Test captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2008 mr. Willis, as a project thatle will have a ripple effect, can you speak to the impacts gateway will have on your members as well as the importance of having federal engagement on transportation projects that have an Economic Impact . Thank you, senator. What i can add is a couple things. When you talk to our members who have to operate the trains through the tunnels, maintain the signal systems, electrical systems, tracks themselves, they tell horror stories. We have a problem on our hands. You know the economic consequences of shutting down the tunnel, reduce capacity by 75 , but our members will tell you there is a real problem right now going on in there that needs to be addressed. We were hardened the administration changed the rating for portal bridge north, disappointed they did not do the same for the tunnel itself. The costs recently has been reduced by 1. 4 billion. Amtrak is kicking in several hundred extra million
Providing transportation in rural areas and Railroad Safety. Well also learn about the department of transportations priorities for the coming year. Live coverage on cspan3. We have some wonderful, luxurious, very nice seatingrow. Id like to encourage everybody tole to closer. Were going to have a very nice discussion. Id like to encourage everybody closer. Make the setting a little bit more cozy and familial. We very much enjoy that. We like having a nice conversation about one of our favorite Public Policy issues. Yeah. Right along there. Thanks so much. Well, great. I want to welcome everyone to this panel. Again, thank you, all, very much for joining. My name is lawrence smith. Deputy assistant secretary for policy at the u. S. Department of transportation. It will be three years this month that ive been at the department. Incredibly honored to be part of a great team. Doing a lot of what we think is really, really awesome work. Going to be a lot of help to a lot of different parts
Exchange. This is where we bring you todays market moving news from all around the world. Frombeijing to beirut, istanbul to washington, our bloomberg voices are on the ground with todays top stories. We have chinese pmi numbers that beat expectations, a positive sign as the sectors improvement is crucial to stabilizing the chinese economy. Joining me on the telephone is beijing. s bureau chief how much encouragement should we take from these numbers . Reporter it was slightly higher than what economists expected. New orders also moved into expansion for the first time pointing toall signs that economic slowdown may be reaching a bottom. Looking into 20 20, we also have indications that Infrastructure Investment is going to increase, and hopefully some of that takes. Of course, if this socalled phase one trade deal with the u. S. Comes to pass, that will involve tariff rollbacks, which will also be a boost for exports. Positive signals here in china. Thank you so much. We go now to the
Taxes. The governor ended up vetoing the bill, that allows the commission through their guideline process to move forward with the perspective that they had shown the last time around. Looking forward, there were several items that i believe will be seeing early on in the year. First, the legislature has the first of several hearings, at least two hearings on new mobility and the facing the state. Last year legislation that was moving through, particularly the bill that we had concerns to try to work with her. I think this hearing was eyeopening for the members of the Assembly Transportation committee as well as the senate and local government committee. That was a joint hearing basis. Because they started looking at the need for data and why you need the data. There was a very robust conversation particularly with input from sfmta, a representative there, as well as la county. Why they need the data to develop the responses from the challenges that arise. I believe at the next hearing
[ roll call ]. Clerk you have a quorum. Its be advised supervisor pemiger. Please be advised that the ringing of personal Electronic Devices are prohibited at the meeting. The board respectfully requests that you turn them off. Any device that goes off in the room, the person may be asked to leave the room. Approval of the minutes from the last meeting. There is no Public Comments. Wonderful. If not and if there are no questions, i will entertain a motion. All in favour, please say aye. Clerk item 5, communications. Mr. Chair, directors, please be advised that the closed session has been removed from the agenda at the request of staff. Okay. Depending on time and quorum needs we may be juggling a few things. Clerk item 6, introduction of new business by board members. Board members. I was going to say i had a chance to meet with the tmc staff last week and they make sure of a lot of things. One thing they make sure we have screens in real time and they manage in the transit system, in