Transportation Committee Agenda

Monday, July 21

Tuesday, July 22

Wednesday, July 23

Thursday, July 24

Friday, July 25

Monday, July 21

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee
Task Forces

10:00 AM - 2:30 PM

NCSL Executive Committee/Subcommittees

11:15 AM - 12:45 PM

Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee Full Committee

Noon - 5:00 PM

Registration

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Staff Sections & Taskforces

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Speaker:
Asa Hutchinson, Undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, District of Columbia

5:15 PM - 6:00 PM

Standing Committees Steering Committee

Tuesday, July 22

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Registration

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Bookstore

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

NCSL Executive Committee

212 East Mezzanine Level
Moscone Center

***Transportation Committee Meeting***

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Surface Transportation Policy Amendment Consideration and Washington, DC Transportation Update
This session will provide analysis of the federal highway trust fund and consider whether there is a need to increase the federal gas tax as one means of increasing funds to meet system demands. In addition, the session will provide updates on the latest congressional developments in transportation policy

Vic Miller, federal Funds Information for the States, (FFIS)

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

This session will include a brief overview of 2003 state legislation in traffic safety and an opportunity to share suggestions with a project officer from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Melissa Savage, National Conference of State Legislatures, Colorado

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

After steadily declining over the past two decades, drunk driving deaths are again on the rise. What's behind the increase and what can state legislatures do about it? This session will examine recent trends in alcohol-related crashes and explore innovative approaches to reducing drunk driving.

Judge J. Michael Kavanaugh, Presiding Judge, DUI Drug Court New Mexico

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Leaders' Brunch (invite only)

12 Noon - 12:45 PM

Standing Committee Steering Committee

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Opening Plenary

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Welcome Reception

Wednesday, July 23

7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Registration

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Exhibit Hall

8:00 AM - 11:45 AM
212 East Mezzanine Level
Moscone Center

Standing Committees
** Transportation Committee Meeting**

8:00AM - 9:00 AM

Recent developments to secure the nation's ports against terrorism.

Rear Admiral Kevin Eldridge, U.S. Coast Guard

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

This session will examine state efforts to comply with new federal commercial motor vehicle requirements including the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 and the USA Patriot Act of 2001.

Matt Sundeen, National Conference of State Legislatures, Colorado

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Solving Traffic Congestion

Hear about congestion management efforts underway in California.

Speaker:
Cyrus Minoofar, Alameda County Congestion Management Agency, California

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

An expert will discuss various project delivery mechanisms for transportation and other infrastructure projects.

Geoffrey S. Yarema, Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott LLP, California

Noon - 2:00 PM

Legislative Staff Luncheon

Noon - 2:00 PM

Legislator Luncheon

2:15 PM - 4:15 PM

Concurrent Sessions

2:15 PM - 4:15 PM

The massive $218 billion surface transportation program expires September 30, 2003. In a time of budget pressure and terrorism concerns, will Congress expand its commitment to reduce traffic congestion? What are states seeking in the reauthorization process? This session will feature the latest information from TEA-21 experts.

Melissa White, National League of Cities, Washington, District of Columbia

State Night

Thursday, July 24

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Registration

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Exhibit Hall

9:15 AM - 10:30 AM

Plenary Session: Health Care Issues and Economics

10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Concurrent Sessions

230 East Mezzanine Level
Moscone Center

States currently license more than 191 million drivers nationwide. In the wake of the events of September 11, 2001, it was discovered that many of the hijackers held U.S. driver's licenses. This revelation focused new legislative attention on potential flaws in the driver's licensing system. In 2002 and 2003, nearly every state considered legislation related to driver's license security. This session examines both state and federal efforts to improve the driver's license system.

Speakers:
Linda Lewis, American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, Virginia
Tyler Moran, National Immigration Law Center, Idaho

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Republican/Democrat Luncheons

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Staff Section Luncheons

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Staff Section Meetings

2:15 PM - 4:00 PM

Special Briefings

230 East Mezzanine Level
Moscone Center

Amtrak has proposed a 5-year plan that will provide it with a more reliable source of funding. The plan also proposes to turn over the operating expense losses of shorter-distance trains to the states. However, Amtrak would retain full responsibility for its long-distance trains. This meeting will provide us with an opportunity to hear a detailed explanation of the Amtrak plan and analysis of what it could mean to state coffers and the quality of rail service.

Speaker:
Amtrak

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Ancillary Groups

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

California Social Event

Friday, July 25

8:00 AM - Noon

Registration

9:00 AM - Noon

Exhibit Hall

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Ancillary Groups

9:15 AM - 10:45 PM

Plenary Session: Presentation by Melinda Gates

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

NCSL Policy/Business Meeting

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Closing