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Executive Director's Report

Executive Director Steve Heminger’s Report to the Commission Meeting of December 18, 2013

SUMMARY OF EVENTS

Bay Area Council Transportation Committee

San Francisco, November 22

BART General Manager Grace Crunican and I made presentations before the Bay Area Council’s Transportation Committee on the current state of the region’s public transit networks and plans for their improvement.

Mayor’s Transportation Task Force

San Francisco, November 25

Commissioner Wiener and I attended the last meeting of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s Transportation Task Force, at which the group presented its report to the mayor recommending a series of local ballot measures to raise funds for improving all modes of transportation in San Francisco. I made remarks on the relationship between this local initiative and the region’s plans to invest expected Cap and Trade and other revenue in the rehabilitation of the Bay Area’s major public transit systems.

Supreme Court Accepts Appeal in BIA v. BAAQM

San Francisco, December 2

In a somewhat surprising development, the California Supreme Court has agreed to review a recent Court of Appeal decision in favor of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in a CEQA case brought by the California Building Industry Association challenging the Air District’s adoption of CEQA guidelines for toxic air contaminants. The Supreme Court has agreed to review a narrow but important question raised by the case: Does CEQA require an analysis of how existing environmental conditions will affect future residents or users of a proposed project? There are many CEQA practitioners who believe that the statute was only intended to evaluate the effects of proposed projects on the environment, but not vice versa.

Rockefeller Foundation Selects Resilient Cities

New York, December 3

The Rockefeller Foundation announced the selection of the first 33 of 100 cities from around the world that it will select for its Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge program. Of the 11 North American cities selected in this first round, four are located right here in the Bay Area: Alameda, Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. Cities selected for the program will receive staffing support and technical assistance to plan for a more resilient future. Congratulations especially to Commissioners Bates and Quan, who serve as mayors of two of the Bay Area cities selected.

Assemblyman Bonta

Oakland, December 12

Randy Rentschler and I met with Assemblyman Rob Bonta about water transit and other legislative issues.

Senate Budget Subcommittee Hearing

San Jose, December 16

I testified before Senate Budget Subcommittee #2, chaired by Senator Jim Beall, about the road and transit rehabilitation shortfalls facing the State of California. Commissioner Pirzynski also testified as chair of the Valley Transportation Authority. Presentation (PDF)

MTC Operational Statistics

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