Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight: Andrew Liu
Senior Vice President and Regional Business Line Leader for US West Transportation
AECOM
Andrew Liu is the Senior Vice President and Regional Business Line Leader for US West Transportation at AECOM. In this role, he oversees all business operations for Aviation and Ports & Marine for 33 states in the western United States; and Transit-Rail, Highways & Bridges, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and PMCM for the west coast. Mr. Liu is based out of AECOM’s Downtown Los Angeles office.
Andrew is a native Angeleno, born and raised, and currently resides in the City of Arcadia with his wife and three sons. He is a civil engineer by background, with approximately 25 years of experience in design, construction, and project management of transportation infrastructure including transit systems, highways, bridges, airports, and ports. Prior to his current role, he has also held multiple senior transportation leadership roles at AECOM and other leading AEC firms.
Andrew is a licensed Civil and Geotechnical Engineer in the State of California and received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Civil Engineering from UCLA with honors, and his MBA from the Wharton School.
Governor Newsom Visits Orange County, Recognizes OCBC’s Contribution to Economic Development
Today, Orange County Business Council proudly hosted Governor Gavin Newsom for the delivery of the California Jobs First Regional Plan.
The event was held at Medtronich, on UCI‘s campus, and highlighted local innovation, economic growth and OCBC’s leadership in managing the state’s initiative to drive job creation and regional economic development.
OCBC President and CEO Jeff Ball presented Orange County’s California Jobs First Regional Plan, which serves as a basis for the state’s Economic Blueprint.
The plan reflects a true “bottom-up” approach to economic development, incorporating input from more than 5,000 community members gathered in 11 languages, through surveys, social media, canvassing and community forums.
A steering committee of 70 organizations provided final guidance on the plan’s outcomes.
“It’s about regions rising together. State vision is realized locally. This thing is a living, breathing document that is funded… that has an entrepreneurial mindset that is captured within it,” said Governor Newsom, highlighting how Jobs First empowers regions like Orange County to create meaningful, local impact.
- A wildfire response and recovery job training program
- A drone technician training hub
- An AI-enabled innovation hub
- Job placement programs for neurodivergent individuals in healthcare
The Governor’s visit reinforces Orange County’s role as a global hub for innovation and demonstrates the tangible impact of strategic investments through Jobs First.
OCBC will continue to cultivate these initiatives for years to come.
OCTA and Caltrans officials join to break ground on improvements to Interstate 5 through Irvine and Tustin between I-405 and SR-55. Photo courtesy of the Orange County Transportation Authority.
OCTA’s I-5 Improvement Project Breaks Ground through Irvine and Tustin in partnership with Caltrans
The approximately $716 million project between I-405 and SR-55 will add a regular lane in each direction and make improvements for those who drive, bike or walk in the area
Local and state officials gathered on Friday, January, 23, to commemorate the start of construction on the I-5 Improvement Project through Irvine and Tustin – a major effort to improve mobility, enhance safety and reduce congestion along one of Orange County’s busiest freeways.
Led by the Orange County Transportation Authority in partnership with Caltrans, the project will deliver major improvements along the nearly 9-mile stretch of I-5 between I-405 and SR-55, adding new general-purpose and auxiliary lanes, improving interchanges, and modernizing key sections of the corridor.
These upgrades are designed to reduce bottlenecks, improve traffic flow, and create a safer, more reliable travel experience for the more than 276,000 vehicles that use this portion of I-5 each day, as well as for people who walk, bike, or take transit through the area.
“Interstate 5 is part of everyday life in Orange County, from getting to work and school to visiting family and moving goods,” said OCTA Chair Jamey M. Federico, who is also a Dana Point Councilmember. “Starting construction on this project means real, visible progress for the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on this freeway each day. These improvements are about making trips safer, more predictable, and less stressful for everyone.”
In addition to freeway improvements, the project includes enhancements for active transportation and community connectivity, such as upgraded pedestrian curb ramps, repainted bike lanes for better visibility, lighting, and the installation of new guardrails and concrete barriers to enhance safety for all roadway users. The project is expected to be complete in 2030.
“This project represents a major investment in safety, mobility and connectivity along one of Orange County’s most critical corridors,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “In partnership with OCTA and the cities of Irvine and Tustin, we’re delivering lasting transportation solutions that will serve the region for years to come. Caltrans is turning long-term infrastructure funding into real, on-the-ground improvements for the thousands of motorists who depend on I-5 each day.”
The project reflects OCTA’s commitment to building a balanced, sustainable and multimodal transportation system. The approximately $716 million project is funded through a combination of local, state and federal sources, including OCTA’s voter-approved Measure M half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.
“These upgrades are about more than easing congestion, they are about improving quality of life and supporting economic vitality across Orange County,” said OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson. “We appreciate the public’s patience as construction gets underway and look forward to delivering long-term benefits for everyone who relies on this corridor.”
Freeway construction will soon be under way, and drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and stay informed as work progresses. For more information about the I-5 from I-405 to SR-55 Improvement Project, visit www.octa.net/i-5project.
Register for SCAG’s 2026 Regional Conference and General Assembly
Registration is now open for the 2026 Regional Conference and General Assembly, Southern California’s largest gathering of elected and industry leaders.
Join SCAG May 7-8 at the JW Marriott in Palm Desert for panels, networking, and discussions on addressing the biggest challenges facing the region in resilience, housing affordability, mega-events, and the emerging AI economy.
The two-day program features networking with leading thinkers and practitioners as well as regional leaders from the public and private sectors to share emerging trends, best practices, and lessons learned while working toward future goals. Don’t miss this annual opportunity to represent local causes at the regional level.
Register online or visit the event website to inquire about sponsoring the event.