Oct. 28, 2010
Transportation Officials Seek Solutions at Annual Summit
Friday’s event brings leaders together to keep Southern California moving during tough economy
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Facing a stubborn economy that is taking longer to recover, transportation officials and business leaders are joining forces to highlight that “transportation projects will accelerate much-needed job creation and be the antidote for the recession,” said Marnie Primmer, Executive Director of Mobility 21, Southern California’s transportation coalition.
Approximately 800 transportation, business and political leaders from throughout Southern California will converge upon the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on Friday, Oct. 29 for the ninth annual Southern California Transportation Summit to highlight critical transportation challenges and seek ways to deliver infrastructure projects to meet the immediate needs for Southern California’s 21 million residents and future population growth.
“Since 2002, Mobility 21 has been fighting to bring more investments to Southern California for better roads, more public transit and improved transportation options for our region,” said Mobility 21 Chairman Steve Finnegan of the Automobile Club of Southern California. “Investing in transportation strengthens our economy, creates jobs, reduces congestion and improves traffic safety. Mobility 21 is more than just an annual summit – we’re an advocacy coalition.”
Notable conference speakers and attendees include:
- Don Knabe, County of Los Angeles Supervisor, L.A. Metro Chair and Metrolink Board Member
- Kathy Long, County of Ventura Supervisor and Ventura County Transportation Commissioner
- Greg Pettis, Cathedral City Councilmember, Riverside County Transportation Commission Vice Chairman and Metrolink Board Member
- Brad Mitzelfelt, County of San Bernardino Supervisor and San Bernardino Associated Governments President
- Keith Millhouse, Metrolink Chair, Ventura County Transportation Commissioner and City of Moorpark Councilmember
- Lori Holt Pfeiler, Escondido Mayor and San Diego Association of Governments Board Member
- Curt Pringle, Anaheim Mayor, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Director and California High-Speed Rail Authority Chair
Transportation officials from Washington, D.C. also are participating in the important summit with these dignitaries: California Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Dale Bonner, State Senator Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove.
Mobility 21 will honor California Transportation Commissioner Joseph Tavaglione with a leader of the year award. The group will also present Buena Park Mayor and OCTA Director Art Brown, Congresswoman Diane Watson, D-Los Angeles, and former California Transportation Commissioner Larry Zarian with lifetime achievement awards during a special ceremony at noon.
Chief executive officers from the region’s transportation commissions will participate at the daylong conference and close the summit with a candid look at what’s ahead for Southern California’s transportation system and highlight millions of dollars of ready-to-go transportation projects that, if accelerated now through federal funds, could create or save thousands of jobs and jumpstart the economy.
TV personality Huell Howser, host of the popular show, “California’s Gold,” will serve as the conference’s master of ceremonies.
Participants at the conference will take part in a dynamic expo featuring 75 exhibitors and may choose from these breakout sessions:
Track 1 – Show Me the Money: How Transportation Can Survive in an Era of Dwindling Investment
Track 2 – Boots on the Ground: Using Creative Project Advancement Options to Make Projects Happen
Track 3 – Moving Goods, Creating Jobs
Track 4 – Reality Check: Practical Applications of Sustainability and Livability Goals
Track 5 – Power to the People: How Social Media Can Help Empower Your Stakeholders
The summit runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Different transportation options are available to the Disneyland Hotel. For more information, view the event program, visit the event website or watch live-streaming of the general sessions.
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