Executive Director Steve Heminger's Report to the Commission Meeting of July 25, 2012
Meeting with Senator Steinberg
Sacramento, June 28
Chair Tissier, Vice Chair Worth, Randy Rentschler and I met with State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg to discuss our progress in implementing his Senate Bill 375 and other legislative issues of mutual interest.
Government Reorganization Plan Takes Effect
Sacramento, July 1
Governor Brown’s proposed reorganization of the executive branch of state government took effect on July 1st absent legislative action to halt or modify it. Of particular interest to the transportation community, the plan eliminates the current Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and replaces it with a single-focus Transportation Agency to which the following departments would report: Caltrans, DMV, CHP, the California High Speed Rail Authority, and the Board of Pilot Commissioners. The CTC also would be housed within the new agency, although it would retain its independent role in adopting the STIP and SHOPP investment programs.
President Obama Signs MAP 21
Washington, July 6
Following the surprising Congressional passage of a two-year reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program at roughly current funding levels, President Obama signed the bill known as Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP 21) into law at the White House. [More info]
State Senate Approves High Speed Rail Funding
Sacramento, July 6
On the same day in Sacramento, the California State Senate achieved another transportation milestone by appropriating $4.7 billion of state bond funds to match $3.2 billion in federal funds to finance the initial construction of California’s high speed rail project in the Central Valley as well as “connectivity” projects in both the San Francisco Bay Area and greater Los Angeles region. The State Assembly had passed the bill by a wide margin the day before, but the Senate adopted the measure with a bare majority 21-16 voting margin. Two Bay Area Democrats joined all Senate Republicans in voting against the appropriation: Mark DeSaulnier and Joe Simitian. Governor Brown signed the bill into law on July 18th in Los Angeles. [More info]
BAHA Meeting at 390 Main Street
San Francisco, July 11
I would especially like to thank Teri Green and Robert Hoffman for making all the logistical arrangements necessary for the Bay Area Headquarters Authority (BAHA) to hold a special meeting at 390 Main Street together with board members from the other three regional agencies for which the joint headquarters is being planned. Andrew Wolfram from the architectural firm of Perkins + Will presented the conceptual design plans (PDF) for renovation of the facility.
Governor Signs Assembly Bill 57
Sacramento, July 13
During the regular MTC Legislation Committee meeting this month, we happily received word that Governor Brown had just signed Assembly Bill 57 (Beall), legislation we sponsored to add two seats to the MTC governing board to be appointed by the mayors of San Jose and Oakland. The bill also requires that the existing BCDC seat be a San Francisco resident approved by the mayor of San Francisco, and it limits to three the number of voting commissioners that can reside in any single county. I congratulate the Commission as a whole in finally bringing resolution to a long-running controversy about the nature of representation on MTC for the region’s largest cities. [More info]
Australia Transport Summi
Sydney, July 20
I was honored to be invited as a keynote speaker at this inaugural event bringing together transportation policy-makers from throughout Australia. Presentation (PDF)
New BCDC Director
San Francisco, July 20
The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) has appointed Lawrence J. Goldzband as its new executive director. Mr. Goldzband has served two stints as a BCDC board member (l996-98 and 2005-12) and brings a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors to his new position.
Map of the Month
The map shows the ratio of record daily highs (in red) to record daily lows (in blue) observed at some 1,800 U.S. weather stations dating back to 1950. The unmistakable trend toward “higher highs” is not good news for the planet.
MTC Operational Statistics
The monthly report on the performance of MTC’s operating programs: