Mobility 21 to Co-host Holiday Reception Honoring
California Transportation Commission
Please join the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Inland Empire Economic Partnership, Inland Action, Mobility 21, Monday Morning Group, RCTC and SBCTA on Wednesday, Dec. 6 for a holiday reception honoring the California Transportation Commission (CTC).
Wednesday, Dec. 6, 5-7 p.m.
The Atrium at the Riverside County Administrative Center
Registration
$35 Private Sector
$10 Public Sector, Nonprofits, Students, Elected Officials
Sponsorship
$500: Includes logo on event marketing and one complimentary ticket
$250 (small businesses and nonprofits only): Includes logo on event marketing and one complimentary ticket
Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Fran Inman
Senior Vice President, 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 84 million square feet of commercial properties, Majestic Realty has offices in Los Angeles; Atlanta; Bethlehem, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Las Vegas and Laredo.
Inman has served on the California Transportation Commission since 2010 and currently serves as Vice Chair. In 2013, Inman was also appointed as a founding member of the National Freight Advisory Committee and co-chaired the sub-committee on project delivery and operations.
Inman served as the chair of the board of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and serves as vice chair for the California Business Properties Association (CBPA). She is the former chair of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership (SGVEP) and is also a founding board member of FuturePorts and a board member of Inland Action and the California Business Roundtable. 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.
Inman further demonstrates her commitment to active community engagement through her service as board member and former board chair of THINK Together, nationally-recognized non-profit providing extended learning programs that serve more than 150,000 at-risk and low-income students daily across California. She serves on the board of QueensCare, a $400+million foundation dedicated to providing healthcare for the underserved. 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 a member of UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Advisory Board, METRANS and the UC-ITS 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).
Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Mike Kraman
CEO, Transportation Corridor Agencies
Mike Kraman is the Chief Executive Officer for the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), which operates a 51-mile toll road network and manages 2,200 acres of protected open-space in Orange County. With more than 300,000 customers per day, The Toll Roads are a popular alternative to adjacent congested freeways and arterials in the region.
As CEO, Mike launched an ambitious outreach effort to redefine the Agency’s path forward towards solving the South Orange County mobility issues caused by worsening congestion on the I-5 Freeway. This effort involves a partnership of TCA, Caltrans, OCTA and the County of Orange to move past the long-stalled Foothill South project and develop new ideas to improve south county mobility. Stakeholder involvement includes residents, local elected officials, environment groups, community and business organizations. A significant outcome has been a landmark settlement agreement that ended a fifteen-year dispute between TCA and the Save San Onofre Coalition. This unprecedented agreement settled five lawsuits and allows TCA to consider multiple transportation project ideas to help solve South Orange County’s traffic congestion while simultaneously protecting valuable environmentally sensitive areas. Mobility 21 honored TCA along with the Save San Onofre Coalition with its Innovative Partnership Recognition at the 2017 Southern California Transportation Summit.
Also, under Mike’s leadership, finances have been stabilized with a restructure of TCA’s debt profile, that, along with positive traffic and revenue trends, has resulted in across the board credit rating upgrades.
This manner of innovative and creative leadership has been a trademark throughout Mike’s 30+ year career in planning, design and management of major civil transportation infrastructure projects. At the TCA, he has restored the creativity and innovative spirit that was at the heart of TCA when it was founded thirty years ago. In 2017 TCA was recognized by the California Transportation Foundation as the California Transportation Organization of the Year and Mike Kraman was the California Transportation Person of the Year.
Looking forward, Mike’s priorities include a good to great strategy of excellence for the TCA; being a regional advocate and partner for tolling; continuous customer service improvements; and working with communities and stakeholders to improve regional mobility.
Mike is a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He is a registered professional engineer in California and numerous other states.
Hundreds Gather for Metro’s 2nd Annual
Older Adult Transportation Expo
Nearly 300 attended Metro’s 2nd Annual Older Adult Transportation Expo this month to learn about discounted fares and how to make mobility more accessible for older adults.
More than 20 organizations and services that help to solve mobility problems for older adults were on hand to answer questions and provide instruction on tools available for navigating Los Angeles without a car.
“Improving mobility is important to our region but it’s particularly important to those who may be wondering about a future in which they can no longer drive,” said Metro Board member Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker. “At Metro, we’re on your side. We believe it’s essential that older adults and others who are unable to drive have good mobility options.”
Among participating services and organizations were Access Services, the Accessibility Unit of Metro’s Office of Civil Rights, the Rider Relief Transportation Program, LADOT, Metrolink, Foothill Transit, Big Blue Bus, Bolt Bus, Amtrak and Pasadena Transit.
AARP representatives also were present to talk about the organization’s efforts to improve older adult mobility and how it is assisting Metro riders.
“AARP recognizes transportation as a critical link that connects older adults to social activity, economic opportunity and vital community services,” said Nancy McPherson, State Director, AARP California. “The ability for an individual to age in place in their home and community is compromised without it. Older adults need transportation to support their independence.”
Authors Jacqueline Chase and Grace Moremen were at the expo to speak about the 24 transit adventures in their book, “Loving LA the Low Carbon Way.” By using Metro buses, trains and walking, it is possible to embark on all 24 adventures without using a car.
Representatives of Metro’s newly expanded On the Move Riders Program were also available to explain how the program teaches older adults how to explore Los Angeles via Metro and other public transit options.
Metro’s Mobile Customer Center – which travels L.A. County to take TAP cards and services to underserved areas – was parked nearby so that participants could sign up for discounted fares for older adults.
The event also included a session to update attendees about Metro’s security and law enforcement efforts.
“With our new transit policing model, community policing projects and a revolutionary homeless task force, we are working diligently so that all patrons can safely ride our system,” Metro Deputy CEO Stephanie Wiggins said. “Older adults can rest assured that they will get to their destinations safely and securely.”
Metrolink Turns 25
Metrolink celebrated its 25th anniversary with a re-creation of the original iconic banner breakthrough in 1992 at Los Angeles Union Station on Friday, Oct. 27 with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, past and present Board members, member agencies, employees and riders joining in the celebration.
Metrolink is an integral part of providing transportation to the Southern California region and has made an impact on the way the region moves over the past 25 years. Eighty-two percent of Metrolink riders have an automobile, but choose to take the train to get to their destinations – more than any other public transportation agency in the area. This means that because of Metrolink’s service, there are less cars on the region’s freeways. In fact, Metrolink removes the equivalent of 1-2 lanes of parallel freeway traffic during peak hours of the area’s most popular freeways.
Now looking to the next 25 years, Metrolink is continuing to invest in its service through additional safety measures, such as Positive Train Control, and sustainability, with the debut of the Tier IV locomotives, which came into service this month, and remains one of the region’s best investments for the future.
Orange County Transportation Authority CEO Darrell Johnson, third from left, and other local officials celebrate the completion of the O.C. Bridges program in Fullerton on Oct. 24. During the last five years, the O.C. Bridges program has built a total of seven bridges and underpasses to separate car and pedestrian traffic from the busy freight rail line running through Fullerton, Anaheim and Placentia.
OCTA Marks Finish of O.C. Bridges Projects
Transportation and city officials today marked the completion of the final two underpasses in the O.C. Bridges program, which during the last five years built a total of seven bridges and underpasses to separate car and pedestrian traffic from the busy freight rail line running through Fullerton, Anaheim and Placentia.
The event held at the State College Boulevard underpass celebrated a major milestone for Orange County transportation with the completion of the $663 million O.C. Bridges program.
Each overpass and underpass constructed improves travel times, cuts air pollution by eliminating the need for cars to idle at railroad gates, and enhances safety in the community.
At least 70 trains travel the busy BNSF rail line each day, with the number of trains projected to increase to 130 trains each day by 2030. Without the bridges and underpasses, a train – some up to a mile long – would block one of the intersections every 10 minutes.
“Nobody likes having to sit in their car waiting for a train to pass. Now they don’t have to and that’s a good reason to celebrate, as each of these projects enhances safety and speeds up commute times,” said OCTA Chairman Michael Hennessey. “We greatly appreciate everybody’s patience during these several years of construction and we’re excited that the now get to experience all the benefits.”
Both Fullerton projects, as with each of the seven O.C. Bridges projects, is significantly funded by Measure M, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements renewed by Orange County voters in 2006.
Measure M funding accounts for about $157 million of the O.C. Bridges program, which helped leverage state and federal transportation to fund the rest. State funding paid the largest portion of building the grade separations, funding $262 million of the program.
The underpass at Raymond Avenue, which cost approximately $124.8 million, has already partially opened to traffic, with one lane open in each direction.
Finishing touches, including electrical work, landscaping and final striping are being completed at the State College Boulevard underpass. It cost approximately $97 million and is scheduled to open to traffic Nov. 1.
Through the O.C. Bridges program, previous underpasses have opened at Placentia Avenue and Kraemer Boulevard, as well as bridges over the rail line at Lakeview Avenue, Orangethrope Avenue, and Tustin Avenue/Rose Drive. Each of those projects is near the border of Anaheim and Placentia.
Trove of SCAG Data Open to Public
One of the many benefits SCAG offers is connecting regional stakeholders to information resources, and helping local governments make effective, data-driven decisions. SCAG also serves as a Regional Data Center for the region, in cooperation with the California State Data Center and the U.S. Census Bureau. As part of an ongoing effort to make its research and data more accessible, SCAG recently launched a GIS Open Data Portal, a cloud-based catalogue of geographic information that is fully open to the public. The data on this portal may be discovered, examined, and downloaded in a variety of formats for use in mapping and analysis. Visitors to the portal can access a variety of data on demographics, land use, transportation, administrative boundaries and more. Check it out at http://gisdata-scag.opendata.arcgis.com/
Help Caltrans Improve California’s Rail system!
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) invites all stakeholders and the public to a series of seven public open house meetings and an online webcast to comment on the draft California State Rail Plan. The Rail Plan will be available for review for 60 days between Oct. 11 and Dec. 11. Open houses for the Rail Plan will be held at various geographic locations throughout the state to present the draft vision and findings and obtain public input. Click here for the list of meetings throughout California:
- San Luis Obispo: Saturday, October 14, 2017, 10:00am-4:00pm, Central Coast Railroad Festival, San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, 1940 Santa Barbara Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 – MAP
- Fresno: Monday, October 30, 2017, 4:30-7:30pm, Historic Tower Theater, 815 E Olive Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728 – MAP
- Oakland: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 4:30-7:30pm, Oakstop Event Space, 1721 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612 – MAP
- Sacramento: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 4:30-7:30pm, Tsakopoulos Library, Galleria West Room, 828 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 – MAP
- San Diego: Monday, November 13, 2017, 4:30-7:30pm, Caltrans District 11, Garcia Room, 4050 Taylor Street, San Diego, CA 92110 – MAP
- San Bernardino: Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 4:30-7:30pm, San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot, 1170 W Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410 – MAP
- Los Angeles: Wednesday, November 15, 2017, 4:30-7:30pm, Metro Lobby, 1 Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012 – MAP
- Online Webinar: For those unable to attend in person any of the public meetings, a webinar will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 12:00-1:30pm. Join the webinar by clicking HERE.
For more info, visit: www.californiastaterailplan.com
Transportation Events in the Community
Tuesday, Nov. 7
OCBC: Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast
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Nov. 8-10
CTA: Annual Fall Conference
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Thursday, Nov. 9
SCAG: Economic Summit – The Cost of Not Housing
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Thursday, Nov. 9
WTS-SD: Thunder Talk
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Thursday, Nov. 9
WTS-LA: Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner
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Monday, Nov. 13
WTS-OC: Evening Program Featuring Contra Costa Transportation Authority
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Tuesday, Nov. 14
UCI: Protecting Your Supply Chain From Cyber Security Risks Blockchain Conference
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Tuesday, Nov. 14
COMTO SoCal: Improving and Reshaping Transportation in Southern California
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Wednesday, Nov. 15
WTS-IE: Casino Night
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Thursday, Nov. 16
OCBC: Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards Reception
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Wednesday, Dec. 6
CTC Reception in Riverside
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Thursday, Dec. 7
WTS-OC: Awards and Scholarships Gala
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Thursday, Jan. 18
WTS-IE: Scholarship & Awards Dinner
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