Executive Director's Report

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE HEMINGER’S REPORT TO THE
COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 24, 2007

SUMMARY OF EVENTS:

BART-SFO Toll Bridge Notes Retired
Oakland, December 29

With MTC’s final payment of $3.3 million to BART late last month, our financial obligations to the $65.7 million San Francisco Bay Area Transit Financing Authority Bridge Toll Notes (Series 1999) were completed. These notes — backed by a portion of toll bridge revenue earmarked for transit expansion by Regional Measure 1 — were issued to help finance the BART extension to San Francisco International Airport.

Toll Hike Takes Effect on State-owned Bridges
January 1

As authorized by the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) some months ago to help finance completion of the toll bridge seismic retrofit program, an additional $1 surcharge per vehicle took effect on the state-owned bridges at the start of the New Year. For the month of January, FasTrak users will not be charged the extra dollar, which has led to another surge in account-holders. The total number of FasTrak accounts is nearing 600,000, but peak period FasTrak usage still has not reached the 50% level. This may suggest that many of our newer customers are only occasional users of the toll bridges rather than everyday commuters.

We also have launched a retail distribution program for FasTrak toll tags at Costco and Safeway. The toll tags were the number #1 selling item at Costco in the first week of the campaign. Congratulations especially to Rod McMillan and Linda Lee for all their hard work on the retail program.

Governor Releases FY 2007-08 Budget Proposal
Sacramento, January 10

Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget for next year contained both good news and bad news for transportation. While his budget fully funds Proposition 42 and repays outstanding Proposition 42 loans – for a grand total of $1.5 billion in these funds – it also proposes shifting $1.1 billion from the Public Transportation Account to offset costs that are traditionally covered by the state’s General Fund. Rebecca Long has prepared an excellent summary of the budget proposal.

IBTTA Board Meeting
Ft. Lauderdale, January 12-13

I attended the regular board meeting of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association. At the request of Board President Jim Ely of the Florida Turnpike, I moderated a board discussion about the future of the toll industry.

SAFETEA Commission Meeting
Washington DC, January 17-18

I attended the monthly meeting of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. The Commission reviewed drafts of several working papers on baseline conditions of the transportation system that will serve as the foundation for our final report to Congress due in December 2007. We also discussed the agendas for the next set of field hearings to be held in February in Los Angeles and Atlanta. In addition, I made a presentation on the transportation challenges facing the nation’s major metropolitan areas. While in town, I also briefed members of the Bay Area Congressional delegation on the work of the Commission.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Testimony
Washington DC, January 24

I will be absent from the Commission meeting today because I have been invited to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee about my work on the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. I am especially disappointed that I will miss the last MTC meeting for Commissioners Anderson, Torliatt, and Young. I wish all three of them the very best in their future endeavors.

MTC Operational Statistics (PDF)

Upcoming Events

February 14 — Special Commission Meeting, Oakland

February 21-23 — SAFETEA Commission Field Hearing, Los Angeles