BILL NUMBER: SCR 85	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wolk

                        APRIL 16, 2012

   Relative to the Dana Cowell Memorial Highway.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 85, as introduced, Wolk. Dana Cowell Memorial Highway.
   This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway
Route 12 in the County of San Joaquin as the Dana Cowell Memorial
Highway. This measure would also request the Department of
Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing
this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate
sources covering those costs, to erect those signs.
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, The passing on January 21, 2012, of a distinguished
California resident and devoted civic leader, Dana Cowell, whose good
deeds earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and
the countless individuals whose lives he touched, brought immense
sorrow and loss to people throughout the State; and
   WHEREAS, Dana Cowell, who brought credit and distinction to
himself as Deputy Director of the San Joaquin Council of Governments
(SJCOG), enjoyed a lifetime of remarkable success in every avenue of
his endeavors, inspiring others through his professional
achievements, support of the community, and strong devotion to
family; and
   WHEREAS, Dana Cowell joined SJCOG in 2006 after serving in a
number of key transportation posts over the course of 26 years with
the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans); and
   WHEREAS, Last year, Dana Cowell was named Transportation Manager
of the Year by the California Transportation Foundation for his
dedication to overcoming obstacles to transportation projects; and
   WHEREAS, Among Dana Cowell's recent notable accomplishments are
critical safety improvements and construction along State Highway
Route 12 through San Joaquin County that will begin imminently; and
   WHEREAS, Dana Cowell led a partnership with Caltrans to develop
intersection upgrades between State Highway Route 5 and Potato Slough
Bridge highlighted by the complete redesign of the State Highway
Route 12 Tower Parkway Glasscock Road intersection, and the
construction contract for this $20 million project was awarded in
early January 2012; and
   WHEREAS, Projects on State Highway Route 5, State Highway Route
99, State Highway Route 205, and Arch Road in Stockton all benefitted
from Dana Cowell's commitment to transportation; and
   WHEREAS, Dana Cowell also worked with Sacramento and Bay Area
transportation leaders to craft the Northern California Trade
Corridor Projects, directed SJCOG's organization of the Valley Wide
State Transportation Improvement Program, and initiated SJCOG efforts
to advance modeling techniques and planning tools in response to
Senate Bill No. 375 of the 2007-08 Regular Session (Ch. 728, Stats.
2008), which requires reductions of greenhouse gas emissions; and
   WHEREAS, Dana Cowell was well known and respected by
transportation planners throughout the state, and his significant
knowledge and contributions, dedication, and warm friendship will be
missed in the profession; and
   WHEREAS, Dana Cowell was married to Van Ha To Cowell, current
President of the Lincoln Unified School District Board of Trustees;
and
   WHEREAS, The couple met in Tennessee while Dana Cowell was
pursuing his master's degree in urban planning from the University of
Tennessee; and
   WHEREAS, Dana Cowell received his undergraduate degree from
Carthage College in Wisconsin, the state where he was raised; and
   WHEREAS, Dana Cowell leaves to mourn his passing and celebrate his
legacy his wife, Van Ha To Cowell; his two sons, Evan and Andrew;
his mother; his two brothers; and a host of friends and relatives;
now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
portion of State Highway Route 12 between Potato Slough Bridge and
State Highway Route 5, in the County of San Joaquin, as the Dana
Cowell Memorial Highway; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to
determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the signing
requirements for the state highway system showing this special
designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources
sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Secretary of the State transmit copies of this
resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author for
appropriate distribution.