Executive Director's Report

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE HEMINGER’S REPORT TO THE
COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2007

SUMMARY OF EVENTS:

Tri-Valley Forum
Pleasanton, April 5

At the request of Vice Chair Haggerty, I made a presentation on MTC’s regional transportation planning and programming responsibilities to a group of local elected officials from eastern and southern Alameda county.

Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee
Benicia Bridge, April 6

At the regular monthly meeting of the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee, Will Kempton, John Barna and I approved a full-bridge closure for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge this coming Labor Day weekend in order to facilitate construction of a new section of viaduct on Yerba Buena Island. Unlike last year’s closure for work on the West Approach project in San Francisco, this closure will involve both decks of the bridge and may need to extend to four days — meaning from Friday, August 31st until Monday, September 3rd. As we get closer to the date and after continued review of the contractor’s plans, we will decide whether a three-day or four-day closure will be necessary. A brochure describing the closure is available here (PDF).

Bay Area Partnership
Oakland, April 10

The major topic of discussion at the Partnership Board meeting was the MTC staff proposal for the population-based transit funds generated by Proposition 1B. We will summarize the results of that discussion as well as other public comment we have received when the item is presented for action to the Programming and Allocations Committee meeting on May 9th.

BART Chief To Resign
Oakland, April 10

Tom Margro, who has served as BART’s general manager for the past decade, announced his resignation effective June 29th. I wish Tom the best in all his future endeavors.

Congressional Transportation Forum
Pleasanton, April 11

I made a presentation on key Bay Area transportation issues to a forum hosted by three members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee: Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Peter DeFazio of Oregon, as well as Representatives Ellen Tauscher and Jerry McNerney from the Bay Area.

CALCOG Regional Issues Forum
Monterey, April 12-13

I presented a status report on the activities of the national surface transportation commission at the annual conference of the California Association of Councils of Government.

City/County Association of Governments Retreat
San Mateo, April 12

At the request of San Mateo CMA Director Rich Napier, I addressed a session of the City/County Association of Governments on Bay Area transportation issues. Commissioner Lempert was in attendance.

Muni T-Third Ribbon-Cutting
San Francisco, April 14

I joined Commissioners Ammiano and Rubin as well as numerous other dignitaries at the opening ceremonies for the newest light rail line in San Francisco, the Muni Metro T-Third extension. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the keynote speaker.

SAFETEA Commission Field Hearing
Chicago, April 17-19

I attended the last in a series of field hearings sponsored by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission on which I serve. In keeping with our past practice, several commissioners attended the hearing in Chicago and the remaining members attended a hearing in Minneapolis held at the same time. From this point forward, most of our remaining work is likely to occur in executive session as we get down to the business of fashioning recommendations and drafting our final report due to Congress by January 2008. I expect we will have several more meetings in Washington DC prior to the end of the year in order to complete our task.

Map of the Month

The map this month depicts the emerging concept of treating the San Francisco Bay Area and other large U.S. metropolitan areas as “mega-regions”. The ten mega-regions shown on the map account for 68% of the nation’s population, 78% of U.S. gross domestic product, and over 90% of the traffic congestion and air pollution besetting the nation’s residents.

• America 2050: 10 Emerging Mega Regions (PDF 8.4 MB)

MTC Operational Statistics (PDF)

Upcoming Events

April 26 — Dinner for Outgoing Commissioners, Oakland, CA
May 15 — 17 SAFETEA Commission, Washington, DC
May 17 — Bike to Work Day