Transporation Daily News May 30

Tourism:

 

*Visitors to S.F. in 2007 set record for spending -- Even as the nation's economy sputtered and consumer confidence waned, more than 16 million visitors came to San Francisco last year and spent $8.2 billion, both all-time highs for tourism in the city. A key factor was an anemic U.S. dollar. Foreign tourists came in record numbers - about 2.3 million of them, a 9.5 percent increase over 2006, according to figures released Thursday by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. SF Chronicle 5/30/08

 

Emissions:

 

*White House report backs climate change warnings -- President Bush's top science advisors issued a comprehensive report Thursday that for the first time endorses what most scientific experts have long asserted: that greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion "are very likely the single largest cause" of Earth's warming. LA TImes 5/30/08

 

Environmentalists say EPA approved faulty pollution plan -- On Thursday, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Coalition for a Safe Environment and East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice and Endangered Habitats League filed a petition for review in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The groups say the EPA has approved a faulty regional emissions plan that is the first hurdle the state must clear in applying for funding needed to expand freeways. SJ Mercury 5/30/08

 

Infrastructure:

 

$52 million to upgrade Bay Area traffic signals -- The California Transportation Commission has approved more than $52 million to improve traffic signals in the Bay Area, with a good chunk of money going to Silicon Valley. The upgrades are expected to save motorists nearly $3 million a year in gas costs alone on San Jose streets and Santa Clara County expressways. SJ Mercury 5/30/08

 

Schwarzenegger applauds transportation allocations -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signaled his approval following the action by the California Transportation Commission on Thursday to allocate $382 million in transportation funding from Proposition 1B throughout the state. “When the people of California voted for the $19.9 billion transportation bond they wanted action — and this is that action,” Schwarzenegger said. Eureka Reporter 5/30/08

 

Express train proposed for coast -- With gas costing $4 a gallon driving record numbers of people onto the train, it is time to introduce express service on the nation's second-busiest passenger rail line and to accelerate laying a second track along the Southern California coast, officials said Thursday. The mayor of a North County city, San Diego city officials and the head of a regional planning agency used a rare San Diego meeting of the California Transportation Commission to propose a two-hour, limited-stop trip between the state's two largest cities and to lobby commissioners for political and financial support. North County Times 5/30/08

 

High-speed rail:

 

*High-speed rail, air fee bills advance -- The Valley air district could raise vehicle registration fees by up to $23 a car to pay for clean-air programs under a bill that passed the state Assembly on Thursday. Lawmakers in the lower house also approved a bill that redefines the statewide high-speed train measure on November's ballot. Fresno Bee 5/29/08

 

Villines' support for high-speed rail is crucial to region -- Today the Fresno Bee wrote an editorial calling on Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines to support AB 3034 and high speed rail .Fresno Bee 5/30/08

 

Mass transit:

 

BART 'library' opens for business -- Commuters boarding BART trains at the Pittsburg/Bay Point station can now pick up a library book to take along on their trip.  A "Library-a-Go-Go" machine was installed at the station Thursday, allowing passengers carrying a valid Contra Costa County library card to swipe it through an ATM-like device to check out a book. East Bay Business Times 5/30/08

 

Shipping:

 

*All long-haul trucks on California roads to be subject to SmartWay environmental laws -- The California Air Resources Board (CARB) says it has drafted new regulations that, if enforced, will require tractors and trailers to be fitted or retrofitted with aerodynamic devices and low rolling-resistance tyres. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) says it has drafted new regulations that, if enforced, will require tractors and trailers to be fitted or retrofitted with aerodynamic devices and low rolling-resistance tyres, the eTrucker portal reports. Automotive World 5/29/08

 

Sunk: Shippers Try to Balance Fuel and Emissions Worries -- High oil prices and growing environmental awareness are already pinching industries like airlines and trucking, under fire for their greenhouse-gas emissions and under the gun as fuel costs cripple their businesses.  But the double-whammy of pricey oil and green politics are having an even bigger impact on the global shipping industry—and that could have even bigger knock-on effects throughout the global economy. Big cargo ships, like airlines, already have an economic incentive to be more fuel-efficient, curbing emissions at the same time. Wall Street Journal 5/30/08