Executive Director's Report

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE HEMINGER’S REPORT TO THE
COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2011

SUMMARY OF EVENTS:

Munk School of Global Affairs, Toronto
January 31

I was invited to address a gathering of private and public officials at the University of Toronto about the U.S. experience in funding public transit programs.

“Big 4” MPO Directors Meeting
San Diego, February 8

I met with my counterparts from Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego to share information and approaches in our ongoing efforts to develop Sustainable Community Strategies as required by SB 375.

ZPMC Site Visit, Shanghai
February 14-15

Andy Fremier and I journeyed again to China for meetings with officials from our prime contractor American Bridge/Flour and their steel fabricator ZPMC to check on progress of the remaining deck sections for the self-anchored suspension portion of the new Bay Bridge. It appears that we are still on schedule to receive delivery of all remaining steel this summer. While we were in Shanghai, the 4th tower lift and 11th deck sections arrived in San Francisco Bay; they will be hoisted into place beginning this week.

Obama Administration Outlines Authorization Plans
Washington, DC, February 14

As part of its FY 2012 budget proposal, the Obama Administration outlined an ambitious six-year, $551 billion surface transportation authorizing framework that includes dramatically increased spending levels for all modes, especially public transit and high speed rail. At the same time, the proposal would be contingent on $230 billion in new revenue beyond estimated receipts in the Highway Trust Fund, and the Administration provided no detail about how such funds would be raised. Meanwhile, House Republicans were busy trying to reduce spending levels in the current FY 2011 budget year, as well as to rescind unobligated funds dating back to the FY 2008 budget. In the transportation arena, a particular focus of their cost-cutting was the high speed rail program.

Florida Governor Rejects High Speed Rail
Tallahassee, February 16

Florida chief executive Rick Scott became the third Republican governor to return high speed rail funds to the federal government because of concerns about cost overruns, exaggerated ridership estimates, and the potential liability for ongoing state operating subsidies. The amount in question was $2.4 billion, and it was unclear to what use the Obama Administration would put these funds. A large fraction of previous funds returned by the governors of Ohio and Wisconsin were subsequently reallocated to the California High Speed Rail Authority.

Oakland Detour Strategy Announced
February 17

The Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee has announced a strategy to detour existing Bay Bridge traffic at the Oakland shore that should enable both directions of the new east span to open to traffic together by the fall of 2013. The eastbound traffic detour will begin in May 2011, with the westbound detour to follow in early 2012. More details can be found on the project website at baybridgeinfo.org.

Appeals Court Rejects Discrimination Suit
San Francisco, February 16

As General Counsel Adrienne Weil informed you last week, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed a 2008 district court decision rejecting allegations of racial discrimination in MTC’s planning and funding practices. A particularly eloquent concurring opinion by Judge John T. Noonan could serve as a fitting coda to nearly six years of this pointless litigation: “An individual bigot may be found (in the Bay Area), perhaps even a pocket of racists. The notion of a Bay Area board bent on racist goals is a specter that only desperate litigation could entertain.”

State of the Valley Conference
San Jose, February 18

I shared the stage with national columnist Neal Peirce and BCDC Executive Director Will Travis for a panel discussion about regionalism at this annual Silicon Valley event.

Congressional Field Hearing
Los Angeles, February 23

I regret that I am unable to attend the Commission meeting today in Oakland. The reason: I was invited to testify in Los Angeles this morning before a joint field hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer) and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (chaired by Florida Congressman John Mica).

2010 MTC Annual Report

“Marking Milestones” is the theme of the 2010 MTC Annual Report, copies of which you will find at your places. The report focuses on a half-dozen, high-profile projects that made significant advances last year – with the Clipper regional transit fare card leading the way.

• 2010 MTC Annual Report (PDF)

Map of the Month

This month’s map shows the projected change in mode share for county to county home-based work trips in the Bay Area. The data are based on our adopted regional transportation plan, with 2006 as the base year and 2035 as the projection year. Most counties in the Bay Area show an increase in transit trips, accompanied by a general decrease in the number of drive alone trips. Santa Clara county shows an increase of up to 2% in transit trips with up to a 3% decrease in the number of drive alone trips. San Francisco county shows the most improvement in both categories.

• Change in Transportation Mode Use 2006-2035 (PDF)

MTC Operational Statistics

The monthly report on the performance of MTC’s operating programs:

• MTC Operational Statistics (PDF)

Upcoming Events

March 14-16 — APTA Legislative Conference, Washington, DC
March 22-24 — Bipartisan Policy Center Funding Workshop, Washington, DC
March 28-29 — AMPO Board of Directors Meeting, Chicago, IL