L.A. Metro, AECOM, Lochner, Trades Sign Equity Pledge

Fourteen public and private sector infrastructure executives signed the Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP) Pledge.

EIP launched its California Plan initiative at ENR’s L.A. Infrastructure Forum on Nov. 20. The Forum brought together hundreds of infrastructure leaders from across the Southland and the nation, who marked the second anniversary of the federal infrastructure law as the 10 Freeway was reopened after emergency repairs.

California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin was announced as Chair of EIP's California Plan initiative. 

EIP’s mission is to build generational wealth and reduce the racial wealth gap by improving public infrastructure contracting practices to create more joint venture and equity contracting opportunities for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs).

EIP’s Pledge has now been signed by 55 heads of transit authorities, airports, ports, water districts, and engineering firms, and the White House has directly called upon Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grantees to sign the Pledge.

Before the signing ceremony, remarks were delivered by L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who introduced the unanimously approved motion that committed the County to the Pledge; Secretary Omishakin; and EIP Co-Chair Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport and a former CEO of L.A. Metro.

Equity Pledge Signees

The Pledge was signed at the event by:

• Holly Mitchell, Supervisor, L.A. County
• Stephanie Wiggins, CEO, L.A. Metro
• Marty Adams, General Manager, LADWP
• Gene Seroka, General Manager, Port of Los Angeles
• Beatrice Hsu, Interim CEO, Los Angeles World Airports
• Mark Pestrella, Director, L.A. County Public Works 
• Robert Ferrante, General Manager, L.A. County Sanitation Districts
• Selwyn Hollins, Director, L.A. County Internal Services Department 
• Kelly LoBianco, Director, L.A. County Department of Economic Opportunity 
• Matt Crane, Executive Vice President and Regional Chief Executive, AECOM 
• Dolla Dawson, COO of Business Operations, Milhouse Engineering & Construction 
• Terry Ruhl, Board Chair & CEO, H.W. Lochner 
• Michael Sutton, Chairman and CEO, Infrastructure Engineering, Inc.
• Chris Hannan, President, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California 

The Equity In Infrastructure contingent then gathered for the inaugural meeting of the California Plan, which includes:

• California Department of Transportation 
• The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California 
• Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
• Port of Los Angeles
• Port of Long Beach
• Los Angeles World Airports 
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
• Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and Development
• Los Angeles County Department of Internal Services