Each year, WTS-LA recognizes a man with the Honorable Ray LaHood award . Tony Tavares was appointed the 34th Director of the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) by Governor Gavin Newsom and sworn in June 2022. Last night, Tavares praised Omishakins role in leading Caltrans shift from very highway-centric to a 21st century transportation multi-modal organization. Tavares stated that he believes that Caltrans should be engaging the communities and the stakeholders in determining how we maintain [and] operate and what we implement on [Caltrans] roadways. It could not proceed. Caltrans District 7 Director John Bulinski believes in a level playing field. Governor Reagan mentioned this proposal in his 1972 State of the State address, and Assemblyman Wadie P. Deddeh introduced Assembly Bill 69 to that effect, which was duly passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Reagan later that same year. All Rights Reserved. "[16] The devastating 1971 San Fernando earthquake compelled the agency to recognize that its existing design standards had not adequately accounted for earthquake stress and that numerous existing structures needed expensive seismic retrofitting. At the June Measure M Oversight committee meeting (starting at minute 1:25:15) Ansari repeated the assertion: while we were in negotiations with EPA frankly getting close to an impasse on signing off on 710 Caltrans director [Omishakin] in headquarters all of a sudden without the knowledge of the district [Caltrans District 7] or us announced that Caltrans is not going to sign off on the environmental document. Eighty-five attendees listened in as Director Tavares described his vision for Caltrans District 7 as a leader in transportation equity and the district's alignment with Caltrans'priorities: Safety, Modality, Innovation, Efficiency, and Engagement. Tony Tavares has dedicated his career to serving the people of California, with decades of leadership and deep experience overseeing critical transportation issues spanning the state, said Governor Newsom. Was it coordinated with your office? Ive met many women at Caltrans who are also working moms. Caltrans head can cancel a Metro freeway project. [18] During the 1980s and 1990s, Caltrans concentrated on "the upgrading, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the existing system," plus occasional gap closure and realignment projects.[18]. Im thrilled to be a part of WTS-LA, as its usually hard as an introvert to go out and feel comfortable meeting people. Director Radulovich requested that the District's system maps show the routes and service operated on Saturdays and Sundays and transfer stations. Director, Caltrans District 7 Tony Tavares was appointed in November 2020 as Director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 7, which encompasses Los Angeles and Ventura counties. And when I first learned about WTS, I thought you had to be one to join. The city of Compton, Mayor Emma Sharif, Compton College, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (65th District) and Caltrans District 7 held their first annual "Clean California Community Days ~ Spring into . "Caltrans is committed to working with our partners toward developing a sustainable wildlife crossing in this region. Gloria Roberts. District 7 Director (10/2020 - 11/2020) And they feel that they can only advance so far with a family. So, what does she look to accomplish as a WTS-LA Director at Large? And he said, My comfort zone is like a little bubble around me, and Ive pushed it in different directions, and made it bigger and bigger until these objectives that seemed totally crazy eventually fall within the realm of the possible. And thats exactly how she continues to blaze trails for Caltrans and the transportation industry today. Tavares also progressed Caltrans goals as he served on several boards of regional transportation planning agencies, joint powers authorities and transit development. District 7 Current Projects. Tony Tavares will oversee the freeway and highway system in those two counties as well as the nearly 3,000 employees who design, construct, preserve and plan the system and administer its programs, according to Eric Menjivar of Caltrans. 2020 CALTRANS ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORT. 3. Metro and Caltrans $6 billion 710 Freeway widening projectwasessentially canceled when the federal Environmental Protection Agency mandated that it comply with the Clean Air Act. Metro and Caltrans plan to formally reset their 710 Freeway corridor plans by approving the 'No Build' alternative, as the new Locally Preferred Alternative for their 710 Environmental Document, reversing a 2018 approval of a freeway widening alternative. Starting in 1997, he was chosen for a string of several positions, including District 4 Director, Chief of the Division of Maintenance, Chief of the Division of Right of Way and Land Surveys, and Assistant Division Chief of Construction. Director Tavares also spoke candidly about his personal understanding of equity issues. At the time, there was no state highway system, since roads were purely a local responsibility. Slow down and move over when you see flashing lights ahead, Pomona Freeway (SR-60) between the Long Beach I-710 and San Gabriel River I-605 Freeways, Upcoming Public Meetings for Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project, Caltrans News Release- All Lanes Closed Southbound I-5 In Northern Los Angeles County on Saturday Night (April 1) and Sunday Night (April 2), California Invests Another $1.1 Billion to Continue Rebuilding Its Transportation Infrastructure, I-5 Improvement Projects - North Los Angeles County, I-5 Improvement Projects - South Los Angeles County, Interstate 710 (I-710) Pavement Rehabilitation and Bridge Widening Project, Pearblossom Highway Pavement Rehabilitation and Pedestrian Upgrade Project, San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) High Occupancy Lane Project, Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan Project, State Route 23 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, TRAFFIC ADVISORY All Lanes Closed Southbound I-5 In Northern Los Angeles County on Saturday Night (April 1) and Sunday Night (April 2), CalOES: Power Outage and Fire Recovery Resources, Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority, California Incline Replacement (Santa Monica Public Works), LADOT - Los Angeles Department Of Transportation, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC). Working closely with Tavares, Roberts also brings history; she began her nearly 14-year Caltrans career in District 12. Tavares has worked in various leadership roles at both Caltrans districts and headquarters, Menjivar said. I can really see how it will be of value to Caltrans as well., Find Your Opportunity Join WTS Today! BOX 942874, MS-2 SACRAMENTO, CA 94274-0001 PHONE (916) 323-7111 Mr. Tony Tavares District Director District 7 State of California Gavin Newsom, Governor Independent Office of Audits And Investigations P.O. Breaking news for Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. Interested readers should make plans to attend the GCCOG Zoom meeting on Wednesday July 7 starting at 6 p.m. For the record, this is what a 14 lane highway looks like. But they make it easy. DIRECTOR. Transportation Engineering, City of Greensboro, N.C. Give Input on Designs for Walk/Bike Upgrades on Eagle Rock Boulevard, Metro Spokespersons Criticize Caltrans, EPA, and Public Input for Pausing 710 Freeway Widening, Highway Widening Chief Abdollah Ansari Has Left Metro, Metro Committee Expected to Vote to Not Build Lower 710 Freeway Widening Project, Metro and Other So Cal Freeway Builders Express Frustration About Addressing Equity, Gateway Council of Governments to Host Freeways Meeting on July 7, The Other I-710 Project: Widening to Improve Air Quality in Long Beach. Director Tavares has also held executive leadership roles at Caltrans as the Division Chief for Right of Way and Land Surveys; North Region Deputy Director for Structure Construction; Deputy Division Chief for Construction; and District 10 Director. Imnotan engineer. An engineer and project management professional with over 30 years of experience at Caltrans was appointed Tuesday as director of the departments District 7, which consists of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. [11] To help manage all the additional work created by this massive expansion, an eleventh district office was founded that year in San Diego. [16], Caltrans went through a difficult period of transformation during the 1970s, as its institutional focus shifted from highway construction to highway maintenance. Tavares, a civil engineering graduate, has held a number of positions in California's transportation sector, most recently director of the Caltrans Los Angeles District 7. Report this profile . Your email address will not be published. The project, which represents a partnership between Caltrans, San Luis Obispo County, and the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, will widen nearly four miles of Highway 46 from west of Davis Road to west of Antelope Road, creating a four-lane divided expressway. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Caltrans District 7 Headquarters in Los Angeles, designed by Thom Mayne. Box 496073 Redding, CA 96049-6073 and Caltrans Division of Research & Innovation P.O. In 2015, Caltrans released a new mission statement: "Provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance Californias economy and livability. And we all agree, in its current form, it could not proceed. The days and months of 2020 brought challenges at . And the programs have been wonderful so far. [18] Maintenance and construction costs grew at twice the inflation rate in this era of high inflation; the reluctance of one governor after another to raise fuel taxes in accordance with inflation meant that California ranked dead last in the United States in per capita transportation spending by 1983.