Executive Director's Report

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE HEMINGER’S REPORT TO THE
COMMISSION MEETING OF MARCH 28, 2007

SUMMARY OF EVENTS:

Final CMIA Project Selection
Irvine, February 28

On the morning of our last commission meeting, Alix Bockelman and Randy Rentschler were in Irvine advocating for a larger share of Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) bond funds for congestion-related highway projects in the Bay Area. The region received approximately 70% of the CMIA funds in northern California, as well as a significant $405 million commitment from state highway rehabilitation funds for the Doyle Drive project in San Francisco. Thanks especially are due to outgoing CTC commissioner Jerry Hallisey as well as his returning colleagues Jim Ghielmetti (the new CTC chair) and Bob Alvarado.

Intermodal Planning Group
Oakland, March 9

Federal planning officials and Caltrans conducted their annual review of MTC’s proposed overall work program for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2007-08). We also have been notified that the Federal Highway and Transit Administrations will be undertaking their quadrennial certification review of the region’s transportation planning process later this year. We will provide more details about this review as they become available.

APTA Legislative Conference
Washington DC, March 12-14

Several commissioners and senior MTC staff attended the annual legislative conference of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and – in conjunction with that event – presented our 28th annual report to the Bay Area congressional delegation. The highlight of the week was the appearance by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at our Capitol Hill reception, where she toasted (and was toasted by) our new chair, Bill Dodd. I also appeared on a panel at the APTA conference with two of my colleagues from the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.

SAFETEA Commission Meeting
Washington DC, March 19-22

I returned to the nation’s capital the following week for a meeting of the national commission, which included a field hearing on Monday featuring testimony presented by Vice Chair Haggerty on behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACO). For the remainder of the week, the commission met largely in executive session on several elements of our lengthy work plan. At the request of Commissioner Spering, I will be making a presentation on my national commission work at the April 13th meeting of MTC’s Planning Committee. I encourage any interested commissioners to attend.

Advisory Committee Recruitment

As you may be aware, MTC’s three advisory committees – the Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee, the Minority Citizens Advisory Committee and the Advisory Council – all have two-year terms, which expire this July. We are currently seeking applicants for the 2007-2009 terms, and we could use help from our Commission in this effort. Typically there is a dearth of applicants from the northern counties such as Napa, Sonoma, Solano, as well as Santa Clara County. The deadline for applications is April 13th, followed by the selection process leading to appointments made by the Commission in June. If you know someone who might be qualified and interested, please point him or her in our direction. Information on the three committees, how to apply and applications can be found here, or for further information individuals can call the Public Information office at 510-817-5757.

Map of the Month

The map this month depicts the ratio of total trips by origin Travel Analysis Zone (TAZ) to destination TAZ, based upon the Projections 2005 forecast for the year 2030. The green areas on this map depict locations where there is a higher number of residential land uses than employment land uses, thus creating more trips produced than trips attracted. The red areas on this map depict locations where there is a higher number of employment land uses, which produce more trips attracted than trips produced. We use this information to analyze the travel characteristics of the region’s residents, as well as to better understand the impacts of Jobs/Housing mismatch on the region’s transportation infrastructure.

• Jobs/Housing Imbalances (PDF 1.3 MB)

MTC Operational Statistics (PDF)

Upcoming Events

March 28 — Regional Rail Governance Workshop, Oakland

April 10 — Bay Area Partnership, Oakland

April 12-13 — CALCOG Regional Issues Forum, Monterey

April 18-19 — SAFETEA Commission Field Hearing, Chicago

April 25 — New Commissioner Orientation, Oakland