ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National infrastructure experts joined forces today at the Mobility 21 Summit to highlight top transportation solutions from around the globe and seek strategies to develop and implement transformative solutions for Southern California’s traveling public.
More than 1,200 transportation, business and elected leaders convened at the Disneyland Hotel for the 16th annual Mobility 21 Southern California Transportation Summit. The annual conference, which is the largest one-day transportation event in the state, focuses on bringing together leaders from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to address the challenges and opportunities facing Southern California’s transportation infrastructure.
“Traffic doesn’t stop at county lines — we need to collaborate between all seven counties in Southern California to face funding challenges, deliver innovative transportation projects and ease congestion,” said Darren Kettle, Executive Director of Ventura County Transportation Commission and Mobility 21 Chair. “Our elected officials, public and private sector partners are all part of the equation to change transportation and transform California.”
In accepting an award for Public Sector Leader of the Year, Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chairman Eric Garcetti highlighted the successful passage of Los Angeles County’s Measure M tax initiative and how local measures bring much needed funding to ease traffic congestion, create jobs and improve quality of life in Southern California.
“Southern California is leading the nation into a new era of transportation with unprecedented investments in new rail lines and sustainable transportation projects,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Chair of the Metro Board. “The bipartisan coalition we assembled to improve mobility, clean the air, and create economic opportunity is a model for our region, our country and the world.”
During the Summit, conference attendees learned about concepts being proposed to overcome Southern California’s transportation challenges, including: impacts of state and federal funding trends, growing usage of express lanes, connecting transit to aviation, MicroTransit and connected and autonomous vehicles. Leaders also called on legislators to implement reforms and innovations to make much needed improvements to Southern California’s transportation infrastructure.
“SB1 will give California the opportunity to build a world-class transportation system. It’s time for us to fix our potholes, strengthen our bridges, clear our chokepoints and move our freight,” said Assemblymember Jim Frazier, Chair of the California State Assembly Transportation Committee. “I believe we can build a transportation system that gives companies a competitive edge, supports a vibrant economy and gives our citizens the quality of life they deserve.”
“The Mobility 21 Summit is the single largest transportation event in the Western United States. Local, state and federal elected officials, working with the private sector, gather to discuss critical transportation and infrastructure issues,” said Lucy Dunn, President and CEO, Orange County Business Council, California Transportation Commissioner, and Mobility 21 Board Member. “With new funding through SB1 now before us, the 10,000 public and private sector Mobility 21 members must collaborate and advocate to efficiently and effectively deliver on congestion relief promises.”
Mobility 21 presented awards to several transportation leaders for their efforts to keep the region moving:
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Barry Engelberg, former Manager of Regional Initiatives, Orange County Transportation Authority
- Public Sector Leader of the Year: Hon. Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles and Chair, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
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Public Sector Leader of the Year: State of California Legislative
Leadership:
- Hon. Jerry Brown, Governor, State of California
- Hon. Kevin de León, Senate President Pro Tem, California State Senate
- Hon. Anthony Rendon, Speaker, California State Assembly
- Hon. Jim Beall, Chair, California State Senate Housing and Transportation Committee
- Hon. Jim Frazier, Chair, California State Assembly Transportation Committee
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Private Sector Leader of the Year:
- Transportation California
- California Chamber of Commerce
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Tribute Award:
- Hon. John Benoit (in memoriam)
- Hon. Paul Glaab (in memoriam)
For more information about the conference, visit the event website: http://mobility21.com/2017summit/agenda/
