Staffing Changes at SRTC

SRTC's Interim Executive Director Ryan Stewart

We have some big changes coming at SRTC. The agency's Executive Director of five years, Kevin
Wallace, is stepping down as Director as of tomorrow to pursue some different opportunities and start his own business. A national search will start soon to replace him.

Today, SRTC's Board appointed SRTC Senior Transportation Planner Ryan Stewart as the Interim Executive Director. Ryan has been with the agency for over eight years so knows how it runs and how to bribe- I mean motivate- each of us to work to our fullest potential.

Being down a planner and going into a year where we plan to update our long-range transportation plan and accomplish a lot of other stuff will be a challenge but we feel that we're up to the challenge.

How Long Did Travel Take In the 1800s?

I recently flew to Las Vegas in a couple hours. And last year a trip all the way across the country to Florida took about four or five hours if I remember right. Not bad huh? Especially when you consider it could take weeks or even months to do that same trip in the 1800s, depending on how you were travelling.

Treehugger has this series of maps showing travel rates from the old days you have to check out. Pretty cool.

Six Transportation Policy Questions For 2013

Let's pull out the crystal ball, or Magic 8 Ball if you have one, and look into the faraway future of transportation- let's say the year 2013. Okay, that's only about a month away but when you sometimes can't remember the day before, it seems like an eternity.

And with a new Federal transportation bill, MAP-21, and new leaders following the election, the new year could be a whole new world for transportation. Or not. That's the problem, there are still a lot of questions about where we're headed.

So as 2012 comes to a close, Governing's FedWatch explores six questions worth asking including:

• Is the gas tax still untouchable?
• What does new committee leadership mean?
• Is Ray LaHood in or out? (this is my favorite. Been waiting a while to hear about this)
• Can states continue to pick up the slack?
• Could tax reform be troublesome for infrastructure financing?
• Does the White House take a lead on infrastructure?

What? You thought I was going to actually answer those questions here? Sorry but Iyou're going to have to read the article yourself to get the answers.