Report to the Commission: January 27, 2016

Meeting with Senator Feinstein

San Francisco, January 6

Andy Fremier and I briefed Senator Feinstein about our ongoing investigation of the high-strength steel rods on the new east span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

Transportation Research Board

Washington DC, January 9-14

I was in Washington earlier this month attending the yearly 12,000-person madhouse known as the TRB Annual Meeting.  While in town, I attended a board of trustees meeting for the Mineta Transportation Institute and an Executive Committee meeting for TRB.

Legislative Visits

Sacramento, January 19

Randy Rentschler and I made the rounds in the state capital last week in an attempt to gauge the chances for success of a major transportation funding package this year.  Despite a ringing endorsement by Governor Brown in his State of the State speech later in the week, I’d say the prospects for a deal are still up in the air.

CTC Cuts Fund Estimate

Sacramento, January 21

In the face of legislative inaction on new funding as well as another expected reduction in the gasoline excise tax rate due to lower fuel prices, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved a $750 million reduction in the statewide 2016 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).  This substantial reduction – nearly a 40% haircut for the $2 billion STIP – will require regions and counties throughout the state to delete projects from the RTIP programs that were just approved.  So, while we’ve taken a step forward in Washington with passage of the FAST Act, we are taking two steps back in Sacramento.

CALCOG Directors Meeting

Sacramento, January 26

I attended the regular bi-monthly meeting of the association of COGs and MPOs in California.

2016 MTC Transportation Awards

MTC is now accepting nominations for our biennial “Excellence in Motion” transportation awards program.  Nominations will be accepted until April 4, 2016 at www.mtc.ca.gov/awards.  Winners will be recognized at a ceremony in the fall.