Chris Ball

On March 15, 2024, a Sacramento Superior Court judge upheld the State Water Resources Control Board's Substitute Environmental Document (SED) for the Phase I update to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary, also known as the Bay-Delta Plan. The SED aims to protect native and migratory fish in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries while easing standards for South Delta crops. Downey Brand counsel Austin Cho and associate Jake Voorhees provide an overview of the court's ruling, which after considering 116 claims, found no violations of key environmental laws such as #CEQA or the public trust doctrine - a significant victory for the State Water Board as it progresses with Phase I plans and Phase II updates to flow objectives in the Sacramento River and Delta watershed. Subscribers to the California Water Law & Policy Reporter can read the full article here: https://argentco.com/ #DowneyBrand #BayDeltaPlan #WaterQuality #WaterLaw

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Join us on June 19th for our June Lunch Program on the Truxel Bridge Concept and Feasibility Study featuring City of Sacramento Principal Planner Fedolia "Sparky" Harris and Dokken Engineering Senior Engineer Pamela Dalcin-Walling. Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gG9pM5tU The City of Sacramento is undertaking an engineering feasibility study for a new multi-modal bridge across the lower American River between Truxel Road and Sequoia Pacific Boulevard to better connect North and South Natomas with the Central City. Limitations associated with the existing crossings discourage walking, biking, and transit resulting in higher greenhouse gas emissions, higher vehicle miles traveled (VMT) due to longer trips, less efficient transit routing, and reduced public health and air quality. This limited connectivity also leads to longer emergency response times and can hinder evacuation routes. The purpose of the study is to refine the adopted alternative for the new bridge by conducting an inclusive public outreach and engagement process in collaboration with detailed engineering and environmental analysis.

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So let's suppose I get that CEO job with the California High-Speed Rail Authority www.hsr.ca.gov. Here is. what I have in mind. (1) Travel time by mode placemats; (2) Lunches with the CEO as part of a "listening tour"; (3) An all hands meeting to discuss the findings of the "listening tour"; (4) a one-day retreat. to the Grand Island Mansion to strategize completing Merced to Bakersfield by 2028 when the Olympics come to Los Angeles, so that the Basketball events can take place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento; and (5) the periodic preparation and submission of infographics (highly informational graphics) periodically to the Legislature with special emphasis on the Legislators who are on the High-Speed Rail Board. The current timeframe for Merced to Bakersfield is 2033. This is unacceptable. We really need to hit the 2028 target. This will save the taxpayers of California billions of dollars.

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Does Infrastructure development correlate to an increase in employment? As a beneficiary of President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law on November 15, 2021, California is receiving billions of dollars over a five- to ten-year period to revamp and improve its foundational infrastructure—its roads, energy systems, and natural resources. Additionally, and as a condition of accepting those funds for state-based infrastructure projects, recipient states must allocate a percentage of them to alleviate long-entrenched biases and inequities. In this edition of the EWD Pulse, we are looking into IIJA in Action: California’s Expanding Workforce. Click the link below to read the full article! https://lnkd.in/eAf7hquR  . . #workforcedevelopment #socioeconomic #economicmobility #studentsuccess #communitycollege

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We are proud to share Sellen's 2023 DEI Year in Review. This report outlines our ongoing commitment to building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive construction industry in the Puget Sound region and beyond. Some key highlights from this year's report include: 📈 Transparent workforce demographics showing our progress and opportunities 💼 Programs to develop diverse leadership and create inclusive career pathways 🤝 Initiatives to expand economic opportunities for underrepresented groups 🏗️ Efforts to lead industry-wide change and inspire our peers

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The proposed Sites Reservoir, the largest in nearly half a century, will move forward after a county court upheld its compliance with environmental regulations. This decision follows a streamlined legal process initiated by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fast-track critical infrastructure projects. Read more about this significant development in California's water management strategy: https://lnkd.in/gfsmZJ7h #WaterInfrastructure #CaliforniaReservoir #ClimateResilience #EnvironmentalSustainability #WaterManagement #SitesReservoir #GovernmentNews #InfrastructureDevelopment #PublicPolicy

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Ritika S. Kundu, Ph.D., P.E. will be presenting on Design and Construction Challenges at the Piney Branch CSO 049 Storage Tunnel in Washington, DC on Monday, June 24 at 10:25 a.m. at next week’s North American Tunneling Conference. The Piney Branch CSO 049 Storage Tunnel (PBST) will be the last major project for the DC Clean Rivers Program. The project includes construction of a 2,200-foot-long, 18-foot internal diameter storage tunnel; two connections to combined sewer infrastructure; and two shafts. Major challenges include excavation underneath an existing live outfall that must remain in service; excavation of the tunnel through several areas of low rock cover and mixed-face conditions; and negotiations with a variety of federal, regional, and local stakeholders to address project impacts. This presentation describes the overall project scope, geotechnical conditions along the alignment, design and construction challenges, and construction procurement. https://lnkd.in/gcuXxqEP   #delveunderground #NAT2024 #NATunneling2024

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Don't miss our upcoming MCLE: "Civil Procedure for Discovery & The Subpoena Process," on April 23rd, 2024 at 12:00 PM PST.    Topics Include:  🔹 Review of Applicable Code Sections & Release Types  🔹 Notice to Consumer  🔹 Timeline & Common Problems  🔹 Out-of-State Records   Stay ahead in the ever-evolving legal landscape by expanding your knowledge and earning additional MCLE credits. Register now to secure your spot and gain valuable insights from industry experts: https://lnkd.in/gacjyKft   #MCLE #Discovery #LegalProfessionals #Subpoenas #FirstLegal

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This week representatives of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC), the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), and South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) officially broke ground on the #Lathrop Wye Box Culvert (Box Culvert) project, marking the first major step in the construction phase of the Valley Rail program! "The Valley Rail Program is one of the most transformational things happening in the Valley for probably 100 years. Passenger service disappeared in the Valley for many years on this particular line. Valley Rail brings that passenger rail service back with a vengeance.” Regarding the Lathrop Wye Box Culvert Project, Mortensen said “Where we are right here [in Lathrop] is a connection in the Central Valley that has never existed. Trains today cannot come from the Modesto area and seamlessly travel over the Altamont Pass. They all have to either go north to Sacramento or they have to perform a long series of moves to travel toward the Tri-Valley and South Bay Area. This project, today, helps us make that connection so that trains can make a “through move” with passengers over to the Bay Area and Back.” Said SJRRC Executive Director, Stacey Mortensen. 🛤️Valley Rail is a transformative program that will enhance rail connectivity and service between the #SanJoaquinValley, #Sacramento, and the #BayArea, significantly improving regional mobility and sustainability for Valley travelers, visitors, and residents. #ValleyRail #Transportation

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Railway Age recently quoted me in an article about the California High Speed Rail Authority's application for a Federal CRISI grant. You may wish to read it -- it is a good article: https://lnkd.in/gmkwyXV8. #railway #railways #railroad

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The biggest public construction project in decades for the Portland metro area may break ground as soon as late 2025, according to the latest estimates from planners at the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) project. IBR is the current incarnation of plans going back more than two decades to replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River. Read the full article on Northwest Labor Press at https://lnkd.in/e73p5d3y. Here at Stiver, we appreciate that each client and project is unique in terms of needs and preferences. This is why our skilled team of engineers is the best choice for your project. We tentatively oversee each process from conceptual decisions to implementing and completing construction so that the integrity of your overall project is robust and durable. See how our commitment to excellence has set us apart in structural design at https://lnkd.in/ga3MwmHQ. #stivereng #structuralengineers #structuralengineering #structuraldesign

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The Town of Los Gatos announces the 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Draft Housing Element meets all statutory requirements for State Certification per the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) letter received May 3, 2024. The document can be viewed at https://lnkd.in/g4DNy8dn. As required by AB 215, the preliminary review revisions to the Draft Revised Housing Element will be made available to the public for a seven-day review period prior to a formal resubmittal to HCD. The seven-day public review period will run concurrently with the public noticing for the Planning Commission’s consideration of the Housing Element.  On May 22, 2024, the Planning Commission will consider the Draft Revised Housing Element, and will make a recommendation to the Town Council.  On June 4, 2024, the Town Council will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation and take action on the Draft Revised Housing Element. Once adopted by Town Council, the Housing Element will then be submitted to HCD. Public comments can be sent to heupdate@losgatosca.gov.

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Successful program delivery, policy, and governance, value-added infrastructure, and enduring benefits. The Alameda Corridor continues to be a model of how to get things right even when facing many challenges.

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We are excited to announce the release of the Regional Infrastructure Workforce Market Study produced by Workforce Southwest Washington and its partners Clackamas Workforce Partnership, Worksystems, Estolano Advisors, Oregon Employment Department, Portland State University and commissioned by the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR). This in-depth regional infrastructure workforce market study will help the IBR team more effectively consider strategies that enhance career opportunities for women and people of color in the construction and professional, technical and engineering (PTE) trades to support equitable growth in the region’s economy. Diversifying the construction and PTE workforce will help create a stronger supply of needed workers for the industry and will directly address issues of poverty and economic mobility within communities of color and for working families in the region. To read the Executive Summary and full report go to https://buff.ly/49GE6ZA

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https://lnkd.in/gtsmKsbM I think the $11 billion is an extremely overinflated estimate especially given that Merced to Bakersfield is projected to cost around $40 billion, or less. If I get the CEO position with the Authority, I plan to fast track Merced to Bakersfield to 2028 which is way ahead of the 2033 timeline as indicated in the most recent Business Plan. #highspeedrail Fast tracking reduces costs.

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Today, Senior Vice President Ural Yal of Flatiron Construction delivered a crucial testimony to the United States House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on behalf of AGC of California before the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee. The focus was on the California Air Resource Board's (CARB) proposed In-Use Locomotive Regulation. Yal highlighted that while we support environmentally friendly initiatives, the proposed regulation could have significant adverse impacts on the construction industry, potentially affecting infrastructure development, disrupting the supply chain, and job creation. "The proposed Spending Account and Useful-Life Requirement within CARB’s In-Use Locomotive Regulation present significant financial and operational challenges for our agency partners and operators. These requirements are designed to accelerate the transition to zero-emission locomotives by mandating substantial financial contributions from operators into a spending account and limiting the operational life of existing locomotives. While we support the intent to reduce emissions, these measures impose undue burdens on our transportation agencies and, by extension, the communities they serve." Watch his testimony here: https://lnkd.in/gF6ytPPk

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✊🧡 OCEA IS ADVOCACY! Your OCEA Legislative Committee and OCEA staff were in Sacramento in March to attend Labor’s Joint Legislative Conference, held by the California Labor Federation and State Building and Construction Trades Council. This annual event provides an opportunity for labor leaders from around the state to lobby lawmakers on bills that would advance rights, pay and working conditions for California’s workers. The state, which is the world’s fifth largest economy, is a trendsetter in labor actions and laws—which comes from the power and solidarity of 1,300 unions and 2.3 million union members in the state. The event also celebrates those lawmakers who maintain a 100 percent vote in support of labor. Your Orange County delegation, including union leaders and members from the Orange County Labor Federation and labor unions throughout O.C., advocated for bills to address an array of topics. Most notably, a handful of laws protecting public sector workers—including laws to address public sector contract transparency and accountability, and a law requiring local government agencies with unacceptably high vacancy rates to develop and implement plans to reduce vacancies to zero with the help of labor unions—were presented to all lawmaker-attendees. The lobby day featured meetings with Assembly members and State Senators including: Liz Ortega, Josh Newman, Tom Umberg, Dave Min, Avelino Valencia, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Phil Chen, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. Through processes like this in 2023, California labor achieved 18 bills signed by the governor, with a 70% success record on labor bills. #OCEAstrong #OCEALegislativeCommittee #OrangeCounty to #Sacramento #California #LaborUnions

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