Mobility 21 to Co-Host Holiday Reception
Honoring California Transportation Commission

Join Mobility 21, together with the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the San Bernardino Associated Governments, Inland Action and Monday Morning Group, at a holiday reception honoring the California Transportation Commission. The reception is Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Mission Inn in Riverside. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with transportation and business leaders while toasting to the holiday season! Click here to register.

Sponsorships available
$500: Includes logo on event marketing and one complimentary ticket
$250 (small businesses and nonprofits only): Includes company name on event marketing and one complimentary ticket

Contact Kristin Slocum to sponsor at kslocum@mobility21.com or 949.288.6884.


Congressman Duncan Shares
Insight on New Freight Report

This month we turn our attention to Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), Chairman of the Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation. The Panel recently released its final report on the current state of freight transportation in the United States. Mobility 21’s Marnie O’Brien Primmer and Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Governments, provided testimony before the panel at the hearing held in Southern California earlier this year.

Mobility 21 applauds the leadership of Congressman Duncan, Panel Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and the Panel members in bringing forward a set of bipartisan recommendations for freight. Click here to read an overview of the panel’s recommendations.

M21: What struck you and your fellow panel members the most from your field visit to Southern California?

RD: During the Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation’s trip to Southern California in May, I was most struck by the sheer volume of goods that move through the region. Over 40 percent of the nation’s containerized imports travel through Southern California, and for this to happen efficiently and sustainably, there must be an integrated freight network that spans all modes of transportation. Southern California has many unique challenges and opportunities, and I appreciated the ability to witness the freight network in this region first-hand.

M21: With bipartisan agreement that freight deserves sustainable funding, what is the path for bipartisan agreement on what that funding source will be and how it will be spent?

RD: House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp are working closely to address transportation revenue issues. As demonstrated by the recent 417-3 vote on the House Floor for the bipartisan Water Resources Reform and Development Act, we can work across the aisle and with other committees in Congress on important transportation legislation. We hope to continue that trend as we address freight issues in the surface transportation reauthorization bill next year.

M21: The report identifies the need for a multimodal approach to freight, yet MAP-21 only acknowledges freight from a highway perspective. How can we achieve this multimodal approach to freight in the next transportation bill?

RD: MAP-21 laid the groundwork for what we hope to do in the next reauthorization bill, and the lessons we have learned through working with DOT on the designation of the highway freight network will inform how we write related provisions in the next bill. One of the reasons that Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall created the Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation was to look across all modes, and our work clearly indicated that an effective freight network must include every mode of transportation. There is strong bipartisan interest in expanding on the work we began in MAP-21.

M21: What can a group like Mobility 21 do to support the efforts of the Panel to make sure that funding for freight is included in the next transportation bill?

RD: Mobility 21 can help educate the public and members of Congress on the importance of an efficient and safe freight system. A highly-performing freight transportation network is critical to the health of the nation’s economy and the future competitiveness of American businesses in the global marketplace. I cannot overstate the importance of addressing freight mobility in a responsible, visionary manner in the surface transportation reauthorization bill.


$200 Million Initiative to Expand
Regional Bike Network in San Diego

From SANDAG’s REGION newsletter

In a historic move that will make biking safer, easier and more attractive for San Diegans, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board of Directors recently approved the Regional Bike Plan Early Action Program (EAP).

This $200 million initiative will significantly expand the bike network countywide with the goal of finishing high-priority projects within a decade. The Bike EAP comprises 42 projects totaling about 77 miles of new bikeways that will make it much easier for people to ride their bike to school, work, transit stations and other major destinations.

View the list of projects that will be funded by the EAP.



The North Milliken Grade Separation in San Bernardino County will help ease congestion in an important goods movement corridor.

Grade Separation Projects
Ease Traffic and Enhance Safety

The San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) has a robust grade separation effort underway. Currently, SANBAG has an active role on seven at-grade crossings that are located along the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroads signaling a major investment into this key component to improving transportation in the county.

One of the flagship projects for this program is the recently completed North Milliken Grade Separation in the City of Ontario. The 1.5-mile improvement involved building the railroad bridge over Milliken Avenue at the existing Union Pacific train crossing, located between Guasti Road and Airport Drive. In addition, the project widened Milliken Avenue, famous for its heavy truck volume and accessibility to retail giant, Ontario Mills Mall. Signals were also modified to adjust for the new configuration. Retaining walls, drainage improvements and enhanced landscaping all contribute to the success of this approximately $60 million dollar project in the heart of the goods movement corridors of Interstate 10 and Interstate 15.

Other active grade separation construction projects in the county include: Laurel Street (Colton), Palm Avenue (San Bernardino), Hunts Lane (San Bernardino/Colton), Vineyard Avenue (Ontario), South Milliken (Ontario), Glen Helen Parkway (San Bernardino County) and Lenwood Road (Barstow). Grade separation projects like these improve local circulation; enhance the quality of life by reducing train horns, traffic delays, and safety concerns; and facilitate better goods movement opportunities throughout the region.


U.S. Department of Transportation
Releases Proposed Freight Network

As required by MAP-21, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently proposed a series of key highways to serve as a Primary Freight Network.

“Freight movement is the lifeblood of the American economy,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement. “To create jobs, remain competitive and strengthen the economy, we must develop a more strategic approach to moving freight, and identifying the highways that are most critical for freight is a key part of that effort.”

MAP-21 calls for the Secretary of Transportation to designate up to 27,000 miles on existing interstate and other roadways, with a possible addition of 3,000 miles in the future, as a Primary Freight Network to help states strategically direct resources toward improving freight movement.

A 60-day comment period on the draft designation will end on Jan. 17, 2014.  Click here to view maps and tables of the proposed Highway Primary Freight Network.


Bike Sharing Program
Coming Soon to Fullerton

From OCTA’s On the Move newsletter

OCTA’s new bike share program, BikeLink, is currently under beta testing and is coming to Fullerton soon. For a nominal fee, customers will be able to check out, ride, and return bikes from kiosks located in key areas of the community. It’s an easy, convenient alternative for short commutes and errands.

The two-year pilot program will ultimately feature BikeLink stations located at 15 destinations throughout the city, including the Fullerton Transportation Center, college campuses and shopping centers. Bikes can be checked out and returned at any station.

BikeLink Access Passes cost $5 for a 1-Day Pass and $12 for a 7-Day pass. Annual memberships are available to frequent users for $75. There is also a discounted $45 annual membership for students.

Access Passes and memberships offer unlimited free bike use at 30-minute intervals. Bike rides lasting longer than 30 minutes will incur an overtime charge of $2 to $5 per 30 minutes.

Aside from saving money, another benefit for annual BikeLink members is access to an online dashboard that tracks mileage, calories burned and estimated environmental emission reductions.

Learn more at http://www.octa.net/bikelink.


SANBAG Launches HERO Program

On Nov. 13, the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) held a press conference outside of the historic Santa Fe Depot in San Bernardino to ceremoniously unveil the Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) program to the citizens of San Bernardino County.

The HERO Program is a local government sponsored effort, in partnership with SANBAG, which empowers homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient by providing them with low-cost, tax-deductible financing for a range of home improvement projects. Among the most popular upgrades are whole-home heating and cooling (HVAC), solar power panel installations, energy-saving windows, roofing and insulation, among other types of energy and water efficient improvements. Property owners are able to borrow up to 15 percent of the property value and repay the loan over five, 10, 15 or 20 years through an assessment on their property tax bill.

“We’ll be helping people save money, reduce energy usage, improve their homes, build their businesses, and create jobs, helping everyone move towards a better future,” SANBAG President Bill Jahn said.

The HERO program is now available to homeowners in over 93 communities across California and has helped more than 5,500 homeowners make energy efficient upgrades to their homes. In addition to the residential benefit, the HERO program has helped create more than 1,600 jobs and generate more than $350 million in economic stimulus.


California Maritime Leadership Symposium

Feb. 19-20, 2014
Sacramento Convention Center
More info | Register

The 14th Annual California Maritime Leadership Symposium (CMLS), scheduled for Feb. 19-20, 2014 at the Sacramento Convention Center, 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.

Thanksgiving
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Transportation Events in the Community

Tuesday, Dec. 3
WTS-OC: Annual Awards & Scholarships Gala
More info

Thursday, Dec. 5
WTS-LA: Celebrating an Unforgettable Voyage With Dr. Geraldine Knatz
More info | Register

Thursday, Dec. 5
WTS-IE: Alternative Project Delivery-CM/CG Discussion
More info | Register

Monday, Dec. 9
San Diego Transportation Agencies: Annual Holiday Luncheon at the Prado
More info | Register

Wednesday, Dec. 11
CTC Holiday Reception
Sponsor | Register

Wednesday, Dec. 11
WTS-LA: Lead Through Alignment: One Vision, One Voice, One Direction
More info | Register

Tuesday, Jan. 28
WTS-IE: Annual Scholarship & Awards Benefit Dinner

Feb. 19-20
California Maritime Leadership Symposium
More info | Register

March 9-11
APTA: Annual Legislative Conference
More info | Register

May 5-9
Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo
More info | Register