Mobility 21 at Faster Freight Cleaner Air Conference
Mobility 21 Executive Director Marnie O'Brien Primmer was master of ceremonies at the second day of the conference in Long Beach in March. The conference brought together the shipping industry, ports and environmental groups to discuss solutions to the impact goods movement has on our communities and our economy. Topics discussed included alternative fuels, new technologies and social responsibility as a business strategy.

TRANSPORTATION EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Post your events at the Mobility 21 Community Calendar

THU-FRI | May 7-8
SCAG General Assembly 2009: Planning for Tomorrow...Today
more info

MOBILITY 21 - OUT AND ABOUT

THU-FRI | April 23-24
Mobility 21 will join in the CFEE Goods Movement Roundtable with leaders from across California

THU | April 30
Mobility 21 will be part of a panel discussion at the CALCOG Annual Conference in Monterey, California

FRI | May 1
CalPIRG Transportation Conference in Los Angeles
more info

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Mobility 21 Partners:
Automobile Club of Southern California • Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce • Inland Empire Economic Partnership • Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce • Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority • Orange County Business Council • Orange County Transportation Authority • Riverside County Transportation Commission • San Bernardino Associated Governments • Southern California Association of Governments • Ventura County Federated Chambers of Commerce • Ventura County Transportation Commission

Get your transit on and get rewarded
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress increased the pretax benefit for using transit and van pooling. The new higher subsidy benefits employees who commute to work using MetroLink, buses or van pools. The pretax benefit increased from $120 to $230 per month, a savings of up to $2,760 per year for participating employees. Employers could benefit from offering this program to workers through reduced payroll taxes and parking costs, and improved recruitment and retention. But even if an employer does not provide a subsidy, workers can inquire about getting bus, rail and van pool tickets through pretax income. For more information, attend the Commuter Benefits Workshop on Wednesday, April 22, 9 a.m. - noon at the Metropolitan Water District Conference Room 102. Register at 213.922.5621 or hollisl@metro.net.

Results from last month's question
Last Month Mobility 21 asked: Would you support replacing the gas tax with a "vehicle miles traveled fee?" Much like our political leaders, respondents were evenly split. We know that transportation comes at a cost, and most of us realize that the gas tax - as currently structured - is unable to keep pace with the needed investments our country must make to maintain and improve our transportation options. Mobility 21 supports an increase in dedicated funding for all transportation modes, and we urge Congress to select a sustainable, stable and predictable methodology to fund our nation's investments in transport.

Mobility 21 in the news
Recently Mobility 21 Executive Director Marnie O'Brien Primmer spoke with CNN Local Edition on the impacts of the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on Southern California. "While only five percent of the stimulus bill went to transportation, jobs are only a few weeks away," with the stimulus money being put to good use by local transportation authorities, Primmer said. The interview can be seen by Charter Communications customers as part of CNN Local Edition airing in the coming weeks.

For breaking news on transportation-related issues, visit www.mobility21.com.

Mobility 21 wants to hear from you
If you have ideas for future Mobility 21 Forward Motion articles, send them to Executive Director Marnie O'Brien Primmer at mprimmer@mobility21.com.