven problem-solver and the leading expert on California’s transportation sector. He has been a dynamic Transportation Secretary, leading strategic approaches to modernize the state’s passenger and freight rail systems, and effectively dealing with natural disaster impacts on roads, bridges and highways,” said Chairman Dan Richard. “Brian has been a keen advocate for the development of high-speed rail as a core component of California’s future transportation networks. As a respected leader and skilled manager he will provide the right leadership as the project moves into the delivery and commercialization phase.”
“Brian has ably led the California State Transportation Agency since its inception and is uniquely qualified to move the nation’s first high-speed rail project forward,” said Governor Jerry Brown.
Kelly has served as Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency since the Agency was created in 2013. As Secretary, Kelly oversaw one of the largest portfolios in the State of California with more than 38,000 employees and a total budget of more than $18 billion. During his tenure as Secretary, the Agency led efforts to:
- Enact Senate Bill 1, the single largest investment in California’s transportation infrastructure;
- Implement AB 60, a Department of Motor Vehicles program to provide an estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants the opportunity to apply for and receive driver licenses in California;
- Develop first-in-the-nation autonomous vehicle regulations for the testing and deploying of this new transformative technology.
Prior to his appointment to the Brown Administration, Kelly was at the center of major transportation policy decisions in the State for more than two decades, having served as chief transportation policy consultant for four successive Senate President pro Tempores.
With Kelly’s departure at the California State Transportation Agency, the Governor has named Brian Annis as Acting Transportation Agency Secretary. Annis has served as Undersecretary at the Agency since 2013.
Crews perform street decking work at Wilshire/La Cienega on one of Metro’s key transit projects – the nine-mile extension of the Purple Line subway from the Wilshire/Western Station to Westwood.
Purple Line Extension Construction Update
Construction on Metro’s Purple Line Extension is underway on the first section to Wilshire/La Cienega and will soon begin on the second section to downtown Beverly Hills and Century City.
The plan is to have all three sections in operation before the LA 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Metro is working on the $1.3-billion grant necessary for section three (the federal money will be paired with money from Measures R and M).
In total, more than 1,500 concrete panels now separate vehicular and pedestrian traffic from the excavation and construction on section one.
Section two of the project will run from Wilshire/La Cienega to Century City with a station in downtown Beverly Hills near Wilshire and Rodeo Drive.
On this section, the public can expect utility relocation from Southern California Edison, AT&T and LADWP and geotechnical boring work from Metro’s contractor Tutor Perini/O&G throughout January at the Wilshire/Rodeo and Century City/Constellation stations. Turn restrictions and lane reductions will be necessary to complete the work.
On Section 3, advance utility relocation is expected to begin in February for the future Wilshire/Westwood station and will continue for two years.
Local, state and federal officials gathered on Jan. 26 for the groundbreaking of the I-405 Improvement Project, the largest highway project under construction in California. Photo courtesy of OCTA.
$1.9 Billion I-405 Expansion in
Orange County Kicks Off
An innovative project aimed at speeding up commutes on the nation’s busiest stretch of highway started this month as officials gathered to break ground on the I-405 Improvement Project, which targets a 16-mile stretch of freeway between Costa Mesa and the Los Angeles County line.
The $1.9 billion highway project, the largest under construction in California, is being led by the Orange County Transportation Authority, in partnership with Caltrans. The project adds one regular lane in each direction, between Euclid Street and I-605, as promised to voters through Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. The project also adds a second lane in each direction, which combined with the existing carpool lanes, will create the 405 Express Lanes.
“I’m excited to see this much-anticipated project get underway and am looking forward to it speeding up commutes for all who travel this section of the 405,” said OCTA Chair Lisa Bartlett, also Orange County’s Fifth District Supervisor. “The project is crucial for much-needed congestion relief as employment, population and housing continue to grow in Southern California.”
In addition to constructing the new lanes, the project will build, widen or replace more than 18 bridges, and improve freeway access and traffic on local streets. All this work is critical to accommodate expected growth in Orange County and throughout the region. Traffic on I-405 is anticipated to grow 30 percent by 2040.
“This project demonstrates how strong partnerships between Caltrans, the business community, and local and regional agencies can result in viable solutions to some of the state’s most significant congestion problems,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Generations of drivers will benefit from new Express Lanes, which moves more people through the corridor faster, and means less time looking at brake lights and more time where it matters.”
With the 405 Express Lanes, modeled after OCTA’s successful 91 Express Lanes, solo drivers will have the choice to pay a toll to speed up their commute. Carpools of two or more people can use the 405 Express Lanes for free for the first 3 ½ years after opening. Cars with three or more people can use the express lanes for free at all times.
“The project is designed to provide options and reliability for drivers and enhance local streets for residents, pedestrians and bicyclists, which is creating what is truly the freeway of the future,” said OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson. “After 15 years of planning to reach this point, I want to thank the residents and cities, as well as all the local, state and federal officials who have had tremendous input into shaping the I-405 improvements.”
A significant project benefit is reducing the time drivers will be sitting in traffic. Projections show that without these improvements, by 2040 it would take more than two hours to travel this 16-mile stretch, but with the improvements travel times are estimated to be reduced to about 30 minutes in the regular lanes and about 15 minutes if a driver chooses to take the 405 Express Lanes.
The I-405 Improvement Project, set to be completed in 2023, is being funded with a combination of local, state and federal funds, including a $629 million federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan. The federal loan will save taxpayers approximately $300 million compared to traditional financing methods.
OC 405 Partners, a team of firms led by OHL USA, Inc. and Astaldi Construction Corporation, is designing and constructing the project, the largest in OCTA’s history.
For more information on the I-405 Improvement Project, visit www.octa.net/405improvement.
For a digital press kit, visit www.octa.net/405media.
The Metrolink Mobile App now allows riders to seamlessly transfer to Metro Rail by using new technology to enter station gates without needing a physical ticket.
New Technology Allows Metrolink Riders to
Transfer to Metro Rail for First Time
For the first time, Metrolink riders who purchase a mobile ticket through the Metrolink Mobile App can transfer to Metro Rail lines by simply scanning their phone at locked Metro Rail gates. Up until now, Metrolink riders transferring to the Metro subway or light rail lines had to find a ticket vending machine and wait in line to purchase a TAP-enabled paper ticket.
Nearly a third of Metrolink riders transfer to Metro Rail on their way to jobs, school and other destinations. Many riders use a mobile app on their smart phones to ride Metrolink. Conductors scan their phones to check their tickets aboard trains.
Using the Metrolink Mobile App is simple: users just scan the QR code they receive when they purchase tickets at station readers on gated entries.
This upgrade to the Metrolink Mobile App cost $1.5 million and was financed by federal, state and local funding. This new project is part of a technology transformation Metrolink has made over the past six months, which includes the launch of a new website and GPS train tracker.
Another upgrade to look forward to will make the mobile app available for Corporate Partner Program members. The timeline on this is being finalized.
The City of Riverside’s Rose Parade float, which featured the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa’s Festival of Lights, won the Golden State Trophy for Most Outstanding Depiction of Life in California. Metrolink provided special round-trip service to Downtown L.A. from Riverside for people to view the Rose Parade, and well as special trains to Riverside to see the Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa.
RCTC Connects Metrolink Riders
With Dazzling Holiday Experiences
The Riverside County Transportation Commission and Metrolink helped brighten the holidays for thousands of passengers, thanks to special trains to the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa’s Festival of Lights and the Tournament of Roses Parade.
A total of 11,274 passengers rode Metrolink to the 25th Annual Festival of Lights, a 128 percent jump over last year’s 4,950 riders. Special trains ran on Fridays and Saturdays on the 91/Perris Valley Line both from Los Angeles and Perris to Riverside, and on the Inland Empire Orange County Line.
The special trains operated for four weekends between November 24 and December 16. With more than 5 million twinkling lights, animated characters, Santa Claus, musical acts, horse-drawn carriages and holiday vendors, the Festival of Lights has become a “must-see” attraction for Southern California.
The price was one hot ticket – roundtrip fares were just $7, and that included up to three children 18 years and younger with paid adult fares. The Riverside Transit Agency made travel even more convenient with free shuttles between the Riverside Downtown Station to the downtown festivities. Funding was provided by Metrolink, RCTC, RTA and a grant from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee.
Travelers also kicked the new year off right by riding Metrolink from Riverside to view the 129th annual Tournament of Roses Parade. RCTC and Metrolink funded a special train from the Riverside Downtown Station to Los Angeles Union Station; from there, riders made a free connection to the LA Metro Gold Line for a traffic-free ride to Pasadena. The City of Riverside also was a great marketing partner and provided advance sale round-trip tickets for only $10, available at City Hall.
A group of 272 riders made the trip to watch the parade and to cheer on the City of Riverside’s first float in 60 years. The float, which featured the Mission Inn and its Festival of Lights, won the Golden State Trophy for most outstanding depiction of life in California.
Whether it’s for holiday celebrations or everyday travel, RCTC reminds travelers to connect with Metrolink.
Transportation Corridor Agencies Release
Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2017 was a record-breaking year for the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) with more than 300,000 commuters and visitors driving the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads every day. Other TCA highlights from Fiscal Year 2017 include:
- All-time high transactions and revenue numbers
- Nearly 100 million tolls collected in 12 months
- More than one million open accounts
- Bond ratings upgrades, strong liquidity and growing reserve funds balances
- Ridership increased by 19 percent over the last three years
Learn more about TCA’s accomplishments by viewing the Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report.
Transportation Events in the Community
Thursday, Feb. 1
CMAA SoCal: Owners’ Night
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Tuesday, Feb. 6
WTS-LA: Southern California Rail Discussion
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Feb. 7-9
SMPS-OC: 2018 Pacific Regional Conference
Napa
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Feb. 8-11
Western Winter Workshop
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Thursday, Feb. 8
OCBC: 2018 Annual Dinner
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Monday, Feb. 12
WTS-OC: Reception Honoring OCTA Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett
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Thursday, Feb. 15
ASCE-OC: 2018 Awards Dinner
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Friday, Feb. 16
WTS-SD: Volunteer Open House
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Wednesday, Feb. 21
CTF: Transportation Forum
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March 12-13
OCBC: Sacramento Advocacy Trip
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March 13-15
LA Chamber: ACCESS Washington, D.C.
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Wed., March 28
Port of Long Beach: Pulse of the Port
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Thursday, March 29
IEEP: 2018 State of the Region with John Husing
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Monday, April 16
CTF: SoCal Charity Golf Tournament
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Thursday, April 26
IEEP and LA Chamber: Save the Date – SoCal Logistics Summit
Friday, May 3-4
SCAG: Regional Conference & General Assembly
Renaissance Esmeralda Indian Wells Resort & Spa
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Friday, May 4
LA Chamber: 92nd Annual World Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast
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May 16-18
WTS International: Annual Conference
San Diego
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May 22-23
LA Chamber: ACCESS Sacramento
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May 22-23
CTA: Spring Legislative Conference
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Wednesday, May 24
CTF: Transportation Awards
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Wednesday, June 13
SCTA: General Assembly
Friday, Oct. 19
Mobility 21: 2018 Summit
JW Marriott at L.A. Live
Oct. 24-26
CTA: Fall Legislative Conference
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Oct. 28-29
Self-Help Counties Coalition: 2018 Focus on the Future Conference
Renaissance Indian Wells
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