Executive Director's Report

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE HEMINGER’S REPORT TO THE
COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 23, 2008

SUMMARY OF EVENTS:

Federal Certification
Sacramento, March 31

We were formally notified last month that the Federal Highway and Transit Administrations have recertified the Bay Area’s regional transportation planning process for another four years.

House Appropriations Committee
Washington DC, April 2

I joined three of my colleagues on the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission in testimony before the Transportation Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.

• Testimony of Steve Heminger to the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropiations, U.S. House of Representatives, April 2, 2008 (Word)

James L. Oberstar Forum
Minneapolis, April 6-7

I participated in a panel discussion on the future of the federal transportation program at this University of Minnesota event held in honor of the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. While in town, I toured the construction site for the new bridge that will replace the old Interstate 35W span that collapsed in August 2007. Remarkably, the replacement bridge is expected to be completed as early as September 2008.

CARB Conference
Aptos, April 9

I moderated a panel discussion of my counterparts from the Sacramento, San Diego, and Los Angeles regions about how the implementation of the state’s greenhouse gas legislation (AB 32) might take advantage of the blueprint planning efforts ongoing in the four major metropolitan areas of California. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) sponsored the conference.

CALCOG Conference
Monterey, April 10

I made another in the series of presentations I have been making about the final report of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission at the annual policy conference of the California Councils of Government Association.

West Approach Opening
San Francisco, April 11

Chairman Dodd and Andy Fremier represented the Bay Area Toll Authority at the opening ceremonies marking major completion of the seismic replacement project for the west approach to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Governor Schwarzenegger presided at the event, which featured the governor wielding a blowtorch to sever a chain stretched across the new road deck (see photos).

Senate Commerce Committee
Washington DC, April 22

Six members of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission testified about our final report, Transportation for Tomorrow, before the Senate committee with jurisdiction over railroad and safety issues.

• Testimony of Steve Heminger to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, April 22, 2008 (Word)

  • Charts for Senate Testimony, 4-22-08 (PowerPoint)
  • Webcast, 4-22-08

Chart of the Month

With record prices and a shaky economy, gasoline consumption has now fallen for two years running in California. This chart tells the story:

• Gasoline Usage in California
  Via SFGate.com

Map of the Month:
Projected Transit-Using Households in 2035

This map depicts the projected share of transit-using households by travel analysis zone in the year 2035. Transit-using households are estimated using Bay Area travel survey data, where persons are reporting one-or-more transit trips on a selected weekday. The total number of transit-using households in the region is projected to be 24% in 2035, or 804,500 out of 3,292,500 total households. San Francisco has the highest share of transit-using households, at 55%, while Alameda County has the highest total number of transit-using households, at 244,100 (35% of total households in the county).

• Projected Transit-Using Households in 2035 (PDF)

Transit-Using Households by County

County	Total Households	Transit Using Households	Percent of Total Households
San Francisco	396,300	217,000	55%
Alameda	700,100	244,100	35%
Contra Costa	485,200	102,800	21%
San Mateo	312,000	65,000	21%
Marin	116,800	20,600	18%
Santa Clara	806,200	121,100	15%
Solano	196,200	17,500	9%
Sonoma	220,000	14,200	6%
Napa	59,600	2,200	4%
Region	3,292,400	804,500	24%

MTC Operational Statistics

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

• MTC Operational Statistics (PDF)

Upcoming Events

April 25 — North Bay Leadership Council, Petaluma

May 6-22 — Transportation 2035 Outreach Meetings, various locations

May 7 — State Legislative Visits, Sacramento

May 22 — Bay Area Partnership, Oakland

May 27-28 — Commission Workshops T2035, Napa