Tourism:
Don’t Bother With the Hotel Pool -- Swimming-oriented tours and vacations have been around for a while, but lately there are new trips of a single day up to a whole week for the recreational swimmer, such as those offered from Alcatraz Island to the San Francisco Aquatic Park. NY Times 5/25/08
Possible Influx of New Yorkers to CA for Gay Marriage as State May Recognize Unions -- As California prepares for the June 17 start-date for same-sex marriages, barring the Supreme Court does not stay the ban until the November election, New York state Governor Paterson recently "issued a memo telling all state agencies to recognize legally performed, out-of-state same-sex marriages as valid marriages. Los Angeles and San Francisco might be seeing an unexpected spike in tourism this summer and if that happens. LAist 5/29/08
Emissions:
S.F. among lowest carbon emitters in U.S. -- People living in cities with dense development and rail transit systems generally put out lower amounts of carbon emissions than citizens of sprawling bad-weather metropolises that use coal-fired electricity, according to new research. San Francisco and surrounding cities came in eighth in a ranking of lowest emissions among 100 metropolitan areas nationwide. SF Chronicle 5/29/08
General Motors Announces California Public Policy Partners in Chevrolet’s Project Driveway -- More than 100 electric vehicles, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, are being placed in the hands of drivers in New York, California and Washington, DC. Selected drivers include general public, media, influencers, celebrities, business and public policy partners. Webwire 5/29/08
Heavy lifting begins in California fight against greenhouse gas emissions -- A at the end of next month, the state Air Resources Board will release its draft plan on putting key provisions of the law, AB32 which Schwarzenegger signed in 2006, into effect. The report will kick off months of hearings leading up to a final approval in October. The provisions take effect in January—and then begins the drafting of regulations. Current proposals cover about 60 percent of the reductions, but debate over meeting the remaining 40 percent portion focuses on options over emission enforcement, market systems, including auctions; pay-to-pollute fees, environmental justice and offsets. Capitol Weekly 5/29/08
Suit targets air quality along freeways -- A coalition of environmental groups plans to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today to force it to overturn motor vehicle emissions limits for Southern California, charging that the targets fail to address hazardous pollution faced by 1.5 million people who live next to freeways. In a petition to be filed in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the Natural Resources Defense Council is demanding comprehensive monitoring of air quality along freeways, including the 710 Freeway, where traffic flow averages 12,180 vehicles per hour -- more than 25% of them diesel trucks. LA Times 5/29/08
Infrastructure:
US rail network facing congestion 'calamity' -- While the nation's attention is focused on air travel congestion and the high cost of fuel for highway driving, a crisis is developing under the radar for another form of transportation — the freight trains used to deliver many of the goods that keep the U.S. economy humming. The nation's 140,000-mile network of rails devoted to carrying everything from cars to grain by freight is already groaning under the strain of congestion, with trains forced to stand aside for hours because of one-track rail lines. And it's probably going to get worse over the next two decades, according to an analysis of government and industry projections. AP 5/29/08
$382 Million in Proposition 1B Funding Approved for Transportation Projects -- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced today that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved $382 million in transportation funding from Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond. From that $10 million was allocated to Alameda county for station and track improvements at the Emeryville Station. Business Wire 5/29/08
Caltrans helpless to stop highway thieves -- Burglars and metal thieves are descending on local Caltrans facilities in droves. Terri Kasinga says many are striking at night along busy freeways in plain view of passing motorists. “We’ll be putting security cameras in all angles of the yards and there’s a chance we may have to start hiring security guards,” Kasinga said. Inland News Today 5/29/08
Shipping:
Shipping costs rise for California-grown fruit -- Truckers and retailers have increased the costs they charge farmers to carry peaches, nectarines and plums to market. The increased cost of fuel has caused the independent truckers and the retailers to increase the cost of a load of fruit, particularly to the East Coast,” says Kerry Whitson, a Tulare County peach, plum and nectarine grower. Retailers want farmers to pay the bulk of the increase. Central Valley Business Times 5/29/08
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