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HomeMy WebLinkAbout111624 - The WSTA WeeklyALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. National Election, Update, From the Other Washington, Plan your calendar for 2025, Transit Jobs, and Transit News Vol. 9, Issue 37 November 16, 2024 View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/0061301eb7fe/the-wsta-weekly-17986200?e=7ccb4f03e2> <https://mcusercontent.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/547fd40c-aaff-400e-270e-fce1bef58fce.png> <https://mcusercontent.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/92c7b85f-59ef-784f-7669-38170c8ec978.png> Read a full Update on Presidential Transition To Date <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=445a4fc333&e=7ccb4f03e2> Composition of the 119th Session of Congress Elections Earlier this week, Republicans secured the 218 seats needed to retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, officially capturing a governing “trifecta” across the Executive and Legislative Branches of the federal government. Democrats have currently secured 209 seats. There are still several uncalled Congressional races, including: the First District of Alaska; Ninth District, Thirteenth District, Twenty-first District, and Forty-fifth District of California; First District of Iowa; Second District of Maine; and Ninth District of Ohio. The ability to advance legislation with a razor-thin Republican majority in the House of Representatives may be complicated by President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to nominate recently re-elected Members of Congress for key positions in his Administration. Those Members of Congress include New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as United Nations Ambassador, Florida Congressman Michael Waltz as National Security Advisor, and Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General. Congressman Gates resigned from the chamber already. In the Senate, Republicans will have a majority with at least 52 seats. Democrats have 47 seats. One race has yet to be called: Pennsylvania. The President-elect’s decision to nominate Senator Marco Rubio for Secretary of State and Senator JD Vance’s ascension to the Vice Presidency will allow Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to appoint new senators to fill the respective seats until special elections are held. The winners of those elections would serve through the remainder of Vice President-elect Vance and Senator Rubio’s terms. House and Senate Leadership Elections U.S. Senate On Wednesday, in a closed vote, Senator John Thune of South Dakota won the Republican nomination to serve as Senate Majority Leader of the 119th Session of Congress. He defeated Texas Senator John Cornyn in the second ballot and Florida Senator Rick Scott in the first round of elections. The 63-year-old Senator will succeed Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who is set to step down from leadership after 18 years in the role in January. As Senate Majority Leader, Thune will lead the Republican majority for at least the next two years. In a statement after being elected, he offered “I am extremely honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress, and I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House. [...] This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.” Other members of Senator Thune’s new leadership team who were also elected on Wednesday, include: * Majority Leader: South Dakota Senator John Thune * Majority Whip: Wyoming Senator John Barrasso * Republican Conference Chair: Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton * Senate Republican Policy Committee (RPC) Chair: West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito * Republican Conference Vice Chair: Oklahoma Senator James Lankford * National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair: South Carolina Senator Tim Scott In a statement <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=c260c380ab&e=7ccb4f03e2> on TruthSocial, President-elect Trump congratulated Senator Thune and the newly elected leaders adding “He moves quickly, and will do an outstanding job. I look forward to working with him, and Senators John Barrasso (Senate Majority Whip), Tom Cotton (Senate Republican Conference Chairman), Shelley Moore Capito (Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman), James Lankford (Republican Conference Vice Chairman), and Tim Scott (National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman) to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” U.S. House In the lower chamber, Speaker Mike Johnson won the Republican nomination to lead the conference and continue serving as the 56th Speaker of the House of Representatives in the next session of Congress in a unanimous voice vote on Wednesday. The united vote came after members of the Main Street Caucus and House Freedom Caucus struck a deal to pull proposed conference amendments that would impose punitive measures on members who vote down a rule and raise the threshold for the “motion to vacate” rule required to force a vote to oust the Speaker of the House from one to nine. The Speaker will need to secure 218 votes on the Congressional floor to retain the gavel once the 119th Congress convenes on January 3rd, 2025. House GOP lawmakers also voted for the following members of their leadership team: * Speaker of the House: Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson * Majority Leader: Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise * Majority Whip: Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer * House Republican Conference Chair: Michigan Congresswoman Lisa McClain * Republican Policy Committee Chair: Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hern * National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chair: North Carolina Congressman Richard Hudson Speaker Johnson touted <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=784af95712&e=7ccb4f03e2> that “We had a very productive day together as a Republican Conference, and the theme that you’ll hear over and over from all of our members across the conference is that we are unified and energized and ready to go. [...] We have to deliver for the American people beginning on day one in the new Congress, and we will be ready for that.” Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary * Today is the third anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (PL 117-58). The law has funded more than 66,000 projects to date. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg released a video <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=cb2e092a60&e=7ccb4f03e2> entitled “The Big Deal” today reflecting on the urgent need for that investment and celebrating the impact of it. The Department of Transportation (DOT) noted the following accomplishments: * 196,000+ miles of repaired or improved roadways; * 11,400+ projects to build, repair, or modernize bridges; * 580+ port and waterway projects to strengthen supply chain reliability and facilitate goods movement; * 320 rail projects announced, including those that involve the expansion and modernization of passenger and freight rail networks, the future anticipated delivery of the first high-speed rail systems in the nation, and the elimination or improvement of 400+ highway-rail crossings; * 1,500+ airport modernization, expansion, or improvement projects; * 1,600+ communities are working to improve roadway safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians across all 50 states; and * 630+ transportation projects across 195 Tribal Nations. We want to offer our thanks to President Joseph Biden, Secretary Buttigieg and his terrific team at DOT, and other officials across the Biden-Harris Administration for their steadfast partnership throughout the implementation of this historic legislation. See a new fact sheet <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=25b6306140&e=7ccb4f03e 2> or statement <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=711c48db5c&e=7ccb4f03e2> from President Biden. * To commemorate the anniversary, Secretary Buttigieg is announcing $3.4 billion worth of grant awards supporting project selections across four different programs today: the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program; the Port Infrastructure Development Program; the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (Fed-State) Program - Northeast Corridor (NEC) Grants; and the Low Carbon Transportation Materials Discretionary Grant Program, which was separately authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. More details on each of the grant programs is included below. * The announcement from the Office of the Secretary (OST) includes $172 million worth of funding through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program. DOT will fund planning and demonstration projects overseen by 257 local, regional, and Tribal government entities. The goal is to help prevent fatalities and serious injuries on roadways. * For those interested, DOT notes that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is “expected to be released in early 2025, and by statute must be released on or before March 30, 2025” according to the program website <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=f02340b9f3&e=7ccb4f03e2> . <https://mcusercontent.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/50548edf-1ff3-5717-6e82-afa8ac3c15ee.png> ________________________________ The 2025 Draft WSTA Committee and Events Calendar is live! CLICK HERE <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=18b79b790d&e=7ccb4f03e2> to download and print as 11x17 ________________________________ <https://mcusercontent.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/55f2f42d-3c39-5dca-5cd8-e299f696759a.png> <https://mcusercontent.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/c4c3d40b-30fe-0fb7-cfe7-0ce126e29d99.png> <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/ea436c8d-6255-4572-b705-ffd9193ee521.png> Transit Job of the Week ________________________________ Senior Program Manager - Emergency Management & Business Continuity Community Transit As Senior Program Manager for Emergency Management and Business Continuity, you will manage the day-to-day operations of the agency-wide Emergency Management Program, including the agency-wide Business Continuity Program, and oversee the creation and implementation of appropriate plans, training, and exercises. During critical incidents, you will serve as the Manager/Incident Commander or senior leader in the agency’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Incident Command Post (ICP), or a similar setting, as appropriate. <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=053b7d1605&e=7ccb4f03e2> ________________________________ ________________________________ WSTA Jobs Board: WSTA offers a comprehensive clearinghouse for transit jobs across the state. Use our website to see the latest job postings. <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=caa6c2776d&e=7ccb4f03e2> If you are a transit agency and have an opening - please use the submit button on the website. Attention Transit Vendors Please sign up for the WSTA Vendor Email Distribution List to be the first to know. <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=20776e08b1&e=7ccb4f03e2> *If you are not a vendor please do not sign up <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/1877cd28-850f-4d18-987c-7fcdc524d617.png> <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/16fd6fee-3218-4d70-b1fe-2056df0f1434.gif> WSTA pays an annual membership to the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC), which allows our Transit Agency members access to their services. Check out what is new with MRSC. Available for WSTA Transit Members: Ask MRSC - Ask MRSC Archives <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=610df6412c&e=7ccb4f03e2> ________________________________ Ask Transit WSTA's partn <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/d4f5e03c-25b5-4812-8415-e6065dfea42a.png> er, the Washington State Transit Insurance Pool (WSTIP), provides an "Ask Transit" tool, which allows agency employees to ask a question, and staff will work to research that question and respond back. . Click Here to Ask Transit <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=61e18e6411&e=7ccb4f03e2> <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361/images/fb82d603-27ab-431a-ac10-5225f4a43f6c.png> * With $10B deficit looming, WA governor calls on state agencies to make cuts <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=06728b2922&e=7ccb4f03e2> . Washington State Standard * Is Seattle ready to put South Lake Union streetcar on chopping block? <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=4cd0096ceb&e=7ccb4f03e2> Seattle Times (pdf included) * Claudia Balducci to run for King County Executive <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=66c02f9edd&e=7ccb4f03e2> . KIRO * Big changes ahead as Community Transit mulls $254M budget <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=9698adfd5d&e=7ccb4f03e2> . Everett Herald (pdf included) * Sound Transit’s Eastside Light Rail Projects: Photo Update <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=bb8738df54&e=7ccb4f03e2> . Railway Track & Structures * South Federal Way’s Neighborhood Plan Takes Shape Around Light Rail Station <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=579ec888d3&e=7ccb4f03e2> . The Urbanist * A $2.1B King County plan seeks boosted, more climate-friendly bus service <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=f452631b8d&e=7ccb4f03e2> . Seattle Times (pdf included) ________________________________ * Passenger Transport <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=e76aadee09&e=7ccb4f03e2> Latest Issue <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6 c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=7ffc1ad00c&e=7ccb4f03e2> * Metro Magazine News <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=e066394bac&e=7ccb4f03e2> * National RTAP <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=f1619e4ea0&e=7ccb4f03e2> * Transit Talent <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=0af6443454&e=7ccb4f03e2> * Voices of Public Transportation <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=ba64220e45&e=7ccb4f03e2> * T4America <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=89dcb67605&e=7ccb4f03e2> * CTAA News <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=f53982850f&e=7ccb4f03e2> * Shared-Use Mobility Center <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=bba79e825e&e=7ccb4f03e2> ________________________________ <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=2eb8530d8a&e=7ccb4f03e2> <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=f22183d712&e=7ccb4f03e2> <mailto:justin@watransit.com> <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=683b2198bf&e=7ccb4f03e2> Copyright © WSTA, 2016, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2629 12th Court SW Olympia, WA 98502 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/profile?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=c7c0e5ee8e&e=7ccb4f03e2&c=c6d1a3a353> or unsubscribe from this list <https://watransit. us12.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=c7c0e5ee8e&t=b&e=7ccb4f03e2&c=c6d1a3a353> <https://watransit.us12.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=6c70c3a1d76c22fe2ef2a8361&id=c6d1a3a353&e=7ccb4f03e2> "url/prefixText": "Committee Chair South Carolina Senator Tim Scott In a", "url/suffixText": "on TruthSocial President-elect President-elect President-elect", "url/urlTextSpan": { "@type": "TextSpan", "beginIndex": 3542, "length": 9 }, "@EntityId": "ba822b8c-d9a0-44d4-8888-02a4b4028e8c", "@correlationTrail": "ExtractionId=92c92610-829d-4296-bdab-6850845c0c99;EntityId=ba822b8c-d9a0-44d4-8888-02a4b4028e8c", "@extractionTimeUtc": "2024-11-16T16:40:15.7489437Z" } ]