2019 Mobility 21 Summit Sponsorships Now Open

Sponsorships for the 18th annual Southern California Transportation Summit are now open to the general public! Join us for California’s largest one-day transportation event on Friday, Sept. 27 at the Disneyland Hotel.

2019 Summit sponsors will experience:

  • Access to public and private sector transportation decision-makers
  • Visibility at California’s largest one-day transportation Summit and Expo
  • Pre-event publicity to transportation sector professionals
  • Networking with 1,200+ business partners, clients, elected leaders and speakers
  • Value for your investment with highly competitive sponsorship rates

Click here to view the sponsorship packages. E-mail Kristin Slocum for more details or call 949.288.6884.

 

2019 Mobility 21 Sacramento Advocacy Trip

Mobility 21 held its annual Sacramento delegation trip on Feb. 5, 2019. The 42-person delegation from Southern California’s leading public and private transportation organizations met with more than 31 State legislators and their staff, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Jim Frazier. 

Check out Mobility 21’s Facebook page for more photos from the trip.

Mobility 21 to Co-host Reception Honoring California Transportation Commission in Los Angeles

Please join the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Metro, Metrolink, Mobility 21 and Southern California Association of Governments on Wednesday, March 13 for a reception honoring the California Transportation Commission (CTC).

Wednesday, March 13, 5-7 p.m.
Los Angeles Union Station Ticket Concourse

Registration
$35 Private Sector
$10 Public Sector, Nonprofits, Students
Elected officials complimentary
https://2019ctcla.eventbrite.com

Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Farid Hamad Vice President- Operations, West Lane Construction Corporation

Farid has been with Lane for more than 33 years. He began his career as a Job Engineer in 1985 and has steadily worked his way up to his current position of Vice President of Western Region of the USA. Prior to this position he was President of Lane Worldwide Infrastructure, Inc. He was assigned to the Middle East region including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Since joining Lane, he has established long-term relationships with owners such as the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Farid’s experience and expertise for airports have helped Lane work continuously at Washington Dulles International Airport for the past 20 years. In 2010, Farid was the driving force behind Lane’s move to expand internationally, specifically in the Middle East. Farid’s construction experience, negotiation skills, and understanding of client needs and wants will lead the way for successful enterprises within Lane’s corporate structure.

Vice president, Western Region USA  (2018 – Present)

Executive responsibility for expansion of Lane activities into the western Region of the USA. Currently overseeing the Gerald desmon Bridge Project and the newly awarded I-10 Express Lanes Project in San Bernardino County in Southern California.

President of Lane Worldwide Infrastructure, Inc. (2011 – 2018)

Responsible for all construction contracts in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.  Establish relationships with international owners and partners. Strategic planning and business development in the region to align with corporate goals. Lane’s International operations was merged with Salini Impregilo’s Middle East operations once the merger with SI and Lane was completed.

Regional Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Region (2008 – 2011)

Held overall executive responsibility for one of Lane’s biggest projects, the $1.34 billion I-495 Capital Beltway Express (HOT) Lanes project. Farid also oversaw a $112.6 million contract for utility work as part of a 23-mile extension of Dulles’s Metrorail system.

Mid-Atlantic Regional District Manager (2003 – 2008)

Responsible for all construction contracts in the Mid-Atlantic region of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Farid held overall responsibility for the performance of the region’s Chantilly office, which yielded more than $400 million in yearly revenue. 

Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Larry Labrado, Principal Manager, Government Relations Southern California Edison

Larry Labrado is principal manager of government relations at Southern California Edison (SCE) and is known for his ability to dissect complex issues, build diverse coalitions, and move complicated projects forward. In this capacity, Larry leads a team of government affairs professionals in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties who serve as the primary point of contact to business, community, and elected leaders. Larry provides strategic counsel to SCE executive leadership and cultivates external relationships on behalf of the Company to secure support for key corporate initiatives and infrastructure projects.
           
Prior to his current assignment, Larry served as SCE’s region director of public affairs and previously was responsible for nuclear energy/grid reliability and ports/goods movement policy areas and began his tenure with SCE in 2003.

Before joining SCE, Larry held the position of legislative affairs manager for the Orange County Water District, where he oversaw local, state, and federal public policy efforts of the agency and was pivotal in helping the agency secure state and federal funding for the Groundwater Replenishment System. In addition, he served as the associate director of advocacy for government relations at Cal State Fullerton, executive aide to the Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and communications and development manager for Coro Southern California.

Larry is currently a board member of Orange County Business Council and Association of California Cities; and has previously served on numerous association and community boards including FuturePorts, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and OCTA’s Community Advisory Council.

In 2012, Larry was recognized by OC Metro Magazine as one of the 40 Under 40 leading the way in Orange County and in 2008, Larry was honored by Edison International (EIX) as the recipient of the inaugural Chairman’s Award for outstanding performance while living EIX’s values and reinforcing the company’s commitment to building a high-performing culture. 

Larry holds a BA in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton. He resides in the community of North Tustin with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children, Maddy, Mia, and Max. 

Metro Partners with Getaround to Offer Car Sharing at 27 Transit Stations

Metro has announced a partnership with the San Francisco-based company Getaround to offer an affordable and hassle-free car sharing service at more than 25 busy Metro transit park-and-ride lots throughout Los Angeles County.

Getaround allows people to instantly rent and drive cars owned by people in their city. All cars shared on Getaround are equipped with a device that allows users to instantly book, locate and unlock the car through the Getaround app, eliminating the reliance on a physical exchange of keys between owner and renter. The Getaround mobile application is available on both iPhone and Android platforms.

This partnership helps Metro riders and others complete their first- and last-mile connections. Getaround is licensed to occupy 110 carshare parking spaces at 27 Metro transit station lots. Locations were chosen to prioritize equability for communities that need affordable car share services.

Locations span the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, South Bay, South L.A. and Westside, with prices depending on the vehicle type and beginning at $5 per hour. Getaround includes collision and liability insurance for every trip. Metro riders will receive $25 off their first booking by signing up at get.co/metro .

Metro customers interested in listing their cars and joining Getaround’s carsharing community should visitget.co/sharemetro.

Getaround carshare locations are available at these Metro stations:

  • Expo Line: 17th Street/SMC Station, Expo/Bundy Station, Expo/Sepulveda Station, La Cienega/Jefferson Station.
  • Gold Line: Lincoln/Cypress Station, Heritage Square Station, Sierra Madre Villa Station.
  • Green Line: Redondo Beach Station, El Segundo Station, Aviation/LAX Station, Hawthorne/Lennox Station, Crenshaw Station, Vermont/Athens Station.
  • Orange Line: Sherman Way Station, Canoga Station, Pierce College Station, Reseda Station, Balboa Station, Sepulveda Station, Van Nuys Station.
  • Red Line: North Hollywood Station, Universal City Station, Westlake/MacArthur Station.
  • Blue Line: Artesia Station, Del Amo Station, Wardlow Station, Willow Station.

The program is managed by Metro’s Parking Management Department. If successful, Metro and Getaround may consider adding carshare services to additional park-and-ride spots later this year.

Metro originally created its car share program with Zipcar in 2015. The Zipcar car-share network consists of 13 vehicles at eight high-demand transit stations on the Metro system

Metro is also piloting additional ride sharing initiatives through its Office of Extraordinary Innovation. Metro recently launched a partnership with Via to offer shared, on-demand rides to and from three stations. Metro has also implemented bike sharing in downtown Los Angeles, San Pedro and Venice, with plans to soon expand its bike share network to the Central downtown L.A. and West L.A. area.

Registration Now Open for SCAG’s 54th Annual Regional Conference & General Assembly

Tickets for SCAG’s premier regional leadership event are now available – register today! The 54th SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly will convene on May 1-3 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, CA. This year’s theme, “Beyond Boundaries,” is about transcending the jurisdictional boundaries of individual cities and counties to plan for the whole region. The event’s panel topics will lay the foundation for Connect SoCal – the 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy and will explore what it means to truly connect a region of 191 cities, identify paths to strengthening leadership and community-building around traffic safety, and provide tangible strategies for harnessing new technologies to benefit everyone. Nearly 1,000 of Southern California’s most influential leaders and innovators are expected to attend, including local elected officials, CEOs, business and civic leaders, transportation and environmental stakeholders, local government staff and others. In addition to providing unbeatable networking opportunities, the conference will send attendees home with fresh insights and new resources to help them better address future challenges in their own communities. This event is free for elected officials and city managers in the SCAG region. For other attendees, a special early bird registration rate of $250 will be available until April 5.

Orange County Transportation Authority Chairman Tim Shaw, also a La Habra City Councilman, speaks about the benefits of the new Bravo! 529 bus route, offering limited-stop service between Fullerton and Huntington Beach, during a kick-off event Thursday, Feb. 7 at Golden West College. The service runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Photo courtesy of OCTA.

OCTA Launches New Quicker Bus Route on Beach Boulevard

The Orange County Transportation Authority in February launched a new limited-stop bus route on Beach Boulevard to help riders get more quickly to work, school and other destinations between Fullerton and Huntington Beach.

Bravo! 529 began service on Monday, Feb. 11 to provide a quicker commute along the popular Route 29, which runs mostly along Beach Boulevard between the Fullerton Park and Ride and Huntington Beach’s Goldenwest Transportation Center.

A commemoration event was held to announce the launch of the service at Golden West College, one of the many destinations served by the new route.

“We are excited to introduce this service that will allow commuters to reach major destinations throughout the county faster and more conveniently,” said OCTA Chairman Tim Shaw. “The new Bravo! 529 is another example of our efforts to better meet the community’s needs by increasing transit options in areas with higher demand.”

The specially branded orange and blue Bravo! buses run along Beach Boulevard, making stops near popular employment and shopping centers, as well as tourist attractions such as Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park and Adventure City in Stanton.

The new service operates Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., making stops at 13 locations, instead of the typical 34 stops on the regular bus route that serves Beach Boulevard.

Compared to the regular Route 29, the Bravo! route gives commuters an average travel-time savings of up to 10 minutes. It also connects to 12 of the county’s most popular bus routes, helping riders travel more efficiently throughout Orange County.

The new Bravo! route costs the same as regular service – $2 per boarding, or $5 for a one-day pass.

The launch of Bravo! 529 is part of OC Bus 360°, OCTA’s ongoing effort to improve bus service and increase the efficiency of transit throughout the county by better matching service to rider demands.

Bus customers, who have asked for more frequent service with fewer stops, have responded favorably to the quicker service. This is the third limited-stop Bravo! line introduced in Orange County since 2013, when OCTA launched Bravo! 543 along Harbor Boulevard.

That route is traveled by nearly 3,500 riders daily and has attracted more than 6.4 million boardings in its nearly six years of operation.

A second Bravo! line, Route 560, was introduced between Santa Ana and Long Beach in 2016, and an average of just more than 3,000 riders take that service every weekday.

Bravo! Route 529 is funded in part by the Federal Transit Administration and by state funds from the state’s Low Carbon Transit Operations Program, which helps fund transit projects that reduce air pollution.For more information on the new Bravo! route, visit octa.net/bravo.

Crews grade the Interstate 15 median in Norco to prepare for paving. RCTC’s 15 Express Lanes Project is adding express lanes to northbound and southbound I-15 between Route 60 and Cajalco Road through the cities of Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco and Corona.

Construction Activity Continuing on 15 Express Lanes

RCTC is making steady progress on construction of the Interstate 15 Express Lanes, and work is now about one-third complete. The new lanes will span 15 miles – from State Route 60 to Cajalco Road – and remain on schedule to open in 2020. A specific opening date has not been determined at this time.

Along the corridor, paving, bridge widening, and soundwall construction are continuing. Major milestones include:
Completing two bridges, with four other bridges in various stages of widening. Crews are widening a total of 11 bridges. Work will start in late February on the El Cerrito Bridge.

  • Finishing four of the six soundwalls. The final two soundwalls will be finished this spring.
  • Paving various roadway sections within the I-15 median.
  • Maintaining an accident and injury-free record during the first year of construction.

RCTC is using several innovations to improve project efficiency and decrease effects to motorists.

A design-build method is speeding up project delivery. This method uses the same designer and contractor, which saves time and costs while ensuring quality.

Construction innovations also are in place. An on-site cement plant, called a “batch plant,” was built to reduce the distance for crews to haul cement to the paving machines. Crews also installed a conveyor belt at the batch plant to allow trucks to be loaded and travel within the median. 

The project team continues to coordinate with the neighboring Limonite Avenue Interchange Project, led by the County of Riverside, and the Cajalco Road Interchange Project, led by the City of Corona. Teams are working closely and to ensure that all three projects to stay on schedule.

A robust construction schedule is planned for the next 12 months. Watch for more roadway paving, continued widening of bridges, and installing the tolling system infrastructure. Once the lanes are closer to completion, information will be available about the opening date, toll schedules, and account options.  

The 15 Express Lanes team reminds motorists to be alert of construction activities and reduced speeds within the project corridor. Please allow extra travel time, follow posted detours, and avoid distracted driving. 

To stay informed through weekly construction updates, register at 15project.info or text 15Express to 22828 to get started. Please follow the project on social media @15expresslanes. 

Orange County’s Competitive Advantage In Arts Highlighted At Annual Dinner

Business and the arts were in perfect alignment on Thursday as local musicians, performers, and visionary leaders celebrated “The Art of Business. The Business of Art.” with more than 600 business executives, academic leaders, and elected officials at Orange County Business Council’s Annual Dinner and Installation of the organization’s 2019 Board of Directors.  Robbin Narike Preciado, Managing Director and Regional President of Union Bank, was sworn in as Chair of OCBC’s Board of Directors.

Carl St. Clair, Music Director of Pacific Symphony, led the first address of the evening, kicking off the 2019 theme with a tribute to Orange County’s vibrant arts community and arts organizations.

The evening also featured a panel discussion among four leaders highlighting Orange County’s high arts “IQ” as a competitive advantage for businesses, which should not be taken for granted, but rather nurtured and supported. Moderated by Dr. Jim Doti, Professor and President Emeritus of Chapman University, philanthropic panelists included Joann Leatherby, President of Leatherby Family Foundation; Emile Haddad, Chairman, CEO and President of FivePoint Holdings, LLC; S. Paul Musco, Founder and Chairman of Gemini Industries, and leading donor for Orange County artistic venues including Chapman University’s Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts; and Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of Orange County Business Council.

In recognition of its 2019 theme: ‘The Art of Business. The Business of Art.’, OCBC highlighted Orange County’s history which has taken advantage of the alignment of art and business to great success, including: Madame Helena Modjeska, considered the greatest Shakespearean actress of her time, who emigrated to Anaheim in 1868 bringing artists and actors from all over the world to visit Orange County; Roy Ropp, who founded the annual Pageant of the Masters festival in 1933 to attract visitors to the nascent arts community in Laguna Beach; Walt Disney, who purchased 160 acres of land in Anaheim in 1955 to construct Disneyland as a place for fans to visit, developing into a global media and entertainment phenomenon; and Henry Segerstrom, who built the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in 1986, establishing a new level of culture in Orange Countywith a privately funded arts center, today an internationally-renowned complex home to world-class performing artists.

“Why did OCBC choose ‘The Art of Business. The Business of Art.’ as its theme for 2019? Because it is the essence of our success in Orange County,” said Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of Orange County Business Council. “Since its earliest days, Orange County has inspired artists, actors, musicians—the creative class—from the world over. For decades, artists and entrepreneurs alike have been drawn to this county for its potential.”

The night was also punctuated by mega-watt performances celebrating “The Business of Art,” including: soprano Chelsea Chaves, Pacific Chorale member and graduate of Chapman University; the Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings, Orange County’s premiere youth string orchestra, recognized both regionally and nationally; and a closing act by MONTAGE! Orange County School of the Arts Celebrated Performance Ambassadors, a performance group comprised of talented student artists, praised for its high-energy, unforgettable performances.

New Mobility 21 Board Members in the News

We are honored to share recent news coverage featuring two of our new Mobility 21 Board Members, Maria Salinas and Stephanie Wiggins.

Maria Salinas
President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles Times: “As head of the L.A. Chamber, Maria Salinas is getting down to business”

 

Stephanie Wiggins
CEO, Metrolink

Los Angeles Times: “Metrolink hires its first black, female chief executive: MTA’s Stephanie Wiggins”