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Summit Sponsorships Selling Quickly!
Sponsorships are selling quickly for the 23rd Annual Southern California Transportation Summit on Friday, Sept. 20 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim!
Available sponsorships include:
- Titanium Sponsorship – $30,000 SOLD OUT!
- Platinum Sponsorships – $12,000
VIP Reception (1 LEFT)
We Love Safety (3 LEFT)
- Gold Sponsorships – $6,500
Breakout Session (6 LEFT)
Hospitality Suite (4 available)
Breakfast Buffet & Breaks (4 available)
Centerpieces (2 LEFT)
Notebook Promo Item (1 LEFT)
Coaster Promo Item (2 available)
Travel Utensil Set (2 available)
Backpack (1 LEFT)
- Copper Sponsorships – $3,500
- Bronze Sponsorships – $1,500
(open to registered small businesses and nonprofits only)
Click here to view more information about the sponsorship packages or contact Kristin Slocum to sign up.
Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Arthur J. Hadnett
Senior Vice President
HNTB
Art Hadnett is a Senior Vice President serving HNTBs Western Region. He brings more than 35 years of experience in the transportation industry. As HNTB’s Regional Growth Officer, Art oversees vital and complex infrastructure programs in growth markets, including rail, transit, architecture, tolling and aviation. He supports growth planning and initiatives throughout the Western Region. He is based in HNTB’s Los Angeles office.
Prior to this role, he served as West Division President, leading the operations of the nine-state division, including 11 offices and more than 700 employees.
Before joining HNTB, Art served as vice president and practice leader for Stantec’s transportation division where he was responsible for managing major assignments with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Orange County Transportation Authority, Los Angeles World Airports and Southern California Regional Rail Authority. He is past president of the Los Angeles County Chapter of American Council of Engineering Companies and a member of Women’s Transportation Seminar and Construction Management Association of America. Art is a long-standing member of the Mobility 21 Advisory Board.
Mobility 21 Advisory Board Member Spotlight:
Tom Kim
Senior Vice President, Transportation Group Communications Lead/SBE Coordination
HDR
Tom Kim, Senior Vice President and Transportation Business Group Area Director, leads HDR’s Southern California transportation practice. He has worked in the industry for over 34 years, partnering with transportation agencies and local municipalities to deliver some of the region’s largest and most complex infrastructure projects. Tom’s robust technical expertise and passionate leadership style is valued by HDR’s clients and industry partners alike.
Recently, Tom has led work for LA Metro, the Port of Long Beach, the San Bernardino Transportation Authority, and Union Pacific planning and engineering transportation megaprojects with a combined total construction value of over $3B.
These transformative projects have elevated the quality of life for surrounding communities and advanced sustainable infrastructure in the region, demonstrating Tom’s passion for both equity and sustainability.
Beyond delivering successful projects for clients, Tom is committed to working alongside and mentoring small businesses to help them gain invaluable industry and business experience. He has mentored SBE, DBE, and DVBE companies on multiple projects, including the Port of Long Beach’s Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility Program and Metrolink’s Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion Program.
Tom was recognized as Civil Engineer of the Year by ASCE’s Orange County chapter in 2013 and as Outstanding Engineer in the Public Sector by ASCE’s Los Angeles chapter in 2011. In addition to serving on Mobility 21’s Advisory Board, he has also served as President of ACEC’s Los Angeles chapter and as President of the Korean American Society of Civil Engineers. Tom is actively involved with the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) and the Asian American Architects and Engineers Association.
Tom earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and his MBA from University of California, Los Angeles. He is a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of California.
Summit Platinum Sponsor Spotlight:
Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA)
AAA Releases 2024 Automated Vehicle Consumer Sentiment Survey
In March 2024, AAA released its annual Automated Vehicle Consumer Sentiment Survey. The latest results suggest recent incidents involving autonomous vehicles (AV) may be striking safety concerns among the public. About 91% of adult U.S. drivers were either fearful or skeptical about fully self-driving vehicles – much like last year’s results.
Despite fears of self-driving cars, consumers expressed significant interest in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). AAA’s survey found that almost two-thirds of U.S. drivers would want emergency braking or lane keeping assistance systems on their next vehicle. However, AAA research found that this technology is unable to avoid collisions with enough consistency to operate without active driver engagement. In test runs involving reverse automatic emergency braking systems, for instance, test vehicles were able to avoid collisions with other vehicles in only 1 of 40 cases and evade a stationary child target in 10 of 20 cases.
Visit the AAA Newsroom release for more information about this 2024 AV Consumer Sentiment Survey and our upcoming AAA 2024 EV Consumer Sentiment Survey set to be released later this year. Also check out the 2024 AAA Car Guide in April 2024. This consumer car buying guide is a critical resource that evaluates clean cars and assigns ratings to new vehicles equipped with the latest ADAS technology.
Summit Platinum Sponsor Spotlight:
HNTB
Navigating Unprecedented Times: Innovations in Transportation Planning
By Art Hadnett, Senior Vice President, HNTB Corp.
In these unprecedented times, and with the pandemic having lasting effects on commuter behavior and goods movement, the transportation industry has been compelled to assess both short-term and long-term solutions. A critical lesson learned from this experience is the importance of planning for the unexpected and delivering future-proof transportation alternatives for our communities.
Mobility 21 recognizes the pivotal role of innovation in anticipating unanticipated events. Infrastructure firms play a crucial part in applying innovative approaches to create cost-effective facilities and resilient technologies that promote sustainability.
HNTB, with its century-long legacy, understands the transformative potential of digital infrastructure in revolutionizing transportation. By bringing people together and expanding opportunities, HNTB’s comprehensive approach leverages a wide range of services from a team of national experts to optimize and innovate local solutions.
As Southern California gears up for the 2028 Olympic Games, HNTB collaborates with clients and stakeholders to evaluate, plan, and implement technology that will revolutionize travel. The goal? A car-less Olympics, where passenger rail, high-speed rail, bus rapid transit, automated people movers, connected vehicles, mobility hubs, highway express lanes, and transportation management centers are already in progress. Last-mile challenges are being addressed through sustainable measures, including electric vehicles (EVs).
Southern California’s successful hosting of the 1984 Olympics serves as inspiration. By applying innovative solutions, the region aims to be equally prepared for 2028. These cutting-edge technologies will continue to benefit our communities long after the games conclude, enhancing mobility, safety, and air quality.
HNTB proudly supports and serves as an advisory board member of Mobility 21—a partnership that advances regional transportation solutions and collaborates to be authors of innovation.
I-405, Goldenwest and Bolsa
Summit Platinum Sponsor Spotlight:
Jacobs
Jacobs Drives Success: Navigating the Complexities of the I-405 Design-Build Improvement Project
The I-405 Improvement Project is a remarkable feat of engineering and construction management that has made a significant impact on the transportation infrastructure in Orange County. This project, owned by OCTA and Caltrans, was completed on December 1, 2023, within the time allotted for substantial completion and within budget. It involved the design and construction of 16-miles of improvements along the I-405, including widening, addition of Express Lanes, and bridge replacements. Jacobs provided full construction management services.
The project was a complex endeavor, marked by a multitude of challenges that required innovative solutions and effective management strategies. The volumes on this project are considered one of the busiest in the country. Nightly closures were essential for the project’s progress, allowing nearly $1 million of work per day. Weekly workshops facilitated communication among all parties, resulting in a streamlined workflow to address the substantial nightly closures and the project’s long freeway stretch.
During routine abutment excavation, a critical path item, human bones were unexpectedly discovered. Excavation activities were immediately halted. Jacobs was able to communicate risk associated with unanticipated discoveries and helped develop workplans that allowed the project to move forward.
One of the most significant challenges was the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected workforce efficiency and overall productivity. Despite these challenges, the team took a proactive approach to mitigate the impacts, making changes to the schedule and adapting to unprecedented conditions.
The project is a testament to the power of effective project and construction management, innovative problem-solving, and collaborative teamwork. It serves as an excellent example of how complex infrastructure projects can be successfully delivered despite numerous challenges.
Summit Platinum Sponsor Spotlight:
SoCalGas
SoCalGas’s Proposed Angeles Link Project Could Provide Clean Fuel to Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks
Last year, SoCalGas announced its proposal to develop Angeles Link, which would be the nation’s largest green hydrogen energy infrastructure system to deliver clean, reliable renewable energy to the Los Angeles region. The proposed Angeles Link would support the integration of more renewable electricity resources like solar and wind and would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electric generation, industrial processes, heavy-duty trucks, and other hard-to-electrify sectors of the Southern California economy.
The Los Angeles Basin is home to many potential green hydrogen users. Angeles Link’s green hydrogen could:
- Displace up to 3 million gallons of diesel fuel per day by replacing diesel powered heavy-duty trucks with hydrogen fuel cell trucks
- Eliminate up to nearly 25,000 tons of smog forming NOx per year
- Provide the clean fuel to convert up to four natural gas power plants to green hydrogen
- Generate billions of dollars in new clean energy investments in the LA Basin and create thousands of new union jobs
As contemplated, the Angeles Link would deliver clean renewable hydrogen in an amount equivalent to almost 25 percent of the natural gas SoCalGas delivers today. It would also significantly decrease demand for natural gas, diesel, and other fossil fuels in the LA Basin, helping accelerate California’s and the region’s climate and clean air goals.
To learn more about Angeles Link, click here.
New Permanent Metro Micro Fare Structure
Last December, we posted about a potential change to establish a permanent Metro Micro fare structure. Thank you to those who provided their comments before the proposal went to the Metro Board of Directors in January 2024. We received many comments –– most of which supported the retention of Metro Micro –– as well as some helpful feedback on the fare proposal, especially the importance of discount programs for students, seniors, people living with disabilities, and those with low incomes.
Now, it’s official. Beginning on March 24, the introductory $1 fare on Metro Micro will end and we will implement the permanent fare structure designed to better integrate Micro within our existing bus and rail system. That means that standard fares will rise from $1 to $2.50 per ride. It also means that we will introduce a range of special discounts for those enrolled in LIFE, GoPass, and a range of other programs to ensure that Metro Micro is accessible to those who need it most.
As a reminder, we launched the three-year Metro Micro pilot in December 2020 with an introductory $1 fare, partly to promote the program and partly in recognition of the economic impact COVID-19 had on riders. The temporary $1 fare was planned to continue for the first six months of the program. However, continued impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to extend the introductory rate for much longer than originally planned.
Now, with pandemic-era travel restrictions behind us, and with the pilot program having been extended in September 2023, we’re implementing a new fare structure.
When planning your next trip, we encourage you to consider available fixed-route options as well as Metro Micro, and choose the best option for you. And to make it easier to coordinate your travel using Metro Micro and bus and rail services, we’re making Metro Micro fares more integrated with the rest of the region’s transit system.
Here are the improvements we’ll be implementing beginning on March 24:
Transfers will be FREE when you transfer from Metro Micro to the Metro bus and rail system. Please note that you must use a TAP card in order to take advantage of this benefit. The transfer is good for two hours. (This works both ways –– if you begin your journey on a Metro bus or train, you will pay only a 75-cent upcharge on your TAP card to transfer to Metro Micro.) Please note that Metro Micro is cashless –– you will need to have a TAP card to take advantage of the transfer benefits.
Participants in the LIFE program will now be able to use the 20 free rides they receive as a program benefit to ride free on Metro Micro. After those 20 free rides are used, LIFE participants will pay the base fare of $2.50. Under the new fare structure, your ride on LIFE covers the full cost of your Metro Micro ride and your transfers within the two-hour window after starting your journey.
GoPass and Reduced Fare (Student, Senior, and Person with Disability) cardholders will be able to continue to ride Metro Micro at the $1.00 rate.
EZ Transit, a monthly pass for local travel on several public transit carriers throughout LA County, will offer transfers to Metro Micro. EZ Transit Pass Base riders can transfer to Metro Micro with a 75¢ upcharge, and EZ Transit Pass Zone 1 or higher riders will be able to ride Metro Micro at no additional charge.
Passengers transferring from partner transit agencies to Metro Micro (interagency transfers) will pay $1.25 (50¢ transfer fee plus 75¢ upcharge).
Metro Micro rides will also be recognized for transfers to and from other transit agencies based on each one’s existing interagency transfer agreements and the fees applicable for transfers with existing Metro bus and rail services.
Customers can also transfer to our partner transit agencies –– 23 in all! –– from Metro Micro the same way they do for bus and rail, for a more seamless travel experience.
In sum, our new permanent Metro Micro fare structure allows us to continue offering this important service while still providing discounts to people who need them most. It also makes it easier to use our entire system by transferring between Metro Micro and other modes. We’re proud of how far we’ve come –– to date, Metro Micro has provided over 1.7 million rides –– and we see these changes as important steps toward providing a more sustainable and integrated service. Have a question? We want to hear it! Leave a message in the comments or contact micro@metro.net.
OCTA Completes Emergency San Clemente Rail Protection, Continues Work on Longer-Term Fixes
While emergency work in San Clemente has been top priority, OCTA continues to work with local, state and federal partners to study and secure funding for lasting solutions
While the Orange County Transportation Authority and Metrolink team recently completed emergency work to protect the rail line in San Clemente at Mariposa Point, OCTA is pushing ahead on a study to find lasting solutions to prevent additional emergencies by addressing other areas in need of reinforcement.
The OCTA Board recently received an update on the Coastal Rail Resiliency Study and an initial assessment that identified sites along the coastal rail line recommended for monitoring and reinforcement to ensure that rail traffic can continue moving without additional interruptions.
“We understand this rail line is vital for the safe movement of people and goods in Orange County and the region,” said OCTA Chair Tam T. Nguyen. “So even as we complete the emergency work, OCTA is moving forward on many fronts, along with all our partners and stakeholders, to make sure we are protecting the coastal rail line for many years to come.”
The OCTA-led Coastal Rail Resiliency Study aims to evaluate and implement strategies to fortify the railway in the vulnerable 7-mile stretch between Dana Point and the San Diego County Line and to keep rail traffic moving through the area for the next 30 years, while longer-term solutions are explored.
The initial assessment presented to the Board identified seven areas along that stretch in need of reinforcement and monitoring, to prevent additional soil and debris from privately owned hillsides from falling into the rail right of way. The potential solutions are meant to protect the track from threats on the coastal and inland side caused by erosion and storm surges, among other risks.
Potential solutions for near-term reinforcement include installing monitors to analyze soil or track movement, building additional catchment walls, and engineering placement of large protective boulders (known as riprap) where appropriate.
Bringing in additional sand on the coastal side, as mentioned by numerous community groups and members of the public, is also being studied as part of the longer-term solution. The initial assessment identifies potential solutions to reinforce the hotspots but has not yet proposed specific projects.
The immediate goal is to address the areas identified in need of reinforcement as soon as possible before the next storm season arrives. OCTA will continue to work with local, state and federal partners and explore all funding options.
At the same time, OCTA is working on the Coastal Rail Resiliency Study, meeting with groups of stakeholders in individual listening sessions to discuss the study and get input all along the way.
Two listening sessions with the public are being planned:
- April 11, a virtual public meeting via Zoom will be held to get public input.
- May 30, an in-person public meeting will be held in San Clemente.
- To register to attend either meeting and receive updates, please visit: www.octa.net/CRRS.
While the areas in need of immediate reinforcement are being addressed, the Coastal Rail Resiliency Study continues. The initial concepts developed with community input are scheduled to be presented later this year, then refined, before a draft plan to address protecting the rail line in place for the next 10 to 30 years goes to the OCTA Board in 2025.
Because California continues to grapple with the increasing prevalence of storm-related damage to its transportation infrastructure, OCTA recognizes the importance of adaptive strategies to maintain safe and efficient rail services.
OCTA will also work with all partners and stakeholders to explore long-term solutions for protecting rail movement for generations to come – solutions that could eventually include moving the rail line inland. As part of those long-term efforts, OCTA is advocating for state-led capital project effort to address concerns along the 351-mile LOSSAN corridor to safeguard the future of rail transportation across the region.
For more information and updates, visit www.octa.net/railupdates.
Falsework Over Eastbound and Westbound 91
Year in Review: 71/91 Interchange
With more than a year of construction under its belt, the 71/91 Interchange Project in Corona has undergone a remarkable transformation since breaking ground in January 2023. The project has been a testament to innovation, safety, and collaboration, with a dedicated team of project managers, engineers, and construction crews working tirelessly to bring the project closer to reality.
During the past year, our hardworking construction crews have poured over 1,400 cubic yards of concrete, excavated over 300,000 cubic yards of dirt along the 91 and 71, set nearly 100 beams across the 91, and installed more than 14,000 linear feet of k-rail throughout the project. Along the edges of the 71, excavated hillsides and an array of equipment including cranes, drill rigs, manlifts, excavators, and bulldozers emphasize the project’s scale, complexity, and accelerated schedule.
In just the last few months, construction crews installed a massive 160-foot-long rebar steel cage weighing 232,000 pounds in the median of the 91 and poured 700 cubic yards of concrete to build the foundation for one of the columns of the new connector. An intricate web of support structures was then placed to create the falsework structure that currently stands over the eastbound and westbound 91 lanes. Standing over 30-feet tall and consisting of more than 200 steel beams, this support structure allows crews to construct the new overhead connector roadway. A new section of falsework will be installed later this year and will connect to the existing portion above the 91.
RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, continues to make tremendous progress into 2024 to ensure this project’s safe delivery. Significant retaining wall installation progress allowed paving operations for new southbound 71 lanes to begin earlier this year. Once concrete paving and new lane striping is complete, preparation for traffic and lanes shift will begin later in the year.
Once completed, the new non-tolled interchange will not only enhance transportation connectivity, but also improve roadway safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance traffic flow – providing long-lasting benefits to the region and beyond. The new connector is expected to open in 2025.
For the latest project updates, flyover drone footage, and weekly closure information, follow @7191Interchange on social media or visit https://www.rctc.org/projects/71-91-interchange-project/.
“We need public input to make the best decisions we can on prioritizing transportation projects and ensuring the strongest possible Traffic Relief Plan,” White said.
Program Preview for SCAG’s Regional
Conference and General Assembly
SCAG’s two-day Regional Conference and General Assembly brings together leaders, elected officials, innovators and policymakers from across Southern California for collaborative, solution-oriented discussions on challenges and opportunities in the region’s communities.
This year’s program will consider regional challenges with fresh thinking in panel sessions on:
· Mobility innovation and the path to a stronger and more connected transit system.
· The consequences of electrification and the balance of system finance needs with environmental and equity goals.
· The state of the region’s economy and how regional collaboration can drive sustainable economic growth.
· Creating “complete communities” for jurisdictions of varying population size and density.
· The power of regional leadership and cross-sector collaboration to drive transformative change.
Early bird registration ends on March 29, so register today to lock in $150 in savings on the price of admission.