TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE CELEBRATES MICHAEL SCANLON

Michael Scanlon, the retiring General Manager of the San Mateo County Transit District, was the featured guest and speaker at the Bay Area Council Transportation Committee’s meeting this week (Feb. 19). During his 15 years leading the District, Scanlon transformed SamTrans into a modern mobility transit system and led the growth of Caltrain into a regional and record-setting rail system.  Scanlon discussed past achievements with Caltrain and highway management in San Mateo County.  As projected job growth along the corridor will further exacerbate traffic delays and strain transit systems, Scanlon emphasized the need to fund infrastructure improvements and harness new technologies to improve performance. Scanlon also made bold predictions about the future of the corridor, projecting that San Mateo County would get an HOV lane in the next three to four years and that driverless cars would be a regular feature on Bay Area highways by 2017. Following the meeting, Scanlon was honored for his public service at a reception that was generously sponsored by Hanson Bridgett LLP. To engage in the Council’s transportation work, contact Senior Vice President Michael Cunningham.