Governor's Executive Order D-73-88

WHEREAS, in the urban areas of California, commuters are spending approximately 400,000 hours daily in traffic jams; and

WHEREAS, during the next 12 years, another six million vehicles will be added to California’s streets and highways; and

WHEREAS, increasing traffic congestion is a threat to individual well-being, commerce, and the economic and social vitality of California; and

WHEREAS, deteriorating air quality in metropolitan areas is a health threat and a constraint on economic growth; and

WHEREAS, more than 1,100 highway construction projects totaling $1.7 billion are now underway; and

WHEREAS, during the past five years, ridership on intercity rail systems has increased more than fifty percent; and

WHEREAS, while expansion of streets and highways remains the cornerstone of reducing traffic congestion, nonetheless there will still be insufficient roadway capacity to accommodate this increased traffic; and

WHEREAS, most traffic corridors could be freed of congestion if vehicle occupancy was increased; and

WHEREAS, the recently concluded Governor’s Regional Transportation Management Conferences, sponsored by the Air Resources Board, Department of Transportation, California Highway Patrol, Department of Motor Vehicles, and Office of Traffic Safety, resulted in consensus recommendations that state and local government, and private industry, cooperate to better manage urban streets and highways; and

WHEREAS, the California 2010 report by the California Economic Development Corporation recommended making better use of our existing transportation networks; and

WHEREAS, state government as a major California employer must take the leadership in resolving traffic congestion through efficient use of the transportation system.

NOW, THEREFORE, I GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, Governor of the State of California, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and the statutes of the State of California, do hereby issue this order to become effective immediately:

1. The Director of Transportation shall establish an Office of Traffic Improvement to oversee the transportation management program described above and to coordinate state efforts to increase ridesharing and transit use among state employees, develop partnerships with local government and private industry to implement traffic management strategies, research and apply new technologies to improve free-flow of traffic, and actively promote ridesharing throughout the urban areas of California.

2. State agencies shall implement a state employee transportation management program designed to result in a 10% reduction in the number of commute trips by state employees during peak commute periods in congested urban areas. In order to accomplish this goal, the Department of Transportation shall identify those state facilities served by congested commute routes in urban areas.

For these facilities:

• State agencies shall develop specific action plans to achieve a minimum of 10% reduction in commute trips toward a goal of an average of two employees per vehicle during commute periods. Agencies shall submit their plans to the Office of Traffic improvement by January 1, 1989, and shall update their plans annually thereafter.

• State employees working in these facilities shall be eligible for a 50% allowance on monthly transit passes up to a maximum of $15 per month. The Department of Personnel Administration shall implement and administer this program.

• The Department of Personnel Administration shall establish a pilot program in three State facilities to provide up to 30 minutes per day of compensated travel time for those employees coming to work using transit or van pools.

• The Department of Personnel Administration shall provide an incentive of up to $50 per month to state employee vanpool drivers.

• The Department of General Services shall establish accessibility to transit services as a requirement for buying, leasing, or building State facilities.

• The Department of General Services shall expedite a telecommuting demonstration project for state employees.

3. In addition, to further reduce congestion, State agencies shall reschedule routine commercial deliveries in congested urban areas during hours identified by the Department of Transportation as peak commute time.

4. The Department of Transportation shall implement an ongoing, major public education effort to encourage Californians to use ridesharing. This would include an outreach program using, for example, Department of Motor Vehicle mailers, payroll inserts, and mass media to advise the public and employers of the benefits of reducing traffic demand.

5. The Department of Transportation shall use advanced technology whenever possible to improve traffic flow.

	IN WITNESS WHERE OF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 3rd day of September 1988.
	s/George Deukmejian Governor of California
	ATTEST: s/March Fong Eu Secretary of State