Executive Director's Report

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE HEMINGER’S REPORT TO THE
COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 15, 2006

SUMMARY OF EVENTS:

SAFETEA Commission Field Hearings
Portland and New York, October 26 & November 15-16

The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, on which I serve, held two field hearings over the past month. The first was in Portland, Oregon in connection with the annual meeting of the Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The second is taking place in New York City on the same day as our commission meeting, which is why I will be absent that day.

AMPO Annual Meeting
Ft. Lauderdale, October 20 – November 3

Commissioner Kinsey and Randy Rentschler attended the annual meeting of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO). Mr. Kinsey’s term as President of the AMPO Board of Directors will end in December 2006.

Rail-Volution Conference
Chicago, November 5-8

Commissioner Spering, James Corless and I attended this annual conference for advocates and practitioners of urban revitalization and transit extension projects. I participated in a panel discussion on the future of transportation finance. Commissioner Spering and James presented an overview of MTC’s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) policy, and they also distributed advance copies of “New Places, New Choices,” a TOD report published jointly by MTC and other Bay Area regional agencies. You have copies before you today.

Election Results
November 7

In the mid-term elections, the Democrats won control of both houses of Congress for the first time in over a decade. The change in party control of the House means the likely elevation of Representative Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco to become the first female Speaker in the history of the House. Representative Jim Oberstar of Minnesota is expected to become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. It is less clear who will head the relevant transportation committees in the Senate. The only change in the Bay Area Congressional delegation was the defeat of incumbent Representative Richard Pombo by challenger Jerry McNerney.

Here in California, Governor Schwarzenegger was re-elected by a comfortable margin, and two members of the commission were elected to the State Assembly: Mark DeSaulnier and Jim Beall. The results on statewide ballot measures were a clean sweep for transportation and housing interests, with Propositions 1A (Prop. 42 fix), 1B (transportation bond), and 1C (housing bond) all cruising to victory. At the county level, the SMART ballot measure to restore rail passenger service in Marin and Sonoma counties fell just short of the two-thirds vote requirement needed for passage, as did four other new county sales tax measures elsewhere in the state. On the other hand, four sales tax extension measures in Fresno, Madera, Orange, and San Joaquin counties were approved by super-majority votes.

Climate Change Summit
San Francisco, November 10

Several commissioners and I attended the climate change summit sponsored by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District featuring a keynote speech by former Vice President Al Gore. I joined five other presenters at a general session describing efforts that the Bay Area already has undertaken that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As a result of MTC’s referral of the issue, the Joint Policy Committee will be commencing its exploratory work on climate change at its meeting on November 17th.

TRB Programming Conference
Seattle, November 13-14

Alix Bockelman and I participated in two panel discussions on finance and programming issues at this regular conference sponsored by the Transportation Research Board.

Golden Guardian Exercise
Oakland, November 15

Numerous MTC and partner agency staff are participating in a statewide disaster planning and response exercise on the day of the commission meeting. Interested commissioners are invited to stop by to observe the activities as your schedule permits.

Upcoming Events

November 17 — Joint Policy Committee, Oakland

December 6-7 — SAFETEA Commission, Washington DC

December 8 — Bay Area Partnership, Oakland