The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) has unanimously re-elected Temecula City Council Member Ron Roberts to serve as Chair of the MSRC, an organization that provides Clean Transportation Funding for projects aimed at reducing harmful emissions from mobile sources. The MSRC also unanimously re-elected Gregory Winterbottom as its Vice-Chair. Winterbottom represents the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) on the MSRC.
In his second year as Chair, Roberts represents the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). He is a four-time Mayor of Temecula, first elected in 1994, and has been on the City Council since 1992. Roberts is a past President of SCAG, past Chair of the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the Western Riverside Council of Governments. Roberts is a Board Member of Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), and has been active for many years with the National League of Cities' committees dealing with transportation-related issues. He is a retired California Highway Patrol Officer, where one of his duties was enforcing emission laws on commercial truckers. Roberts previously served as Vice-Chair of the MSRC from 2005 to 2008.
"I am very pleased to once again serve as Chair of the MSRC during this remarkable time when air pollution issues and global warming are not only being addressed statewide, but have also become part of the national dialogue," explained Roberts. "It is exciting to be a part of an organization that is really making a tangible difference on these issues by providing Clean Transportation Funding to projects that help improve air quality in the South Coast basin - projects like cleaning up dirty vehicles and construction equipment and those that promote the use of alternative fuels. By fostering these types of projects in our own backyard, the MSRC is leading by example and hopes to serve as a model for other agencies that are looking for innovative ways to tackle some of these problems."
Vice-Chair Greg Winterbottom is one of the longest-serving MSRC members, with 14 years of service. He is one of two Public Members on the OCTA Board of Directors and is also the Vice-Chairman of the OCTA Transit Committee. He joined the OCTA board in 1993, and served as Chairman of the Board in 2004. Winterbottom previously served as the executive director to the Orange County Consolidated Transportation Services Agency, and now works as an independent consultant on accessibility issues for people with disabilities.