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Executive Director's Report

Report to the Commission: November 19, 2025

Personnel

Retirements

  • Therese Trivedi — Therese started in March 2002 as an Associate Planner/Analyst. Her last day was Nov. 14 as the Assistant Director in the Sustainable Mobility and Operations section.

Departures

  • Eli Kaplan — Eli started in June 2020 as a Planner/Analyst II. His last day was Nov. 14 as a Planner/Analyst III in the Regional Planning Program section.

New Appointments

  • Sylvia Shapiro — Sylvia started on Nov. 10 as an Executive Assistant II in the Regional Network.
  • Benjamin Tuttle — Benjamin started on Nov. 10 as a Technology Specialist in the Technology Services section.
  • Lyric Greif — Lyric started on Nov. 10 as a Planner/Analyst II in the Regional Planning Program section.

Updates

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Mpact Transit + Community Conference (formerly known as “Railvolution”), which convened Oct. 26-29 in Portland, Oregon. Commissioners Ahn, Burt and Papan attended, along with Chief Deputy Executive Director Alix Bockelman. MTC-ABAG staff presented on Transit 2050+, Transit-Oriented Communities Policy implementation and Regional Network Management collaboration. MTC-ABAG is on Mpact’s National Steering Committee, joining more than 60 professionals from across the United States and Canada to provide direction for the conference.

Chair Noack, Commissioners John-Baptiste, Ramos, Schaaf, Alix, Deputy Executive Director (Housing & Energy) Daniel Saver and I attended the California Regional Housing Finance Authorities (RHFAs) Exchange in Long Beach on Oct. 27-29. The Exchange brought together officials and stakeholders from the three RHFAs in California – Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA), Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency and San Diego Regional Housing Finance Authority – to strengthen relationships and explore opportunities for collaborating on state advocacy.

Commissioner Abe-Koga and Deputy Executive Director (Mobility) Lisa Klein participated in the 2025 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Study Mission to Asia from Nov. 5-14. The trip provided an opportunity to engage with government leaders in Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo on the latest advances in public transportation and rail with a focus on innovations in project and service delivery models, technological advances and practices that have led to improved service, safety and cost efficiencies. Other Bay Area participants included AC Transit Director Joel Young and VTA General Manager Carolyn Gonot.

On Nov. 7, the California Association of Councils of Governments (CALCOG) Board held a meeting in Palm Desert. CALCOG brings together regional agencies from across the state to coordinate policy, share resources and engage in legislative advocacy. The goal of this session was to have a deep discussion about how CALCOG can remain relevant and of service to its members in the year ahead. MTC Commissioner and ABAG President Ramos attended as ABAG’s representative on the CALCOG Board. Matt Maloney, Deputy Executive Director, Metro Planning and Policy, was also in attendance. The CALCOG Board discussed upcoming priorities, including leadership on SB 375 reform, securing additional Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) funding for regions and exploring CALCOG’s potential role in helping to shape the next federal transportation authorization. With so much happening in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C., it will be critical that we remain engaged in these conversations to ensure that our regions’ voices are heard and that CALCOG continues to provide strong leadership and support for its members.

Earlier this year, the Bay Trail Project nonprofit voted to dissolve and selected Save the Bay to carry on the mission of advocating for the Bay Trail. MTC-ABAG has been facilitating the transition between the two organizations. On Oct. 30, I attended a Bay Trail Project Board reunion celebrating 35 years of accomplishments that have resulted in 350 miles of completed trail. Save the Bay Executive Director David Lewis and I addressed the group, and I outlined a collaborative approach to completing the remaining 150 miles of Bay Trail. Save the Bay is now working to integrate Bay Trail work with their current advocacy, restoration, education and constituency growth efforts. To support the transition, Save the Bay has engaged former ABAG Bay Trail Planner Maureen Gaffney to advise on strategies and partnerships to strengthen trail advocacy efforts moving forward.

The Priority Conservation Areas (PCA) grant program is accepting applications for projects to acquire, enhance or improve designated PCAs. The PCA Grant Program – funded through MTC-ABAG’s One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) program – will distribute $8 million in grants to local jurisdictions, tribes and community-based organizations, among other eligible applicants. The application window closes Dec. 19, 2025. Please help us spread the word about this funding opportunity. Visit the MTC website for more information.

On Oct. 28 and 29, over 700 people gathered at the Scottish Rite for the 17th biennial State of the Estuary Conference, hosted by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership. The conference returned this year with a dynamic event focused on bridging the gap between science and policy by showcasing the latest information about the Bay Area’s work to sustain and improve the San Francisco Estuary. Attendees connected over their shared goals to preserve habitats, support thriving species, manage resources effectively and promote community health and engagement. To learn more, visit: The 2025 State of the Estuary Conference connected art, science, and innovation.

Seventy-nine participants from 43 jurisdictions attended the October webinar, “What’s New in Wildfires & Housing,” sharing the latest research, case studies and policy developments at the intersection of wildfire and housing. Speakers from the State’s Community Wildfire Mitigation Program, the Marin County Wildfire Protection Agency, CAL FIRE and the City of Berkeley discussed Fire Hazard Severity Zone map updates, state building code changes and innovative local policies and programs. The webinar recording, slide decks and a forthcoming resource guide are available on the ABAG Technical Assistance website.

Thank you to all who attended the Commission Workshop on Oct. 22 and 23. The Commission had a robust discussion on Plan Bay Area, regional network management and the MTC-ABAG Transit-Oriented Communities Policy implementation. Staff look forward to continuing the conversation in the coming months.

Big thanks to Commissioner Miley and Commissioner Ambuehl for braving the rain Monday morning to represent the Commission at the ribbon-cutting for the newly completed I-680/Highway 84 interchange in Sunol. Regional Measure 3 toll money and other funding provided by MTC made the multi-year project possible, a point noted by our partners at Caltrans and the Alameda County Transportation Commission.

Thanks also to Commissioner Jean-Baptiste for joining me Monday to celebrate the launch of the newest San Francisco Bay Ferry, the M.V. Zalophus. Regional Measure 3 also is a big source of operating funding for WETA — which is now one of our neighbors here in the Bay Area Metro Center.