Report to the Commission: October 28, 2015
Silicon Valley Leadership Group Trip
Washington DC, September 29-October 1
Commissioner Liccardo and I joined the Silicon Valley Leadership Group in their latest advocacy visits to congressional and administration officials in Washington D.C.
APTA Annual Meeting
San Francisco, October 5
I moderated a panel on major Bay Area infrastructure projects underway at the annual meeting of the American Public Transportation Association.
Bay Area Partnership
Oakland, October 9
This meeting of the Partnership featured discussions with our CMA and transit agency partners on Plan Bay Area 2040 and proposed changes to MTC’s Cap & Trade framework. Several members of the Partnership expressed an interest in a more regular meeting schedule, so expect more frequent updates about these meetings in the future.
Assemblyman Levine Briefing
San Rafael, October 15
Commissioner Kinsey and I met with Assemblyman Marc Levine for a discussion that centered around the MTC/ABAG functional consolidation issue as well as Mr. Levine’s legislation (AB 24x) that would convert the commission into a directly-elected board.
UCLA Lake Arrowhead Conference
October 18-20
Allison Brooks, Matt Maloney and I journeyed to Lake Arrowhead in southern California for the annual conference on transportation planning issues sponsored by the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies. I was one of three panelists at the wrap-up session for the conference.
CTC Regional Forum
Oakland, October 22
Chair Cortese, Commissioner Worth and I participated in a forum on regional issues sponsored by the California Transportation Commission.
CMA Director’s Association
Napa, October 23
I met with the Congestion Management Agency directors to discuss various commission initiatives.
Rail~Volution Conference
Dallas, October 25-27
Commissioners Haggerty, Spering and I traveled to Dallas for the annual meeting of the group founded by Congressman Earl Blumenauer to promote transit-oriented development. I spoke on a panel about “Transit’s Role in America’s Affordable Housing Crisis,” a subject of obvious relevance to our own increasingly unaffordable region.
U.S. Vehicle Miles Traveled at All-Time High After Decline Since the "Great Recession"
This graph shows the historical rolling 12-month total vehicle miles traveled on all U.S. roads starting in 1971. Vehicle miles traveled increased 4% year-over-year in July 2015, continuing an upward trajectory that started in March 2014. This ended an unprecedented five-year period of flat rolling 12-month totals following the ‘Great Recession’ of December 2007-June 2009. Cheaper gasoline prices likely account for some of the increase, with the national average per gallon declining from $3.69 in July 2014 to $2.88 in July 2015. The rebound of the national economy, increased job growth, and expanding population are additional factors.