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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MARKING THE RETIREMENT OF STEVE HEMINGER
______
HON. NANCY PELOSI
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleagues to pay tribute
to an outstanding regional leader who has had a powerful national
impact: Steve Heminger, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay
Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Steve is retiring
on February 28, 2019, after 17 years in this position and 25 years of
leadership at the agency. It is a pleasure to be joined by other
members of the Bay Area delegation, including Congresswoman Barbara
Lee, Congressman Jared Huffman, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Congressman
Eric Swalwell, Congressman Mike Thompson and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo,
in honoring his many accomplishments.
In the Bay Area and around the country, he is known for the boldness
of his vision and the quality of his leadership. At the helm of MTC, he
positioned the Commission not only to take on the challenges of the
21st Century Economy, but also to take a strong, active role in the
fight against the existential problem of our time: the climate crisis.
His leadership has helped shape the Bay Area's economic landscape and
transform the way our community lives, works and commutes.
Under Steve's leadership, MTC has played a vital role in growing the
Bay Area in a more green and sustainable way, encouraging transit-
oriented development, containing sprawl and making public transit,
bicycling and walking viable alternatives to solo driving. Through the
Committee to House the Bay Area (CASA), Steve has brought together a
``who's who'' of housing policy and development to address the region's
affordable housing crisis.
Under Steve's direction, MTC has helped achieve historic
achievements, including: the Fourth Bore of the Caldecott Tunnel; the
suicide barrier for the Golden Gate Bridge; the Presidio Parkway
approach to the Golden Gate; the BART extensions to East Contra Costa
County and Warm Springs, and ultimately to San Jose; the stunning new
East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge; and a new commuter
rail line tying together Marin and Sonoma counties. We also commend his
vision in launching Clipper, the all-in-one transit fare card
that lets riders hop between 22 bus, rail and ferry systems that cross
the Bay Area.
Steve is widely recognized nationally as an expert in transportation
policy, and for this reason I was honored to appoint him in 2005 to the
National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission,
which helped chart the future course for federal transportation
investments. Under Steve's direction, MTC has been a key voice in the
crafting of multiple multiyear transportation authorization bills
passed by Congress, from TEA-21 to SAFETEA-LU to MAP-21 to FAST.
Congratulations, Steve, on an outstanding career and please accept
our deepest appreciation for dedicating twenty-five years to advancing
a cleaner, safer, greener and more sustainable home for our children
and grandchildren.
____________________