4870775 Public Hearing Notice on B20-759, "Transportation Reorganization Act of 2014"

Notice of Public Hearing on

 

Bill 20-759, the Transportation Reorganization Act of 2014

 

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

at 11:00 a.m.

in Room 500 of the

John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC  20004

 

On Wednesday, June 4, 2014, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Chairperson of the Committee on the Transportation and the Environment, will hold a public hearing on Bill 20-759, the Transportation Reorganization Act of 2014.  The hearing will begin at 11:00 a.m. in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.   

 

            Over the years, the District has organized the responsibilities for transportation in many different ways.  Years ago, all of the functions were consolidated in the Department of Public Works (DPW).  In 1998, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) was spun off from DPW.  The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) followed in 2002 and 2006, respectively. 

 

            Since DDOT was created, however, there has not been an open, reflective process to consider whether the current agency structures are working, whether they could be improved, and what other effective models exist.  At the same time, many new major transportation programs have been created – from Circulator to Streetcar to performance parking to ridesharing.  During the next 6 months, the Committee wants to facilitate such a process and consider whether any structural changes can be made to make agencies more efficient and effective.

 

            Bill 20-759, the Transportation Reorganization Act of 2014, was introduced to provide a framework for this conversation.  The bill would consolidate the related parking functions from DDOT, DPW, and DMV into a single agency.  It would create a new independent local transit authority to provide governance and accountability to the $1 billion investment in local mass transit and to allow for a holistic look at all forms of public transportation.  It would abolish the DC Taxicab Commission and divide its functions among other agencies.  And, it would shift the Urban Forestry Administration from DDOT to DDOE. 

 

To be clear, this bill is just one of many possible options for reorganizing transportation functions and the Committee looks forward to exploring and discussing all of them.  This hearing will start the public process to consider the structure of transportation agencies in the District.  It will be followed by a series of public working group meetings over the summer before a second public hearing at the end of the Council’s summer recess.

 

The Committee invites the public to testify or to submit written testimony, which will be made a part of the official Hearing Record. Anyone wishing to testify should contact Ms. Aukima Benjamin, staff assistant to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail].  Persons representing organizations will have five minutes to present their testimony.  Individuals will have three minutes to present their testimony.  Witnesses should bring 8 copies of their written testimony and should submit a copy of their testimony electronically to [e-mail].

 

If you are unable to testify in person, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Copies of written statements should be submitted to Ms. Aukima Benjamin, staff assistant to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 108, Washington, D.C. 20004.  They may also be e-mailed to [e-mail] or faxed to [phone].  The record will close at the end of the business day on June 18, 2014.