Press Releases

For Immediate Release

MTC APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MTC Deputy Director Steve Heminger to take the helm on Jan. 1, 2001

Contacts:

James T. Beall Jr., MTC Chair
Phone: 408.299.3924

Lawrence D. Dahms, Executive Director
Phone: 510.464.7770

Brenda Kahn, Senior Public Information Officer
Phone: 510.817.5773
E-Mail: bkahn@mtc.ca.gov

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 25, 2000... The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) today confirmed the appointment of Steve Heminger as executive director at its regular monthly meeting. Heminger, who for the past two years has served as MTC's deputy director, will take the helm on Jan. 1, 2001.

The 41-year-old Heminger will replace Lawrence D. Dahms, who is retiring in December of this year after 23 years as executive director of MTC, the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

In his new position, Heminger also will steer two subagencies staffed by MTC, the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) and the Bay Area Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways (SAFE). The former oversees the region's seven state-owned toll bridges, while the latter manages the region's network of roadside call boxes and the Freeway Service Patrol, a fleet of congestion-busting tow trucks that assist motorists and keep highways free-flowing.

"Steve brings the experience and knowledge necessary to succeed in the position of executive director," MTC Chair James T. Beall Jr. said. "With his strong understanding of regional and fiscal issues, Steve will be an asset to MTC. Under his leadership and vision, the organization will continue to flourish."

MTC hired Heminger in October of 1993 to serve as manager of Legislation and Public Affairs. Five years later, in January of 1999, he was elevated to the second-in-command slot. Throughout his tenure with the agency, Heminger also has served as MTC's primary spokesman.

According to Beall, the shift in MTC's leadership comes at a time of change for the agency -- both internally and externally. January 2001 will bring a new administration in Washington, D.C., as well as the start of a fresh legislative session in Sacramento. At the same time, MTC will see the departure of several longtime commissioners in the coming months and the election of a new Commission chair in February 2001.

"Steve has been here seven years," Beall said. "He's fully cognizant of the role of executive director and the roles of the staff and desires to proceed in a progressive manner to solve the transportation problems facing the Commission and the Bay Area. He will do an excellent job."

On MTC's agenda for 2001 is a major update to the Regional Transportation Plan, which will guide Bay Area transportation investments to the year 2025, and further refinement and implementation of MTC's Blueprint for the 21st Century. The new executive director also will oversee the agency's first venture into the world of high finance when, acting as BATA, it sells bonds to assist in funding construction of new spans for the Benicia and Carquinez bridges and widening of the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.

In the realm of high-tech, the new MTC chief will oversee the launch of the TransLink¨ ticket in mid-2001. During the initial test phase, the "smart card" universal pass will be valid on six public transit systems, with full deployment on all of the region's two-dozen-plus bus, rail and ferry systems possible by 2002.

Heminger came to MTC from the Bay Area Council, an influential San Francisco-based business group where he served for three years as vice president for transportation issues. Prior to the Council, he directed the district office of state Sen. Quentin L. Kopp, who at the time chaired the state Senate Transportation Committee, and who now serves as a Superior Court judge. Previously, Heminger directed Kopp's office at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and served stints on the staffs of U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Carman and U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh in Washington, D.C.

In addition to his staff positions, Heminger has served on the board of directors of Californians for Better Transportation (1991-2000), the board of directors of RIDES for Bay Area Commuters (1992-95), the San Francisco Parking and Traffic Commission (1992-96), and the Advisory Council of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (1992-94).

A native of Ohio, and currently a resident of San Francisco, Heminger earned a master of arts degree from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor of arts degree from Georgetown University.

Created in 1970 by the state Legislature, MTC has jurisdiction over a vast transportation network that includes 1,400 miles of highways; 19,000 miles of local streets and roads; more than two dozen public transit systems operating over 7,000 miles of bus, rail and ferry routes; three major commercial airports; and six public ports. Based in Oakland, Calif., the agency is in charge of directly disbursing, or approving the spending of, more than $1 billion a year in local, regional, state and federal transportation moneys. MTC's policy panel consists of 16 voting commissioners along with three nonvoting members. The executive director oversees a staff of 123 and an annual operating and capital budget that currently amounts to $55 million.

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Note to editors: A high-resolution photo of Steve Heminger can be downloaded at www.mtc.ca.gov/photos2.htm.

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