Report to the Commission: August 26, 2026

Personnel

Departures

Mike Chang – Mike started in May 2023. His last day was Aug. 7 as a Financial Analyst/Accountant II in the Financial Reporting and Operational Accounting section.
Michael Lau – Michael started in April 2025 as a Financial Analyst I. His last day was July 22 as a Finance Technician in the Financial Reporting and Operational Accounting section.
Aliza Paz – Aliza started in September 2025. Her last day was July 10 as a Principal Planner/Analyst in the Regional Planning Program section.
Monica Serrano – Monica started in March 2020. Her last day was July 3 as Principal Program Coordinator in the Tolling Services and Revenue section.
Nicola Szibbo – Nicola started in Aug. 2019 as a Program Coordinator III. Her last day was July 3 as a Principal Planner/Analyst in the Sustainable Mobility and Operations section.
Toto Vu-Duc – Toto started in Aug. 2025. Her last day was July 22 as a Principal Program Coordinator in the BayREN Energy Program section.

Retirements

Fred Castro – Fred started with ABAG in 2005 and transitioned to MTC as an Executive Assistant III in the Executive Office in July 2017. His last day was July 9.

New Appointments

Sara Amaral – Sara started on July 6 as Assistant Director in the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority section.
Max Dunsker – Max started on July 6 as a Planner/Analyst III in the Funding Policy and Programs section.
Amy Martin – Amy started on July 6 as a Principal Program Coordinator in the Regional Network Management section.
Ya Sin – Ya started on July 6 as a Financial Analyst/Accountant III in the Tolling Services and Revenue section.

Updates

Next-Gen Clipper (C2)

As I reported previously, the C2 system continues to advance following early operational challenges. MTC, Cubic and transit operator staff remain focused on improving system stability, resolving customer account issues and enhancing customer service tools. Customer Service Center performance has improved significantly, achieving an average speed of answer of less than two minutes and an average call handling time of under 10 minutes over more than 31,000 calls in July. Bulk migration remains on hold pending confirmation that the system can reliably support increased account-based transaction volumes. In the meantime, Clipper usage remains strong, with transaction volumes exceeding the same period last year. On Monday, KQED-FM released a thorough and thoughtful story on the ongoing transition to the Next Generation Clipper system. KQED reporter Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman worked on this story for several weeks, and I sat for an interview with him in late July. While the story could have included more information about the many problems solved since the Dec. 2025 launch of Clipper 2.0 and about the continuing growth of the new system — which now includes more than 3 million accounts, makes up 60% of all Clipper-paid transactions and already has delivered more than $10 million in savings to riders through the free and discounted transfers made possible by the Next-Gen system — I commend KQED for its fair reporting of an important news story. A roughly 5-minute audio overview of the online story, presented as a conversation between Mr. Dahlstrom-Eckman and the morning program host, aired Monday as well. KQED’s report on the Next Generation Clipper transition Additional updates on the progress and status of Next-Gen Clipper is provided in the staff report presented at the Aug. 24 joint meeting of the Clipper Executive Board and the Regional Network Management Council.

Senate Bill (SB) 1087 (Cabaldon) Update

SB 1087 (Cabaldon), co-sponsored by MTC and ABAG, is in the final stretch of the legislative process as the August 31 adjournment approaches. The bill would modernize the statutory framework for regional sustainable communities strategies and has advanced through the Senate and Assembly committee process with more than 90% of votes cast in support. Recent work with the Governor’s Office resulted in amendments that address administration priorities while preserving the bill’s core objectives, reflecting strong engagement with both the legislative and executive branches. Staff will keep the Commission and ABAG updated as to the bill’s final outcome.

BAHFA Outreach for Potential Ballot Measure

Staff have begun stakeholder outreach on potential changes to the BAHFA founding legislation as a lead up to a possible regional housing revenue measure as soon as 2028. This stage is focused on outreach to local governments, including meetings with elected officials in each of the nine counties, a webinar and survey for elected officials, and a convening of housing staff later this year. The outreach also includes meetings with advocates, business, labor, developers and other groups. All elected officials in the nine county Bay Area will receive an invitation to attend the webinar and complete the survey later this summer.

San Pablo Avenue Project Completed in El Cerrito

Chair Noack was on hand July 13 to celebrate completion of the San Pablo Avenue Complete Streets project in El Cerrito, which will improve mobility, safety and access to transit and housing around the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station and along the San Pablo Avenue corridor. MTC provided a $4 million grant through the OBAG 2 program to fund about one-third of the project costs.

MTC, Solano Transportation Authority and Caltrans Celebrate First Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) in the Bay Area

On July 7, Commissioner Mashburn and Mobility Deputy Executive Director Lisa Klein joined the Solano Transportation Authority, Caltrans, Congressman Garamendi and numerous local elected officials to celebrate the Bay Area’s first DDI in Vallejo. The DDI installation at the intersection of SR 37 and Fairgrounds Drive reduces congestion and improves traffic flow by eliminating left turns across oncoming traffic. MTC committed $18 million in funding to the project through Regional Measure 3, part of the greater Resilient SR 37 project.

MTC-ABAG Host First Community Partnership Exchange

On Aug. 24, MTC and ABAG hosted the inaugural Community Partnership Exchange at the Bay Area Metro Center, bringing together nearly 50 representatives from 37 community-based organizations (CBOs) from across the region. The event was designed to strengthen relationships between MTC-ABAG and CBOs, provide greater visibility into the breadth of the agencies’ work and create opportunities for CBOs and staff to identify areas for future collaboration. Deputy Executive Director Matt Maloney and MTC-ABAG Community Advisory Council Vice Chair Diana Benitez highlighted the importance of sustained, two-way partnerships with communities. Staff provided an overview of MTC and ABAG and discussed the agencies’ ongoing efforts to improve CBO engagement, including compensating community partners for their time, reducing contracting burdens, improving internal coordination and moving toward more continuous engagement and co-creation. CBO representatives then had an opportunity to connect with 13 MTC-ABAG teams representing 18 projects and programs about possible alignment on current and upcoming projects.

State Grants Provide Key Push for Highway 37 Improvements

On July 21, the California Transportation Commission approved grants totaling more than $300 million to help reduce congestion and flooding along State Route 37 between Novato and Vallejo while also spurring baylands restoration. These include $220 million in State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) and state General Fund money for the Novato Creek Bridge replacement project plus another $14.1 million for related environmental and storm water mitigation work as well as $62.7 million though the State Transportation Improvement Program and the Local Transportation Climate Adaptation Program and $32.3 million in SHOPP funds for Phase 1 of the Sears Point-to-Mare Island Improvement Project. The funding awards will allow Caltrans to advertise construction contracts for both projects this fall. Legislation sponsored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson last year was key to meeting this milestone. Assembly Bill 697 allowed the Highway 37 project to secure permits for the “incidental take” of four fully protected mammal and bird species during construction so long as these impacts are fully mitigated, including through the planned habitat restoration.

Bridge Tour in New York City

On Aug 20, Rosalynn Chongchaikit and I joined Caltrans staff on a visit to MTA in New York City to tour their main cable dehumidification projects on the Robert F Kennedy Bridge and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The visit leveraged our connections with peer bridge operators and gave us a chance to learn how they are using dehumidification to extend the life of their long-span bridges. This will help inform our asset management approach and evaluate similar preservation efforts on the Bay Bridge and Carquinez Bridge.

Carquinez Bridge Full Closure Aug 21-24

This past weekend, Caltrans successfully completed a 53-hour full closure of the westbound Carquinez (Alfred Zampa Memorial) Bridge as part of a BATA-funded deck rehabilitation project that will help extend the bridge's service life and advance BATA and Caltrans’ long-term asset management strategy for the toll bridges. The closure was supported by an extensive public outreach campaign to encourage use of alternate routes and inform travelers of traffic impacts, as well as additional Vallejo-San Francisco ferry service provided over the weekend.

JLAC Audit 60-Day Report on Recommendation Implementation

As a reminder, in May the Joint Legislative Audit Committee released the final report on its audit of MTC and East Bay operators. State Senator Aisha Wahab requested this audit in connection with Senate Bill 63 discussions. The final report included three recommendations for MTC: setting realistic target completion dates and effective performance metrics in the Transit Transformation Action Plan (Action Plan), as well as identifying new transit operating revenue and assisting transit agencies with reducing operating costs. MTC sent a formal response to the recommendations in May and reported on the audit at the June meeting. As part of the audit closeout process, MTC is required to report its progress in implementing the recommendations at 60-day, six-month and one-year intervals. MTC recently submitted its 60-day progress implementation report. In the report, MTC cited the planned update to the Action Plan’s project schedules, the application of key performance metrics and their impact on Action Plan strategies, and ongoing transit revenue advocacy and operational performance assessment as evidence of MTC’s implementation of the JLAC recommendations. We anticipate that two of the three recommendations will be adopted by the end of the year and one by the end of 2027.

New 511 Website Launches

The 511 website has been streamlined to make travel information faster, easier and more intuitive to access. The website offers comprehensive express lanes and bike route information, carpool details and other information. Key enhancements include upgraded maps and alerts, clearer navigation and faster load times.

Sixth Annual Mineta Summer Academy Concludes

MTC and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) marked the successful completion of the Sixth Annual Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy on Friday, July 31. The monthlong program engaged hundreds of high school students from across the Bay Area and included virtual presentations from MTC-ABAG, the Bay Area Air District, Urban Habitat and the San Francisco Bay Ferry. Throughout the month, students heard from MTC Chair Sue Noack, former Congressman Mike Honda and Chief Deputy Executive Director Alix Bockelman. Participants also received training in public speaking, leadership and public policy, culminating in a capstone competition in which teams (or individual students) presented solutions to public policy challenges facing the region. The Academy concluded with an ice cream social celebrating the students’ accomplishments and the program’s continued success in inspiring the next generation of Bay Area civic and transportation leaders. MTC Chair Noack provided the closing address, MTC Commissioner and ABAG Immediate Past President Belia Ramos opened the event and a special representative from Attorney General Rob Bonta's office delivered a proclamation to the Academy, after which awards were distributed to the students voted by their peers as having the top three capstone presentations in each group.

MTC Supports International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association’s (IBTTA) “Be Safe Together” Campaign

Between June 22-26, MTC proudly supported the IBTTA’s 2026 “Be Safe Together” global road safety campaign and Global Road Safety Week, highlighting the theme “Put Your Mind in Drive” to address distracted driving. MTC’s commitment to safety includes operating the Freeway Service Patrol to quickly clear crashes and assist motorists; collaborating through the Bay Area Incident Management Task Force to accelerate incident response and clearance; and advancing new efforts such as the Traffic Incident Management Micro-Grant Pilot Program to enhance motorist safety. Collectively, these initiatives advance MTC’s regional safety goals by reducing risk, improving response and working to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities on Bay Area roadways. More information is available at MTC’s overview of IBTTA’s Global Road Safety Week.

AB 179 Revises Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program and Creates Dedicated State Housing Agency

On July 13, Governor Newsom signed AB 179 into law, a budget trailer bill that splits the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program into two pieces: one to fund housing, which will be administered by the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC), and the other to fund sustainable communities and agricultural conservation activities. The Strategic Growth Council will continue to administer the sustainable communities and agricultural conservation components of the program. The bill also requires that between 20% to one-third of the Strategic Growth Council-administered program be reserved for agricultural conservation. AB 179 also establishes the California Housing and Homelessness Agency (CHHA), effective July 1, 2026. The agency was created by dividing the former Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into two more focused entities. CHHA will oversee state departments related to housing, homelessness, financing and civil rights, including the Department of Housing and Community Development. The new Business and Consumer Services Agency will oversee consumer protection and business regulation. The reorganization elevates housing and homelessness to a dedicated cabinet-level portfolio, giving the administration a clearer structure for coordinating housing policy, funding, enforcement and homelessness programs across state government.

Looking Ahead/Save the Date

September is “Transit Month” in the Bay Area: MTC is hosting a photography exhibit, “Community in Transit,” at the Bay Area Metro Center for the duration of the month with an opening night event planned for September 8. For a calendar of events, see Bay Area California Transit Month calendar.
Commission Workshop: October 28-29