The current section is News & Media
Executive Director's Report

Executive Director Steve Heminger's Report to the Commission Meeting of October 23, 2013

SUMMARY OF EVENTS

Ventra Card Chicago Transit Authority

September 30

Steve Heminger, Denis Mulligan (GGBHTD), Ed Reiskin (SFMTA) and MTC Clipper staff had the opportunity to meet with the Chicago Transit Authority staff and Cubic staff responsible for delivering the new Ventra smart card. Ventra is Chicago's version of the Clipper card, and was recently rolled out on all CTA transit facilities. The procurement was very interesting in that it was a Design Build Finance Operate and Maintain project. Under this approach, Cubic was not paid until the system went operational roughly two years after contract execution. While in the early stages of rollout, both the Transit agency and the Contractor were pleased with the progress of the contract.

McKnight Foundation Board Visit

San Francisco, October 5

The Board of Directors of the Minneapolis-based McKnight Foundation visited the Bay Area to learn about the region’s smart growth efforts and investment in strategies to create complete communities. Steve Heminger addressed the group on the Commission’s work on Transportation for Livable Communities, Transit Oriented Development, the One Bay Area Grant Program, and the broader connections between transportation and economic development as defined in Plan Bay Area.

Big 4 MPO Meeting

Sacramento, October 8

Steve Heminger joined his colleagues from the four largest metropolitan planning organizations in California to compare notes on our efforts to implement our respective region’s Sustainable Communities Strategies per Senate Bill 375 (Steinberg). Major topics included the use of performance metrics, opportunities to secure Cap and Trade revenues for plan implementation, and the draft AB 32 Scoping Plan developed by the California Air Resources Board and its impact on greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for future plans.

20th ITS World Congress

Tokyo, Japan, October 14 – 18

Commission Chair Worth, Steve Heminger, Andy Fremier and Melanie Crotty had the opportunity to attend the annual ITS World Congress at the Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Hall entitled "Open ITS to the Next". Steve presented in an executive session on the role of emerging ITS in connecting customers, vehicles and transport infrastructure. In addition he was able to meet with the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) SUICA smart card staff. SUICA is Tokyo's version of the Clipper card and is interoperable throughout the Japan Railway nationwide systems, the Tokyo Metro and various other consumer purchasing programs from vending machines to clothing. They have recently rolled out a VISA Card program that offers open payment opportunities everywhere VISA is accepted as well as transit payments. The JR East is a privately owned railroad, and has in-house staff developing the IT components and products available through the SUICA card.

BART Service Disruption

October 18 – 21

As you are well aware, the second BART strike occurred over four days, concluding with a tentative agreement between BART and its labor unions late Monday evening. At the request of the negotiating teams, final negotiations took place at MTC’s offices. Prior to and during the BART service disruption, MTC staff coordinated daily calls of the transit agencies, Caltrans, CHP and 511 to update the status of contingency services and provide regular updates to the public via 511 and the media.

 

MTC Operational Statistics

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