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Mobility 21 fights for Southern California's transportation dollars
With California's state budget and federal surface transportation bill hanging in the balance, Mobility 21 has kicked off our advocacy into high gear. Mobility 21 recently joined the Orange County Transportation Authority in Sacramento to
meet with legislators including Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Mike Eng and Minority Leader Mike Hollingsworth to call for the protection of local gas tax money and to restore transit money. A follow-up trip with Metro is
scheduled later this month.
Mobility 21 will also lead advocacy meetings with legislators, administration officials and committee staff in Washington, D.C., July 20-22. Our message is clear: the time to address transportation is now. Whether that is through
authorizing new legislation by Sept. 30 or extending existing legislation to prevent the Highway Trust Fund from becoming insolvent in August, transportation funding must remain stable to enable our local transportation agencies to keep
Californians working, deliver projects that enhance our region's quality of life, give us transportation options and reduce congestion.
Mobility 21 expands to San Diego
 Mobility 21 is proud to announce the addition of Gary Gallegos, executive director of the San Diego
Association of Governments (SANDAG), as part of Mobility 21's Advisory Board as Mobility 21 extends its reach south. "This is an important step for bringing our region together to fight for greater investment in transportation," said
Mobility 21 Chair Art Leahy, Metro. Many of the issues Mobility 21 has been working on are also critical to San Diego's future: developing long-term reliable transportation funding, investing in goods movement, improving coordination along
the Los Angeles-San Diego Rail Corridor (LOSSAN) and investing in positive train control technology, simultaneously improving congestion and the environment and making high speed rail a reality in our region. With San Diego on board,
Mobility 21 will now be able to bring all of Southern California's legislative delegation together to fight for our transportation future.
Mobility 21 welcomes newest Advisory Board Member
 Mobility 21 is proud to announce Steve Huff, Senior Vice
President, Public Works/Transportation, RBF Consulting, as our newest Advisory Board member. The Advisory Board, which meets quarterly, is open to public and private sector executives by invitation and works closely with
Mobility 21's Executive Board, providing strategic input on the Coalition's mission and priorities. For more information about how you can become a member of this exclusive leadership circle, contact Executive Director Marnie O'Brien
Primmer, 949.698.2856 or
mprimmer@mobility21.com.
Metro launches Web site for Measure R accountability
Measure R went into effect in Los Angeles County on July 1. Approved by voters in 2008, this half-cent sales tax is projected to generate more than $40 billion for traffic relief and transportation upgrades in the
county over the next 30 years. To follow the progress of the dozens of critical transit and highway projects funded by Measure R, Metro has created an online
Measure R projects tracker. This tool allows you to view the status and estimated funding allocations of many Measure R projects.
TRANSPORTATION LEADERSHIP UPDATE
SANBAG welcomes new board leadership
Mobility 21 congratulates Paul Eaton, mayor of Montclair, who
San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) selected to succeed Supervisor Gary Ovitt, a longtime champion of Mobility 21, as chairman of the board of directors. Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt was chosen as the agency's vice chair.
Mobility 21 thanks Supervisor Ovitt for his continued support, and looks forward to working closely with Chair Eaton and Vice Chair Mitzelfelt as we work to bring more funding to our region's transportation projects.
OCTA announces new CEO
Beginning Aug. 3, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) will have a new leader at the helm. California Department of Transportation Director Will Kempton will step down July 31 to take on the head post at
OCTA. Kempton, a 35-year veteran of transportation, will oversee the implementation of Measure M, the county's half-cent sales tax measure. He will be taking on the new role as the agency embarks on unprecedented transit service impacts
due to the state budget debacle and enters into negotiations with its union. As a member of Mobility 21's Executive Board, Kempton will join a select group of leaders working collaboratively to bring about greater investment in Southern
California transportation infrastructure. Mobility 21 thanks Jim Kenan, OCTA's interim CEO, for his support and commitment to furthering Mobility 21's goals.
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.
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