GOOD. MORNING. WE'D LIKE TO
BEGIN THIS SELECT COMMITTEE
HEARING ON REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS. THIS
IS AN INFORMAL MEETING. BUT THIS
IS AN OFFICIAL MEETING OF THE
STATE ASSEMBLY AND THE
LEGISLATURE. SO WE HAVE MEMBERS
OF OUR PANEL ARE MADE UP OF OUR
COMMITTEE ARE MADE UP OF MEMBERS
OF THE ASSEMBLY. AND WE'RE
CERTAINLY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY
. GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF YOU. WE
ARE GOING TO OPEN THIS MEETING
WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AND THEN WE WILL MOVE FORWARD
WITH OUR PRESENTATIONS. JOIN ME.
RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. I
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE FLAG. FIXED ON
HER. THE REPUBLIC FROM UNDER
STATUS ONE ISSUE. THANK YOU
BEFORE I BEGIN WITH SOME OPENING
COMMENTS AND TURN TO MY
COLLEAGUE, SIMILAR MEMBER
CARILLO I'D LIKE TO FIRST BEGIN
BY RECOGNIZING THE TIRELESS WORK
OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND
LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL WORKERS THAT HAVE
RESPONDED TO THE DISRUPTIONS.
AND DESTRUCTION. OF TROPICAL
STORM HILLARY. WE WILL CONTINUE
TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE IMPACTS
OF EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE
CHANGE AND THE CONTINUED EFFORTS
OF LOCAL AND COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS
TEAMS AND CALTRANS IS GREATLY
APPRECIATE IT. SO THANK YOU TO
ALL WHO HAVE BEEN A PART OF
HOPING WITH THAT RECOVERY. LET
ME ALSO SAY THAT I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.
FOR A TIMELY DISCUSSION ON
DELIVERING REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS. THE
PURPOSE OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SOLUTIONS IS SO IMPORTANT. WE'RE
HERE TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN FROM
EXPERTS IN THE FIELD AND EXPLORE
AND DELIVER SOLUTIONS THAT
MATTER TO THE CONSTITUENTS IN
OUR DISTRICTS AND THROUGHOUT OUR
GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
CALIFORNIA'S NUMBER ONE SOURCE
OF GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION IS
FROM TRANSPORTATION SECTOR. AS
MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM KNOW
TAKING STEPS IN OUR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IS
THE BEST WAY TO CURB OUR CARBON
EMISSIONS AND MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFER AND HEALTHIER
PLACES TO LIVE. AS LEGISLATORS.
I BELIEVE IT IS OUR DUTY TO
SERVE THE LONG TERM INTERESTS OF
OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND THE PEOPLE
OF CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING BETTER
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SOLUTIONS. CREATIVE AND CREATE
EFFICIENT ALTERNATIVES TO
DRIVING AND IN TURN REDUCED
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED SUPPORT
TECHNOLOGIES THAT IT REDUCE OUR
DEPENDENCE ON DIRTY FOSSIL FUELS
IMPROVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY
TRANSIT OPTIONS, IMPROVE
AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
OF OPTIONS AND MAKES AND MAKE
CERTAIN THAT NO ONE IN OUR
COMMUNITY IS BARRED FROM
EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY, ENCOURAGED
COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION AND CONTRIBUTE TO
IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH. TOGETHER
WE WILL PLAN FOR AND FUND BETTER
AND MORE SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS.
TOGETHER, WE WILL IMPROVE ACCESS
AND EQUITY AND OUR REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS.
TOGETHER WE WILL EXPAND
CONNECTIONS THAT IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE. AND BETTER
CONNECT PEOPLE TO WORK, SCHOOL
AND LEISURE OPPORTUNITIES. AGAIN
I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE
TODAY. OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONVENE THESE
INFORMAL HEARINGS IN SEVERAL
DIFFERENT VENUES FROM L. A METRO
HEADQUARTERS TO THE U. S. COURT
OF APPEALS AND PASADENA TO THE
ONTARIO CITY HALL. I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND
FRIENDS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ONE
CARILLO FOR HOSTING THIS HEARING
IN HIS DISTRICT AND THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY TRANSIT AUTHORITY FOR
WELCOMING NOUS TO THE CITY OF
LANCASTER AND OFFERING THIS
STATE OF THE ART CHAMBER FOR
HEARING TODAY, IT'S MY PLEASURE
TO RECOGNIZE MARTIN TOMPKINS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
ANTELOPE VALLEY TRANSIT
AUTHORITY. MR TOMPKINS, WE TURN
TO YOU FOR YOUR GREETINGS AND
WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE AND HOSTING US TODAY. MY
NAME IS MARTIN. COMMITTEE
HEARING. THAT BETTER? IS THIS
BETTER? WHAT WAS I. WE'RE HAPPY
TO IMPORTANT HOST IS IMPORTANT
MEETING ON HEARING HEARING
ORIGINAL TRANSPORTATION
SOLUTIONS. OUR JURISDICTIONAL
PARTNERS, THE CITY OF LANCASTER,
THE CITY OF PALMDALE. AND THE
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. TAKE OUR
COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION IS VERY
SERIOUSLY. ANYTHING GAVE IT TO
YOU CAN DO THE FURTHER THAT
CAUSES A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THIS
AGENCY AND OUR BOARD OF
DIRECTORS. JUST A BRIEF
BACKGROUND ON TV T A. WE OPERATE
FIVE DIFFERENT MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION. OUR LOCAL
TRANSIT. MICRO TRANSIT ON
DEMAND. DOLLAR AID, NON
EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION AND
COMMUTER SERVICE, WHICH SERVES
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. WHAT'S ON
FERNANDO VALLEY? CENTURY CITY
AND THE VETERANS HOSPITAL.
ADDITIONALLY WE'RE WORKING ON
THE NEW COMMUTER SERVICE CALLED
THE HIGH DESERT CONNECTOR. WHAT
WILL SERVE RESIDENTS THAT
CONNECTED BETWEEN THE ANNUAL
VALLEY AND VICTOR VALLEY. THIS
IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN FISCAL
YEAR 2025 OUR FLEET TODAY
CONSISTS OF 81 100% FULLY
ELECTRIC VEHICLES. WITH AN
ADDITIONAL 21 BUS IS DUE TO
ARRIVE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH
AND 19 FULLY ELECTRIC VANS BY
APRIL, 2024. WHAT? YOU'RE
BRINGING OUR TOTAL FLEET. 2 121
FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. TO DATE
OUR ELECTRIC FLEET HERE AT A B
T. A HAVE TRAVELED MORE THAN 12
MILLION ELECTRIC MILES. WHEN WE
STARTED THIS JOURNEY THAT IS A
SAVINGS OF MORE THAN $4 MILLION
IN FUELS YOUR CAST. AND MORE
THAN 3 MILLION GALLONS OF DIESEL
FUEL AVOIDED. MAYBE CHIEF SEEKS
TO BE AN EXAMPLE IN THE TRANSIT
INDUSTRY. LAST YEAR. THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA IS THEIR RESOURCES
BOARD AND SEVERAL OTHER STATE
AND LOCAL AGENCIES JOINED
TOGETHER HERE IN LANCASTER TO
RECOGNIZE A BGS ACHIEVEMENT OF
BECOMING THE 1ST 100. ZERO
MISSION TRANSIT AGENCY IN NORTH
AMERICA. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
OUR ABC BOARD DIRECTOR OF
DIRECTORS. THIS AGENCY
ACCOMPLISHED CALIFORNIA'S
INNOVATIVE CLEAN TRANSIT
REGULATION GOAL. 18 YEARS AHEAD
OF SCHEDULE. THE M E T BOARD OF
DIRECTORS CONTINUE TO SET
INNOVATIVE GOALS FOR GREENER
TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE PURSUING
A PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES THE
ACQUISITION OF 43 ACRES ADJACENT
TO OUR FACILITY. TO BUILD OUR
OWN SOLAR FARM, BATTERY STORAGE
AND POWER ELECTRIC FLEET OFF THE
GRID. ADDITIONALLY, THIS AGENCY
SETS DAILY GOES TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE
HERE TO MOBILIZE AND EMPOWER
COMMUNITY BY CONNECTING PEOPLE
TO RESOURCES OPPORTUNITIES AND
ENRICH AND ELEVATE THEIR LIVES.
WE'RE DEDICATED TO THIS GIRL.
LISTENING TO OUR WRITERS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. HELPS US TO
BETTER SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. BY
BEING HERE TODAY. YOU ARE
PARTICIPATING IN THIS GOAL FOR
THIS REGION AND THE ENTIRE
GOLDEN STATE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR
WELCOMING US TODAY AND PROVIDING
THE FACILITY TO, UH, FOR US TO
HOLD OUR HEARING HERE. IT'S A
WONDERFUL FACILITY AND WE THANK
YOU FOR OPENING IT UP TO US. I'D
LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ONE CARILLO AT
THIS POINT, UM AND I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU, OKAY. UH, SIMILAR
CARILLO HAS BROUGHT, UH PASSION
AND COMMITMENT. TO BRINGING
FOCUS TO THE ISSUES OF THE
ANTELOPE VALLEY AND
TRANSPORTATION IS SECOND TO NONE
. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
HIM. HE CERTAINLY, UH HIGH ON
THE ISSUES OF CONNECTING THE
VALLEY TO OTHER PARTS OF THE
REGION AND THAT TIES INTO THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS COMMITTEE. SO
REMEMBER CARILLO, WE WELCOME YOU
FOR YOUR OPENING COMMENTS. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR AND WELCOME BACK
TO THE ANTELOPE VALLEY. AH IT'S
NICE TO SEE YOU UP HERE AGAIN.
AND THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR
ATTENDING THIS IMPORTANT MEETING
IMPORTANT ISSUES AND DISCUSSIONS
ARE GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY. UH
YES. BECAUSE TRANSPORTATION IS
SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY
PASSIONATE ABOUT GIVING MY
ALMOST 20 YEARS OF PLANNING
EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR TWO
DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS. THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ME. AND I
DO BELIEVE THAT HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION HAVE TO GO HAND
IN HAND SO THAT WE CAN SOLVE THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN THE
STATE. WITH THAT. I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE. IT'S
ALSO IMPORTANT TO SEE THEM
INVOLVED IN THIS. THIS TALKS.
THIS CONVERSATION'S MALE PROTEIN
. ALARCON IS HERE FROM SYRIA,
PALMDALE. AND WE ALSO HAVE NOT
ACTING AS AMERICA CAPACITY, BUT
ERIC OLSON BY DISTRICT DIRECTOR
AND I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE. BUT I
MISS YOU LET ME KNOW AGAIN.
THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE
THOSE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS
BEING HERE PARTICIPATING IN THE
DISCUSSIONS THEY WANT TO HAVE
TODAY WITHOUT MR CHAIR. I'LL
GIVE IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AND BEST
WISHES TO YOUR DAD. UH, IT'S UM
LET'S SEE. AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN
THE PRESENTATIONS TODAY, AND WE
WILL HAVE, UM A SIMILAR MEMBER,
PILAR SHIAVO, WHO WILL JOIN US
HERE SHORTLY, AND WE'LL GIVE HER
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME
OPENING COMMENTS WHEN SHE
ARRIVES, BUT WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY AFTER EACH PANEL IS
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE TO ASK
QUESTIONS AFTER EACH PANEL WILL
OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ONCE
ALL THE PANELS HAVE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT LET ME
ALSO SAY THAT THIS HEARING IS
BEING LIVESTREAM. SO EVERYONE ON
THEIR BEST BEHAVIOR. GIRLS WHAT
ELSE SAY SO IT'S MY OPPORTUNITY
NOW, MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
OUR FIRST PANEL. UH, THE FIRST
PERSONAL CALL UP AND I WILL JUST
ASSUME THAT WE'LL WE'LL SPEAK IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU'RE CALLED
UP. THIS PANEL IS BROUGHT IS
REPRESENTED BY ANY NAM, WHO IS
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND
PROGRAMMING WITH SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENTS. THIS ANY, UH NAM
CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING FOR THE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF GOVERNMENTS, LEADING LONG
RANGE PLANNING, PROGRAMMING AND
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND
TRANSPORTATION. SHE OVERSEES THE
THREE PANEL DEPARTMENTS,
INCLUDING INTEGRATED PLANNING
AND PROGRAMMING, MOBILITY AND
GOOD MOVEMENT PLANNING. AND
PARTNERSHIP TO INNOVATE.
DEPLOYMENT. SHE HAS OVER 25
YEARS OF RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND
PLANNING EXPERIENCE SPECIALIZES
IN SURFACE TRANSPORTATION POLICY
AND FINANCING. SHE WAS
INSTRUMENTAL IN LEADING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SCAGGS CONCEPT OF
OPERATIONS FOR THE REGIONAL
EXPRESS LANE SYSTEM AND MOBILITY
GOES OAN CONGESTION PRICING
PROGRAM. MORE RECENTLY, SHE HAS
BEEN LEADING SKAGGS, LAST MILE
DELIVERIES, RESEARCH AND
DEMONSTRATION EFFORTS, FOCUSING
ON CLEAN, INNOVATIVE.
TECHNOLOGIES WELCOME ANNIE LAND
NOW. THANK YOU. AND I WILL
INTRODUCE THE FULL PANEL AND
THEN WILL TURN TO YOU. THANK
YOU. ALSO ON THIS PANEL IS
GLORIA ROBERTS, DISTRICT SEVEN.
DIRECTOR CALTRANS GLORIA ROBERTS
SERVES AS CALTRANS DISTRICT
SEVEN DIRECTOR. AS DISTRICT
SEVEN. DIRECTOR GLORIA EXCELS
AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT AND
STRATEGIC PLANNING. SHE HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL AND DRIVING
CULTURAL CHANGE TO EMBRACE
PEOPLE ENGAGEMENT AND
PARTNERSHIPS. SHE COMBINES HER
PASSION FOR EQUITY AND SOUND
BUSINESS ACUMEN TO LEVERAGE A
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADVANCING
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS AND
PROJECTS. THIS ACCELERATED THE
ABILITY OF DISTRICT SEVEN TO
BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN
LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA
COUNTIES. WELCOME, GLORIA. AND
WE WILL TURN TO YOU AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANNE.
NOW I'M DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
PLANNING FOR TRANSPORTATION AT
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS.
CHAIR HOLDEN, MEMBERS OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT UM, BEFORE I START I'D
LIKE TO JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE
BIT OF BACKGROUND, PARTICULARLY
FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE
FAMILIAR WITH SCAG. WE ARE THE
FEDERALLY DESIGNATED MUCH
PROBLEM PLANNING ORGANIZATION,
THE LARGEST IN THE NATION.
GEOGRAPHICALLY WE COVER OVER
38,000 SQUARE MILES COMPRISE 191
CITIES. SIX COUNTIES AND WE ARE
HOME TO NEARLY 19 MILLION
RESIDENTS. UM. SO WE HAVE
MULTIPLE ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES PER STATE AND
FEDERAL LAW. BUT TODAY I'M GOING
TO FOCUS PRIMARILY ON NUMBERS
ONE AND TWO NOTED HERE ON THE
SLIDE, NAMELY OUR REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES,
STRATEGIES IN PARTICULAR, GIVEN
THE INTEREST IN TRANSPORTATION,
PLANNING AND FUNDING, I AM GOING
TO FOCUS MY TALK TODAY ON THE
FINANCIAL ELEMENT OF OUR LONG
RANGE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
PLAN. SO FIRSTLY, I SHOULD KNOW
THAT SCAG IS CURRENTLY IN THE
PROCESS OF DEVELOPING OUR
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN
ALSO CALLED CONNECT. SO, CAL,
THIS IS AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
ONE OF OUR CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
UNDER FEDERAL LAW. THIS IS
UPDATED EVERY FOUR YEARS. AND IN
DEVELOPING THE RTP. WE MUST
INCLUDE A FINANCIAL ELEMENT THAT
COVERS OVER A MINIMUM OF 20 YEAR
PLANNING HORIZON, WHERE
ESSENTIALLY REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY
HOW MUCH FUNDING WILL BE NEEDED
TO BUILD OUT OUR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AS WELL AS
TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE
EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
SO FUNDAMENTALLY, WE NEED TO BE
FISCALLY CONSTRAINED, MEANING
THAT WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT
THERE IS A BALANCE BETWEEN THE
EXPECTED REVENUES AND COSTS AND
FOR OUR LATEST CONNECTS, SO, CAL
2024 OUR TIME HORIZON IS THROUGH
2050. SO IN TERMS OF
ASSUMPTIONS, WE ESSENTIALLY
BUILD OFF OF DATA PROVIDED BY
OUR LOCAL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSIONS. AND FOR L, A
COUNTY. THAT WOULD BE L. A METRO
THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH,
IN ADDITION TO VARIOUS OTHER
TRANSIT OPERATORS, AS WELL AS
STATE AND FEDERAL DATA AND OTHER
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SOURCES. SO
UM, AGAIN, I THINK OUT OF OUR
WHAT'S CALLED OUR CORE REVENUES
. IT'S THESE ARE EXISTING
TRANSPORTATION SOURCES THAT WE
PROJECT OUT TO OUR HORIZON YEAR
. OUR LOCAL SALES TAXES ARE
REALLY THE SINGLE LARGEST
TRANSPORTATION SOURCE IN THE
REGION. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF EIGHT
TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX
MEASURES. AND HISTORICALLY,
THEY'VE GENERATED NEARLY 60% OF
LOCAL REVENUES. UM AND SALES
TAXES, AS YOU MAY KNOW, OR
HIGHLY VOLATILE. THEY'RE TIED TO
THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, AND
THAT'S REFLECTED HERE IN THIS
CHART TO THE RIGHT THERE AT THE
ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC. WE HAD
PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTIONS IN
CONSUMER SPENDING AND IN TURN
SALES TAX RECEIPTS IN THE REGION
, WHICH THEN QUICKLY REBOUNDED
AND HAVE INCREASED FROM 2019
LEVELS. WE DO HAVE CONCERNS IN
THE SHORT TERM DUE TO
INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, AND SO
WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING? UM
AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT
HISTORICALLY, THE GREAT
RECESSION SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED
THE REGION'S REVENUES. UM FROM
TRANSPORTATION, SALES TAXES, AND
SO WE'RE REALLY MINDFUL OF THIS
AND JUST GIVEN THE RELIANCE ON
SALES TAXES, AS AS I SAID, IS
THE SINGLE LARGEST SOURCE OF
FUNDING THE SLEEVES REGION
REALLY QUITE VULNERABLE TO ANY
POTENTIAL FUTURE RECESSIONS. UM
ADDITIONALLY, THREE OF THE EIGHT
TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX
MEASURES IN OUR REGION ACTUALLY
EXPIRE BEFORE THE PLANNING
HORIZON OF 2050. UM I'M ALSO
GOING TO TOUCH UPON, UH
STATEMENT. FEDERAL TAXES HERE
EXCISE TAXES ON GASOLINE AND
DIESEL FUELS ARE REALLY THE
BASIS OF MOST FEDERAL AND STATE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. THEY
ESSENTIALLY DEPEND ON FUEL
CONSUMPTION. THE FEDERAL GAS TAX
WAS LAST INCREASED 30 YEARS AGO
IN 1993, AND HAS NOT BEEN
INDEXED TO INFLATION. SO IF IT
HAD BEEN ADJUSTED TO ACCOUNT FOR
INFLATION, THE CURRENT FEDERAL
GAS TAX WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY
37 CENTS PER GALLON, MORE THAN
DOUBLE THE ACTUAL CURRENT
FEDERAL RATE. SO REVENUES HAVE
ESSENTIALLY BEEN SUSTAINED BY
ADDITIONAL TRAVEL FROM
POPULATION GROWTH, BUT ON A PER
CAPITA BASIS, REVENUES HAVE
ACTUALLY STEADILY DECLINED, UM
AND AS SHOWN HERE ON THE CHART
TO THE RIGHT, THE FEDERAL
HIGHWAY CHEST TRUST FUND, THE
PRIMARY RECIPIENT OF THE GAS TAX
REVENUES REQUIRED MORE THAN 259
BILLION IN GENERAL FUND
TRANSFERS TO ACTUALLY REMAIN
SOLVENT. SO THESE TRANSFERS ARE
SHOWN THERE, PARTICULARLY THE
SPIKES THERE AND INCLUDING THE
LATEST $118 BILLION.01 TIME
TRANSFERRED TO PARTIALLY FUND
THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
AND JOBS ACT, OR I, JACK. SO IN
CALIFORNIA. WE'RE IN A SLIGHTLY
BETTER POSITION AS A RESULT OF
THE PASSAGE OF SB ONE IN 2017,
WE ADDRESS AT LEAST SOME OF
THESE CONCERNS BY INDEXING TO C
P I AND THEN ADDED A
SUPPLEMENTAL REGISTRATION FEE
FOR THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL
VEHICLES. NEVERTHELESS I THINK
WE STILL HAVE SOME CHALLENGES
AHEAD. AND SO WE'RE MINDFUL THAT
RECENT RULES IN CALIFORNIA COULD
INCREASE REALLY THE MAGNITUDE OF
THE CHALLENGE, AT LEAST ON THE
FUEL. UH FIELD TAX REVENUE SIDE.
GIVEN THE DELIGHT DECLINES THAT
WE ACTUALLY ANTICIPATE SO THE
RECENT CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES
BOARD ADVANCED CLEAN CARS TO
RULE REQUIRES THAT ALL NEW
VEHICLES SOLD IN CALIFORNIA B
ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE BY 2035.
THIS REALLY ACCELERATES THE NEED
TO SECURE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING
SOURCES FOR TRANSPORTATION. ALSO
THE RECENTLY ADOPTED ADVANCED
CLEAN FLEET RULE WOULD APPLY TO
THE ENTIRE FLEET COMPOSITION AND
NOT JUST TO NEW VEHICLE
PURCHASES. SO ALL OF THIS WE
ESTIMATE COULD MEAN A DECLINE OF
REVENUES BY ABOUT 30 TO 40. SO
ON THE COST SIDE, THE REGION
FACES SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AS
WELL, WHICH TRANSPORTATION COST
ESCALATION OVER THE PLAN HORIZON
. THE FINANCIAL PLAN USES A LONG
TERM 4.7% ANNUAL ESCALATION
FACTOR FOR CAPITAL COSTS OVER
THE LIFE OF THE PLAN, WHILE THE
LONG TERM GENERAL INFLATION IS
PROJECTED TO GROW AT ABOUT 2.3%
SO WE'RE BASICALLY TAKING A 30
YEAR AVERAGE OF CONSTRUCTION
COSTS. AND INCREASES AND HAVE
REALLY ESTIMATED 4.7% AVERAGE
AND YOU USING THAT AS A BASIS TO
PROJECT OUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING,
SO IN EFFECT, ARE PURCHASING
POWER WILL DECREASE BY OVER 70%
THROUGH THE LIFE OF OUR PLAN.
ONE OF THE KEY CHALLENGES IN
FORECASTING LONG TERM OPERATION
AND MAINTENANCE COSTS ARE
MULTIPLE UNCERTAINTIES, OF
COURSE, FACING TRANSIT AND
PASSENGER RAIL OPERATIONS. UM
SERVICE LEVELS DROPPED FROM ANY
TRANSIT OPERATORS DURING COVID
PANDEMIC AND THEN POST COVID
SERVICE LEVELS. RECOVERY AND
TIMELINE HAS REALLY BEEN
UNCERTAIN AND VARIED BY TRANSIT
OPERATORS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OUR
LOCAL AGENCIES AND TRANSIT
PLANNING STAFF TO INCORPORATE
SERVICE LEVEL ASSUMPTIONS INTO
THE FINANCIAL PLAN. UM BUT I
SHOULD ALSO KNOW THE BEGINNING.
2029 100% OF NEW BUS PURCHASES
BY TRANSIT AGENCIES MUST BE ZERO
EMISSION VEHICLES WITH THE GOAL
FOR FULL TRANSITION BY 2040, SO
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT COST
IMPLICATIONS TO THIS AT LEAST
UNTIL THAT. UNTIL THERE'S
GREATER MARKET SATURATION. SO
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
FORECAST WILL ALSO NEED TO
ADDRESS POTENTIAL
VULNERABILITIES FROM EXTREME
WEATHER EVENTS. WE'RE CURRENTLY
IN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING DATA
ON THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR
SYSTEM RESILIENCY NEEDS, BUT
THESE CONCERNS REALLY EXTEND TO
MAINTENANCE OF ALL CAPITAL
ASSETS IN THE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM AND COULD ALSO INCREASE
OPERATING SPENDING. SO BASED ON
OUR CURRENT ANALYSIS, WE
ANTICIPATE THAT A SHORTFALL
COULD BE AS LARGE AS 285 BILLION
. THERE ARE FURTHER REFINEMENTS
THAT WE NEED TO DO TO NARROW
THIS GAP. BUT THE MAGNITUDE IS
GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR
PLANS, CONSIDERING THE BREATH OF
ISSUES THAT I JUST HIGHLIGHTED.
O AND M COSTS OF REALLY THE
DRIVING FACTOR IN A LOT. A LOT
OF THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
INCLUSION OF RESILIENCE NEEDS
AND, OF COURSE, THE VIABILITY OF
STATE AND FEDERAL GAS TAX FUNDED
SOURCES OF THE LONG TERM, ALSO
HEAVILY CONTRIBUTE TO THE
FUNDING GAP. SO OVERALL BEFORE I
TRANSITION TO TALK ABOUT SOME
OPPORTUNITIES OR OPTIONS FOR NEW
REVENUE SOURCES. I JUST WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS
. OVERALL OUR REVENUES ARE
DECREASING COSTS ARE INCREASING
WHILE A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
NEEDS ARE EXPANDING. SARAH IN
ADDITION TO THE CORE, EXISTING
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REVENUE
SOURCES CONNECT SOQUEL CAN
INCLUDE UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
WHAT'S CALLED REASONABLY
AVAILABLE NEW AND INNOVATIVE
FUNDING AND FINANCING. AND SO
HISTORICALLY, THESE NEW AND
INNOVATIVE SOURCES OF REALLY
BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US
HAVE A POLICY CONVERSATION
ACROSS THE REGION ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. AND
THESE PRINCIPLES WERE FIRST
DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH
SKAGGS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
IN PREVIOUS CYCLES AND UPDATED
TO REFLECT OUR MOST RECENT INPUT
FROM OUR NEXT GENERATION
INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEE, AND
I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH
THESE PRINCIPLES, BUT THE
GENERAL FOCUS IS ON ESTABLISHING
STRONGER USER FEE BASED SYSTEMS.
FIREWALL PROTECTIONS FOR
TRANSPORTATION REVENUES, RETURN
TO SOURCE GUARANTEES AND BETTER
LEVERAGING THE VALUE OF PUBLIC
ASSETS TOGETHER WITH INNOVATIVE
FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES. UM SO
THIS SLIDE SHOWS SOME OF THE NEW
AND INNOVATIVE SOURCES. I'M
HIGHLIGHTING HERE ALL OF WHAT WE
CALL OUR USER FEE BASED
STRATEGIES INCLUDED IN OUR
PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED PLAN, OR 2020
PLAN, WHICH PROVIDED OVER $140
BILLION OF NEW REVENUES. SO
CURRENTLY, UH, STAFF IS USING
THIS AS A STARTING POINT FOR
ANALYSIS AND WORKING ON UPDATING
FOR CHANGES IN CONDITIONS AND
TIMELINES FOR OUR NEW PLAN. I DO
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE FIRST
OF THESE STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED
AS A RED USER CHARGE IS WHAT WE
CONTEMPLATE AS A REPLACEMENT TO
THE EXISTING STATE AND FEDERAL
GAS TAXES, SO THIS IS PURELY A
FINANCIAL MEASURE AND
FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT FROM
SOME OF THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL
MECHANISMS LISTED HERE AS WELL.
AND SO AGAIN, WE ASSUME EVERY
PLACEMENT OF THE GAS TAX BOTH AT
THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS,
WITH THE MILEAGE BASED USER FEE
, STARTING IN 2030 INDEX TO
MAINTAIN PURCHASING POWER WILL
LIKELY PUSH THE START DATE OUT
TO 2035 FOR UPDATE GIVEN THE
AMOUNT OF WORK THAT IS STILL
NEEDED, WERE PERHAPS AS A STATE
ABOUT A DECADE OR MORE BEHIND ON
THIS FRONT, AND SO THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE THINK THAT IS
MOST APPROPRIATE PERTINENT FOR
US TO ADDRESS IN THE NEAR TERM.
WE ALSO ASSUMES SOME REGIONAL
CONGESTION PRICING PROGRAM IN
OUR ADOPTED PLAN, AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, COMPRISING BOTH VERY
LOCALIZED PARKING AND ZONAL
BASED PRICING, AS WELL AS SOME
BROADER REGIONAL MEASURES,
RECOGNIZING THAT THE ACTUAL FORM
OF IMPLEMENTATION MAY DIFFER
ACROSS THE REGION, BUT
FUNDAMENTALLY FOCUSED HERE ON
MANAGING DEMAND CONGESTION AND
EMISSIONS. SO AGAIN, I ACTUALLY
WANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION HERE
BETWEEN THE STATE AND FEDERAL
GAS TAX REPLACEMENT VERSUS SOME
OF THE LOCALIZED STRATEGIES BOTH
VERY IMPORTANT FOR DIFFERENT
PRIMARY PURPOSES, AND BOTH
INCLUDED IN OUR PLAN, UM AND
BOTH GENERATING REVENUES TO BE
REINVESTED BACK INTO THE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. SO THE
STRATEGY TO SHIFT TO A MILEAGE
BASED USER FEE IS CERTAINLY NOT
UNIQUE TO THIS GAG REGION, NORTH
CALIFORNIA AND NATIONALLY. THIS
MAP SHOWS THAT MOST STATES ARE
EXPLORING A TRANSITION TO A
MILEAGE BASED FEE TO ADDRESS THE
FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES INHERENT IN
THE GAS TAX STATES AND YELLOW
THERE HAVE AN ACTIVE ROAD CHARGE
PROGRAM OF SOME FORM. STATES AND
GREEN HAVE PILOTED A ROAD CHARGE
AND STATES IN BLUE ARE STUDYING.
VERY CHARGED, UH, MECHANISMS,
AND I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT
UNDER MIJA U S, D O T WILL BE
CARRYING OUT NATIONALLY RECHARGE
PILOT PROGRAM SHORTLY. AND SO
THIS IS ACTUALLY MY LAST SLIDE.
UM I JUST WANTED TO PIVOT A
LITTLE FROM THE FINANCIAL
DISCUSSION. AND JUST FOR SOME
CONTEXT, THIS IS THE RELATIVE
CONTRIBUTION OF PLANNED
STRATEGIES AND MEETING PER
CAPITA GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION
REDUCTION TARGETS FOR OUR
REGION. THE SUITE OF PRICING AND
USE YOUR FEE STRATEGIES.
INCLUDED IN OUR PLAN ACCOUNTED
FOR ABOUT 19. GHD REDUCTION
FOLLOWED BY LAND, USE IT 18% AND
THEN INVESTMENT AND E V CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE AT 16% THE
REMAINING STRATEGIES ARE REALLY
A COMPILATION OF SMALLER
STRATEGIES ADDED TOGETHER AND
WHAT THE EMPHASIS HERE IS HOW
OUR ROAD CHARGE AND PRICING
STRATEGIES ARE MORE THAN ABOUT
CLOSING THE FUNDING GAP AND
MEETING FISCAL CONSTRAINT
REQUIREMENTS. THERE ARE ALSO
FUNDAMENTALLY THE BASIS FOR HOW
WE AS A REGION MEET SP 3 75
GREENHOUSE GAS. SUBMISSION
REDUCTION TARGETS IN ADDITION TO
FEDERAL AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY
REQUIREMENTS. AND SAID THIS
CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. BE
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME. COME ON.
SEE YOU. GOOD MORNING
DISTINGUISHED ASSEMBLY SELECT
COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HOLDEN
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CARILLO AND I
ALSO LIKE TO THANK DIRECTOR
TOMPKINS FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY
TODAY. I'M GLORIA ROBERTS.
CALTRANS DISTRICT SEVEN
DIRECTORS SERVING LOS ANGELES
INVENTORY COUNTIES. TODAY I WILL
BE SHARING WITH YOU. A SUMMARY
OF CALTRANS PROGRESS AND THE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE ARE ACHIEVING
THROUGH REBUILDING CALIFORNIA. I
WILL ALSO PROVIDE YOU WITH
INFORMATION ABOUT STATE AND
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENTS THAT ARE IMPROVING
THE VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES
. AND THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION
TODAY, I WILL BE FRAMING THE
DISCUSSION OF THE WORK WE DO AT
CALTRANS THROUGH THE LENS OF OUR
FOUR FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS OF
SAFETY, EQUITY, CLIMATE ACTION
AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. THESE
FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS ALSO KNOWN
AS OUR CORE FOUR, SERVED AS THE
TENANTS OF OUR PEOPLE. FOCUS
APPROACH IN IMPLEMENTING
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS.
CALIFORNIA CONTINUES TO GROW AND
IS NOW POSITIONED AS THE WORLD'S
FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY. BEST
CALTRANS HAS TO RESPONSIBILITY
TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
EXTENSIVE UTILIZATION OF THE
STATE'S TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE. YET WE ARE AT A
CROSSROADS OF HOW WE UTILIZE
LAND. AS WE NOW FOCUS ON WHAT
BECOMES OF THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT. THE IMPACT ON AIR
QUALITY FROM ADDITIONAL CARS AND
ON THE COMMUNITIES THAT HIGHWAYS
CROSS THROUGH. LAND USE
CONSIDERATIONS ARE COMPOUNDED AT
A TIME WHEN THERE IS A REGIONAL
HOUSING SHORTAGE. SO AS WE
CONTINUE TO PLAN DESIGN,
CONSTRUCT AND MAINTAIN
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, WE
FOCUS ON THESE FORWARD
FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS. SAFETY
REMAINS OUR TOP PRIORITY FOR
TRAVELERS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND
OUR WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS. WE
HAVE A VISION TO ACHIEVE A GOAL
OF ZERO FATALITIES ON OUR STATE
RAILWAYS BY 2050. WE ARE
IMPLEMENTING PROACTIVE
COUNTERMEASURES TO MAKE OUR
WORLD BASED SAFER AS WE ALSO
WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS THROUGH
EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT. FOR
EQUITY. WE ARE RECONNECTING
COMMUNITIES THAT WERE DIVIDED BY
FEDERAL POLICIES IN THE 19
FIFTIES THAT DETERMINE WHERE IN
THEIR STATES WERE BUILT. WE SEE
TRANSPORTATION, NOT AS A
PRIVILEGE. BUT AS A FUNDAMENTAL
RESOURCE FOR ALL PEOPLE. A
RESOURCE THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL
MODES OF TRAVEL. AND THAT
INCLUDES BICYCLES, PEDESTRIANS
IN TRANSIT AND RAIL. MULTIMODAL
TRANSPORTATION ALSO SUPPORTS
CLIMATE ACTION. WITH
TRANSPORTATION, CONTRIBUTING
ABOUT 50% OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS. THE CALIFORNIA STATE
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY CALISTA
ADOPTED THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
FOR TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE, ALSO KNOWN AS
CAPTAIN IN JULY, 2021. IN ORDER
TO MITIGATE AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE
CHANGE AND TO MOVE TO A LOW
CARBON SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IS RELATED
TO EQUITY. CALTRANS KNOWS THAT
THE CONFLUENCE OF JOBS, HOUSING
SAFETY, A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AND
ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION HELPS
TO DELIVER THE SUB STRUCTURE
NECESSARY FOR A COMMUNITY TO
THRIVE ECONOMICALLY. WITH
REPORTS OF THE PORTS OF LONG
BEACH L. A REPORT OF WINE AMY IN
DISTRICT SEVEN. KEEPING FREIGHT
MOVING IS A REGIONAL IMPORTANCE
AND THE KEY FOR CALIFORNIA'S
ECONOMY. HERE AT CALTRANS. WE
HAVE THE CREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO
HELP FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE
TO ACHIEVE THE KIND OF ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY THEY MIGHT WANT TO
ATTAIN. WITH SENATE BUILT ONE.
THE ROAD REPAIR AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017. IT'S
BEEN AN INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTOR
IN THIS AREA. SB ONE PROVIDES
SIGNIFICANT ONGOING AND STABLE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. AND
SINCE ITS PASSAGE IN 2017, MORE
THAN $16 BILLION HAS BEEN
INVESTED IN SIX SB ONE PROGRAMS
WITH 4000 COMPLETED PROJECTS AND
ANOTHER 4500 PROJECTS PLANNED OR
IN PROGRESS. SB ONE, STIPULATES
PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO HOLD
CALTRANS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN ONE FUNDS
AND HERE YOU SEE THE FOUR ASSET
CLASSES THAT WE DEVELOPED. AS
PERFORMANCE TARGETS IN PAVEMENT
, BRIDGES, CULVERTS. AND
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ELEMENTS.
THE FIX IT FIRST APPROACH OF
THESE FOUR PRIMARY ASSETS SERVES
AS THE FOUNDATION OF THE STATE
HIGHWAY OPERATIONS PROTECTION
PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS SHOP. THE
MAJORITY OF SB ONE FUNDING GOES
TO SHOP PROJECTS. AND
PROJECTIONS PRESENTED HERE
INDICATES THAT CALTRANS IS
CURRENTLY MEETING IN THIS
PROJECTED TO EXCEED AS WE ONE
CONDITION BASED TARGETS BY 2027
FOR ALL FOUR ASSET CLASSES.
SPECIFICALLY THIS LIKE
QUANTIFIES. HOW WE ARE MEETING
OUR STATEWIDE TARGETS, AND YOU
CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF
IMPROVEMENTS WE HAVE MADE SO
FAR. EVERY TIME CALTRANS
COMPLETES A PROJECT THAT HELPS
PROVIDE A SAFER AND MORE
RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR MORE FAMILIES
TO TAKE STEPS TOWARDS THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY. THE BENEFITS TO OUR
COMMUNITIES FROM THE FSB. ONE
PROJECTS INCLUDE REDUCE CLIMATE
IMPACTS, REDUCED TRAFFIC DELAYS,
ENHANCING EFFICIENCY FOR THE
MOVEMENT OF GOODS, IMPROVE
EQUITY OF ACCESS AND SAFER,
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
. ADDITIONALLY SB ONE HAS
STIMULATED GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES. SB ONE PROJECTS
ARE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO
COMMUNITIES WITH A GROWING
EMPHASIS ON ENGAGING WITH SMALL
BUSINESS AND DISABLED VETERANS.
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES WHILE
STRENGTHENING OUR TRANSPORTATION
NETWORK ACROSS THE STATE. SB
ONE, ALSO COMPRISES OF SEVERAL
FUNDING PROGRAMS. EXCEPT WHICH
IS THE TRADE QUARTER INVESTMENT
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES
APPROXIMATELY $300 MILLION PER
YEAR IN STATE FUNDING FOR
PROJECTS WHICH MORE EFFICIENTLY
ENHANCE THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS
ALONG QUARTERS THAT HAVE A HIGH
FREIGHT VOLUME. THE SOLUTIONS
FOR CONGESTED QUARTERS PROGRAM S
CCP PROVIDES A $250 MILLION
ANNUAL PROGRAM. FOR FUNDING FOR
A BALANCED SET OF TRANSPORTATION
, ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY
ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT REDUCE
CONSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. THE LOCAL PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM. L P. P PROVIDES LOCAL
AND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
AGENCIES WITH A CONTINUOUS
APPROPRIATION OF $200 MILLION
AND NO WAY TO FUND ROAD
MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION,
SOUND WALLS AND OTHER
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
PROJECTS. SB ONE, ALSO AUGMENTED
THE FUNDING OF THE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. THE
LEGISLATURE CREATED THE ATP
PROGRAM IN 2013 TO ENCOURAGE
INCREASED USE OF ACTIVE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION, SUCH AS BIKING
AND WALKING. SB ONE DIRECT 100
MILLION MILLION ANNUALLY TO THE
T P WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY AUGMENTS
THE AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR THIS
VERY POPULAR PROGRAM. THESE FOUR
SLIDES ARE EXAMPLES OF TSF
GRANTS THAT WERE AWARDED IN 2022
IN DISTRICT SEVEN. AS YOU CAN
SEE THESE PROJECTS ALL SUPPORT
EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF GOODS
THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THIS NEXT
SLIDE SHOWS THE S E C, P AND L P
P GRANTS THAT WERE AWARDED TO
VENTURA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION, THE CITY OF
INGLEWOOD AND L. A METRO. FOR
THESE GRANTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
IMPROVING SAFETY AND INCREASING
ACCESS TO A GREATER VARIETY OF
MOBILITY CHOICES. AND THIS SLIDE
SHOWS A SAMPLE OF THE A P 80 P
GRANTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN. WERE
THESE GRANTS ALLOW COMMUNITIES
TO BECOME SAFER WHILE
ENCOURAGING MULTIMODAL ACCESS
FOR ALL. WE DO HAVE THREE
SPECIFIC UPCOMING PROJECTS IN
THIS AREA, ALL OF WHICH ARE
FUNDED BY OUR SHOP PROGRAM. THE
FIRST OF WHICH IS 100 AND $24
MILLION SHOP MAJOR PAVEMENT
REHAB PROJECT IN PASADENA THAT'S
IN THE PLANNING STAGE. WE ALSO
HAVE A SIGNIFICANT $173 MILLION
MAJOR PAVEMENT REHAB PROJECT FOR
THE CITIES OF LANCASTER AND
PALMDALE. THAT'S CURRENTLY IN
CONSTRUCTION. AND THERE'S SOME
OF YOU MAY HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH.
THE THIRD IS AN 18.5 PROACTIVE
CORDER SAFETY IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT FOR S R 14 THAT IS
CURRENTLY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PHASE AT A THAT IS ESTIMATED TO
COST $18.5 MILLION. LASTLY THERE
IS A COMPONENT OF SB ONE THAT
REQUIRES CALTRANS TO ACHIEVE AT
LEAST $100 MILLION OF EFFICIENCY
SEAT SAVINGS EACH YEAR.
STEWARDSHIP AND EFFICIENCY ARE
STRATEGIC KEY COMPONENTS OF
CALTRANS GOALS AND WE HAVE
EXCEEDED THE 100 MILLION DOLLAR
GOAL OF EFFICIENCY SAVINGS FOR
THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. AND
WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUED
ADHERENCE TO THIS ACCOUNTABILITY
AND PERFORMANCE MEASURE FOR SB
ONE. SINCE NOVEMBER 2021 WHEN
PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED IT BY
PARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW BILL
ALSO KNOWN AS BILL, WHICH IS
ALSO KNOWN AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT IN JOBS ACT, A JOB
CALIFORNIA HAS RECEIVED MORE
THAN $20 BILLION OF FUNDING.
CHANCES DEMONSTRATED TO BE GOOD
STEWARDS OF SB ONE FUND AND FOR
THIS REASON IT JUST HISTORIC
INVESTMENT EMPOWERS US TO
ACCELERATE THE PACE OF OUR WORK
THAT IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF
LIFE FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS. SO
FAR, CALIFORNIA HAS ANNOUNCED
THE DATE THE $20.1 BILLION OF
AGE OF FUNDING. WITH 15.19
BILLION DEDICATED TO
TRANSPORTATION. AND AFTER 3.69
BILLION INVESTMENTS TO DATE. 759
MILLION ARE DEDICATED FOR
DISTRICT SEVEN PROJECTS. AND SO
FAR WITH ASIA. THE EDGE OF
FUNDING HAS RECREATED CLOSE TO
48,000 JOBS. IN ADDITION, WITH
THE CONTRACTS THAT HAVE BEEN
AWARDED FOR ASIA FUNDED PROJECTS
, WE ARE MEETING AND EVEN
SLIGHTLY EXCEEDING. THE
DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE CONTRACT GOAL OF
22.2. IT HAS ALSO ENABLED US TO
INCREASE THE CONTRIBUTION OF
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
THESE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
GRANTS FUNDED BY AUGMENTS WHAT
WE CAN PROVIDE DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION TO THE
REGULAR WORK THAT IS FUNDED BY
OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS,
CHANCE HAS WORKED. A NUMEROUS
EMERGENCY PROJECTS IN RESPONSE
THAT THE STORMS OF EARLY 2023
WHICH HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IN
DISTRICT SEVEN. WE HAVE
UNDERTAKEN 40 EMERGENCY ROAD
OPENING PROJECTS, PRIMARILY IN
RESPONSE TO STORM RELATED DAMAGE
WITH A COMBINED CAPITAL COSTS
118 MILLION STATEWIDE. AS YOU
CAN SEE, WE HAVE 345 PROJECTS.
WITH THE CAPITAL COST OF $101.3
BILLION OF EMERGENCY REPAIRS. IN
ADDITION, WE HAVE ONGOING
PROJECTS FOCUSED ON PERMANENT
RESTORATION, STRATEGICALLY
DESIGNED TO RECTIFY THE LASTING
CONSEQUENCES OF THESE EMERGENCY
EVENTS. AND PLEASE NOTE THAT
THESE FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE THE
DAMAGES THAT WERE CAUSED. BY THE
MOST RECENT TROPICAL STORM
HILLARY. CALDERON SINCERELY
APPRECIATES THE SUPPORT OF OUR
LEGISLATORS IN RECOGNIZING THE
IMPORTANT ROLE THAT WE PLAY IN
EMERGENCY RESPONSE. CREWS WORK
AROUND THE CLOCK TO KEEP OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFE. AND OUR ROADS
CLEAR DURING ROAD DURING ALL
WEATHER EVENTS AND EVERY DAY.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY AND THIS CONCLUDES MY
PRESENTATION AND I'M HAPPY TO
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENT BOTH OF
YOUR PRESENTATIONS. I'LL TURN TO
MY COLLEAGUE TO SEE IF HE HAS
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ONE OR BOTH.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. BUT BEFORE
I DO THAT, I ALSO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE STAFF FROM
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S LARA FRIEDMAN
WHO ARE HERE, THEY MADE IT UP
THIS WAY AND ALSO STAFF FROM
PILLAR. SHE AVOID THOUGHT I SAW
HER HERE. SHE MAY HAVE STEPPED
OUT A LITTLE BIT. BUT ANYWAY, I
DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, COMMENTS
AND STATEMENTS. UM AND YEAH,
FIRST OF ALL THE FIRST
RESPONDERS NOW THAT YOU MENTION
ALL THE DAMAGES THAT WHICH HAS
RECENTLY HAD LESS WE CAN THANK
YOU FOR THE FIRST RESPONSE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO THE PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENTS WHO WHERE
REALLY OUT THERE, CLEANING OUT
THE ROADS. AFTER ALL THE
MUDSLIDES THAT WE HAD EVERYWHERE
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. UM. WE
WANTED TO ASK THE, UH EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THAT'S
ONE OF THE VALUES AND COURSE
FROM FROM SKAGEN, ALSO FROM
CALTRANS, AND GIVEN THE NUMBERS
THAT YOU PRESENTED IN THE ALL OF
THE PROJECTS AND THE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS THAT ARBY'S SPENT
THROUGHOUT REGION, SEVEN
CULTURES AND SCAG REGION, I KNOW
THAT HAVING EQUITY BEEN
THROUGHOUT THE REGION IS
SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT HE'S DONE. UM ARE YOU
LOOKING AT ANY METRICS TO SEE
HOW THIS EQUITABLE PROGRAMS OR
MONIES AVAILABLE THAT ARE
DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT BOTH
REGIONS, SCAG REGION AND CULTURE
? AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS
BECAUSE IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY,
SOMETIMES WE FEEL ABOUT THE
FORGOTTEN CHILD STEPCHILD OF THE
COUNTY, AND WE CAN SEE THAT, BUT
WE DON'T SEE WHAT YOU JUST
PERCENTAGE WE DON'T SEE THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS BEEN
SPENT IN THE REGION AND THIS
REALLY HELPS THE WHERE THOSE
MONIES ARE GOING THE TYPES OF
PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING UH
REPAIR PRESENTED AND FOR FUTURE
INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT AGAIN GOING
ON THAT EQUITY ISSUE. DO YOU
GUYS HAVE METRICS THAT WE CAN
SEE AND SHOW THE RESIDENTS SUDAN
TO THE VALLEY THAT WE ACTUALLY
ARE HAVING WHAT WE DESERVE AND
WHAT WE NEED IN THE REGION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CARILLO AS PART
OF THE CAPITAL, THE CLIMATE
ACTION PLAN FOR TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE COUCH HANDS IS
CONTINUING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY INDEX. UM
THAT WOULD REALLY KIND OF SPELL
OUT IN TERMS OF HOW WE MEASURE
THE BASELINE AND THEN CONTINUED
SUCCESS IN TERMS OF THE AS YOU
SAY, THE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION
OF OUR PROJECTS AND RESOURCES
AND HOW WE PLAN FOR
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS
ACROSS ALL REGIONS, SO THAT IS
DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S
CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS. AND WE
ARE ALSO, UM, HAVE A MAJOR
STRATEGIC ACTIONS TO SUPPORT
EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT ACROSS ALL
FACES OF OUR WORK WITH ALL OF
OUR PROJECTS. NOW WE GO IN AT
THE PRE PLANNING PHASE TO REALLY
LEARN. WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES
OF THE COMMUNITIES AND HOW WHAT
IS MISSING IN TERMS OF THE
EXISTING TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
THAT IS NOT SERVING THE
COMMUNITIES. AND THEN BUILDING
FROM THERE SO THAT THEY HAVE, UH
S¼ AND ARE INVOLVED IN THE
PLANNING PROCESS TO HELP US WORK
THROUGH TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE ACTUALLY MEANINGFUL AND
SERVE THE PURPOSE THAT IS MEANT
TO SERVE, WHICH IS THE LOCAL
RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES OF THE
VARIOUS REGIONS. AND SO, UM.
CALTRANS AND CALISTA AND THE
CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION. WE ALSO HAVE AN
INTERAGENCY EQUITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE TO ALIGN OUR CAMERA
ACTION WORK WITH EQUITY GOALS,
AND THAT IS UM, THE WAY THAT IS
A COMMITTEE THAT IS THERE TO
SERVE IN TERMS OF MAKING
DECISIONS AND FUNDING DECISIONS
. THAT REALLY POINT TO THE FACT
THAT WE ARE INVESTING THE MONEY
IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACES. THANK
YOU FOR THAT AND FROM SKY YEAH.
IF I CAN JUST ADD THAT
HISTORICALLY, SCAG HAS NOT BEEN
INVOLVED IN THIS ABOUT
ALLOCATION OF, UH FEDERAL
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, HOWEVER
, RECENTLY, UM WITH MIJA, AND
WITH RECENT ACTION BY THE
FEDERAL AGENCIES, WE ARE NOW
GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS
ALLOCATION OF THE CARBON
REDUCTION PROGRAM, DOLLARS AT
LEAST THE LOCAL REGIONAL SHARE
AS WELL AS MOVING FORWARD. SEE
MAC AND STB G FEDERAL FUNDING,
AND SO AS PART OF THAT PROCESS,
WE'VE BEEN WORKING. VERY CLOSELY
WITH CALTRANS AS WELL AS OUR
COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
IN ESTABLISHING A PROCESS THAT
REALLY TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION
NUMEROUS FACTORS, INCLUDING
EQUITY BEING FIRST AND FOREMOST
AS PART OF THAT, UM,
HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF OUR WORK
THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING INTERNALLY
ON PRIORITY EQUITY COMMUNITIES,
SO MOST DEFINITELY IT'S A PART
OF OUR PROCESS. AND ALONG WITH
THOSE LINES CHEST FOR MY OWN
BENEFIT WHEN CALTRANS RECEIVES
THE FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE,
IS IT DISTRIBUTED BY REGION IS
THAT TAKING INTO A CAMERA SET BY
POPULATION THE YOU KNOW HOW THAT
MONEY GETS. GOING DOWN THROUGH
THE DIFFERENT SKOK REGIONS. I
COULD MAYBE START IT REALLY
DEPENDS ON THE FUNDING SOURCE,
SO EVEN SOME OF THE FORMULA
CATEGORIES THAT I JUST SPOKE
ABOUT. SO THE LATEST FEDERAL
ACTION IS THAT WE CANNOT SUB,
ALLOCATE BY POPULATION FOR SOME
OF THESE CATEGORIES, AND SO
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT VARIOUS
PERFORMANCE METRICS AS A MEANS
TO DO SOME COMPETITIVE. ZEB
ALLOCATIONS OF COURSE CATEGORIES
LIKE C. MAC FOR EXAMPLE, HAS TO
BE REDISTRIBUTED TO THOSE AREAS
THAT ARE GENERATING THE
RESOURCES AS A RESULT OF, UM THE
AIR QUALITY CRITERIA POLLUTANT
ISSUES IN THE VARIOUS
NONATTAINMENT OUR MAINTENANCE
AREAS, AND SO THEY ARE, BY
FORMULA KIND OF REDISTRIBUTED IN
THAT CONTEXT FOR THE REGION, BUT
AS A REGIONAL AGENCY, WE WOULD
THEN NEED TO ESTABLISH A
COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO ENSURE
USE OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE MORE
CLOSELY TIED TO PERFORMANCE. BUT
THANK YOU. IN THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. IN THE
PRESENTATION. YOU ALSO MENTIONED
THAT GOING THROUGH THE BIDDING
PROCESS AND GETTING SMALL
BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS, SEVERAL
VETERANS ALSO BEING ABLE TO BE
PART OF THE BIDDING PROCESS THAT
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM
AS WELL FOR ECONOMIC, YOU KNOW,
IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AS
FAR AS GETTING THEIR JOBS AND
OBVIOUSLY NOT IMPROVES THE
BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. UM IS
THERE DATA THAT YOU ALSO CAN
SHARE WITH US? YOU DON'T HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING HAVING NOW, BUT
LARRY CAN SEND IT TO US SO THAT
WE CAN NOT ONLY LETTER
CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT THIS
OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE, BUT
THOSE THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN
BENEFITED FROM THESE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE
PROVIDED TO THEM. AND I THINK
THAT THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL
FOR CONSTITUENTS, LETTING THEM
KNOW THAT THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE. YOU'RE
HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES AND
DISABLED PARENTS SO THAT THEY
CAN KNOW THAT THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES SUCCESS. I THINK
THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL
OF US. UM WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT
MEETING THOSE GOALS FROM 2035,
AND THERE HAVE INVESTMENTS HAVE
BEEN HAVE BEEN DONE.
ELECTRIFYING THE STATE. UM I
THINK THAT WE ALSO NEED TO START
LOOKING AT HYDROGEN. THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IN THE ASSEMBLY. BUT IN
ORDER FOR THE STATE TO BE ABLE
TO MEET THOSE GOALS, WHICH ARE
VERY DRASTIC, BUT 2035 WILL BE
HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT. AND IT'S
BEEN PROVEN IN, UM, EXPERIENCED
ON MYSELF THAT THE ELECTRIC
INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE'S A LITTLE
BIT OUT THERE, BUT A LOT OF
TIMES THEY JUST DON'T WORK THE
MIRROR OR THE CHARGING STATIONS
ARE OUT OF ORDER. UH AND IT
TAKES A LOT OF LONG TIME TO
CHARGE YOUR VEHICLE. I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN SEE
THAT THE HYDROGEN COULD BE
ANOTHER FUEL THAT COULD HELP US
GET 2035. AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE
THINGS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IN
THE ASSEMBLY. BUT I THINK THAT
THAT'S ONE WAY THEY'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE THOSE
GOALS, NOT ONLY IN THE, UM
PERSONAL VEHICLES BUT ALSO WITH
HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND ALSO WITH
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THERE ARE
TRAINS I BELIEVE THAT ABLAN
THROUGH METROLINK IS WORKING ON
HAVING A TREND THAT IS GOING TO
BE OPERATING WITH HYDROGEN. UM
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS
KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND THAT WE
THINK IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT
WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET TO 2035.
LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE I HAVEN'T
KNOWN A COUPLE OF THINGS. DO YOU
WANT TO INTRODUCE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SHOWER WHILE I
THINK. I THINK THAT'S IT FOR NOW
. BUT THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE I
SHOULD CONTACT YOU AND YOUR
OFFICE SO YOU CAN GET MORE MORE
INFORMATION SO THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO INTRODUCE OUR OTHER MEMBER OF
OUR COMMITTEE. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SHADOW WHO JOINS US WHERE WE'VE
JUST FINISHING PANEL. ONE HOUR
PAUSE. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS
THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK HIM THAT,
BUT I'LL PAS A THAT FOR A MOMENT
WE'VE GIVEN EACH HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BRIEF
OPENING STATEMENT, SO I WILL
GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY
SOME OPENING WORDS AND THEN
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE
QUESTIONING ON CHANNEL ONE AND
THEN TRANSITION TO PANEL TOO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, VERY HAPPY TO
BE HERE. APOLOGIES FOR BEING
COMING IN LATER. I HAD A FLIGHT
THIS MORNING OUT OF SACRAMENTO.
UM SO AND I WOULD SHOULD HAVE
WOULD IS WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE
COULD HAVE TAKEN PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE I ARRIVED
HERE WITH ABOUT 23 MILES IN MY
ELECTRIC VEHICLE LEFT SO JUST BY
THE SKIN OF MY TEETH, I MADE IT.
UM BUT, YOU KNOW, I YOU KNOW,
PERSONALLY A HUGE FAN OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. UH I'VE MET I'VE
BEEN ABLE TO LIVE AROUND THE
COUNTRY WHERE THERE'S UM,
INCREDIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
. MY FAMILY GOT RID OF ONE OF
OUR CARS BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO
USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SO
MUCH THAT WE ONLY NEEDED ONE CAR
INSTEAD OF TWO. AND SO YOU KNOW,
IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, THAT I
HAVE BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER OF
PERSONALLY AND REALLY BELIEVE
THAT THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD WORK
THAT WE CAN DO IN THE REGION
AROUND THIS ISSUE, AND I KNOW
WORK. THAT'S THAT'S HAPPENING
NOW. I WAS LISTENING TO THE
HEARING AS I WAS DRIVING OUT, SO
I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING. AND UM
AND I KNOW THAT THE FINANCES ARE
CHALLENGED, AND THAT IS REALLY
ONE OF THE BIG, UM, BIG
CHALLENGES FACING US RIGHT NOW
THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS FASTER
GETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO
GO QUICKER. HMM VERY AVAILABLE
TO WORKING CLASS FOLKS WHO HAVE
TO GET TO WORK AND HAVE TO GET
HOME TO KIDS. UM AND THESE ARE
YOU KNOW BIG PRIORITIES FOR ME.
SO UM, APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING
HERE TODAY BEING A PART OF THE
PANEL VERY HAPPY TO DIG IN AND
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT
AT THE STATE LEVEL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. UM AND THAT ACTUALLY
TIES INTO MY QUESTION FOR MS
NAM. ON THE UH, CLEARLY
CALIFORNIA WE ALL SET AND
PROBABLY SO AMBITIOUS SCHOOLS.
UH AND AS THEY ADDRESS THE ISSUE
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. WHAT
ARE SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE IN TERMS OF HOW
THE LEGISLATURE CAN WORK?
CLOSELY WITH THE AGENCIES AND
COORDINATING WE CAN END TO WHAT
DEGREE DO THESE GOALS. ARE THESE
GOALS HAVING IMPACT ON REVENUE
IN TERMS OF HOW WE WERE PLANNING
GOING FORWARD? ARE WE SEEING AND
I KNOW IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU
TALKED ABOUT THE TIME FRAMES AND
WHEN CERTAIN DOLLARS WOULD
EXPIRE, BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO
SORT OF PUSH THE ENVELOPE AND
TRY TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN
ADDRESSING THESE ENVIRONMENTAL
GOALS, HOW DO YOU SEE THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE AGENCIES
WORKING TOGETHER? Tð BETTER PLAN
AND WHERE WE MIGHT START LOOKING
AT RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES GOING
FORWARD. MOST DEFINITELY THINK
CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS IS A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I
THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE
DIALOGUE ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE
SOME OF THESE HARD CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, RIGHT.
WE'VE BEEN VERY FOCUSED, UM,
RIGHTLY SO ON THE CHALLENGES
ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND ENSURING THAT OUR POLICIES
ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING
THAT, BUT I THINK THERE ARE
LARGER IMPLICATIONS TO THAT, AND
WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT
MORE HOLISTICALLY. HOW THIS
IMPACTS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE
SECTOR, AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE
HAD THAT KIND OF A LARGE
CONVERSATION. YOU KNOW, THE SAME
IS TRUE IN TERMS OF AH, JUST
SIMPLY ON, UH, CLEAN TECHNOLOGY
SIDE, RIGHT? THE ENERGY
IMPLICATIONS ABOUT THIS, AND I
DON'T KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN
REALLY A CONCERTED EFFORT TO
HAVE DIALOGUE AMONGST MANY OF
THE TRANSPORTATION AGENCY AS
WELL AS THE ENERGIES THE
UTILITIES TO BE AT THE TABLE AND
REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE FULL
IMPLICATIONS OF THE CHANGE TO
COME. WE'RE AT THE CUSP OF, I
THINK PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO BE
THINKING ABOUT ALL THESE FACTORS
THAT ARE GONNA YOU KNOW, HIT US
PRETTY SOON. I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BRINGING
IN THE UTILITIES THAT DOES MAKE
A LOT OF SENSE IN TERMS OF HOW
THE COORDINATION ESPECIALLY IN
TERMS OF ELECTRIFICATION, AND
HOW WE'RE MOVING IN THE
DIRECTION AND CHARGING STATIONS
AND HOW THE PRESSURES IN THAT
SECTOR COINCIDED WITH
TRANSPORTATION AND SPEND
PLANNING. AND SO GOOD POINT WILL
MAKE SURE THAT EITHER PART OF
THIS CONVERSATION AND GOING
FORWARD AS THIS COMMITTEE
CONTINUES TO DELVE INTO THESE
ISSUES AND WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH ALL OF YOU
. I WANTED TO ALSO ASK REAL
QUICKLY ON THE UM WITH CALTRANS
. THERE'S A PUBLIC PORTAL WHERE
PEOPLE CAN GO TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT SB ONE PROJECTS. FUNDING
AND SB ONE PROGRAMS. IS THAT
BECAUSE I KNOW THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BROUGHT THAT UP
, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THIS PORTAL? SURE THIS, UH
, PORTAL IS, UH, A WEBSITE. IT'S
CALLED REBUILDING. SEE A DOT
CA.GOV. AND SO THIS BASICALLY
YOU CAN GO INTO THAT PORTAL AND
LOOK UP ANY OF THE SB ONE
PROJECTS AS WE WANT FUNDED
GRANTS, UM, THAT ARE FUNDED BY
SB ONE. SO IF YOU WANTED A
STATUS OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR OR OR
REGION OF THE STATE. YOU CAN GO
IN AND LOOK UP THE PROJECT
STATUS AND THE CONDITIONS. VERY
GOOD. WELL I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. YOU'LL
STICK AROUND. WHEN WE GET TO
PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE MAY BE
SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT
NEED TO BE PREPARED ON. BUT
WE'RE NOW TRANSITION TO OUR
SECOND PANEL. OUR SECOND PANEL
INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION LEADERS
WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED
COMMITMENTS TO PROVIDING
SOLUTIONS THAT IMPROVE ACCESS
AND EQUITY. TODAY WILL BENEFIT
FROM RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM
RAFFI EMPYREAN, A DEPUTY
EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITH L. A
METRO. DARREN KETTLE. CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER METROLINK AND
DENNY'S SIGNED FOUNDER. POLICY
DIRECTOR. MOVE L. A. AS I INVITE
RAFI TO THE PODIUM TO START OFF
. ALLOW ME TO SHARE A BIT ABOUT
HIM. RAFEAL HYPERION. BORN IN
NEW YORK CITY AND RAISED IN NEW
JERSEY AS A GRADUATE OF RUTGERS,
THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW
JERSEY, WHERE HE ALSO EARNED A
MASTER'S DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS. SYRIAN HAS WORKED FOR
A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
MOST RECENTLY AS A CHIEF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AID FOR FORMER NEW
JERSEY COMMERCE CONGRESSMAN
STEVEN ROTHMAN. HE CURRENTLY
SERVES AS THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE
OFFICER OF FEDERAL AFFAIRS FOR
THE LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. WHERE
HE ADVANCES THE METRO BOARDS.
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM IS
RESIDENT OF PASADENA, WHERE HE
LIVES WITH HIS WIFE, MARIELA
EMPYREAN. AND THEREFORE
CHILDREN. JOHN THANK YOU. FOR
THIS MANY WE'RE HAVING.
AUTHORITY. GATHER. RAFEAL DEPUTY
EXECUTIVE OFFICER RELATIONS WITH
METRO. THERE YOU GO. A LITTLE
BETTER, UM, WITH AN EYE TOWARDS,
UH CONTENT AND ALSO BREVITY. I'M
GOING TO JUMP RIGHT INTO THE
PRESENTATION AND HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY, HOPEFULLY LATER TO
ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. UM LET ME
START BY SAYING AS YOU ARE ALL
AWARE L A COUNTY IS THE MOST
POPULOUS COUNTY IN THE NATION.
10 MILLION RESIDENTS. 88 CITIES
PLUS INCORPORATED L. A COUNTY.
OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS
LARGE AND COMPLEX AND INCLUDES
MOVING BOTH PEOPLE AND LOTS OF
GOODS OVER 40% OF THE INBOUND
CARGO ENTERING THE UNITED
STATES. LET ME GO TO OUR NEXT
SLIDE. THERE YOU GO. METRO IS
THE SECOND LARGEST TRANSIT
AGENCY IN THE UNITED STATES,
WHERE THE CHIEF PLANNER,
COORDINATOR, DESIGNER BUILDER
AND THUNDER FOR PROJECTS ACROSS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY. OUR GOAL AS
AN AGENCY HAS BEEN TO TRANSFORM
TRANSIT IN L, A COUNTY AND WE'RE
DOING THAT, THROUGH THE NATION'S
MOST AMBITIOUS CAPITAL PROGRAM.
WITH AN INVESTMENT OF $2.2
BILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2024
ALONE AND WITH SOME OF THE MOST
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND
INITIATIVES ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES. UNDERSTANDABLY RIDERSHIP
IS DOWN FROM PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS
. BUT WE HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS
TO MOVE FORWARD. OR ANNUAL
RIDERSHIP IS UP 15% YEAR OVER
YEAR AND WE'VE RECOVERED 75% OF
OUR WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP AND NEARLY
90% OF OUR WEEKEND RIDERSHIP.
THIS RIDERSHIP INCREASES A
DIRECT RESULT OF STEPS WE'VE
TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY
SAFETY AND FREQUENCY OF OUR
TRANSIT SERVICE AND MAKE IT MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND USEFUL TO MORE
PEOPLE, NAMELY LOW INCOME
RIDERS. WOMEN AND K THROUGH 12
AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS.
I'LL GET INTO THAT A BIT MORE IN
THE NEXT SLIDE. UM METRO IS
IMPLEMENTED A SERIES OF NEW
STRATEGIES TO INCREASE RIDERSHIP
EVEN FURTHER. RECENTLY WE
ESTABLISHED THE AMBASSADOR
PROGRAM AS PART OF OUR BROADER
EFFORT TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC
SAFETY ON OUR METRO SYSTEM.
TODAY WE'VE ON BOARDED OVER 300
AMBASSADORS. AMBASSADORS ARE A
KEY PART OF OUR MULTI LAYER
PROGRAM. TO IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
COMBINED WITH THE TEAM THAT
INCLUDES METRO SECURITY, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, HOMELESS AND MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICE, OUTREACH WORKERS
AND CLEANING CREWS. TO THE NEXT
SLIDE. METRO IS ALSO IMPLEMENTED
PROGRAMS TO HELP LOW INCOME
PEOPLE AND STUDENTS OF FORD
TRANSIT. OUR GO PAST PILOT
PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH K THROUGH
12 AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS TO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS
TO STUDENTS ON OUR SYSTEM AND
DOZENS OF OTHERS IN THE COUNTY.
WE RECENTLY RECORDED 22 MILLION
GO PAST BOARDINGS SINCE THE
PILOT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2021. GO
PAST THIS HELP METRO GROW ITS
STUDENT RIDERSHIP BY 43% OVER
PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS AND GO PAST
THIS PART MORE BROADLY OF OUR
FAIRLESS SYSTEM INITIATIVE,
WHICH BEGAN WITH THE STUDY IN
2020 GO PASS IS ONE OF THE TOOLS
TO HELP BRIDGE THE GAP TO EXPAND
OUR FAIRLESS PROGRAMS. THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE BRIDGE IS OUR LIFE
PROGRAM OR LOW INCOME FAIR IS
EASY PROGRAM. WE HAVE PARTNERED
WITH L. A COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES TO HELP
SIGN UP PEOPLE FOR THE LIFE
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS CAN CHOOSE
TO RECEIVE UP TO 20 FREE RIDES
EACH MONTH. NEW LIFE
PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED 90 DAYS OF
FREE RIDES. WE ARE PROUD TO SAY
THAT AS OF THIS MONTH, WE HAVE
ENROLLED OVER 250,000
PARTICIPANTS IN THE LIFE PROGRAM
. METRO'S RAPID EQUITY
ASSESSMENT TOOL CONCLUDED THAT
THE COST BARRIER TO TRANSIT
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH CAN
LIMIT MOBILITY AND ACCESS TO
EMPLOYMENT. EDUCATION MEDICAL
CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES. WE'RE
MAKING INVESTMENTS AND EFFORTS
TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN STRENGTHEN
ARE SUBSIDIZED PROGRAMS. THIS
EFFORT EXTENDS TO ALL RIDERS,
REGARDLESS OF ENROLLMENT IN THE
PROGRAM WITH OUR NEW FAIR,
CAPPING SYSTEM. LAUNCHED IN JULY
OF 2023 CUSTOMERS CAN NOW USE
THEIR TAP CARD TO PAY PER RIDE
UNTIL THEY HIT A DAILY FARE CAP
OF $5 OR SEVEN DAY FAIR CAP OF
$18 ONCE THE ONE DAY AND SEVEN
DAY CAPS ARE REACHED, METRO
RIDERS WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE THE
SYSTEM FOR FREE FOR THE
REMAINDER. OF THE DAY OR A SEVEN
DAY PERIOD. WE HOPE TO HAVE
PRELIMINARY RESULTS ABOUT FAIR
CAPPING AVAILABLE SOON. METRO IS
ALSO AS I MENTIONED UNDERTAKING
AN EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE CAPITAL
PROGRAM. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE
RECENT SUCCESS AND ONE PLAN
STUDY. THE SUCCESS IS OUR
REGIONAL CONNECTOR PROGRAM,
WHICH IS BASICALLY CONNECTING
MANY OF OUR RAIL LINES
UNDERNEATH. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
PROJECT INCLUDES THREE NEW
STATIONS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE OF
THE CITY, LITTLE TOKYO ARTS
DISTRICT, HISTORIC BROADWAY AND
THE GRAND AVENUE BUNKER HILL
STATION. THESE THREE STATIONS
HAVE ALLOWED US TO TURN THREE
LINES, THE GOLD LINE, THE EXPO
LINE AND THE BLUE LINE INTO TWO
LINES, THE A AND THE E LINE
OFFERING SMOOTHER FASTER
TRANSFER FREE RIDES BETWEEN
AZUSA AND LONG BEACH AND EAST L.
A AND SANTA MONICA. IT'S STILL
EARLY, BUT WE ARE ALREADY SEEING
RIDERSHIP GAINS FROM THIS
PROJECT. AND FINALLY I WILL
TOUCH UPON THE A LINE
FEASIBILITY STUDY TO EVALUATE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE SAN
FERNANDO AND SAN GABRIEL VALLEYS
. THANKS TO CHAIR HOLDEN FOR
ASSURING THAT THESE FUNDS FOR
THIS SPECIFIC STUDY WERE
APPROPRIATED IN 2021, AND
SPECIFICALLY, THIS FEASIBILITY
STUDY IS SET TO EXAMINE A
POTENTIAL RAIL CONNECTION.
BETWEEN THE A LINE FORMERLY THE
GOAL LINE IN PASADENA AND
HOLLYWOOD. BURBANK AIRPORT
AROUND CONNECTION COULD
POTENTIALLY EXPAND UPON THE BRT
SERVICE CURRENTLY PLANNED FOR
THE QUARTER AND WE ARE EAGER TO
SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS PLANT
STUDY. AND WITH THAT, I THANK
YOU AGAIN CHAIR HOLDEN, MEMBERS
OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
BEHALF OF L, A METRO FOR HAVING
US HERE TODAY AND AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME, BE HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, CHAIR HOLDER. THANK
YOU. IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU
HERE AND APPRECIATE YOUR
PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO
INTRODUCE THE NEXT TO MEMBERS OF
THE PANEL, AND THEN WE'LL JUST
ALLOW YOU TO GO RIGHT INTO YOUR
PRESENTATION DURING KETTLE IS
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
METRO LINKS SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA'S REGIONAL PASSENGER
RAIL PROVIDER THAT OFFERS SAFE,
EASY, AFFORDABLE AND STRESS FREE
ALTERNATIVES TO CAR TRAVEL. FOR
MORE THAN 18 MILLION RESIDENTS
OF THE SIX COUNTY MEGA REGION.
HE BECAME THE METROLINK CEO IN
SEPTEMBER. 2021 HAS MORE THAN 30
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH LOCAL
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
BEFORE JOINING METROLINK. HE WAS
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
VENTURA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION. FOR 14 YEARS.
PREVIOUSLY HE WAS WITH THE SAD
BERNARDINO ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENTS. NOW THE SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTY OF
TRANSPORTATION FROM 2000 TO 2007
EARLY IN HIS SON BACK TENURE,
KELLER WAS DIRECTOR OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS FOR BOTH
SANDBAG AND THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. THANK
YOU AND WELCOME THERE IS A SIGN
FOUNDER POLICY DIRECTOR L. A
MOVE L A AND IT IS A FOUNDED
MOVE L. A TO COALESCE
ENVIRONMENTAL, LABOR, BUSINESS
AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO
INITIATE MEASURE OUR 2008 AND
MEASURE EM 2016 EACH OF ONE HALF
CENT SALES TAX INCREASE TO RAISE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO INVEST IN
LOS ANGELES COUNTY TRANSIT
SYSTEM. APPROVED BY MORE THAN
TWO THIRDS OF VOTERS. THESE
MEASURES WILL GENERATE 120
BILLION OVER 40 YEARS TO INVEST
IN ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE
RAIL AND BUS TRANSIT SYSTEMS
DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN
THE NATION. MR ZAIN ALSO
INITIATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF
MEASURE AGE 2017 AND L A AND
2022 AND LOS ANGELES TO RAISE
THE FUNDS NEEDED TO AID THE
HOMELESS AND BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. PREVIOUSLY SEEN SERVED
THREE TERMS ON THE SANTA MONICA
CITY COUNCIL FROM 1981 TO 1992,
INCLUDING A TERM AS MAYOR.
FORMULATING SANTA MONICA
SUCCESSFUL AFFORDABLE HOUSING
STRATEGIES AND LEADING THE
CREATION OF THE THIRD STREET
PROMENADE. WELCOME, MR ZANE.
KETTLE EUROPE. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD
MORNING, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S KOREA.
ANGIE AVO. I GET MY NAME'S DARON
KETTLE. I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER AT METROLINK. I'M A
PROUD RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY OF
VENTURA. I'M A REGULAR USER OF
OUR TRAINS. SO AS THE SAYING
GOES, I'M NOT ONLY THE CEO, I'M
ALSO THE CUSTOMER. UM AND
BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE A UNIQUE
EXPERIENCE IN THE ROLE I GET TO
PLAY IN SERVING AS THIS IS THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THE
NAME OF THIS COMMITTEE IS YES.
SIMPLY SELECT COMMITTEE ON
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SOLUTIONS, AND I WOULD SUGGEST
TO YOU THAT WE ARE THE
DEFINITION OF THAT A REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION FOR ALL
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE MAP
YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS OUR
SYSTEM. UM WE WERE FORMED 30
YEARS AGO. WE JUST CELEBRATED 30
YEARS LAST OCTOBER. WE SERVE SIX
COUNTIES, INCLUDING AS FAR SOUTH
AS SAN DIEGO COUNTY. WE DO GO
INTO OCEAN SIDE. OUR FIVE CORE
COUNTIES, THOUGH, THAT INCLUDE
OUR FIVE MEMBER AGENCIES. MY
HOME COUNTY OF VENTURA, LOS
ANGELES, SAN MARTINO, RIVERSIDE
AND ORANGE COUNTY. AH WE HAVE A
SYSTEM THAT IS SEVEN LINES. YOU
CAN SEE THAT ALSO ON THE MAP.
545 MILES OF ROUTE MILES. THAT
MAKES US THE THIRD LARGEST
REGIONAL PASSENGER RAIL SYSTEM
IN THE COUNTRY AS FAR AS THE
AMOUNT OF THE DISTANCE THAT WE
SPAN. AND WITH 66 STATIONS ALONG
WITH AND I MENTIONED THAT WE ARE
A 55 COUNTY MEMBER JOINT POWERS
AUTHORITY THAT INCLUDES THOSE
FIVE COUNTIES. THE SYSTEM THAT
YOU SEE THERE IS, UM IS
TRADITIONAL COMMUTER RAIL. UM
AGAIN SOMETHING THAT IS KIND OF
CHANGED. I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON
THAT. IN A SECOND. WE OPERATE AS
MANY AS 55 LOCOMOTIVES
THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
40 OF THOSE LOCOMOTIVES ARE
VERY, VERY NEW BRAND NEW TIER
FOR LOW EMITTING, UM,
LOCOMOTIVES THAT RUN ON
RENEWABLE DIESEL. WE DO NOT RUN
ON ANY OF OUR LOCAL METAL. ALL
OF OUR LOCOMOTIVES ARE RUN ON
RENEWABLE FUEL, NO PETROLEUM IN
OUR IN OUR LOCOMOTIVES. SO AGAIN
. WE STARTED 30 YEARS AGO AS A
COMMUTER RAILROAD WHEN PEOPLE
GOT UP IN THE MORNING AT SIX OR
SEVEN O'CLOCK, GOT ON A TRAIN
AND WENT SOMEPLACE TYPICALLY
INTO LOS ANGELES OR ORANGE
COUNTY. WELL THREE YEARS AGO,
SOMETHING CHANGED AND CHANGED
THE WAY WE CAN DO BUSINESS. 2019
WE AVERAGED NEARLY 40,000 DAILY
WRITERS ON WEEKDAYS AND CLOSE TO
10,000 DAILY RIDERS ON WEEKENDS.
AND THEN MARCH MARCH, 15TH OF
2020 OCCURRED AND WE ALL WENT
HOME. FOR A YEAR AND A HALF OR
SO, AND WE ARE NOW WORKING TO
COME BACK WHEN THAT DID HAPPEN,
COMMUTER RAILROADS OR ARGUABLY
THE MOST IMPACTED TRANSIT
SERVICE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY
WHEN YOU ARE AGAIN BY DEFINITION
OF COMMUTER RAILROAD, AND PEOPLE
ARE STAYING HOME AND NOT
COMMUTING TO WORK. THINGS ARE
GOING TO CHANGE AND WE LOST
NEARLY 90% OF OUR RIDERSHIP
OVERNIGHT. UM WE DID STILL CARRY
PEOPLE. WE STILL CARRIED A
NUMBER OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, UM,
TO, UM TO THEIR PLACE OF WORK
AND CONTINUE TO CONDUCT OUR
BUSINESS. WE DID REDUCE OUR
SERVICE LEVELS. WE DID NOT
CONTINUE TO RUN THE SAME NUMBER
OF TRAINS AS WE DID PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC. BUT WHAT IT TOLD US
THOUGH, IS THAT LEISURE TRAVEL?
UM WAS SOMETHING THAT AND
DISCRETIONARY TRIPS OR SOMETHING
THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO
PIVOT TO AND SO VERY SELDOM.
WILL YOU HEAR ME? USE THE TERM
COMMUTER RAIL ANY LONGER. YOU
WILL HEAR US REFER TO OURSELVES
AS REGIONAL REGIONAL PASSENGER
RAIL BECAUSE AGAIN, THE NATURE
OF THE COMMUTE HAS SO
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED. UH SO
WE'RE PIVOTING. WE'RE CHANGING
THE WAY WE'RE DOING BUSINESS AND
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT
HERE IN A BIT BECAUSE THE
ANTELOPE VALLEY LINE THE LINE
THAT SERVES THIS COMMUNITY IS
GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST
LINES THAT WE SHIFT TO ADD
SERVICE TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF
MODEL. FROM WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY, UM, WE HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT OUR TRAINS ARE
ABOUT VISITING FRIENDS.
ATTENDING SPORTING EVENTS MOST
RECENTLY, A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS
AGO, THE X GAMES WERE AT THE
FAIRGROUNDS IN VENTURA. OUR
TRAINS GOT TO THE VENTURA COUNTY
FAIRGROUNDS TO PROVIDE SERVICE
TO THOSE LOCATIONS TO THAT
LOCATION, AND SO WE'RE
CONTINUING TO LOOK AT NEW
OPTIONS BESIDES THAT, TYPICAL,
UM THAT TYPICAL MUTE COMMUTE
TRIP GOING TO THE BEACH. UM
WELL, WE HAD TO STRUGGLE FOR A
WHILE, WITH ISSUES RELATED TO UM
, LANDSLIDES IN SOUTH ORANGE
COUNTY AND SAN CLEMENTE, WHERE
WE HAD DISCONTINUED TRAIN
SERVICE BECAUSE OF UNSAFE
CONDITIONS, AS WE BROUGHT THAT
SERVICE BACK AS WE MADE THE
REPAIRS IN SAN CLEMENTE, WE HAVE
SEEN OUR RIDERSHIP ON WEEKENDS
GO UP SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF
THE NATURE OF WANTING TO GO TO
THE BEACH, BOTH FROM LOS ANGELES
COUNTY ON THE ORANGE COUNTY
LINE, BUT ALSO ON THE INLAND
EMPIRE TO ORANGE COUNTY LINE.
AND THEN JUST DOING OTHER THINGS
. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ADVENTURE
SPENDING THE DAY IN THE CITY, UM
AND AGAIN USING THE TRAIN FOR
SOMETHING OTHER THAN JUST THE
WORK TRIP. NOW, THAT SAID THE
WORK TRIP IS STILL OUR CORE
MARKET AND WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY
FROM THAT. IT IS A REALITY THAT
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO KEEP. BUT
WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON THAT. IT'S
NOT. IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE, GIVEN
THE FACT THAT I MENTIONED WHERE
WE WERE, WE WERE RIGHT ABOUT ONE
OF THE QUESTIONS I'LL OFTEN GET
AS WELL. WHAT IS THE RIDERSHIP
AS COMPARED TO THE PRE PANDEMIC
AND WE'RE STILL NOT QUITE TO
EVEN 50. OF PRE PANDEMIC
RIDERSHIP, SO NEARLY 40,000
DAILY TRIPS PRE PANDEMIC WE HAD
. WE DID HAVE A RECORD BREAKING
TUESDAY WHERE WE GOT NEARLY
20,000 BOARDINGS ON OUR TRAINS,
UM, THIS THIS PAST TUESDAY, OUR
TWO MOST SUCCESSFUL LINES. THE
LINES WITH THE HIGHEST RIDERSHIP
INCLUDE THE ANTELOPE VALLEY LINE
AND THE SAN BERNARDINO LINE. UM
AND THOSE LINES ARE HOVERING
AROUND 53 TO 55% IN RIDERSHIP
RECOVERY. SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE
DOING ON THE ANTELOPE VALLEY
LINE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
OUR PARTNERS AT METRO AGAIN. L A
METRO WAS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY
FUNDERS. UH WE HAVE WE SHARE A
BOARD MEMBER. UM UH, BOARD OF
DIRECTOR FOR BOTH METRO AS WELL
AS METROLINK. KATHRYN BARKER
CAME TO BOTH METROLINK AND METRO
BACK IN THE SPRING. WITH THE
DESIRE TO SEE SERVICE
RESTORATION ON THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY LINE TO PRE PANDEMIC
LEVELS. WE ARE STILL WORKING OUT
ALL THE FINE FINE DETAILS ON THE
BUDGETING. BUT BOTH BOTH THE
METROLINK BOARD IN THE METRO
BOARD WILL BE CONSIDERING BUDGET
AMENDMENTS IN SEPTEMBER THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO LAUNCH NEW
SERVICE RESTORED SERVICE ON THE
ANTELOPE VALLEY LINE. IN OCTOBER
. AND WHAT THAT WILL WHAT THAT
MEANS IS NEW ROUND TRIPS ON THE
WEEKDAY BETWEEN LANCASTER VIA
PRINCESA AND LOS ANGELES UNION
STATION. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
HAVE EARLY TRAINS, LEAVING THE
LANCASTER AREA AS EARLY AS JUST
A LITTLE BIT AFTER FOUR O'CLOCK
IN THE MORNING. THAT IS A VERY
EARLY WAKE UP CALL. BUT ALSO
TRAINS LEAVING LOS ANGELES
COMING BACK TO LANCASTER,
LEAVING IT LOSS AND LEAVING AT
11 PM AND COMING BACK INTO THE
LANCASTER AREA ON 12 30 12 45 1
OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD
ABOUT IT. I CAN'T USE THE TRAIN
TO GO TO A TO GO TO A DODGER
GAME. UM AND IT'S IF WE WANT TO
ATTRACT THAT MARKET. WE BETTER
PUT SERVICE OUT THERE. THAT
ALLOWS THAT TO HAPPEN, OR IF WE
WANT TO CATCH A LAKER GAME. HOW
DO I DO THAT? AND SO WHETHER
IT'S THE THEATER, WHETHER IT'S
SPORTING EVENTS HAVING LATER
NIGHT TRAINS IS GOING TO BE
CRITICAL TO MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
UH AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE
DOING NEW DO ADDITIONAL WEEKEND
SERVICE. NEARLY OUR NEARLY
HOURLY SERVICE FROM VIA PRINCE
SENSA AND BUT ALSO CLOCK FACING
SCHEDULE. SO IF YOU'RE GONNA
KNOW EVERY HOUR OR EVERY TWO ON
THAT, AT THE 15 OR AT THE 30,
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CATCH A
TRAIN ON THE ANTELOPE VALLEY
LINE. ANOTHER PROGRAM VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU HEARD. RAFI
TALK ABOUT AT L. A METRO. UM
WE'VE DONE SOME WORK. WE HAD A
AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
STUDY THAT WE CONDUCTED IN APRIL
OF 2021. WE LAUNCHED WHAT WAS
ORIGINALLY CALLED CALLED ARE LOW
INCOME FAIR PROGRAM. WE'VE
REBRANDED THAT JUST THIS MONTH
TO WHAT WE CALL THE MOBILITY FOR
ALL PROGRAM. UM WITH AN E B T
CARD. YOU CAN GO TO OUR TICKET
VENDING MACHINE. YOU PUT YOUR
BBT CARD INTO THE MACHINE,
FOLLOWED BY A FORM OF PAYMENT
AND YOU RECEIVE A 50. UH
REDUCTION IN THE COST OF THE
FAIR, WHETHER IT'S FOR A MONTHLY
PASS OR FOR A ROUND TRIP, ONE
DAY ROUND TRIP, SO EVERY FAIR
PRODUCT YOU CAN UTILIZE THE
MOBILITY FOR ALL PROGRAM WITH
THAT EMPTY CARD. COMING SOON,
EITHER LATE SEPTEMBER EARLY
OCTOBER, WE'LL BE LAUNCHING OUR
REGIONAL STUDENT ADVENTURE PAST
. SO WITH A VALID COLLEGE, I'D
ACTIONS THEY COLLEGE I D, A
STUDENT ID COLLEGE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE UNIVERSITY TRADE SCHOOL
. UM, HIGH SCHOOL, YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO RIDE OUR TRAINS FOR FREE
ANYWHERE THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM.
IT'S GOING TO BE A PILOT. IT'S
BEING FUNDED. AND OF COURSE, WE
TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS WITH
DISCOUNTS. AND FREE. WELL,
THERE'S DISCOUNTS, BUT NOTHING'S
EVER REALLY FREE. SO THANKS TO
THE STATE AND THE LOW CARBON
TRANSIT OPERATIONS PROGRAM,
ELSIE TOP, THE GRANT FUNDS ARE
BEING USED TO FUND THESE
PROGRAMS TO ALLOW US TO TRY TO
FIND OUT. HOW DO WE CAPTURE NEW
MARKETS TO TRY TO UTILIZE THE
TRAIN AS A LIFELONG SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIAN? I'VE USED
METROLINK. REALLY SINCE THE
EARLY NINETIES, WHEN I DID WORK
IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES AND I
LIVED IN SAN BERNARDINO. I USED
THE TRAIN BECAUSE OF THE
COMMUTE. I DIDN'T NECESSARILY I
. CALIFORNIANS AREN'T ALWAYS
WIRED JUST TO NECESSARILY GO
TAKE TRANSIT. WE USE IT BECAUSE
WE HAPPEN TO USE IT FOR WORK.
WE'VE GOT TO BREAK DOWN THAT
BARRIER AND THESE ARE THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPOSE PEOPLE
TO USE THE TRAIN FOR SOMETHING
OTHER THAN THAT WORK TRIP. UH WE
HAVE A MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT
PROGRAM CALLED SCORE. IT'S THE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OPTIMIZED
RAIL EXPANSION PROGRAM. IT'S
$2.5 BILLION THAT HAS BEEN
FUNDED OUT OF A LITTLE OVER $10
BILLION PROGRAM. THE MAP YOU SEE
HERE SHOWS ALL THE DIFFERENT
PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD
IN OUR FIRST PHASE. AND
CERTAINLY SINCE WE ARE IN THE
ANTELOPE VALLEY, I CAN DIRECT
YOUR ATTENTION TO PROJECTS 1920
21 THAT ARE TRACK IMPROVEMENTS
AND STATION IMPROVEMENTS THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO INCREASE
CAPACITY SO THAT WE CAN RUN EVEN
MORE TRAINS ON THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY LINE. UM WE HAVE PROJECTS
HAPPENING ON ALL SEVEN OF OUR
LINES AND IN ALL FIVE COUNTIES
THAT WE SERVE. ON THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY LINE. AS I MENTIONED WE
HAVE IMPROVEMENTS WITH DOUBLE
TRACK EXTENSIONS. NEW SIGHTINGS
WERE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS AT WHAT
WE CALL THE END OF THE LINE AT
THE LANCASTER TERMINAL, AND THEN
THE BRIGHTON MCGINLEY DOUBLE
TRACK PROJECT. AND WE ARE GOING
TO BE DOING A STUDY OVER THE
COURSE OF THE NEXT 12 MONTHS,
LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT
ZERO EMISSION TYPES OF EQUIPMENT
THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM, BUT
STARTING AGAIN BECAUSE OF GRANT
FUNDING, LOOKING AT THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY LINE ON ZERO EMISSION
PILOT PROJECTS. WE UM AT THE
EARLIER IN THE EARLIER IN MY
PRESENTATION, I SHOWED YOU OUR
MAP. WE ARE GOING TO BE TESTING
BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY MEMBER
CARILLO MENTIONED HYDROGEN. UH
WE ARE GOING TO BE OPERATING A
HYDROGEN POWERED, UM, MULTIPLE
UNIT, NOT THE LARGE LOCOMOTIVES
LIKE YOU SEE OUT ON OUR SYSTEM
TODAY, SORT OF A LIGHT RAIL ON
STEROIDS BETWEEN SAN BERNARDINO
AND REDLANDS. WE HAVE THAT
EQUIPMENT. IS IN THE UNITED
STATES. RIGHT NOW IT'S BEING
TESTED IN PUEBLO, COLORADO
BEFORE IT MAKES ITS WAY TO
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHERE WE'LL
DO TESTING AND WE'RE GOING TO
RUN IT ON NINE MILES OF TRACK
BETWEEN SAN BERNARDINO AND
REDLANDS, SO WE ARE ALREADY WENT
ONCE IT IS AN OPERATION IN
REVENUE SERVICE. IT WILL BE THE
FIRST HYDROGEN FUEL POWERED
PASSENGER LOCOMOTIVE IN THE
COUNTRY. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TESTING THAT OUT. IN UM
UH, GENERALLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT
SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR, 2024. OF
COURSE, IT WOULDN'T BE A
PRESENTATION TALKING ABOUT
REGIONAL CONNECTIONS IF WE
DIDN'T TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE SMALL LITTLE EVENT COMING UP
IN 2028. THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
GAMES. METROLINK SYSTEM IS GOING
TO BE THE REGIONAL, THE REGIONAL
PUBLIC TRANSIT BACKBONE. UM I'M
SURE WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT THE
FACT THAT L A 28 IS GOING TO BE
A CAR FREE GAMES, WHICH MEANS
SPECTATORS AND WORKFORCE WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO A VENUE
. THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE PUBLIC
TRANSIT AND I SEE IT AS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY. UM IT'LL IT'LL IT'S
GOING TO FORCE PEOPLE TO USE
TRANSIT, WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR
NOT, OR WHETHER THEY'VE EVEN
WANTED TO TRY IT OR NOT. AND SO
WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY. UH WE'RE GOING TO
SERVE AS THAT BACKBONE SYSTEM,
UH, TAKING PEOPLE FROM
THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
INTO THE CORE OF LOS ANGELES.
WHERE THEN IT'S GOING TO BE RAW.
THESE JOB. UM AND STEPHANIE
WIGGINS, MY GOOD FRIEND, THE CEO
AT L. A METRO THAT'S GOING TO BE
THEIR JOB TO THEN MOVE ALL THOSE
PEOPLE ONCE THEY ONCE THEY GET
TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. BUT
THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO DO WITH FROM A REGIONAL
PERSPECTIVE, GIVING THE FACT
THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE
WORLD HERE IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. AND WHEN YOU HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH ANYBODY
OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA, AND WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT IT BEING A CAR FREE
GAMES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
USE PUBLIC TRANSIT. NOT MANY
PEOPLE ACROSS THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD BELIEVE THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY PULL THIS OFF. SO THIS
IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE. MR
CHAIR THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS
. THANKS FOR THE TIME I'LL BE
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU. MR
SAYING. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS DENNY ZANE. I'M THE FOUNDING
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MOVE L. A
NOW THE POLICY DIRECTOR. PEOPLE
ASK ME WHAT HAPPENED AND I SAY,
WELL, I MOVED OVER SO ELI COULD
MOVE UP. UM NOW, ELI LIPPMAN,
THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
I'M SURE YOU WILL ALL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIM A
WONDERFULLY TALENTED AND PUBLIC
SPIRITED GUY. NOW I STILL SEE
THE METROLINK SLIDES UP HERE,
WHICH I WHICH I LOVE. WHICH
ONES? HERE WE ARE. SO I'M GOING
TO TALK TO YOU A BIT ABOUT AN
IMAGINARY SCENARIO BECAUSE IT
ALMOST TOOK PLACE, BUT DIDN'T
QUITE UM, BECAUSE WE HAD SEVERAL
SUCCESSFUL BALLOT MEASURES,
ACTUALLY, FOUR SUCCESSFUL BALLOT
MEASURES TO UM AND
TRANSPORTATION TRANSIT,
PRINCIPALLY AND NOW LIKE COUNTY
WE HAD BEGUN TO LOOK, UM IN
ABOUT 2020 AT STRATEGIES FOR
ADDRESSING REGIONAL CONCERNS
THAT WE SHARED WITH MANY OTHERS.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME ALL? I
CAN HEAR YOU. WELL HEY. IS THERE
A STILL LIFE? ALL RIGHT. SO, UM
. MOVE L A AT THAT POINT, WANTED
TO EXPAND OUR MISSION TO INCLUDE
CLEAN AIR. I CONFESS THIS WAS A
PREJUDICE. I GREW UP IN THE
INLAND EMPIRE IN THE SIXTIES,
WENT TO COLLEGE IN LA AND THE
SEVENTIES AND BELIEVE ME, WE
COULDN'T SEE THROUGH THE SOUP,
MUCH LESS IMAGINING WHAT IT WAS
LIKE TO BREATHE IT, SO I HAD A
PREJUDICE. TOWARD ACHIEVING
CLEAN AIR HAD ONCE BEEN THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR LONG
BEFORE MOVE L. A SO THIS MISSION
THAT I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE TO
YOU REALLY STARTED IN LARGE PART
AS A CLEAN AIR MISSION. BUT WE
ALL KNOW THE CLOSE AND INTIMATE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AIR
POLLUTION AND CLIMATE EMISSIONS
, AND SO JOINING THOSE TWO
MISSIONS WAS AT A VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE. BUT WE ALSO
KNEW THAT WE NEEDED TO MARY THAT
STRATEGY WITH STRATEGIES THAT
WOULD REDUCE, UM TRAFFIC
CONGESTION ON OUR FREEWAYS IN
BOULEVARD BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE
THOSE INTIMATELY RELATED, BUT
THE VOTERS WANT BOTH. THEY HAVE
A HARD TIME. I THINK ACCEPTING
ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. THEY WANT
BOTH. IN ADDITION, WE WANT AN
IMPORTANT ALLIES TO JOIN US WHO
WERE VERY INTERESTED IN JOBS.
AND SO WE BEGAN A PROPOSAL THAT
WE BROUGHT INITIALLY TO
LEADERSHIP AT THE SOUTH COAST
AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
. NATURAL UM, PLACE TO GO WHEN
YOU'RE THINKING CLEAN AIR. I
KNEW FROM MY HISTORY OF WORKING
ON CLEAN AIR THAT ONE OF THE
FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGES THAT THE
SOUTH COAST DISTRICT HAD FOR
MEETING CLEAN AIR GOALS IS THEY
DID NOT HAVE REGULATORY
AUTHORITY OVER MOST DIESEL
POLLUTING TECHNOLOGIES THAT WAS
IN FEDERAL HANDS. WHAT THEY
COULD DO IS IF THEY HAD
RESOURCES. THEY CAN INVEST IN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCENTIVES TO
BRING CLEAN ALTERNATIVES TO
DIESEL, AND THAT WAS THEIR
FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGE. SO I KNEW
THAT THAT MAJOR PUBLIC DOLLARS
ADDRESSING DIESEL EMISSIONS, IN
PARTICULAR WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART
OF SUCCESS FOR THE SOUTH COAST
AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
WE BEGAN TO FORMULATE A STRATEGY
THAT WOULD RAISE END THAT
DISTRICT WITH A HALF CENT SALES
TAX OVER $100 BILLION OVER 30
YEARS. AND WE BASICALLY TRY TO
PITCH THIS IF YOU WILL, TO THE
SOUTH COAST, THEIR DISTRICT NOW
. IN FAIRNESS, THE DISTRICT DID
NOT BUY ALL OF MY GRAND DESIGN
IMMEDIATELY. I STILL THINK THEY
MAY HAVE IF WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO
KEEP GOING, BUT THEY SAW
SOMETHING IMPORTANT. AND THEY
BEGAN A PROCESS OF SEEKING
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORIZATION FOR
SUCH A MEASURE. HOW DOES THAT
RELATE TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HERE TODAY? UM. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WAS IMPORTANT, THEN
TO REALIZE IS THAT IN THAT AT
THAT TIME WE WERE ABOUT TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A SIMPLE
MAJORITY VOTE IF THEY MEASURE
QUALIFIED BY VOTER INITIATIVE.
SO THE AIR DISTRICT COULD SEEK
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE
THE BOUNDARIES FOR SUCH A
MEASURE. BUT A PREFERRED
STRATEGY, WE ARGUED, WOULD BE TO
TRY TO QUALIFY A MEASURE WITH A
SIGNATURE DRIVE, AND THAT REALLY
MEANT BUILDING COALITION IN
ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR A MAJORITY
VOTE. THIS IS THE DISTRICT. THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT INCLUDES
EVERYBODY, UM. AND FOUR COUNTIES
ALMOST DOESN'T QUITE GO OVER THE
BOUNDARY OF THE MOUNTAINTOPS IN
THE NORTH OF THE COUNTY. BUT
VERY CLOSE. POLLING ON THIS
SHOWED THAT 65% OF THE VOTERS
WOULD SUPPORT THIS. THAT'S A
STRONG POLL. IF YOU NEED A
MAJORITY VOTE, NOT ENOUGH IF YOU
NEED TWO THIRDS. MISSION ONE
DOUBLE DOWN AGAINST CLIMATE
CHANGE. ACCELERATE YOUR MARKET
ZERO EMISSION LIGHT DUTY
VEHICLES. RELATED TO THAT MANY
OF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THIS.
MY SUSPICION IS TO REDUCE SHORT
LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS. WHICH
IS MOSTLY METHANE AND BLACK
CARBON FROM DIESEL. MISSION. TO
FOR FINISHING THE CLEAN AIR
WOULD BE BRINGING TO MARKET
MEDIUM AND HEAVY 20 EMISSION
TRUCKS, TRAINS, SHIPS, PLANES,
PORTS AND CONSTRUCTIVE
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. BUT
MISSION THREE, WE ARGUED WOULD
BE TO INVEST IN METRO LEAGUE.
METROLINK WAS A FOR US A KEY
OBJECTIVE TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY
CLEAN AIR PLANT, BOTH BECAUSE OF
THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN PROVIDING
LOW EMISSION OR ZERO EMISSION
TRANSPORTATION, BUT BECAUSE ALSO
THE CONSTITUENCY COALITION THAT
THEY MIGHT ATTRACT LOCALLY AND
STATEWIDE. SO WE WERE ARGUING TO
SOUTH COAST AT THE TIME THAT
THAT WOULD BE A FUNDAMENTAL PART
OF AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY THAT
WOULD WORK. THAT WOULD BE HOW
IMPORTANTLY WE WOULD NOT ONLY
MAKE THE PROGRAM RIGHT, WE'D
BUILD A COALITION WE WOULD NEED
. WE ALSO THOUGHT THAT THAT
WOULD BE A STRATEGY THAT COULD
LEAN INTO THE REGION AND THE
STATE'S AMBITION FOR A HIGH
SPEED RAIL PROGRAM. BECAUSE YOU
COULD DESIGN METROLINK IN SUCH A
WAY TO BE THE IF YOU WILL THE
SOUTHERN PARTNER AS WE ALL
ENVISIONED IT OF THE HIGH SPEED
RAIL PROGRAM. SO INSTEAD OF JUST
BEING IN THE CENTER OF THE STATE
SPREADING OUT THE HIGH SPEED
RAIL PROGRAM COULD BE AS WE WERE
ENVISIONED AND THEN STARTING
FROM THE ENDS, AS WELL AS
STARTING FROM THE MIDDLE AND
THAT WOULD ACCELERATE BOTH THE
INTEREST AND THE PROSPECT OF
SUCCESS FOR THAT PROGRAM, AND
METROLINK WAS REALLY KEY TO
MAKING THAT HAPPEN. WE ALSO
THOUGHT INVESTMENT IN COUNTY
BASED TRANSIT WOULD BE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THIS GOAL FOR
CLEAR AND OBVIOUS REASONS, BUT A
LARGE PART OF THE OF THE
EXPLANATION HERE AS I WAS WE
WERE BUILDING A COALITION TO
WIN. AND PART OF THE COALITION
TO WIN. IT'S NOT JUST THE
BREATHERS, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE
WORRIED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE,
NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WORRIED
ABOUT TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ONE
IN TRANSIT, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE THE
LABOR MOVEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
BUILDING TRADES FOR EXAMPLE, WE
NEEDED TO BRING THOSE INTO THE
PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE THEIR ENERGY
BUT ALSO THEIR MONEY WAS A KEY
PART OF SUCCESS HERE. WITHOUT
THAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIP, IT WAS
HARD TO ENVISION WHO WOULD BE
THE FUNDING BASE FOR AN EMISSION
REDUCTION PROGRAM. ALRIGHT SO WE
PROPOSED WE'RE ABOUT TO PROPOSE
ACTUALLY WHAT WE CALL THE 60 40
PLAN. FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
HEALTH AND PROSPERITY. NOW WE'RE
THINKING 2026, BUT THIS IS
REALLY ABOUT THE DIALOGUE FROM
2022 AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM
IT. ABOUT 60 BILLION TO SQUAWK
DESCRIBED MY CONSTITUTION SOUTH
COAST AIR DISTRICT OVER 30 YEARS
TO FINISH THE CLEAN AIR
CHALLENGE ZERO MISSION.
EVERYTHING, FRANKLY. WHAT ABOUT
20 BILLION FOR METROLINK AND 20
BILLION FOR REGIONAL TRANSIT WAS
WHAT WE WERE GOING TO PUT ON THE
TABLE FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES
AGAIN. WE'RE NOT THE LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATION MIGHT HAVE SAID,
WELL, THAT'S A CRAZY IDEA, OR WE
REALLY LIKE THAT, OR LET'S TWEAK
IT. WE NEEDED LEGISLATIVE
AUTHORIZATION TO GO ANYWHERE,
BUT WE NEEDED A VISION TO GET
PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE DISCUSSION
. SO THIS WAS A VISION WE WERE
PUTTING OUT TO TRY TO BUILD
PARTNERS. NOW WHAT HAPPENED
HERE? IS THAT ONE OF THE KEY
PARTNERS IN THIS, UM COALITION
UM, THE STATE BUILDING TRADES.
KIND OF WENT SOUTH ON US, UM, AT
THAT TIME NOW THE LEADERSHIP
THERE. EXCUSE ME HAD BEEN
FRIENDS AND PARTNERS WORKING ON
MEASURE OUR AND MEASURE EM. IN
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, BUT THEY
WERE VERY SUSPICIOUS OF THE
SOUTH COAST AIR DISTRICTS INTENT
. THEY WORRIED THAT THE SOUTH
COAST DISTRICT IF THIS MONEY
HAPPENED MIGHT TRY TO CLOSE
REFINERIES. WE HAD NO SUCH
INTENT WITHOUT THE MEASURE COULD
CLEARLY PREVENT THAT.
NEVERTHELESS, THAT WORRY UM,
CAUSED THE AUTHORIZING
LEGISLATION TO DIE IN COMMITTEE.
BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE SOME
VERY IMPORTANT THINGS. NUMBER
ONE. EVERYBODY IS DEVELOPING AND
INCREASING APPRECIATION OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING AFTER
CLIMATE CHANGE IN A REAL WAY.
EVERYBODY IS DEVELOPING
INCREASING APPRECIATION FOR THE
NEED FOR ZERO MISSION TRUCKS,
TRAINS, SHIPS AND PLANES,
ETCETERA IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE
BUILDING TRADES. OUR OUR
ADVERSARY OF THAT MOMENT IS NOW
OUR PARTNER OF THIS MOMENT. AH
AND THAT PARTNERSHIP BLOOMED
WHEN WE WERE PUT MOVE IT LIKE
PUT TOGETHER A COALITION IN THE
CITY OF L. A FOR A BALLOT
MEASURE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND WHO CAME TO BECOME OUR
PRINCIPAL FUNDING PARTNER. THE
L. A ORANGE COUNTY BUILDING
TRADES IN PARTICULAR LEADERSHIP.
CHRIS HANNON. WHO NOW IS THE
HEAD OF THE STATE BUILDING
TRADES COUNCIL, CHRIS HANNON.
WHO IS BROUGHT WHO HAS BROUGHT
THE BUILDING TRADES INTO A
PARTNERSHIP SEEKING FEDERAL
MONEY. FOR HYDROGEN
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IN FIGHTING
CLEAN AIR AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
CHRIS HANNON SO INSTEAD OF
HAVING ADVERSARIES IN A KEY
CONSTITUENCY WE NOW HAVE
PARTNERS WITH WHOM WE HAVE A
TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP, AND WE
BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE THIS KIND OF
PROGRAM HAPPENED IN 2026. WE ARE
NURSING THIS FORWARD. NOW WE
HAVE GOOD EXPERIENCE AND LESSONS
LEARNED FROM 2022. THE FORMULAS
THAT I PROVIDED HERE ARE
ILLUSTRATIVE. THEY COULD CHANGE
. BUT I DO THINK THE COMBINATION
OF CLEAN AIR CLIMATE CHANGE AND
TRANSIT INVESTMENTS ARE A
PRESCRIPTION FOR VOTERS SUCCESS
, ESPECIALLY IF WE RETAIN THE
ABILITY TO HAVE A MEASURE
APPROVED BY MAJORITY VOTE RATHER
THAN TWO THIRDS. THAT WOULD BE
AN OPPORTUNITY OF THE FUTURE. TO
BRING REALLY. BRING GRAND
ACCOMPLISHMENT IN ALL OF THESE
MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE AREAS THAT
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN
REALLY WRESTLING WITH FOR SO
LONG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NOW
TURN TO THE PANEL MEMBER OR THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO SEE IF YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR THREE
PANELISTS. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS. UH FIRST THANK YOU.
FOR THOSE PRESENTATIONS ARE VERY
INSIGHTFUL AND VERY INFORMATIVE
FOR ME. I CAN SAY THAT THIS IS
VERY USEFUL. AND, UM WITH WHAT
YOU PRESENTED, UM ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT GOT MY ATTENTION IS
YOUR COMMENTS, MR KAROL ON THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR L. A TO SHINE
WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT. WHEN
BARCELONA HAVE THE OLYMPICS IN
1992, THAT'S WHAT REALLY MADE
BARCELONA WHAT BARCELONA IS
TODAY. BEFORE THAT THERE WAS
BARELY IN MENTION OF BARCELONA.
BUT WITH THE OLYMPICS, THE
ATTRACTION OF THE WORLD WENT TO
THE OLYMPICS AND INVESTMENT I
DID WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT. AND I
THINK THAT THIS WILL BE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A LATER SHINE BY
HAVING PEOPLE GO TO THE EVENTS
ONLY BY PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND I
THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO ACTUALLY FEEL WHAT
PUBLIC TRANSIT FEELS LIKE SO
THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY BELIEVE
IN IT, AND GIVE IT A SHOT. SO
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY
CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. THANKS FOR
MENTIONING, AND I DO THINK IT'S
A GOOD OPPORTUNITY IN THE
INCREASING RIDERSHIP SLOWLY AS
YOU MENTIONED BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC. UM DO YOU THINK THAT
THE PERCEPTION OF NOT HAVING A
SAFE SYSTEM TO RIGHT? IS THAT A
REASON WHY THE RIDERSHIP
INCREASES CHEWED UP SINCE WE'RE
BACK TO NORMAL? ASSEMBLYMAN THE
METROLINK SYSTEM. WE CONSTANTLY
CHECK WITH OUR WRITERS ABOUT
WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCES LIKE. WE
DO NOT HEAR A CONCERN ABOUT
SAFETY ON OUR SYSTEM, AND I
THINK WHERE WE HAVE SEEN THE
CHALLENGE WITH RIDERSHIP IS JUST
A MATTER OF THE FACT THAT EVEN
IN THE HYBRID COMMUTE
ENVIRONMENT WORK, LET'S JUST SAY
2019 PEOPLE WENT THROUGH OVER
THE OFFICE FIVE DAYS A WEEK. UM
NOW, IN A HYBRID ENVIRONMENT,
THEY'RE GOING IN TWO OR THREE
DAYS A WEEK, SO WE HAVE MANY OF
THE SAME WRITERS. THEY'RE JUST
NOT GOING IN THERE BY DAYS A
WEEK, SO WE'RE RUNNING INTO THAT
SITUATION. AND WHAT THAT
TRANSLATES THEN, TOO, IS THAT
YOU KNOW, WE PERFECT EXAMPLE. WE
HAD NEARLY 70% OF OUR RIDERS.
PRE PANDEMIC WOULD BUY A MONTHLY
PASS. THEY WERE MONTHLY PASS
USERS. WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT 33%
OF OUR WRITERS USE MONTHLY PAST.
SO WE'VE WE'VE ACTUALLY
INTRODUCED NEW FAIR PRODUCTS.
RECOGNIZE PEOPLE ARE COMMUTING
DIFFERENTLY, SO I THINK THE REAL
REASON WE'RE SEEING A SLOW
RECOVERY ACTUALLY TRYING TO MOVE
AWAY FROM THE TERM RECOVERY
BECAUSE IT JUST CAN BE
DEPRESSING BECAUSE IT'S TAKING
IT'S GOING TO TAKE AWHILE AND
BART IN THE BAY AREA'S
EXPERIENCING EXACTLY THE SAME
SITUATION. SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE
JUST TRYING TO DO IS AGAIN
BROADEN THAT MARKET BECAUSE THE
NATURE OF THE COMMUTE HAS JUST
SOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED.
THAT'S THE PRINCIPAL ISSUE, NOT
NOT REALLY A CONCERN WITH SAFETY
ON OUR SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR
THAT, AND YOU MENTIONED THE BAR
SYSTEM IN THE BAY AREA. UM WE
KNOW THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT IS
FACING REAL, UH, CHALLENGES WITH
FUNDING AND RIDERSHIP AND ALL OF
THOSE THINGS IN THE BAY AREA
VERY SEXUALLY LEGISLATION TO
INCREASE THEIR TOLL FEES SO THAT
THEY CAN SUSTAIN THE PUBLIC
TRANSIT IN THE BAY AREA. HOW HOW
DO WE COMPARE HERE IN L. A
COMPARED TO THE BAY AREA AS FAR
AS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A
SERVICE AND DO THE MAINTENANCE
AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE
VERY EXPENSIVE. ONE OF THE ONE
OF THE THINGS THEY DID NOT
INCLUDED IN MY REMARKS EARLIER
WAS HOW WE'RE FUNDED, UM AND
METROLINK. WE HAVE A FIVE OR A
FIVE MEMBER AGENCY. AND WHAT WE
DO NOT GET IN FAIRS AND WE GET A
SMALL AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY WE
GET FROM OUR MEMBER AGENCIES. SO
L, A METRO AND THE FOUR OTHER
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONS SO
EVERY YEAR AS WE DEVELOP OUR
BUDGET, UM WE IDENTIFY WHAT OUR
COSTS ARE GOING TO BE. AND THEN
I HAD THE GREAT JOY OF GOING TO
FIVE COUNTIES AND SAYING, OKAY,
WE NEED THIS MUCH MONEY FROM YOU
TO RUN OUR SYSTEM. THAT'S A REAL
THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE. AS
YOU'RE DEALING WITH THESE
RIDERSHIP QUESTIONS. SO UM, THE
GOOD NEWS IN AGAIN IN LOS
ANGELES COUNTY EASILY METRO IS
STEPPING UP WITH ADDITIONAL
FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN BRING
BACK MORE TRAINS TO OPERATE. AND
I HOPE THAT WHAT WHAT WE MAY SEE
AND AGAIN HATS OFF TO THE
LEGISLATURE IN YOUR BUDGET. UM
YOU'VE RECOGNIZED THE CALL FOR
HELP FROM TRANSIT. UM AND THE
FACT THAT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF
YEARS NOW OF FUNDING THAT WE CAN
USE FOR BOTH CAPITAL OR FOR
OPERATIONS BEING FLEXED
OPERATIONS, I THINK THAT IS
GOING TO HELP US THROUGH THE
NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, THE SAME
AGENCIES HAVE RELIED ON COVID
RELIEF MONEY THAT IS NOW GONE.
UNFORTUNATELY RIDERSHIP HASN'T
COME BACK. SO THE STATES
WILLINGNESS TO COME IN. AND FOR
THIS STOPGAP FOR THESE NEXT
SEVERAL YEARS TO USE THAT
FUNDING TO CONTINUE OUR
OPERATIONS OR FOR CAPITAL IS
GOING TO BE TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL
, AND I'M HOPING TO CONVINCE ALL
FIVE OF OUR COUNTIES AGAIN.
METRO'S PRETTY WELL ON BOARD AT
THIS POINT, BUT THE OTHER FOUR
COUNTIES THAT, UM, THAT THOSE
DOLLARS UM METROLINK LEAD ON THE
DISCUSSION OF THE CHALLENGES
WITH OPERATIONS, FUNDING AND
PUBLIC TRANSIT. AND SO WE
BELIEVE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO
BRING OUR SYSTEM BACK, WE'RE
GOING TO MEET ALL THE GOALS OF
THE STATE RELATED TO VÀ
REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS REDUCTION, EQUITY AND
TRANSIT. ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. UM WE'RE WE NEED TO BE
IN LINE FOR THOSE THOSE THOSE
REVENUES AND OF COURSE, I'LL
ARGUE. WE SHOULD BE IN THE FRONT
OF THE LINE. WE MAY I MAY HAVE
SOME COMPETITION FOR THAT, BUT I
WILL ARGUE IT NONETHELESS. THE
HMM. HYDROGEN LOCOMOTIVE THAT IS
GOING TO BE IN SOME BERNARDINO.
UM DO YOU HAVE ANY METRICS THAT
WILL MEASURE HOW SUCCESSFUL
THAT'S GOING TO BE IN HOW
EVENTUALLY THAT COULD BE THE WAY
TO GO FOR THE REST OF YOUR
SYSTEM? I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING
NEW. YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING
THAT HAS TO BE PROVEN THAT IT'S
GOING TO BE RELIABLE. UH AND
ALSO CLEAN HYDROGEN. THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE ALSO NEED TO
WORK ON. BUT ONCE YOU PROVE THAT
THAT'S THE WAY TO GO AS FAR AS A
PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM WITH
HYDROGEN. UH ARE THERE ANY
METRICS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
BE ABLE TO EXPAND THOSE TO THE
OTHER LINES? WILL DEFINITELY BE
TESTING IT AS PART OF THIS PILOT
PROJECT TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT
. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A THERE'S
A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT THE
INDUSTRY HAS THE VEHICLE THAT'S
GOING TO BE USED AS A SMALLER
ONE. LIKE I REFERENCED IT BEING
SORT OF A LIGHT RAIL ON STEROIDS
. IT'S A SMALLER PIECE OF
EQUIPMENT THAT ARE LARGE
LOCOMOTIVES, UM, THAT ARE
LOCOMOTIVE HAULED PASSENGER
CARS. SO UM, WE'RE GOING TO TEST
IT TO SEE HOW IT WORKS IN THAT
ENVIRONMENT AGAIN. IT'S NINE
MILES. IT'S SHORT. IT'S FLAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TUNNELS AND ALL
SORTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT YOU
NEED TO BE. YOU KNOW, AGAIN A
CHALLENGE IF WE WERE TO DROP
THAT SAME UNIT INTO THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY LINE, AND WE HAVE TUNNELS
THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. HOW
DO YOU VENT TUNNELS? BECAUSE YOU
HAVE HIDE A MILE LONG TUNNEL.
HOW DO YOU VENT IN THE EVENT
THAT THERE IS SOMETHING RELATED
TO HYDROGEN BECOMES AN
EMERGENCY. SO THIS IS A TEST
CASE FOR US, AND WE DON'T HAVE
METRICS NECESSARILY, BUT IT IS
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TEST
EVERY ELEMENT OF OPERATING A
HYDROGEN POWERED, UM MULTIPLE
UNIT, PASSENGER RAIL AND AGAIN
IT WILL BE THE FIRST IN THE
COUNTRY AND AS TECHNOLOGY
ADVANCES, AND THERE'S MORE
INVESTMENT FROM THE STATE IN
HYDROGEN, AND WE ALSO FACILITATE
EXPANDING THOSE AH, LOCOMOTIVES
IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU
MENTIONED THAT THERE IS GOING TO
BE MORE, UH, TRIPS COMING TO
LANCASTER A LATE 11 PM TRAINING
ONE EARLIER, SERIOUS LITTLE
AFTER 4 A.M. AND THE WE'RE
HAVING MORE FREQUENCY AND IN ONE
OF YOUR SLIDES, I THINK THAT YOU
SHOWED DOUBLE RAIL LINES IN
CERTAIN SECTORS OF THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY LINE. ARE THOSE NEEDED
NOT TO START WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO BE DOING WITH MORE FREQUENCY
OR AND ARE THOSE ARE THOSE THE
ONLY SECTORS WITH DOUBLE LINE
THAT ARE NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE
FREQUENCY. WE'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO IMPROVE THE FREQUENCIES
IMMEDIATELY, SO WE'RE GOING TO
START THIS NEW SCHEDULE IN
OCTOBER. THE PROJECTS THAT WERE
THAT WERE IDENTIFIED ON THE
SLIDE ARE ADDITIONAL DOUBLE
TRACK AND CITING CAPACITY THAT
WILL GIVE US THE ABILITY TO HAVE
AS FREQUENT AS HALF HOUR BY
DIRECTIONAL FREQUENCIES IN THE
CORE AREA THAT'S GENERALLY UP
THROUGH VIA PRINCESA WILL HAVE
LESS FREQUENCIES BECAUSE WE
SIMPLY DON'T HAVE AT THIS POINT
AS MUCH TRACK NORTH OF VIA
PRINCESS OF, BUT WE STILL WILL
BE ABLE TO HAVE AS FREQUENT AS
HOURLY FREQUENCIES FROM PALMDALE
AND LANCASTER. WE WILL HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO DO
THAT WITH THE SCORE PROGRAM.
WHAT WE WILL NOT YET HAVE IN
PLACE IS THE OPERATING REVENUES
TO HELP SUPPORT THAT? JUST
BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S UH, RUNNING
A RAILROAD IS A IS AN EXPENSIVE
PROPOSITION. SO THAT AGAIN
CAPITAL THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL
BE THEIR EQUIPMENT WILL BE THERE
WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE WAY
THAT WE FIND THE OPERATIONS. OF
COURSE WE WILL WILL WILL WORK
WITH L A METRO, UH, TO PUT AS
MUCH SERVICE AS WE CAN, BUT TO
YOUR TO YOUR QUESTION. WE DO NOT
NEED THOSE IMPROVEMENTS TO START
THIS SERVICE AND AGAIN IT WILL
BE SERVICED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
I'M NOT JUST AT THE PEAK. OKAY?
BUT THANK YOU AND ONE COUPLE
MORE QUESTIONS FOR RAFI. I KNOW
THAT PALMDALE WAS SELECTED TO BE
THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
EXCELLENCE JUST RECENTLY. WHAT
ARE THE NEXT STEPS TO GET THERE
? WHAT DOES FAMILY HAVE TO DO
NEXT FOR SOMEONE? BEATEN BEING
SELECTED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION
OF EXCELLENCE. YOU KNOW? OKAY,
SO MAYBE I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH
WITH SOMEBODY ELSE LATER. ALL
THE CENTER FOR TRANSLATION. YEAH
MY APOLOGIES. YEAH THAT L A
METRO COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED
. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ABOUT THAT
INITIATIVE. I THINK THAT VISION
I'LL MAKE A LONG STORY. PRETTY
SHORT. THAT VISION WAS BASICALLY
THE DILEMMA WE ARE FACING IN
USING MEASURE OUR MEASURE EM
PROP. A PROP. C DOLLARS LOCAL
DOLLARS FROM L. A COUNTY
TAXPAYERS. BUYING ROLLING STOCK
THAT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED IN THE
UNITED STATES. WHAT WAS
OCCURRING ASSEMBLY MEMBER IS
THAT ROLLING STOCK WAS BEING
ASSEMBLED HERE. AND FOR THOSE OF
YOU FAMILIAR TAKES LOTS OF
PEOPLE TO MANUFACTURE SOMETHING
JUST A COUPLE OF FOLKS TO
ASSEMBLE. SO THE L. A METRO
BOARD. VIGOROUSLY ROBUST SUPPORT
TO SET UP THAT CENTER FOR
TRANSLATION EXCELLENCE. GREAT
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY OF
LOS ANGELES. UH, EXCELLENT
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES, WHICH OWNS SOME
PROPERTY UP THERE AND GREAT
SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF
PALMDALE, AND WE ARE NOW LOOKING
AT PETITIONING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS TALKED
ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT
MANUFACTURING ROLLING STOCK IN
THE UNITED STATES. UM AND WE
HAVE OFFICIALLY APPLIED. FOR A
GRANT FROM THE U. S. DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE. OUR CEO STEPHANIE
WIGGINS, RECENTLY MET WITH
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE UM
GRAVES TO EXPLAIN THAT WE ARE
100% COMMITTED TO SEEING THE
CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION
EXCELLENCE. TAKE OFF. IT WOULD
BE A FIRST OF ITS KIND FACILITY.
IN THE UNITED STATES, AMERICA
BUS AND RAIL, AND YOU CAN ONLY
IMAGINE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S NOT
ONLY THE JOBS ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS, UH, INNOVATION, THE
LINKAGES WITH UNIVERSITIES,
ENGINEERS, THE TALENT THAT WOULD
BE NEEDED TO HAVE THIS TAKEOFF,
SO PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE
EXCITING THINGS WE'RE DOING, AND
, YEAH, IT'S ALL HAPPENING HERE
IN THE NORTH COUNTY. THANKS FOR
THAT ONE LAST COMMENT. MR CHAIR
FOR DANNY. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE
APPETITE FOR THAT MEASURE IN
2026 MAY ACTUALLY BE EVEN SOONER
THAN THAT. THERE ARE THINGS THAT
WE'RE WORKING ON. AND I DO
BELIEVE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT MAY BE HAPPENING BEFORE
2026. ALL RIGHT. LET'S HAVE A
DIALOGUE. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
ACCELERATED, ACCELERATED YOUR
TIME FRAME. SIMILAR SHOP. THANK
YOU. UM AND I APPRECIATE IT. I
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR FOR
HOLDING THE HEARING OUT HERE
BECAUSE I KNOW I THINK THAT IF
YOU OFTEN FELT FEELS LEFT OUT,
AND, UM EVEN MY SIDE OF THE SAN
FERNANDO VALLEY FEELS LEFT OUT
SOMETIMES, SO, SO IT'S REALLY
NICE TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT'S
HAPPENING HERE. UM AND I WONDER
IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE DOLLARS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED. CAN YOU
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS? I KNOW THERE'S
SO MUCH INVESTMENT HAPPENING AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL. THE STATE IS
NOT FLUSH WITH BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS LIKE WE WERE LAST BUDGET
YEAR TO THE CHAGRIN OF, UH,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CARILLO.
IMAGINE AND MYSELF, WE DIDN'T
GET TO EXPERIENCE THAT AND, UM
AND SEE THE BUT THE BENEFITS OF
IT, YOU KNOW, ARE STILL ROLLING
OUT. LUCKILY I KNOW FOR SOME
PROGRAMS, BUT YOU KNOW THERE'S
GOING TO HAVE TO BE A BALANCE
RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE
INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED
AROUND FEET, STATE AND FEDERAL
AND LOCAL DOLLARS. AND WE JUST
LOVE TO SEE KIND OF WHAT'S
COMING IN NOW WHAT'S ON THE
HORIZON THAT YOU THINK COULD BE
COMING IN TO HELP. TO SUPPORT
THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. I
HOPE I'LL START. UM SO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S I THINK WE'VE
WE'VE REFERENCED I J A FEW TIMES
IN THE EARLIER PANEL. THAT'S UM
THAT'S BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR,
UM, PARTICULARLY FOR RAIL IN THE
UNITED STATES, BUT IT'S
GENERALLY FOCUSED ON ON CAPITOL
AND SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HAVE HAS BEEN, UM STRONG
PARTNERS ARE STRONGER PARTNERS
WITH I J A WHEN IT COMES TO
CAPITOL DURING COVID. WHEN WE
RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDS, WE WERE
ABLE TO USE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR
OPERATIONS. UM THOSE FEDERAL
COVID RELIEF DOLLARS WHERE WE
COULD USE FOR OPERATIONS AGAIN.
THOSE REVENUES ARE GONE. AND AT
THIS POINT, UH, UNLESS YOU'RE IN
A RURAL AREA, FEDERAL FUNDS
CAN'T BE USED FOR OPERATIONS FOR
PUBLIC TRANSIT OPERATIONS. AND
SO THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY
STRUGGLE WITH. WE'VE CERTAINLY
THE INDUSTRY HAS GONE BACK TO
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
TALKED ABOUT THAT ISSUE. IT
DIDN'T MAKE ITS WAY OUT OF I J
UNFORTUNATELY, BUT WE DID SEE
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES,
PARTICULARLY IN STATE OF GOOD
REPAIR FUNDING, WHICH ARE
SYSTEMS DESPERATELY NEED. SO I
THINK THERE HAS BEEN GREAT PART
THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD. THE FEDS
HAVE BEEN GOOD PARTNERS. IN MANY
WAYS, THIS OPERATING QUESTION IS
ONE THAT HAS HAS DEFINITELY
CHALLENGED US ACROSS THE BOARD
AND THEY GENERALLY THE FED
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOOKS AS
THAT'S A STATE ISSUE OR A LOCAL
ISSUE TO TRY TO ADDRESS SO THOSE
ARE MY THOUGHTS AS IT RELATES TO
THE FEDERAL PARTICIPATION. I
WOULD JUST ADD ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
THAT THE BILL SIGNED IN 2021 HAS
DELIVERED SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS TO
THE REGION IN PARTICULAR TO
ADVANCED AND ENHANCED.
PROGRAMMATIC UM AND $4 MILLION
BY AROUND 35 TO 37% I SAID A
COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THAT
BECAUSE I THINK JUST CITING A
FIGURE LIKE THAT, I THINK LACKS
A BIT OF EFFICACY. SO, FOR
EXAMPLE, UM, THE B I L
SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED FUNDING
FOR THE BUS AND BUS OPERATIONS
PROGRAM LOWER NO EMISSIONS
PROGRAM, WHICH IS A GRANT
PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE FEDERAL
TRANS ADMINISTRATION. LAST YEAR.
WE WERE PLEASED TO GET $104
MILLION FOR ELECTRIFICATION OF
METROBUS DIVISIONS EIGHT AND 19
THE B I L DRAMATICALLY ENHANCED
ACTUALLY DOUBLED FUNDING FOR THE
CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAM
, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY MEANS
WITH WHICH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE FDA
BUILDS NEW TRANSIT PROJECTS WE
WERE ABLE WORKING WITH FEDERAL
STAKEHOLDERS, SENATOR PADILLA UM
, CONGRESSMAN CARTOONISTS ABLE
TO SECURE $909 MILLION
COMMITMENT FOR THE EAST SAN
FERNANDO VALLEY LINE, AND SO FOR
A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE
HAVE YOU HAD MENTIONED THE WORD
GAME CHANGER. THE B I L HAS BEEN
A GAME CHANGER AND I WANT TO
MAKE IT CLEAR WITH RESPECT TO
THE OLYMPICS, WHICH IS ON ON THE
WELCOME HORIZON FRONT. THE B I L
WILL BE VITAL TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S
PARTICIPATION REFLECTS AND
REPEATS THE SUCCESS. UM ATLANTA
HAD 96 SALT LAKE CITY HAD IN
2002 TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
OLYMPIC GAMES NOT ONLY COME AND
WHERE SUCCESSFUL HOST OF THE
OLYMPICS BUT THAT THREE WEEKS
AFTER THE WORLD LEAVES US AND
AFTER A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AH
, THAT WE ARE LEFT, IN THE WORDS
OF OUR CEO STEPHANIE WIGGINS
WITH LEGACY INVESTMENTS THAT THE
10 MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE WORK
AND PLAY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY
WILL BENEFIT FROM FOR A LONG
TIME. AND THE LAST POINT I'D
MAKE IS, UM ASSEMBLYMAN CARILLO
WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTER FOR
TRANSPORTATION, EXCELLENCE.
FUNDING FOR THAT, UM WILL
HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE BE DRAWN
FROM THE FUNDING BUT ALSO FROM
CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT FUNDING,
WHICH IS WHERE WE HAVE CURRENTLY
A GRANT PROPOSAL BEFORE THE U. S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I KNOW
SAFETY WAS RAISED EARLIER, AND I
JUST WONDER, YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT RIDERSHIP AND
GETTING THAT RIDERSHIP BACK AND
WHAT THE BARRIERS ARE, I KNOW
THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
NARRATIVE ABOUT SAFETY AND I
FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT
THE MEDIA HAS PICKED UP ON QUITE
A BIT, BUT I WONDER ARE THE
NUMBERS. WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS
SAY? WHEN IT COMES TO THAT? DO
YOU HAVE STATISTICS ON WHETHER
OR NOT YOU KNOW, SAFETY RISKS
ARE HIGHER OR LOWER NOW THAN
THEY WERE IN THE PAST WITH
HIGHER RIDERSHIP, OR YOU KNOW
WHAT THOSE INDICATIONS ARE.
SPEAKING FOR THE METROLINK
SYSTEM, WE'VE WE'VE ACTUALLY
INCREASED OUR, UM OUR PRESENCE
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY
ON TRAINS. UM BECAUSE IT'S THE
RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE WE'VE
WE'VE BEEN HEARING SOME CONCERN
ABOUT SAFETY THAT SAID, OUR
CRIME NUMBERS ARE DOWN UNRULY
PASSENGERS WHERE WE END UP WITH
WITH PASSENGERS WHO ARE MAY, UM
UM, YOU KNOW, MAY TRY TO TAKE ON
A CONDUCTOR. THAT TYPE OF THING.
UM THOSE NUMBERS HAVE ACTUALLY
GONE DOWN IN THE LAST YEAR. I
THINK IT'S PART DUE IN PART TO
THE FACT BECAUSE WE HAVE ADDED
PRESENCE ON TRAINS. UM, AND THEN
ACTUALLY AT PLATFORMS AS WELL.
SO ON THE METROLINK SYSTEM,
THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
EXPERIENCING, JUST AS HARD TO
THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING A
REDUCTION. ARE I THINK THAT
THERE IS A PERCEPTION ISSUE
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY OUT THERE. WE
JUST TESTED THIS, UM, WITH
RIVERSIDE COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT
USE OUR TRAIN, AND WHILE I STILL
SEE OUR TRAINS AS SAFE ARE
REGULAR USERS. CR TRAINS IS SAFE
. THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE NOT AT
THE EXTREME SAFE. THEY'VE
ACTUALLY DROPPED THEIR SAFE SORT
OF THEIR SAFE FIELD BY A LITTLE
BIT. THEY STILL FEEL SAFE, BUT
EARLIER THEY FELT EXTREMELY SAFE
. AND SO I THINK WE'RE DEALING
WITH THIS LIGHT TREND OF
PERCEPTION OF SAFETY, AND SO
WE'RE TRYING TO GET AHEAD ON BY
ADDING JUST JUST ADDING A
GREATER PRESENCE ON TRAINS AND
PLATFORMS. AND I WOULD ADD FOR
METRO THAT SAFETY CONTINUES TO
RANK VERY HIGH AND SURVEYS WE DO
WITH OUR WITH OUR PASSENGERS,
AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT OUR CEO
HAS INSTITUTED. WHAT I MENTIONED
WAS THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TO
HAVE WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS
NOT PRESENT TO HAVE A PRESENCE.
UM AND THAT THUS FAR HAS SHOWN
RESULTS. I DON'T HAVE WITH ME
SOME OF THE STATISTICS WITH
RESPECT TO, UM YOU KNOW SOME OF
THE CRIMES COMMITTED ON THE
SYSTEM. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THAT
PRESENTED SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE
COMMITTEE. SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT
INFORMATION. BUT YES, IT IS AN
ISSUE THAT CONTINUES TO BE ON
THE RADAR FOR OUR RIDERSHIP AND
SOMETHING THAT OUR BOARD
SPECIFICALLY IN OUR CEO
SPECIFICALLY IS INTENT ON
ADDRESSING BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T
FEEL SAFE ON THE SYSTEM. THEY'RE
NOT EITHER NOT GOING TO RIDE THE
SYSTEM, AND CERTAINLY THEY'RE
NOT GONNA BE RECOMMENDING TO
THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO
WRITE THE SYSTEM, SO I THINK OUR
CEO OR BOARD IS WELL AWARE THAT
IS THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE
TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON. AND
MAKE PROGRESS ON AND DO YOU DO
YOU UNDERSTAND? IF YOU YOU KNOW,
NOT HAVING THE NUMBERS? YOU
CAN'T ANSWER THIS QUESTION. BUT
JUST DO YOU HAVE A BALLPARK
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, PARTLY KIND OF
A COMMON SENSE. DEDUCTION IS
THAT IF LESS PEOPLE ARE WRITING
, THERE'S PROBABLY LESS
INCIDENTS HAPPENING. UM SO I'M
JUST TRYING TO SEE IF THE
PERCEPTION MATCHES THE ACTUAL
EXPERIENCE. YEAH I AGAIN I DON'T
HAVE THAT INFORMATION HANDY. I
DO KNOW THAT THERE CONTINUES TO
BE, UM, ON PARTS OF OUR SYSTEM.
NOT ALL OF OUR SYSTEM. UM UH,
INCIDENTS WHICH I THINK THE
AGENCY FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH
AND WHY WE'RE DEDICATING MORE
RESOURCES, BOTH WITH THE
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITH SOCIAL WORKERS.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIDERSHIP
, UH, IS SAFE AND TO YOUR POINT
FEEL SAFE. I THINK ONE EXAMPLE
IS A GOOD EXAMPLE IS SOME OF THE
INTERVENTION THAT WE'VE DONE AT
THE MACARTHUR PARK STATION IN
LOS ANGELES WHERE WE'VE HAD A
SITUATION WHERE, UM, WE'VE HAD
SIGNIFICANT HOMELESS POPULATION
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH RESPECT
TO INDIVIDUALS DOING DRUGS OR
WHAT HAVE YOU AND WE HAVE DONE A
NUMBER OF THINGS, INCLUDING
ENHANCING LAW ENFORCEMENT
PRESENCE, INCLUDING INCLUDING,
UM INCREASING LIGHTING IN AREAS
CLOSING OFF AREAS OF FOR EXAMPLE
, THERE ARE AREAS OF THE STATION
WHERE THERE UM, THE BACK END OF
OUR STATIONS WHERE WE HAVE
MACHINERY. WHAT HAVE YOU AND
PEOPLE WERE GOING INTO THOSE
AREAS AND THE USING ILLICIT
DRUGS AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND
WE'VE CLOSED THOSE OFF ADDED
SECURITY. SO, UM IT IS WHAT WE
FOUND IS IN TERMS OF ENHANCING
SECURITY. IT'S NEVER ONE THING.
IT'S NEVER ONE THING. IT'S MUCH
MORE THAN THAT. AND IN ADDITION
TO PROVIDING THE SOME OF THE
CRIME STATS AND SOME OF THE AB
INFLOW OF THAT I WILL PROVIDE A
SEPARATE REPORT ON WHAT WE DID
WITH MACARTHUR PARK BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
TEMPLATE. FOR WHAT WE COULD DO
TO ENHANCE SECURITY ACROSS THE
SYSTEM. THANK YOU. YEAH AND I
APPRECIATE THAT, UM, THAT SOCIAL
WORKERS AND HOMELESS OUTREACH IS
A PART OF THAT. YOU KNOW, I
KNOW, UH, WHILE YOU KNOW,
THERE'S THERE CAN BE A
PERCEPTION OR A FEELING OF BEING
UNSAFE. PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS OR AROUND DOESN'T
NECESSARILY MEAN THERE'S
INHERENT. DANGER UM AND, UM, BUT
YOU KNOW IT IS. UH, AN
OPPORTUNITY AT THE SAME TIME TO
MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT AND
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET
ACCESS TO SERVICES. GET OFF
TRAINS GET INTO HOMES. UM SO YOU
KNOW, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT
IS PART OF THE SOLUTION THAT
THAT'S THAT'S BEING PURSUED HERE
AND, UM, AND SUPPORT A LOT OF
THAT WORK SINCE THAT'S GOING TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM, UM, AS A AS
A, UM PERTAINS TO PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. UM ON
THE HYDROGEN TRAIN. CAN YOU TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE THE
HYDROGEN IS COMING FROM? UM I
KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION
OF THE HYDROGEN PIPELINES AND
STORAGE AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE
HAVING A LOT OF THESE
DISCUSSIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
JUST YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH
HYDROGEN TO OPERATE IT, YOU KNOW
? WELL WE HOPE SO. IT'LL BE A
REALLY SLOW TRAIN TRIP. IF WE
DON'T THE SO IT IS ANTICIPATED
WILL BE TANKING IT IN, SO WE'LL
HAVE HYDROGEN PRODUCERS HERE IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT WILL,
THEN WE'LL PUT IT IN. IT'LL BE
TANKED IN BROUGHT OVER TO THE
STATION THAT IS IN JUST OUTSIDE
OF DOWNTOWN SAN MARTINO. FUEL
THE VEHICLE. UM I THINK THAT'S
ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO
TEST AS WE JUST ALSO DON'T KNOW.
UM YOU KNOW, WITH WITH OUR, UM
RENEWABLE DIESEL FUEL THAT WE
RUN TODAY, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD
IDEA ABOUT HOW FAR WE CAN RUN.
HOW MUCH HOW OFTEN WE NEED TO
REFUEL IT. THIS IS GOING TO BE
ONE OF THOSE TESTS ABOUT HOW WE
DO THAT WITH HYDROGEN. HOW LONG
IT'LL IT CAN PROPEL THE VEHICLE,
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LEARNING
QUITE A BIT OF IT. AT THIS
POINT. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE
IT'LL BE TRUCKED IN AND FUELED
AND THEN I BELIEVE IT'S EVERY
TWO DAYS, I THINK IS THE NUMBER
I HEARD. THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED
TO SEE A FUELING VEHICLE AND
TRUCKED IN FROM WHERE THAT I
DON'T KNOW. I WILL. I WILL
FOLLOW UP WITH THAT INFORMATION.
IF I COULD ADD THE THERE IS A
COALITION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
CALLED THE ARCHES COALITION,
WHICH IS HAVE SUBMITTED A MAJOR
GRANT REQUEST TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY THAT THEY BELIEVE
THEY'RE LIKELY TO GET WHICH
WOULD PROVIDE $2 BILLION IN
FUNDING FOR A GREEN HYDROGEN
PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND
ELECTROLYTIC HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
SYSTEM IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
MY GUESS IS THAT IF WE WIN THAT
GRANT WE SHOULD HERE IN
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER THAT THE
ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT
WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GET IT?
IT'S GOING TO BE LOCAL, AND IT'S
GOING TO BE CLEAN AND GREEN.
GREAT MAYBE FROM RIGHT HERE FROM
LANCASTER COULD BE. SELFLESS
PLUG, AND, UM, SO WHEN ONE LAST
QUESTION, UM OR JUST COMMENT.
REALLY MR ZANE. I JUST WANTED
TO, UM HIGHLIGHT REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK IN THE
BUILDING THAT YOU'VE DONE TO
BRING THE TRADES IN, UM TO MOVE
FORWARD ON, YOU KNOW, MAKING
SURE THAT WE'RE GREENING OUR
TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION AND
ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE
GOOD JOBS BECAUSE I THINK WE
HAVE TO DO BOTH. UM AND SO, UH,
YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE
OF THAT AND HOPING THAT, UM THAT
THE TEA LEAVES THAT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CARILLO IS
READING OVER HERE TURNED OUT TO
BE TRUE. THERE IS A NEW DAY. I
THINK, YES, WELL, THANK YOU. I'M
GOING TO FORGO MY QUESTIONS
BECAUSE I WANT US TO MAKE SURE
WE GET TO THE THIRD PANEL AND
THEN LEAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE A
POINT OF UNDERSTANDING A HARD
STOP AT ONE. MAYBE WE GET A
LITTLE LATITUDE ON THAT, BUT I
WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
QUITE FRANKLY, THE GREAT WORK OF
DOING AND CERTAINLY MOST NOTABLY
ON TRANSIT PASSES FOR STUDENTS
AND THE FACT THAT METRO HAS
BECOME AND ALSO METROLINK HAS
BECOME VERY CREATIVE AND HOW TO
TAKE FARE BOX DOLLARS AND
ALLOCATED IN THAT WAY. NOT
EVERYONE IS DOING THAT. SO I
REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT, AND
CERTAINLY MR ZANE'S ADVOCACY
FOR, UH, STUDENT PASSES AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A
ROBUST PROGRAM AND SO WHATEVER
WE CAN DO GOING FORWARD. LET US
KNOW. WE'VE BEEN TRYING VERY
HARD AS YOU KNOW, FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS HERE TO GET ADDITIONAL
REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE THAT
THOSE IMPORTANT PROGRAMS I WOULD
JUST SAY TO ON THE AS WE'RE
PREPARING FOR 2028. I'M HOPING
THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT
UNTIL THE OLYMPIC GAMES BEFORE
YOU ROLL OUT A CAR FREE, UH,
PROGRAM, MAYBE FIND SOME WAYS TO
SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE A TEST
RUN HERE. THERE THERE'S A BIG
FOOTBALL GAME AND PARADE IN
PASADENA ON JANUARY. 1ST MIGHT
WANT TO THINK OF THAT AS A
THAT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT TO
SEE HOW IT WORKS. BUT UM, I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING
HERE AND CERTAINLY FOR, UM,
CONTRIBUTED TO THIS CONVERSATION
. OUR THIRD PANEL, WHICH I WILL
INTRODUCE. AH, DO IS AND BEFORE
I INTRODUCE QUITE FRANKLY, I
WANTED TO ALSO LET THE PUBLIC
KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE PREPARED TO
SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU
NEED TO FILL OUT A CARD. WE HAVE
CATHERINE, WHO'S GOT THOSE
AVAILABLE FOR YOU. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE SEE HAVE ENOUGH
TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT.
OUR THIRD PANEL INCLUDES AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE UPDATES
FROM THE BRIGHT LINE WEST AND
THE GOAL LINE FOOTHILL EXTENSION
CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY. BOTH
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A PROVEN
TRACK RECORD OF EXPANDING,
SUSTAINABLE AND ECONOMICALLY
BENEFICIAL CONNECTIONS AND
DELIVERING TRANSPORTATION
SOLUTIONS TODAY WILL BENEFIT
FROM RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM
ADRIAN SHARE EXECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING AND
PLANNING FOR BRIGHT LINE WEST.
AND LISA LEVY, BUSH, CHIEF
COMMUNICATION AND STRATEGIC
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE GOLD
LINE. FOOTHILL EXTENSION, I WILL
. IF IT'S OKAY. LET THAT BE THE
INTRODUCTION FOR BOTH OF YOU. I
HAVEN'T HAVE ABOUT BIOGRAPHY FOR
BOTH OF YOU. BUT I THINK AS YOU
MAYBE GO INTO YOUR PRESENTATION
, YOU CAN INTEGRATE SOME OF THAT
IN BUT WE DO APPRECIATE YOU BOTH
BEING HERE AND WE WILL OPEN UP
WITH YOU. ADRIAN, YOUR
PRESENTATION. GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU. IS MY MIC ON IT IS
THANK YOU. CHAIR HOLDING THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S, UM, BRIGHT
LINE WEST IS VERY HAPPY TO BE
HERE AND SHARE EXCITING TIMES
GOING ON. I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY
START WITH A VIDEO, TOO BRIGHT
LINE WEST SPEED RAIL SYSTEM THAT
WILL CONNECT TWO OF AMERICA'S
MOST VIBRANT REGIONS, LAS VEGAS
AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO BE
ONE OF THE GREENEST FORMS OF
TRANSPORTATION. BRIGHT LINE WEST
WILL TAKE MILLIONS OF CARS OFF
THE ROAD. MOVING TONS OF CARBON
DIOXIDE FROM THE AIR WHILE
PROVIDING A FAST, CONVENIENT AND
ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE SYSTEM WILL
REVOLUTIONIZE TRAVEL, GENERATING
THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND OVER $10
BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT RIGHT
LINE IS BACKED BY FORTRESS
INVESTMENT GROUP, A GLOBAL FIRM
WITH OVER $30 BILLION OF
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS.
RIGHT LINE WILL BUILD ON THE
SUCCESSFUL MODEL THEY CREATED IN
FLORIDA TO REDEFINE HIGH SPEED
RAIL IN AMERICA EACH YEAR 50
MILLION PEOPLE TRAVEL BETWEEN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND LAS
VEGAS OVER 85% BY CAR. DRIVING
IS UNRELIABLE AND CAN REQUIRE
FIVE OR MORE HOURS ON ONE OF THE
NATION'S MOST CONGESTED AND
DANGEROUS ROADWAYS. 15 AIR
TRAVEL IS INEFFICIENT, FILLED
WITH DELAYS AND EXPENSIVE RIGHT
LINE WEST OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE
ARE ALL ELECTRIC HIGH SPEED RAIL
SYSTEM WILL COVER 260 MILES
BETWEEN L A AND LAS VEGAS IN
ABOUT THREE HOURS. THE JOURNEY
BEGINS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
AT THE HISTORIC UNION STATION,
WHERE PASSENGERS CAN USE THEIR
BRIGHT LINE TICKET TO RIDE THE
SAN BERNARDINO METROLINK LINE.
RIDERS EMERGED EAST OUT OF UNION
STATION AND IN ABOUT AN HOUR
ARRIVED AT OUR RANCHO CUCAMONGA
STATION. AS PASSENGERS ARRIVE IN
RANCHO CUCAMONGA. THEY WILL
IMMEDIATELY SEE THE BRIGHT LINE
STATION ABOVE THE METROLINK
TRACKS. A SEAMLESS TRANSITION.
JUST AN ESCALATOR RIGHT AWAY.
BRIGHT LINE GUESTS CAN BOOK
THEIR TRIP USING THE BRIGHT LINE
APP WEBSITE OR TICKETING KIOSKS
ARE EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE
TEAM MEMBERS ARE THERE TO HELP
WITH EVERYTHING FROM TICKETING
TO BAGGAGE. CHECK RIDERS BREEZE
THROUGH SECURITY CHECKS GLIDE
INTO LOUNGE AREAS WHERE THEY CAN
RELAX AND RECHARGE AS BRIGHT
LINE DEPARTS. KAMANGA PASSENGERS
WILL ENJOY SCENIC VIEWS ALONG I
15 CONQUERING THE STEEP GRADE OF
THE CAJON PASS A MOUNTAIN
HIGHWAY DIVIDING THE MAJESTIC
SIX. SAN GABRIEL AND SAN
BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS. VICTOR
VALLEY STATION PLATFORM IS
STRATEGICALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE
I 15 AND IS THE LAST STOP BEFORE
LAS VEGAS. THE DEPARTURE FROM
VICTOR VALLEY WILL BRING THE
TRAIN TO TOP SPEEDS OF 200 MPH
TRAINS WILL FLY PAST THE
STAGGERING TRAFFIC TO LANE
FREEWAY PASSENGERS SIP, CHAT AND
CHILL FROM THE COMFORT OF A
BRIGHT AND SPACIOUS CABIN. WITH
ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED SEATS AND
AMPLE LEG ROOM. BUILT THROUGH
THE LENS OF TODAY'S MODERN
TRAVELER. BRIGHT LINE TRAIN SETS
WILL HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
, INCLUDING FIRST CLASS SEATS
AND A RESORT STYLE LOUNGE WITH
SPACE FOR 35 GUESTS. OUR TRAINS
WILL RAISE PAST THE IMPRESSIVE
MOUNTAIN VIEWS AS THEY APPROACH
THEIR FINAL STOP LAS VEGAS.
ENTERING LAS VEGAS ARE WELL
REFRESHED. PASSENGERS WILL
ARRIVE AT BRIGHT LINES FLAGSHIP
STATION ON THE FAMOUS LAS VEGAS
STRIP IN THE HEART OF VEGAS'S
BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS
HUB. BRIGHT LINE EXTENDS ITS
HIGH QUALITY TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
ALL THE WAY TO A RIDER'S
ULTIMATE DESTINATION WITH BRIGHT
LINE PLUS OUR DOOR TO DOOR
CONCIERGE SERVICE, POWERED BY
OUR APP AND SUPPORTED BY A FLEET
OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THIS
SERVICE WILL SEAMLESSLY TAKE
PASSENGERS FROM THERE ARRIVING
TRAIN TO THEIR DESTINATION OF
CHOICE AS WE CHALLENGE THE
STATUS QUO OF TRANSPORTATION
RIGHT LINE HAS BUILT AN
UNPARALLELED SERVICE FOR
TRAVELERS LOOKING FOR A DELUXE
EXPERIENCE WITHOUT THE PRIVATE
TRAVEL PRICE. WELCOME TO THE
FUTURE OF TRAVEL IN AMERICA.
WELCOME TO BRIGHT LINE.
WAS IT OR THERE WE GO. OKAY?
THANKS UM, SO AS THE VIDEO THAT
YOU SAW THE FOOTAGE OF THE
TRAINS RUNNING FROM OUR SYSTEM
IN FLORIDA, AND, UM WHAT? WE
STARTED THIS CONCEPT OF INTER
CITY PASSENGER RAIL WHERE THE
FIRST PRIVATE COMPANY TO
INITIATE INTER CITY PASSENGER
RAIL AND OVER 100 YEARS UM AND
WE STARTED IT IN FLORIDA UNDER
THIS PREMISE OF FINDING CITY
PAIRS THAT ARE TOO LONG TO DRIVE
TOO SHORT TO FLY AND BASED ON
THE SUCCESS OF THE MODEL AND
FLORIDA. WE'RE UH WE HAVE WE ARE
ABOUT TO OPEN OUR SYSTEM TO
ORLANDO. IN THE COMING WEEKS. WE
HAD VENTURED OUT WEST AND THIS
IS OUR SECOND VENTURE WITH
CONNECTING VEGAS WITH SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. JUST TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FLORIDA
SYSTEM. I WORKED ON THAT PROJECT
FROM INCEPTION AND WE'RE JUST
EXTREMELY PROUD OF HOW IT'S
TRANSFORMED TRANSPORTATION AND
THE IMAGE OF TRAIN TRAVEL IN THE
U. S AND THAT'S EVIDENT FROM.
HOPEFULLY YOU COULD SEE THAT
FROM THE VIDEOS IT'S WALKING
INTO THE ART STATIONS IS LIKE
WALKING INTO THE LOBBY OF A
LUXURY HOTEL, NOT THE IMAGE
WE'RE USED TO IN PICTURING. A
URBAN TRAIN STATION. SO THE
INTENT WITH US JUST TO CHANGE
THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE WITH
TRAIN TRAVEL AND GET PEOPLE OUT
OF THEIR CARS AND INTO TRAINS,
AND WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL
AT IT. JUST SEE THE CUSTOMER
SATISFACTION NUMBERS FROM
SURVEYS. WE'RE RIGHT UP THERE
WITH THE TOP BRANDS THAT, UH,
YOU WITH WITH TOP BRANDS THAT
WE'RE ALL USED TO, AND THEN
WE'VE ALSO, UH, FOUND THAT BY
SERVICING THE MARKET WORKS WERE
, UH, WE'VE GROWN THE DEMAND FOR
THE SYSTEM. BY ADDING CITIES
ALONG THE WAY, SO WE OPENED TWO
STATIONS IN AVENTURA IN BOCA
RATON JUST LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF
DEMAND IN WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE JUST THE STARTING LINE
BETWEEN WEST PALM AND MIAMI.
WHILE WE WERE CONSTRUCTING ALL
THE WAY UP TO ORLANDO, SO WE'VE
JUST SEEN TREMENDOUS SUCCESS AND
T O D DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE
STATION. SO THAT BRINGS US TO
WHAT WE'RE PLANNING OUT HERE. SO
THIS IS THE ROUTE GOING FROM
VEGAS? UM DOWN TO RANCHO
CUCAMONGA? UH PROBABLY MOST OF
YOU ARE AWARE BECAUSE THE IDEA
OF CONNECTING SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA AND VEGAS WITH HIGH
SPEED RAILS BEEN AROUND FOR A
LONG TIME. UM SO WE STARTED BACK
IN 2019. WE PURCHASED THE RIGHTS
TO WHAT WAS THEN ONLY GOING TO
GO TO VICTORVILLE. AND THEN WE
DECIDED IN 2020 THAT WE REALLY
DIDN'T NEED TO CONNECT TO THE
METRO AREA. SO WE'VE EXPANDED
THE ROUTE, ADDED THE 50 MILES
DOWN RANCHO CUCAMONGA. SO IT'S
NOW 218, MILES IMPORTANTLY, ON
THIS SIDE AND FOR BEING HERE
TODAY THAT THERE'S TWO IMPORTANT
CONNECTIONS SHOWN ON THE SLIDE.
THE FIRST ONE IS SHOWN AT VICTOR
VALLEY. IT'S ACTUALLY
COMBINATION OF APPLE VALLEY AND
VICTORVILLE. AH SO WE USE THAT
TO, UM VICTOR VALLEY. BUT THAT'S
WHERE THE CONNECTION TO THE HIGH
DESERT QUARTER WILL HAPPEN, UH,
TO COME OUT TO PALMDALE. SO
SOMETIMES GETS CONFUSED. THAT'S
NOT OUR PROJECT, BUT WE'RE
PARTNERING WITH HIGH DESERT
QUARTER. UM J P A AND WORK
CLOSELY WITH THEM AND HELPING
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROJECT
AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK, LOOK
FORWARD TO THEIR SUCCESS. AND
THEN THE SECOND ONE, WHICH WE
TALKED ABOUT IS OUR CONNECTION
WITH, YOU KNOW, MR CARROLL
SYSTEM AND METROLINK. AT RANCHO
WHERE WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
HIS STAFF TO HAVE A SEAMLESS
CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR TWO
SYSTEMS, UM AT THE RANCHO
CUCAMONGA STATION, WHICH IS
WHERE WE WILL BE BUILDING OUR
TERMINAL STATIONED TO CONNECT
THE TWO OF US SO EVERYTHING FROM
TIMETABLES TO TICKETING AND JUST
MAKING SURE THAT SMOOTH
TRANSITION BETWEEN THE TWO
SYSTEMS HAS BEEN THE FOCUS WITH
METROLINK. WE ARE FULLY ELECTRIC
. SO UM, JUST TO TALK ABOUT SOME
OF THE MAJOR BENEFITS FROM THE
ECONOMIC BENEFIT OVER $10
BILLION OF DIRECT ECONOMIC
IMPACT FROM THE PROJECT. WE DO
HOPE TO BE THE CATALYST FOR TWO
HIGH SPEED INDUSTRY IN THE WEST.
UH, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY AS
WELL WITH CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED
RAIL ART SCHEDULE HAS US OPENING
BY THE L. A OLYMPICS, WHICH IS A
COMMON THING FOR THROUGH THIS
MORNING, SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT
THAT, JUST TOWARDS THE END HERE
AND NOT NOT ONLY THE, UM
ECONOMIC IMPACT IS SIGNIFICANT
IN TERMS OF JOBS CREATED BUT
THEIR UNION JOBS, SO WE'VE GOT
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS. AND MOU IS
IN PLACE WITH UNIONS THAT WE'RE
PROUD OF, AND WE REALLY JUMPED
AHEAD OFF NOT ONLY FOR
CONSTRUCTION, BUT ALSO FOR
OPERATIONS. SO WE'VE ALREADY GOT
A COMMITMENT THERE FOR THE UNION
PARTNERSHIP, ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS AGAIN BY BEING ELECTRIC
TANK ELECTRIC TRAIN TAKING OVER
400,000 TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE
OFF THE ROAD EVERY YEAR AND
TAKING AND THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT
OF 3 MILLION CARS EACH YEAR. AND
THEN, UH, ENHANCING WILDLIFE
PROTECTION. SO WE HAVE PARTNERED
WITH CALTRANS AND DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE OF CALIFORNIA
TO COMMIT TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THREE WILDLIFE CROSSINGS AND IN
THE IN THE HIGH DESERT PART OF
THE PROJECT, SO WE'RE PROUD OF
THAT PARTNERSHIP AS WELL. AND
THEN IN TERMS OF SAFETY, UM THIS
IS A SUPREMELY SAFE SYSTEM AND
THAT IT WILL BE IN A DEDICATED
QUARTER. THERE'S NO MIXED
TRAFFIC. IT'S JUST US THAT RUN
ON THE TRACKS. THERE'S NO GREAT
CROSSINGS. SO SYSTEMS LIKE THIS
AROUND THE WORLD ARE JUST
SUPREMELY SAFE, ELIMINATING THE
EQUIVALENT OF 75 HIGHWAY
FATALITIES OR INJURIES. PROJECTS
NEAR SHOVEL READY. WE'VE ALREADY
INVESTED PRIVATELY INVESTED OVER
$600 MILLION AND THE GOAL IS TO
BREAK GROUND LATER THIS YEAR
THAT THE KEY IN THAT IS, UM
YOU'RE LIKELY AWARE WE WE'VE
PARTNERED WITH NEVADA. ADAM 75.
I HEARD IT CALLED TODAY, UM, FOR
THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE OF
LAW. THE PROGRAM WE'RE TARGETING
IS THE FEDERAL STATE PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM. AMTRAK QUARTERS, SO WE
BELIEVE OUR CHANCES ARE VERY
GOOD, AND WE'RE HOPING TO HEAR
VERY SHORTLY, UM, HOPEFULLY ON
THE SUCCESS OF THAT APPLICATION
, UH, WE'VE GOT RECENT SUCCESS
IN RECEIVING A $25 MILLION
FEDERAL RAISE GRANT FOR A TWO
STATIONS, THE ONE AT APPLE
VALLEY AND THEN ONE IN HYSTERIA.
ARE ALL OF OUR PERMITTING WHERE
AT THE LITERAL TWO YARD LINE OF
COMPLETING EVERYTHING PERFECTLY
TIME FOR COMPLETING THE GRANT.
ALL THE LAND IS SECURED. AND AS
WE NOTED, AS I NOTED EARLIER,
WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY A
FOUR YEAR CONSTRUCTION TIMES. SO
IN ANTICIPATION OF RECEIVING
WORDS SHORTLY ABOUT THE GRAND
SUCCESS THAT ALLOWS US TO
COMPLETE THE FINANCING BY
KNOWING HOW MUCH THAT IS
COMPLETING OUR FINANCING AND
GETTING THE PROJECT IN THE
GROUND JUST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I THINK I COULD SAY GOOD
AFTERNOON. I'M LISA LEVY. DIÆN.
WE ARE WITH OUR PROGRAM OF
PROJECTS. AH! LET'S SEE. HERE WE
GO. WE ARE PART OF L. A COUNTY'S
GROWING RAIL NETWORK. THAT
CIRCLE UM, IS SUPPOSED TO GO
AROUND SORT OF THAT TOP RIGHT.
THAT'S THE ONE LINE IN THE METRO
SYSTEM THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR PLANNING. WE ARE OVERSEEN BY
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE HAVE
A JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY THAT
ADVISES THAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THAT'S MADE UP OF ALL OF OUR
CORRIDOR CITIES. WE'VE BEEN IN
PLACE SINCE THE LATE 19 NINETIES
AND AGAIN WE HAVE ONE JOB IF WE
ARE A STATE AGENCY, AND WE ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING,
DESIGNING AND BUILDING THIS ONE
LINE TO DATE, WE ARE EITHER
UNDER CONSTRUCTION ARE COMPLETED
WITH 23 OF 25 OF THE PROGRAM
STATIONS. WE HAVE TWO LEFT TO BE
STARTED AND I WILL GO OVER WITH
. GO OVER WITH YOU WHERE WE ARE
WITH NOT ONLY THE PROJECT WE'RE
BUILDING TODAY, BUT WHERE WE ARE
WITH THOSE LAST TWO STATIONS.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE SOME OF THESE
FOLKS. THIS IS OUR BOARD OF
DIRECTORS. THEY REPRESENT LOCAL
. THEY'RE ALL LOCAL ELECTED
OFFICIALS FROM OUR CORRIDOR
CITIES. AND, UM. OF CLAREMONT.
UM YOU COULD SEE HIM THERE AT
REESE. OUR PROGRAM HAS BEEN
ONGOING FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
UH I'VE CIRCLED THE AREAS THAT
SORT OF WERE BIG MILESTONES.
1999 WAS WHEN THE AGENCY THE
CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY THAT I
WORKED FOR WAS PUT IN PLACE BY
THE STATE. AT THAT TIME, WE WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING MONEY
THAT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE TO
BUILD THE PROJECT BUT WAS
SHELVED AT THE TIME FOR MANY
REASONS AND PUT THAT MONEY TO
GOOD USE. WE WERE ABLE TO
COMPLETE THE FIRST SEGMENT OF
THE LINE FROM UNION STATION. IT
OPENED IN 2003. AND AT THAT
POINT, THE 12 CITIES EAST FROM
PASADENA, SO FROM ARCADIA, EAST
TO MONTCLAIR SAID, YOU KNOW,
THEY REALLY WANTED TO BE PART OF
THIS PROGRAM. AND SO. WE GO UP
INTO SEGMENTS. SO PHASE TWO, A.
WAS PASADENA TO AZUSA. AND PHASE
TWO. B IS, UH, GLENDORA OR ZEUS
SIDE WHERE WE END GLENDORA OUT
TO MONTCLAIR, AND I'LL GIVE YOU
A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON ALL
THOSE SO, LIKE I SAID LOS
ANGELES UNION STATION TO
PASADENA, COMPLETED ON TIME
UNDER BUDGET BACK IN 2003, THAT
WAS THE 1ST 13 STATIONS.
PASADENA TO AZUSA. THAT'S PHASE
TWO. A THAT WAS SIX MORE
STATIONS. WHEN MEASURE ARE
PASSED IN 2008. WE WERE READY TO
GO AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE
FIRST FUNDING FROM THAT MEASURE
FOR LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT CAPITAL.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THE
NEXT SIX STATIONS TO AS YOU SAY
AGAIN ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET
WE FINISHED IN 25 15. IT OPENED
IN 2016, AND THEN WE ALSO THEN
BROKE GROUND AFTER MEASURE EM
PASSED IN LATE 2017 FOR THE
FINAL SIX STATIONS WHEN WE WERE
ON HIRING THE DESIGN BUILD
CONTRACTOR WE FOUND OUT THAT WE
DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING, SO
WE HAD TO DIVIDE THE PROJECT
INTO TWO PHASES TO CONSTRUCTION
PHASES, SO WE'RE UNDER
CONSTRUCTION NOW, WITH THE FIRST
NINE MILES FOUR STATIONS FROM
AZUSA TO POMONA, AND WE ARE
LOOKING FOR THE FUNDING TO
COMPLETE THE PROJECT TO FROM
POMONA TO MONTCLAIR, WHICH WILL
CONNECT LOS ANGELES, SAN GABRIEL
VALLEY AND THE INLAND EMPIRE. SO
JUST YOU ALL ARE VERY AWARE OF
THE GROWTH THAT'S TAKING PLACE
IN OUR STATE ARE IN LOS ANGELES
COUNTY. WE EXPECT GROWTH TO BE
TAKING PLACE ABOUT 16% INCREASE
OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES. THE
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY IS GROWING AT
ABOUT THAT SAME RATE, AND WHEN
WE LOOK AT WHERE THAT GROWTH IS
HAPPENING IN THE SAN GABRIEL
VALLEY, THE MAJORITY OF HIS IS
HAPPENING ALONG OUR RAIL LINE.
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE WE EXPECT
ABOUT MORE THAN 40% OF THE
POPULATION GROWTH AND OVER 50%
OF THE EMPLOYMENT GROWTH. IT WAS
TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN OUR
CORRIDOR, SO IT MAKES SENSE TO
BE BUILDING THIS RAIL LINE. THIS
IS WHAT WE SEE TODAY AGAIN.
TRAFFIC ON THE 2 10 FREEWAY ON
THE 10 FREEWAY. UH, TO ALMOST 3
BILLION TRIPS WERE HAPPENING A
DAY BETWEEN WESTERN SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTY AND THE
FOOTHILL GOLD LINE CITIES AND
SURROUNDING AREAS ONLY 3% ARE
CURRENTLY TAKING TRANSIT SO MOST
OF THAT IS CAR TRIPS. SO JUST A
QUICK UPDATE ON THE CURRENT
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AGAIN. WE
BROKE GROUND IN 2017. WE'VE
COMPLETED TWO CONTRACTS FOR THAT
PROJECT 2018 AND 2019 IN LATE
2019. WE HIRED OUR DESIGN
BUILDER. UM IT THEY HAD A WE
WERE HOPING THEY'D BE ABLE TO
AGAIN BUILD THE FULL SIX STATION
SEGMENT. BUT THE FUNDING WAS,
UNFORTUNATELY NOT ABLE TO BE UM
, UM, ACQUIRED IN TIME, SO THEY
ARE BUILDING THE 1ST 9.1 MILES.
FOUR STATIONS BETWEEN GLENDORA
AND POMONA. UH IT'S A FULLY
SHARED CORRIDOR WITH BNSF, SO
THE FIRST THING THEY HAD TO DO
WAS ACTUALLY MOVE THE FREIGHT
LINE THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE RAIL CORRIDOR THAT THAT IS
NOW SHARED AND MOVE IT EITHER TO
THE NORTH OR TO THE SOUTH TO
MAKE ROOM FOR THE LIGHT RAIL
SYSTEM. THE THEY ALSO ARE
BUILDING OF COURSE FOR NEW
STATIONS. WE HAD 21 STREET
CROSSINGS WHERE THE TRAIN WILL
CROSS AT STREET LEVEL. WE HAVE
19 BRIDGES THAT NEEDED TO BE
BUILT OR REBUILT FOR BOTH THE
FREIGHT SYSTEM. AND THE LIGHT
RAIL SYSTEM AND I'M HAPPY TO
REPORT THAT WE ARE NOW VERY
CLOSE TO 75% COMPLETE ON THE
PROJECT, EVEN THOUGH MAJOR
CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN JULY OF
2020, RIGHT AS THE PANDEMIC WAS
GETTING STARTED, AND THEY'VE
BEEN ABLE TO OUR CONTRACTORS
BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON TIME AND
AGAIN, WE BELIEVE WE'LL BE
FINISHING THIS PROJECT ON TIME
AND UNDER BUDGET IN JANUARY OF
2025. SO THIS JUST TALKS ABOUT
THE CONTRACTING THAT WE'VE DONE
TO DATE? UM YOU CAN SEE SOME
IMAGERY OF SOME OF THE STUFF. WE
FINISHED SOME OF OUR BIG
MILESTONES. THE FREIGHT TRACK
RELOCATE HAS BEEN RELOCATED
THROUGHOUT THE 9.1 MILES. SO NOW
MAKING ROOM FOR THE LIGHT RAIL
SYSTEM, BRIDGE WORK IS DONE FOR
ALL THE 19 NEW BRIDGES AND
RENOVATED BRIDGES. THESE YOU CAN
SEE. MOST OF THE BRIDGES ARE
OVER A SMALL WATERWAYS, BUT WE
DO HAVE FOUR NEW BRIDGES THAT
CROSS MAJOR CITY STREETS, AND
THOSE ARE NOW COMPLETE OUR GRADE
CROSSINGS. ALL 21 X THREE
CROSSINGS WHERE WE'VE REBUILT
EVERYTHING UNDER THE STREET AS
WELL ABOVE THE STREET IS NOW ARE
NOW COMPLETE. AND JUST RECENTLY
, WE CELEBRATED COMPLETING THE
LIGHT RAIL TRACK INSTALLATION.
THAT WAS COMPLETED IN JUNE. JUST
A FEW SHORT MONTHS AGO. SO WE'RE
ABOUT 60/60 PERCENT DONE WITH
OUR LIGHT RAIL POWER SYSTEM
INSTALLATION. WHERE OVER 50%
COMPLETED WITH OUR STATIONS AND
OVERALL LIKE I SAID, WE ARE VERY
CLOSE TO 75% COMPLETE OVERALL
WITH CONSTRUCTION AND WE ARE ON
TIME. UM AND WE BELIEVE WE WILL
BE UNDER BUDGET AT THE END WHEN
WE TURN IT OVER TO METRO IN
EARLY JANUARY OF 2025. SOMETHING
NEAR AND DEAR TO CHAIR, HOLDEN'S
HEART AND OUR HEART, AS WELL AS
FINISHING THIS PROJECT TO
CLAREMONT AND MONTCLAIR AND
THEIR TWO STATIONS THAT ARE LEFT
TO BE DONE. LIKE I SAID, OUR
PROGRAM IS 25 STATIONS. WE'VE WE
WILL HAVE COMPLETED 23 OF THOSE
25 IN EARLY JANUARY OF 2025, SO
WE HAVE TWO REMAINING STATIONS.
THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT STATIONS
. THEY ARE THE MAJORITY OF THE,
UM THE RIDERSHIP BENEFIT OF THE
FULL SIXTH STATION PROGRAM COMES
FROM COMPLETING THESE STATIONS.
THE TWO FINAL STATIONS AT THOSE
STATIONS WILL CONNECT TO THE
INLAND EMPIRE AND THE MONTCLAIR
TRANS CENTER, WHICH IS A BIG
TRANS CENTER HAS OVER A DOZEN
BUS LINES FROM ALL OVER THE
INLAND EMPIRE AS WELL AS
METROLINK CONNECTION THERE AND A
GREYHOUND, A NEW GREYHOUND
STATION THERE AS WELL. SO WE
EXPECT THAT RIDERSHIP OPENING
YEAR FOR THOSE TWO STATIONS
ALONE WOULD ADD OVER 7000
BOARDINGS TO THE METRO SYSTEM,
AND, OF COURSE THAT GROWS OVER
TIME THAT REDUCES CAR TRIPS IN
THE THOUSANDS AND, OF COURSE,
REDUCES GREENHOUSE GASSES.
BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY'RE THE TWO
CITIES ALREADY HAVE PLANS IN
PLACE TO HAVE 10,000 HOUSING
UNITS BUILT RIGHT AROUND THOSE
TWO STATIONS ALONE, AND THAT
DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE ALL THE
HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THAT OCCURS AROUND THE OTHER
STATIONS. SO THOSE GETTING TO
THE TO THOSE TWO FINAL STATIONS
WILL PROVIDE MORE HOUSING. IT
WILL PROVIDE BETTER CONNECTIONS
. UM WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT
IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR METRO MADE
FINISHING THIS PROJECT TO
CLAREMONT AND MONTCLAIR, THE
AGENCY'S TOP PRIORITY FOR NEW
STATE FUNDING. UM AND SO WE ARE
HOPEFUL THAT WITH THE BUDGET
THAT WAS PASSED IN JULY, AND THE
NEW CAPITAL DOLLARS THAT WE ARE
HOPEFUL THAT THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO FINISH THIS PROJECT IN
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. ONCE WE GET
FUNDING, WE WILL TAKE US FIVE
YEARS TO SHOVEL READY, UM, READY
TO GO AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE
FUNDING. AND WE HAVE JUST AN
UNMATCHED COALITION OF SUPPORT
FOR OUR PROJECT FROM ALL OF OUR
STAKEHOLDERS. LASTLY YOU KNOW,
IT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING
CONNECTIONS CONNECTING TO THE
INLAND EMPIRE THROUGH THE
MONTCLAIR TRANS CENTER TO ALL
THE OPEN SPACE AREAS TO THE
FAIRPLEX, WHICH WERE UNDERWAY
WITH THE STATION RIGHT NOW THAT
I'LL BE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET
FROM THE L. A COUNTY FAIRPLEX
CONNECTIONS TO THE ONTARIO
AIRPORT. WE WERE WE'VE BEEN
NICKNAMED THE BRAIN TRAIN
BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE
UNIVERSITIES ALONG OUR OUR
CORRIDOR. WE HAVE A DOZEN OF
THOSE IN THE LAST TWO STATIONS
ALONE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, ALL
OF OUR HISTORIC DOWNTOWNS, UM
AND, UH, AREAS THAT WE'RE
CONTINUING TO GROW TOWARD I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WELL, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
THE PRESENTATIONS. I AS I'M
LISTENING TO BOTH OF YOU MAKE
THE YOU'RE EUR RAIL SYSTEMS IN
TERMS OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND
HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE
CONNECTING. CERTAINLY BRIGHT
LINE IS GONNA IMPORTANT PROJECT
OF CONNECTIVITY FROM PALMDALE.
UM TO VICTORVILLE, BUT. HOW IT
ALSO CONNECTS TO RANCHO
CUCAMONGA AND THE GOLD LINE,
ESSENTIALLY CONCLUDING IN SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTY. CERTAINLY
BEGS THE QUESTION OF. THE
MONGOL, WHICH WOULD. CONNECT TO
BRIGHT LINE AND HEAD ON A PARTY
TRAIN TO MHM LAS VEGAS. I'M ALSO
EXCITED ABOUT JUST LOOKING AT
THE FULLNESS OF YOU KNOW HOW
METROLINK AND BRIGHT LINE AND
GOLD LINE KIND OF, UH,
INTERCONNECT. SO THIS HAS BEEN
SOME OF THE SOFA. YOU THINK OF
IT IN COUNTER PARTY. YOU DON'T
NECESSARILY WANT YOU SEE IT ON A
HOW IT HAS THE APPLICATION OF
POTENTIAL LINKING TOGETHER AND
THAT'S HENCE THIS. Tð. TALKED
ABOUT THE FUNDING AS WE TALKED
ABOUT EARLIER. THE PRESENTATION
IS SO CRITICAL TO INFRASTRUCTURE
AND MAKING SURE THESE PROGRAMS
PROJECTS HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR HANGING IN THERE, AS WE
MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS
AND RETURN TO MY COLLEAGUES AND
SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
FOR EITHER ONE OF YOU. I DON'T
HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE, UM
STATEMENTS TO MAKE AND. THE
SUPPORT THAT I HAVE FOR BRIAN
LANE FROM DAY 11 OF US SWORN IN
ON DECEMBER 5TH. I INTRODUCED
BILL A B 31. VICTOR VALLEY TO
MAKE THAT CONNECTION WITH
METROLINK STATION HERE IN
PALMDALE. IT IS GOING TO BE A
CATALYST FOR THE HIGH DESERT.
NOT ALL. UH PEOPLE KEEP COMING
UP TO THE HIGH DESERT ON BOTH
ENDS UNTIL A VIOLENT VICTOR
VALLEY BECAUSE IT'S MORE
AFFORDABLE. THE TRADE OFF THAT
WE HAVE TO DO IS TRAVEL DOWN
BELOW, AS WE SAY HERE FOR TWO
HOURS. SO WITH BRIAN COMING UP
HERE, THE CATALYST OF PROVIDING
THAT TRANSIT OF PUBLIC TRANSIT,
THE ADDITIONAL HOUSING DEMAND,
AND WITH THAT COMES THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DEMAND TO PRINCIPLES
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS THE
ROOFTOPS. THE MORE ROOFTOP
DEVELOPED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS
SEE THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO BRING
THOSE SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO
HAVE IN THE HIGH DESERT. UM I
STILL BELIEVE IN THE CALIFORNIA
HIGH SPEED RAIL. THAT'S A
SEPARATE SYSTEM VERY EXPENSIVE,
A LITTLE BIT OF CONTROVERSY, BUT
I THINK THAT THIS WILL ALSO
CREATE MAYBE A HEALTHY
COMPETITION WITH CALIFORNIA HIGH
SPEED RAIL. I BELIEVE THAT
DRYLAND WILL BE SOMETHING THAT
WILL AND INSIDE SOME MORE
SUPPORT. I BELIEVE FOR
CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL. IT'S
GOT ITS CHALLENGES. WE ALL KNOW
THAT. IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE UH,
AND THE WAY THAT BROILING BRINGS
THE PRODUCT HERE THAT THE SYSTEM
IS BY GOING THROUGH EXISTING
RIGHT AWAY WITH THAT. WE WANTED
TO HAVE ANOTHER FREEWAY BUILDING
THE HIGH DESERT. THE IDEAS ARE
CORRIDOR, AND THERE'S ALREADY
SOME MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THAT ON
THE L, A COUNTY PORTION AND ON
THE SUMMER AIRPORT, SAN MARINO
COUNTY WE STILL NEED TO WORK ON
GETTING THE FUNDING FOR THE
RIGHT AWAY, AND I ALREADY
STARTED TALKING TO CONGRESSMAN
OVER NORTH ON THE SUMMARY
OUTSIDE THE VALLEY. HIS
SUPPORTING FOR BRUNDTLAND, HE
AND I COMMITTED TO WORK TOGETHER
AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND THE
FUNDING TO DO THE RIGHT OF WAY.
ON THE SUMMARY OF COUNTY SO WE
CAN HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH
VICTOR VALLEY IN THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY SO THAT WE CAN GET A
FASTER ROUTE TO GET TO UNION
STATION A AGAIN THIS IS ANOTHER
GREAT BENEFIT TO HAVE THESE
MEETINGS SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE DOING WHAT THE STATUS IS
OF THOSE GREAT PROJECTS AND HOW
WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE, TOO. AGAIN
THE FIRST BILL INTRODUCED WHAT
IN SUPPORT OF VIOLENCE SO THAT
SHOWS MY ENTHUSIASM AND HOW I
BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
THAT TYPE OF TRANSIT PUBLIC
TRANSIT HERE IN THE HIGH DESERT
BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE CATALYST
TO BRING MORE DEVELOPMENT. MORE
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US AGAIN
. THE HOPE IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE
TO KEEP ON DRIVING DOWN BELOW
SPENT THREE HOURS CHAIRS BECAUSE
HOUSING IS JUST A LITTLE BIT
MORE AFFORDABLE. SO WITH THAT, I
THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUE BEING A
PARTNER AND LET US KNOW HOW CAN
BE SUPPORTIVE. ONE THING THAT I
WANT TO MENTION, TOO, IS THAT
WITH THE ONE OF THE TRAILER
BILLS THAT TALKED ABOUT THE
WILDLIFE CROSSINGS, SOME OF US
WERE REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE WERE DONE UNDER THE
TRAILER BILL BECAUSE IT HAS MADE
NO SENSE NOT TO BUILD THEM NOW
IN COORDINATION AND COOPERATION
WITH CALTRANS. BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT CAN BE CHALLENGING TO SOME
OF THESE TRAILER BILL. THOSE
THREE WILDLIFE CROSSINGS ARE
GOING TO BE BUILT IN CONJUNCTION
AGAIN, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE IS A SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU COME TO
CALIFORNIA AND THAT YOU SHOWED
THAT THE SYSTEMS ARE AWESOME
THAT THEY CAN GET US TO WHERE WE
NEED TO BE. VEGAS MAKES SENSE. I
KNOW THAT DOES THE MODEL THAT
YOU USE IN FLORIDA. BUT
EVENTUALLY WE CAN EXPAND ON THAT
HAVING THE HIGH DESERT COMMUNITY
BECAUSE WE SAY SO THAT WE CAN
SPEND MORE TIME WITH OUR
FAMILIES UP HERE WITH THAT, I
THINK AGAIN, BOTH OF YOU FOR
PRESENTATIONS, AND NOTHING ELSE
SEEMS TO SHARE. THANK YOU. UM
I'LL KEEP COMMENTS BRIEF SO WE
CAN GET TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. BUT WANT TO
THANK YOU BOTH VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF BRIGHT
LINE AND ALSO HIGH SPEED WHERE
RAIL AND APPRECIATE, UM
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CARILLO TALKING
ABOUT THE WILDLIFE CROSSINGS,
WHICH ARE AND A CRITICAL PIECE
OF TO MAKE ALL OF THIS WORK
RIGHT FOR EVERYONE. UM WE'RE
TRYING TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR OUR
ENVIRONMENT. WE HAVE TO THINK
HOLISTICALLY WHEN WE'RE DOING
THAT. UM AND JUST WANT TO, YOU
KNOW, AGAIN, THANK CHURCH HOLDEN
FOR HOLDING THIS OUT HERE, UM
AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CARILLO FOR
HOSTING US IN HIS DISTRICT AND
THE EVITA FOR HOSTING US HERE
TODAY. YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE
PANELISTS APPRECIATE YOUR TIME,
YOUR WORK AND, UM AND REALLY
DIALING DOWN ON HOW WE CAN GET
TO WHERE WE NEED TO. TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING THE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT BRING PEOPLE
IN AND ALSO I KNOW WE STILL HAVE
A LOT OF WORK TO DO AROUND THE
DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
ARE THERE TO CONTINUE THIS WORK
AS WELL. SO UM, LOOK FORWARD TO
PARTNERING WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CAN DO THAT HERE
FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE
INCREDIBLE PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT
OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY DESERVES. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE
GOING TO TURN TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
NOW I ONLY HAVE ONE SPEAKERS
CARD. SO IF THERE ARE OTHER
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE I'M
GOING TO ASK, UM SANDRA HOTEL.
BECAUSE I'M. I THINK YOU HAD
SOME COMMENTS AND A QUESTION ON
THE SILMARA NEWHALL TUNNEL,
METROLINK SERVICE AND JUST TO
GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE
REALLY CLEAR IN TERMS OF WHAT
WHAT YOU WANTED TO WHAT PART DID
YOU WANT TO HAVE ANSWERED AND
HOW YOU WANTED TO HAVE THAT
ANSWER TO TURNED TO YOU TO WHAT
WAS YOUR QUESTION? THANK YOU,
MRS SONG.
WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE HELP YOU OUT.
TEST TEST. IT IS NOW. THANK YOU.
UM I'M SANDRA CARTEL AND I'M
HERE REPRESENTING THE SIERRA
CLUB. UM FIRST OF ALL,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CARILLO THANK
YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING WILDLIFE
CORRIDORS AND CROSSINGS.
APPRECIATE THAT. UM THIS IS A
LITTLE BIT OF A WISH LIST. I
KNOW. UM TRUE REGIONAL TRANSIT,
BY THE WAY, WOULD INCLUDE SANTA
CLARITA TO VENTURA LONG 1 26 75
YEARS AGO WE HAD A TRAIN NOW WE
DON'T EVEN HAVE A BUS. UM I'D
LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR EXPEDITING
THE DOUBLE TRACKING AND
STRAIGHTENING OF THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY, METROLINK. AH, LINE. BUT
I'D ALSO ESPECIALLY LIKE TO
ADDRESS THE NEWHALL SILMARA
TUNNEL. IT WAS BUILT 113 YEARS
AGO. IT'S ONLY 17.5 FT WIDE.
IT'S USED NOT ONLY FOR
COMMUTING, BUT IT'S ALSO USED
FOR COMMERCE. UM IT'S A FIRE
DEATH TRAP. THEY FIRE DEPARTMENT
SAID IF THERE SHOULD BE AN
ACCIDENT AND FIRE IN IT. THERE
WOULD BE NO SURVIVORS BECAUSE
THERE'S NO ACCESS OR NO WAY THEY
COULD RESCUE PEOPLE. IT'S
SOMEWHERE ON THE LIST OF
PROJECTS, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE
YOU TO UPGRADE IT AND FIND
FUNDING. OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO FIND A GRANT OR
SOMETHING BECAUSE IT BE
OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE. BUT
THERE'S A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR
THAT PARTICULAR SECTION, WHICH
HAPPENS TO BE LIKE A YOU KNOW A
CLOG IN THE IN THE ENTIRE LINE.
UM AND ALSO THE FACT THAT IT'S A
DEATH TRAP, AND IT WOULD IT
WOULD EXPEDITE. THE, UH THE TIME
. FOR TRANSIT SAFE FROM THE
ANTELOPE VALLEY TO L. A. AND IT
WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE SAFETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT. I DON'T
KNOW IF ANYONE FROM METRO
THERE'S A SORT OF A MORE
BROADER, GLOBAL, UM OR CALTRANS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY FROM HIGH
SPEED RAIL. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE
QUESTION HAS BEEN DIRECTLY TO
HIGH SPEED RAIL. WE DIDN'T HAVE
ANYBODY JOIN US FOR THIS, BUT WE
CAN ONTO THEM. FOLLOW UP WITH
THAT. I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT THE
TUNNEL. THE METRO LIFE. GOTCHA.
IT WAS FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL
TUNNEL BETWEEN NEW HOLE AND SAN
FERNANDO VALLEY, AND SOME ARE
IT'S USED BY THE METROLINK AND
ALSO BY FREIGHT TRAINS, AND IT
IS SINGLE TRIP. IT IS SINGLE
TRACK OUR METRO LINK
REPRESENTATIVE, I BELIEVE OUR
PANELISTS HAD TO LEAVE. UH,
SEBASTIAN. LOZANO. WHY WOULD
METROLINK PURSUE HYDROGEN?
EXPLORATION. WHEN CALTRANS,
AMTRAK AND EUROPE SLASH ASIA
HAVE MOVED TO ELECTRIFICATION.
WE SHOULD PURSUE PROVEN
TECHNOLOGIES. THAT WAS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD RIGHT THERE. MY
COMMENT FIRST, I JUST WANT TO
SAY I THINK YOU TWO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S POLAND,
REMEMBER CARILLO AND REMEMBER
THE VOTE FOR HOLDING THIS, UH
SELECT COMMITTEE HEARING AS A
SELF PROCLAIMED TRANSPORTATION
ER, THIS IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY
AND MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE.
WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME UP
HERE AND LISTEN TO THE WONDERFUL
SPEAKERS. UM I DON'T SEE MR
KETTLE IN THE ROOM ANYMORE, SO
THIS IS MORE DIRECTLY TOWARDS
HIM. BUT THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN
STREETS BLOG ON JULY. 6 2023
THAT CAME OUT ENTITLED
CALIFORNIA NEEDS LEADERSHIP ON
ELECTRIC RAIL OF THE MAIN POINT
OF THE ARTICLE WAS TALKING ABOUT
HOW METROLINK SPECIFICALLY IS
PURSUING ITS HYDRODYNAMIC
EXPLORATION. AS AN ALTERNATIVE
TECHNOLOGY. UM HOWEVER, CALTRAIN
IS ALREADY ELECTRIFYING THEIR
FLEET. AMTRAK ON THE EAST COAST
IS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING IT AS
WELL. AND AS I SAID IN THE
COMMENT EUROPE AND ASIA HAVE
DONE THAT. TO UM IT'S HARD TO
VISIT SPAIN, FOR INSTANCE, AN
ECONOMY MUCH SMALLER THAN OURS,
AND THEY HAVE A BUILT OUT HIGH
SPEED RAIL SYSTEM AND VERY MUCH
THEY ARE MOVED TO PROVEN. CLEAN
TECHNOLOGIES LIKE
ELECTRIFICATION, SO I JUST
WONDER WHY METROLINK, AND
THEY'RE NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. BUT
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK
AT CULTURE AND WHY WE WOULDN'T
BE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S PROVEN
THAT'S ALREADY BEING
IMPLEMENTED. IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA. I THINK THERE'S SOME
REAL CONCERNS THERE ABOUT IF
WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT A WHOLE
NEW TECHNOLOGY. WHY NOT? DO THE
SAME TECHNOLOGY THAT'S ALREADY
BEEN DONE, AND IT'S PROVEN TO BE
CLEAN AS WELL. BUT I DO SEE YOUR
CONCERNS ABOUT THE GRID. THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT IS DEFINITELY
HOPE WOULD BE IMPROVED UPON.
THANK YOU. CAN I ANSWER THAT?
FEW OF US ARE A CHANCE TO GO TO
SPAIN AND SEE HOW HIGH SPEED
WORKS OVER THERE. IT WAS
CREATED. AND WE ALSO VISITED THE
ENERGY OF PRODUCTION THAT THEY
DO IN SPAIN, SO WE DROPPED THE
TRAIN FROM MADRID TO BARCELONA.
WE VISITED, UH, THEIR ENERGY
FACILITIES AS WELL. AND THE
ANSWER IS BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY
, CALIFORNIA WE DON'T HAVE THAT
IN INVESTMENT THAT CAPACITY. UM
AND THE WAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN
DOING IT IN SPAIN AND FRANCE AND
ITALY WITH HIGH SPEED RAIL THEY
KNOW THAT THEY KNEW THAT THEY
NEEDED THE ENERGY THAT THEY USE
, AND THEY BUILD UPON THAT FOR
DECADES. 30 YEARS AGO, MAYBE
EVEN MORE. UH AND HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, WE'RE HAVING A
STRUGGLE WITH OUR ENERGY WITHOUT
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT HIGH SPEED
RAIL, SO WE NEED TO INVEST MORE
IN ENERGY. AND THOSE ARE THINGS
THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. OFFSHORE
WIND IS ONE OPTION WE'RE LOOKING
AT. UM, THERE'S ACTUALLY GOING
TO BE A VALID MEASURE TO SUPPORT
OFFSHORE WIND WITH $10 BILLION
BOND THAT'S GOING TO BE AFTER
THE VOTERS BUT WANT TO ANSWER
ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS. WHY IS
THAT IS BECAUSE WHICH IS DON'T
HAVE THE CAPACITY THAT WE NEED,
AND WE'VE BEEN TRAVELING
CALIFORNIA FOR YEARS NOW TO GET
THAT CAPACITY. THAT'S ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. I HAVE ONE LAST SPEAKER
CARD. IT'S HER MAN, MCKINNON AND
I'M JUST GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO
COME FORWARD AND POSE YOUR
QUESTION AND YOUR COMMENT. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. THAT'S MY
FIRST COMMENT, AND IT'S BACK AT
YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE OFTEN FEEL LIKE THE RED
HEADED STEP CHILD, AND IT MEANS
A LOT THAT YOU ARE HERE. HE VERY
POLITELY LET YOU KNOW THAT MY
WRITING IS SO BAD. HE COULD NOT
ACTUALLY READ THE QUESTIONS. SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT, TOO. UM
DARREN WAS SPEAKING ABOUT HOW
FOR RURAL AREAS GRANT MONEY CAN
BE USED FOR OPERATIONS. I LIVE
IN ACTING JUST THREE MILES FROM
THE VINCENT HILL METROLINK
STATION. WE ARE VERY DEFINITELY
RURAL. AS THIS PAST WEEK, STORM
HAS REMINDED US YET AGAIN. IS
THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP US
USE SOME OF THOSE GRANT MONIES?
FOR OPERATIONS FOR METROLINK.
BECAUSE L. A COUNTY IS URBAN.
BUT NORTH L A COUNTY IS NOT GOOD
POINT. I CAN AGAIN. IT SEEMS
LIKE IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO
HAVE HAD OUR METROLINK
REPRESENTATIVE HERE AT THE FIELD
SEVERAL QUESTIONS THAT'S ONE
THAT WILL ADD TO THE LIST. BUT I
KNOW THAT METRO UM HAS BEEN BE
ABLE TO USE DOLLARS TO DO A
VARIETY OF THINGS THAT WITHIN
THE CONTEXT, I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE WAS A BROADER 30,000 FT
VIEW THAT YOU. LET'S SEE IF WE
CAN HAVE YOU. JUST IF YOU COULD,
YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION
. I KNOW FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S PERSPECTIVE,
THERE'S CERTAINLY A NUMBER OF
GRANTS, UM ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT
WERE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW
THAT HAD SPECIFIC SET ASIDES FOR
RURAL AREAS, SO I THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND MAYBE WE
CAN SPEAK TO METROLINK AND PASS
THIS ALONG. ONE EXAMPLE I WOULD
GIVE IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MEGA
GRANT PROGRAM WHERE, I THINK,
UM, NORTH OF 10. PERCENT OF THAT
FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM FOR
PROJECTS IS SET ASIDE
SPECIFICALLY EXCLUSIVELY FOR
RURAL AREAS, SO WE'RE CHAIR
HOLDING. WE'RE HAPPY TO CONVEY
THIS TO OUR PARTNERS AT
METROLINK, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN
GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND
CONNECT THE DOTS. PERFECT. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SEE NO
OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
COMMENT? I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO AND SHOW
APPRECIATION FOR MY COLLEAGUES
WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY. THIS
IS A COMMITTEE THAT IS A SELECT
COMMITTEE. IT FALLS OUTSIDE OF
THE REGULARLY ESTABLISHED
COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATURE,
BUT IT DOES GIVE US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO FORMULATE IDEAS
AND, AS WAS POINTED OUT TO
ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY ON
AREAS OF PARTICULAR INTERESTS,
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SELECT
COMMITTEES THIS ONE IS ONE OF A
FEW THAT DEALS WITH
TRANSPORTATION, BUT IT'S THE
INTERCONNECTIVITY PART THAT
MAKES IT UNIQUE AND HOW WE CAN
LOOK AT VARIETY OF AGENCIES AND
HOW TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS HAVE
THE POTENTIAL OF LINKING
TOGETHER TRAINS, PLANES AND
AUTOMOBILES. WE HAVE TWO MAJOR
AIRPORTS THAT ARE LOCATED IN
THIS REGION FROM ONTARIO TO THE
BURBANK AIRPORT, AND THAT
PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR ALL OF US
AS WE MOVE AROUND THE REGION,
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HIGH
SPEED RAIL THAT'S GOING TO GIVE
US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRENDS
ISSUING AND TRAVERSE AROUND AND
MUCH LARGER AREAS, SO WE
APPRECIATE WHAT THAT REPRESENTS
. I ALSO WANT TO SAY, UM, THE
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT HAS
BEEN BROUGHT TO US TODAY AND HOW
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR AND
EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND HOW
THE FUNDING WHICH IS NEVER GOING
TO GO AWAY FROM PROJECTS LIKE
THESE. REQUIRE STATE LOCAL AND
FEDERAL DOLLARS AND WE HAVE BEEN
VERY FORTUNATE. OVER THE YEARS
IN THE PAST CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN
IN A DISADVANTAGE ON FEDERAL
DOLLARS BECAUSE WE'RE SUCH A
LARGE AREA IN L. A COUNTY HAVE
ALWAYS FOUND OURSELVES COMPETING
WITH ONE PART OF THE COUNTY
VERSUS ANOTHER. BUT WE'VE SEEN
IN RECENT TIMES. HOW ARE FEDERAL
LEGISLATORS HAVE COME TOGETHER
AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT
PROJECTS IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN
ADVOCATE FOR US IN A MUCH MORE
EFFICIENT WAY IN CONGRESS, SO WE
APPRECIATE THAT. AND I ALSO WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC
WHO CAME OUT TODAY. OUR
PANELISTS HAS BEEN VERY
EDUCATIONAL, VERY INFORMATIVE.
AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE TAKE
IN TODAY YOU HAVE TO LEGISLATORS
WHO REPRESENT THIS AREA AND THEY
ARE ALREADY DOING YEOMAN'S WORK
IN TERMS OF BEING FOR FORWARD
VISION AREAS IN TERMS OF HOW WE
CAN LINK THE LARGER COUNTY
COUNTY TO THE SANTA CLARITA
VALLEY, AS WELL AS ANTELOPE
VALLEY, SO I WANT TO THANK THEM
FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. THEY'VE
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. LET ME
JUST TELL YOU AND THEY'RE MAKING
A REAL IMPACT, SO WE ARE GOING
TO STAY CONNECTED PUN INTENDED,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO LETTING
YOU KNOW WHEN WE HAVE FURTHER,
UH, SELECT COMMITTEE HEARINGS
FROM THIS COMMITTEE AND HOW YOU
CAN CONNECT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL
BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING BACK TO
ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE ASSIGNED
IN WITH SOME FEEDBACK. AND
QUESTIONS THAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN
ANSWERED AT THE END. BUT I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING
HERE AND IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES. THEN THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.