Mobility 21 to Host 8th Annual
Sacramento Legislative Reception
Please join the Mobility 21 Board of Directors and Advisory Board Members in honoring California’s transportation leaders at a reception in Sacramento.
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The Citizen Hotel
926 J Street, Sacramento
Sponsor the Event
$2,000 Host Level
Includes complimentary attendance for 5 and logo on event marketing and signage
$1,000 Support Level
Includes complimentary attendance for 2 and logo on event marketing and signage
$500 Small Business Level
Includes complimentary attendance for 1 and logo on event marketing and signage
Contact Kristin Slocum to sponsor the event.
Registration
$95 Private Sector
$45 Public Sector/Nonprofit
Elected Officials and Elected Staff complimentary
Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Ryan Chamberlain
Chief Executive Officer
Transportation Corridor Agencies
Ryan Chamberlain serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Transportation Corridor Agencies, overseeing the strategic planning, operations, and management for one of California’s largest toll road networks.
For over 25 years, Ryan Chamberlain has been a leader in transportation and mobility solutions at the regional and state level working in both the public and private sector.
Early in his career, Chamberlain served as a transportation and environmental planner working on large-scale projects throughout California. Prior to being selected to head Orange County’s 51-mile toll road system, he was the District 12 Director of Caltrans, responsible for planning, construction operations and maintenance of the state’s transportation system in Orange County, which encompasses over 2,000 lane miles of highway.
During his time with Caltrans, Chamberlain was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as Chief Deputy Director for Caltrans overseeing statewide internal operations for over 20,000 Caltrans employees and a budget that exceeded $13 billion.
A native of California, Chamberlain graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and an emphasis in Urban Planning.
Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
John Engstrom
Operations and Business Development Manager
Bechtel Infrastructure, California
John Engstrom is Bechtel Infrastructure’s Operations and Business Development Manager for California, based in the Los Angeles office. He is responsible for the pursuit, development and delivery of new projects in our Transportation and Civil sectors. Since joining Bechtel in 1995, John has worked on transformative mobility projects including the Boston Central Artery Tunnel (one of the largest and most complex projects in one of the oldest cities in the United States), and the critical 250-mile motorway connecting Bra?ov and Bor? in Romania.
In California, he served as Program Manager for Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority’s 10-mile BART extension into San Jose. Opening in 2020, this critical project connected residents, workers and visitors to the greater BART network and greater Bay Area. Most recently, he served as Program Manager for the Riverside County Transportation Commission, assisting the client advance critical projects such as the SR-60 widening and I-15 Express Lanes, which addressed congestion and safety for the commuters in Riverside County.
As a second-generation Bechtel employee and third-generation civil engineer, John has enjoyed working all over the world, creating new opportunities for communities to connect and prosper through infrastructure investment. John earned two Bachelor’s degrees from Arizona State University; Civil Engineering and English, and a Master’s degree in Construction Engineering & Management from Stanford University. He is a licensed civil engineer in California and lives with his family in La Habra.
Motorists Travelling on RCTC’s Newly Opened 15/91 Express Lane Connectors.
More Connections: The New 15/91 Express Lanes Connector is Open
Drivers have a new connection to westbound 91 and northbound 15 Express Lanes. With much anticipation from the commuting public, the Riverside County Transportation Commission is excited to announce the new 15/91 Express Lanes Connector opened just before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend!
“The 15/91 Express Lanes Connector was a vital missing piece of the 91 Express Lanes Project in Riverside County. With the opening of the connector, a regional link now exists so that our residents can have a reliable trip within and outside our County, “said RCTC Second-Vice Chair and Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel. “Building transportation infrastructure takes time. RCTC completed this project in record time so that our residents can get home faster to be with friends and family,” she said.
The new connector allows for a seamless transition from the eastbound 91 to northbound 15 and southbound 15 to westbound 91 Express Lanes. In addition to the new connector, the project also extended the outside lane on the eastbound 91 through the I-15 interchange to the Promenade overcrossing. With this improvement, the eastbound 91 Express Lanes were extended approximately one-half mile, helping vehicles merge in the area.
“Over the last two years, I have seen the new connector being built by our hard-working crews. Residents along the 15 and the 91 will benefit from having a reliable trip for generations,” said Commissioner Berwin Hanna and Norco City Councilmember. “The 15/91 Express Lanes Connector will help drivers in the northwest get to their businesses and homes promptly while keeping our communities connected,” he said.
The 15/91 Express Lanes Connector is RCTC’s third toll system opening in the past six years, with the first 91 Express Lanes opening in Corona in 2017 and the 15 Express Lanes opening in 2021. Senate Bill 132 (2017) provided $180 million of the $270 million project cost. Toll revenue generated by the 91 Express Lanes covered the remaining $90 million. During construction, the project created more than 2,300 quality construction jobs for our local economy.
To use the lanes and the new connector, be sure you have a properly mounted FasTrak® transponder in your vehicle, linked to a prepaid account. If you don’t have an account, you may open one at riversideexpress.com or by calling 855-951-1500. A FasTrak® transponder issued by any California toll agency will be accepted. Drivers will pay the rate shown for each travel segment when they enter the lanes. Rates will adjust on both the 91 and 15 Express Lanes based on real-time traffic conditions to help maintain free-flowing travel conditions.
In the weeks ahead, RCTC will monitor traffic conditions throughout the toll systems to ensure efficient and smooth operations. All toll systems in Riverside County have switched to dynamic pricing to ensure traffic flows smoothly, resulting in a reliable trip regardless of day and time. Dynamic pricing rates are based on real-time traffic conditions and the congestion level within the toll lanes. Tolls may change as frequently as every three minutes and will be reflected on the Express Lanes signs.
Carpools of three or more per vehicle with an active account and a FasTrak® Flex (switchable) transponder will pay a 50% discounted rate or ride for free for a limited time. If you ride a motorcycle, you may use the lanes for no charge. Drivers of zero-emission vehicles will receive a 15% discount. For more information, please visit riversideexpress.com.
OCTA board members join CEO Darrell E. Johnson at a dedication event commemorating the completion of the I-405 Improvement Project on Friday, Dec. 1. Photo courtesy of the Orange County Transportation Authority.
I-405 Improvements Open, Bringing Traffic Relief from Central O.C. to the L.A. County Line
Transportation leaders and elected officials gathered recently to celebrate the successful completion of the Orange County Transportation Authority’s I-405 Improvement Project, which aims to improve travel times along one of the nation’s busiest highways.
The opening of one new regular lane in each direction and the 405 Express Lanes took place on Dec. 1, providing a faster and more reliable commute for the hundreds of thousands of drivers who traverse this stretch of freeway each day.
“I am immensely proud to announce the successful completion of the I-405 Improvement Project, the largest undertaking in OCTA’s history,” said OCTA Chairman Gene Hernandez, also the mayor of Yorba Linda. “OCTA’s delivery of this project showcases our commitment to Orange County’s voters and to improving the quality of life for everyone who lives, works or travels through this area.”
A Faster Future Unveiled
The I-405 Improvement Project, constructed in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation, broke ground in 2018, and was a cornerstone of Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation. The project is expected to improve travel times along this 16-mile stretch of freeway and accommodate an expected growth in employment, population and housing throughout the region.
The project added one regular lane in each direction of I-405 between Euclid Street in Fountain Valley and I-605 in Seal Beach, as promised to voters through Measure M. It also made improvements to streets and freeway on- and off-ramps, and reconstructed 18 bridges, many now featuring new sidewalks and bike lanes.
“Whether you commute daily, choose to use the 405 Express Lanes, or opt for biking and walking through our communities, the I-405 Improvement Project is a testament to our commitment to enhancing Orange County’s transportation system,” said OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the residents, businesses and commuters for their patience during construction as we worked to create a faster and more efficient future in Southern California.”
Live Life on Time
The project also created the 405 Express Lanes between SR-73 in Costa Mesa and I-605 at the Orange County border with Los Angeles County, offering options to carpoolers to travel for free and solo drivers the choice to speed up their commute for a toll.
Operated by OCTA, the 405 Express Lanes is two lanes in each direction in the center of the freeway. All vehicles are required to have a FasTrak transponder and a valid account with any toll agency in California to enter the 405 Express Lanes. The FasTrak transponder can be from any agency in California.
Tolls will vary by hour, day of the week, direction of travel and distance traveled, and will be adjusted regularly to ensure a free-flowing commute.
Vehicles with three or more people, along with motorcycles and vehicles with designated veterans license plates, will always get to travel on the 405 Express Lanes for free with a FasTrak transponder and a valid account with any toll agency in California. Vehicles with a disabled person license plate will also get to travel for free on the 405 Express Lanes with a FasTrak transponder and a valid 405 Express Lanes account.
All vehicles are required to have a FasTrak transponder, which can be used on any toll facility in California, and a valid account. To take advantage of the free tolls for carpoolers on the 405 Express Lanes, drivers must have a switchable FasTrak Flex transponder.
Drivers can enter or exit the facility from I-405, SR-73, SR-22 and I-605. In addition, drivers on I-405 can enter or exit the 405 Express Lanes at Magnolia Street / Warner Avenue, and Bolsa Avenue / Goldenwest Street, providing opportunities to reach every interchange and business along the corridor.
Investing in a Better Commute
The $2.16 billion I-405 Improvement Project was financed with a combination of local, state and federal funds, with the majority of funding from Measure M.
The express lanes portion of the project is not funded with local sales tax dollars but instead is paid for through a $629 million federal Transportation Infrastructure and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan that will be repaid solely by drivers who choose to pay a toll. Toll revenue collected beyond what it costs to repay the loan will fund transportation improvements for everyone who travels through the 405 corridor – whether or not they choose to use the express lanes.
The I-405 Improvement Project was designed and constructed by OC 405 Partners, a joint venture of OHLA USA, Inc. and Astaldi Construction Corporation. Kapsch TrafficCom USA is responsible for the tolling and traffic management systems of the 405 Express Lanes. A team led by WSP USA is responsible for the 405 Express Lanes customer service operations and ETC, LLC is responsible for the back-office system for the 405 Express Lanes.
“This entire project has been a model of successful strategic cooperation from the stakeholder and community engagement to the work of our private-sector partners, as well as the coordination with the State of California, the Federal Highway Administration and local cities, I want to thank each individual, organization and agency that came together to bring this project to life,” Johnson said.
While the bulk of the work is now complete, crews will be putting the finishing touches on the project through the first few months of 2024.
For more information about the 405 Express Lanes, visit 405ExpressLanes.com.
For general information about the project, visit octa.net/405Improvement.