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2023 Mobility 21 Summit Registration Now Open!

Early bird registration is now open for the Mobility 21 Summit — California’s largest one-day transportation conference and expo on Friday, Sept. 29 at the Disneyland Hotel. “Challenge of Change,” the theme of this year’s Summit, promises to bring together more than 1,000 transportation stakeholders, industry leaders and elected officials.

Registration includes access to top industry decision-makers and elected leaders, three general sessions, a choice of eight breakout sessions and a dynamic expo hall with more than 100 exhibitors. General registration includes breakfast buffet, seated luncheon and a $50 Disney voucher available for pick-up by attendee at 4:00 PM after the Summit. Click here to book your hotel room!

Are you still thinking about sponsoring the Summit? It’s not too late! Help support Southern California’s transportation future while getting the best access, visibility and value for your marketing dollar.

Click here to view more information about the sponsorship packages or contact Kristin Slocum to sign up.

 


Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Steve Agor, P.E.
Vice President, Business Development
Skanska USA Civil

Steve Agor, Vice President Business Development for Skanska, leads business development and government affairs efforts for Skanska’s Civil Western United States business. During his 30+ years in the engineering and construction industry, Steve has led the planning, engineering and construction management of complex infrastructure projects. He enjoys working with customers, utilizing his engineering background, to find innovative solutions that work given each project’s unique constraints of the environmental impacts, community needs, budget limitations and project objectives.

Steve currently focuses on Skanska’s strategic business opportunities; including government affairs, joint venture partnering and designer teaming for alternative delivering procurements. Through these efforts, he helps Skanska teams determine the most cost-effective solution that meet or exceed project goals. Being intentional to build and lead collaborative and diverse pursuit teams, Skanska has been selected as the preferred construction partner for some of the region’s most complex and challenging infrastructure projects.

Volunteering has long been a component of Steve’s professional and personal life. He was President of the California Water Environment Association in 2005, and in addition to being a Mobility21 Advisory Board Member, Steve serves on the Boards for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Southern California Partnerships for Jobs, Transportation California and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association as well currently serving as the Infrastructure Chair for the Inland Empire Economic Partnership. At home, Steve was a 10+ year board member for Lake Forest Little League, served numerous leadership roles for Cub Scout Pack 765 and continues to volunteer as a Little League Umpire.

Steve earned his civil engineering degree from California State University Long Beach, holds a certificate in Project Management from University California Irvine (Extension) and is a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of California. Steve and his wife of nearly 30 years, Lisa, along with their three sons – Koby, Brady and Rory – and their dog Spanky, reside in Lake Forest.


Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Jim McCluskie
Vice President
Moffatt & Nichol

James (Jim) McCluskie is an infrastructure 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 ability to serve clients in the 21st century marketplace, including the all-important movement of goods in our seaports, on our highways and railways, and through the rapidly evolving technologies that support our supply chains.

Jim also serves as Project Executive for the $1.9 billion I-405 Improvement Project and oversees a regional staff of more than 220 professionals in five Southern California offices.

As an active member of the Southern California business community, Jim is currently a member-at-large for the Chamber’s Officers and Leadership Cabinet, to which he was nominated for a 3-year term ending June 30, 2025.
Throughout his career, Jim has actively worked on major infrastructure projects through design-build, public-private partnerships, and design-build-finance-operate procurement methods, bringing value through his strategic management skills in long-range planning and programming.

Moffatt & Nichol provides planning, design, economic, optimization, and strategic advisory services to infrastructure clients in North and South America, and to global supply chain clients worldwide.


OCTA Invests More Than $37 Million in Local Streets

Cities throughout Orange County will receive more than $37 million in transportation sales tax funds to help ease traffic by making improvements to streets and timing of traffic lights.

The Orange County Transportation Authority board in April awarded funding for seven projects that will improve and widen busy streets and intersections, totaling more than $33 million.

Three additional projects will receive funding to synchronize traffic signals to ensure drivers hit the most green lights during peak traffic hours. That funding totals nearly $4 million. The funds are available through Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, also known as OC Go.

“Because OCTA is able to get this money to cities across Orange County on a competitive basis each year, it ensures that we keep our commitment to voters to continue improving our transportation network for safe and efficient travel,” said OCTA Chairman Gene Hernandez, also the Mayor of Yorba Linda.

Since the sales tax measure was renewed by voters in 2006, more than $519 million in competitive funding has been awarded to make Orange County streets better. That amount includes external funding leveraged by the local sales tax dollars. And that’s in addition to another $500 million-plus in formula funding that goes directly to cities in orange County.

Those receiving funds for projects include: Irvine, Santa Ana (four projects) and Yorba Linda (two projects).

Cities receiving funds for traffic signal synchronization include: Irvine and Mission Viejo (two projects).

The most recent call for projects was issued by OCTA in summer 2022 through the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program, making funding available on a competitive basis for projects that will improve congested streets and synchronize traffic signals.

Project applications were reviewed for eligibility, consistency and adherence to the program guidelines.

“This program shows how our ongoing strong partnerships with cities across the county continue to fulfill the promises made to voters through Measure M and improves transportation for everyone who lives, works or visits Orange County,” said OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson.


 

SCAG’s Connect SoCal 2024:
Attend a Workshop or Pop-up Event

Every four years, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) updates its visionary plan for the future of the region, Connect SoCal. This process is now underway, and they want to hear from you.

Join SCAG at a public workshop or pop-up event to learn more about the plan, ask questions and provide input. The purpose of these events is to gather input from each community to establish planning priorities for the next 20 to 30 years.
Workshops will be held throughout SCAG’s six-county region to provide a variety of opportunities to connect with them. SCAG expects to add more events soon, so please look out for updates.

Find a workshop or pop-up event near you at scag.ca.gov/connect-socal-workshops.

In addition to the workshops and pop-ups, you can share your thoughts on important issues affecting the Southern California region by taking a short survey.


Freeway Service Patrol award winners show off their awards with fellow drivers in March.

RCTC Salutes FSP Drivers Who Aid Thousands in Western Riverside County

The Riverside County Transportation Commission honored the best and the brightest among its Freeway Service Patrol drivers at the annual Drivers’ Awards meeting in March. The awards recognized outstanding drivers and showed heartfelt appreciation to all tow truck drivers who provided exceptional service last year to motorists on our busiest highways in Riverside County.

The Freeway Service Patrol – or FSP – is a partnership between RCTC, the California Highway Patrol, and Caltrans to help stranded motorists with speedy roadside assistance. The assists keep motorists safe and allow traffic to keep flowing in western Riverside County.

Got a flat tire, a dead battery, overheated engine, or bone-dry gas tank? FSP drivers swoop in to make these repairs and more at no charge. If they can’t get you back on the road, they will tow your vehicle to a designated CHP location.

The award-winning drivers were:

  • David Camberos, Top Driver
  • Oswaldo Bribiezcas and John Materne, Drivers of Excellence
  • Santiago Atilano, People’s Choice Award
  • Jose Huerta, Rookie of the Year

“The most rewarding part of this job is assisting people,” said Camberos, who snagged the Top Driver award. “Many times, they have children in the car and they’re panicking because they don’t know what to do. Getting them off the freeway or getting them on their way is the most rewarding part,” he said.

FSP drivers make a big difference in the lives of western Riverside County motorists. In 2022 alone, the program helped 63,550 county motorists stalled on local highways. The program was founded in 1993 and soon will mark 30 years of service in our county.

Motorist Irene C. had high praise for Atilano, who earned the People’s Choice Award. “He was heaven sent. From the minute he first made contact with me, he made sure that we were all safe. The company is lucky to have him,” she said.

Rookie of the Year honoree Huerta also received kudos. Veronica H. said, “It could potentially be a life saver. We were three older women stranded in a very dangerous part of the 215 South with lots of traffic and trucks. My car suddenly ran extremely hot, and we had to pull over and we had no water. We thank God for this angel.”

Across the state, Riverside County is ranked as providing one of the highest benefit/cost FSP programs. The program is funded by Caltrans and RCTC and operates on Interstates 15 and 215 and Routes 60 and 91.

To learn more about this popular program, visit www.rctc.org/fsp


Starting Monday, April 17, passenger service through San Clemente will safely resume between Orange and San Diego counties with the installation of the final row of ground anchors.

Metrolink, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Rail Service Ready to Roll Again Following OCTA’s Emergency Stabilization Effort

All regular Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service is scheduled to resume beginning Monday, April 17, after the Orange County Transportation Authority’s emergency construction work has been successful in stopping slope movement and stabilizing the tracks in south San Clemente.

Metrolink and Pacific Surfliner passengers are asked to check metrolinktrains.com and pacificsurfliner.com/alerts for the latest updates on rail service and schedules.

“This emergency work has posed an unprecedented challenge, especially with the heavy rainfall this season, and we’re very pleased to announce that passenger service can safely resume on this key stretch of Southern California rail,” said OCTA Chairman Gene Hernandez, also the mayor of Yorba Linda. “We greatly appreciate the public’s patience and their understanding that ensuring passenger safety is always the first priority.”

Metrolink plans to resume all regular passenger rail service along its Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines through San Clemente, once again serving Oceanside seven days a week.

“I am very excited about Metrolink resuming service to and from Oceanside,” said Metrolink Board Chair Larry McCallon, who is also the mayor of the City of Highland in San Bernardino County. “I know the residents of the Inland Empire are looking forward to again taking the train to the beach. I encourage everyone to return to using our rail service to and from the beach areas as the nice weather returns to Southern California. I want to thank our partners at OCTA for their diligence and coordination as we both worked toward ensuring the continued safety of our rail service.”

The LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the popular Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service, has operated weekend service through the work area since the first row of stabilizing ground anchors were installed in early February. Full service, every day of the week, is set to resume on Monday from San Diego to Orange County and destinations further north. A bus connection between Oceanside and Irvine will no longer be required.

“The reopening of the tracks in San Clemente restores vital intercity rail connections between San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo,” said Jason Jewell, Managing Director of the LOSSAN Agency. “We thank our customers for their patience during this extended construction period and look forward to welcoming them back next week.”

OCTA officials reported during today’s OCTA Board of Directors meeting that the construction has been effective in stopping movement of the track. Crews this week will finish installing and locking off the second row of grade beam panels and ground anchor tiebacks that are stabilizing the privately owned hillside next to the track.

Geotechnical experts have confirmed that the more than 200 ground anchors drilled into the bedrock along the 700 feet of track have halted its movement.

Inclinometers monitoring for any hillside and track movement have shown no movement since the first row of tiebacks and ground anchors were finished in early February. The second row was added for additional stabilization.

Site conditions continue to be monitored with passenger safety the top priority.

Recurring heavy rains since the project began in October led to delays in the construction schedule. The construction work is being completed on a privately owned slope along 700 feet of rail between the ocean and homes above in the Cyprus Shore Homeowners Association, south of the San Clemente Pier.

The work has involved drilling large steel 130-foot-long ground anchors into the bedrock of the slope adjacent to the railroad track to prevent it from pushing the track further toward the ocean. The track had moved as much as 28 inches between September 2021 and September 2022 because of storm surge and sand erosion on the coastal side and the gradually sliding hillside on the other.

Passenger rail service, including Amtrak and Metrolink, was stopped in late September out of an abundance of caution and to allow for the emergency repairs.

OCTA and its contractors will continue to work in the project area to cover the retaining wall and replant native vegetation. OCTA is working with necessary state and federal agencies to mitigate impacts from the emergency project.

At the same time, OCTA has set a framework for studying longer-term solutions to address threats to the coastal rail line. The first step is to work with all stakeholders and to partner with appropriate agencies to better understand what is causing the threat and to work on continuing to protect the tracks in place. At the same time, longer-term solutions will be explored for uninterrupted rail service, which could include moving the rail line.

OCTA is working with state and federal officials to secure necessary funding to pay for the longer-term studies and for the current construction. The current emergency work cost is approximately $13.7 million. In October, when the OCTA board approved the construction, the California Transportation Commission met in a special session and approved $6 million in emergency funding to help cover that cost.

OCTA is the owner of 40 miles of track stretching through Orange County, including the 8 miles along the coast through Dana Point and San Clemente. To date, OCTA has invested more than $2 billion in the rail corridor, including $1.3 billion in capital improvements.

For project updates, visit octa.net/railimprovements.


ITS California and California Transportation Foundation 2023 Scholarships

ITS California and CTF are now accepting applications for their scholarship to advance academic studies and careers in the field of ITS. Eligible students must be Masters/Ph.D. students in an accredited university in California, studying any ITS-related field including, for example, engineering, computer science, transportation planning, or public policy.

Apply today!