Transporation Daily News 2/25

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a bipartisan group of governors called Sunday on President Bush, Congress and the presidential candidates to back a major spending program to repair the nation's roads, bridges, rail lines and water systems. The effort could come with a steep price tag: Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania said the group will urge Congress to approve a new economic stimulus package that could include $25 billion to $30 billion for infrastructure projects. SF Chronicle 2/25/08

 

The Capitol Corridor and California's two other intercity rail lines, the San Joaquins from Oakland to Bakersfield and the Pacific Surfliner trains from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, carry 20 percent of Amtrak's nationwide passengers. While ridership on those California routes has grown 43 percent to 5 million annual trips in 2007, vehicle miles in the state have gone up only 8 percent and the population has risen 11 percent. State funding for this fast-growing sector has not kept pace, however. SJ Mercury 2/25/08

 

Seeking to improve public safety on the high seas, a state senator introduced a bill Friday that would require cruise ships sailing from California ports to have a peace officer on board.
If the measure passes, California would have the most stringent state regulations on the $35.7-billion industry, which has come under congressional and public scrutiny after several high-profile cases of missing people, passengers overboard and sexual assault in recent years. LA Times 2/23/08

 

Red blinking lights embedded on the runways of the San Diego and Dallas/Fort Worth international airports are substantially reducing the number of potential ground collisions between aircraft flying in and out. The red lights warns other planes to keep away from the area. The lights go off when it is safe to approach the runway. All Headline News 2/25/08

 

The Pittsburg-Bay Point BART station on the East County BART line -- through which about 5,000 people travel each weekday -- will be one of the first places in the country to carry an automated book-borrowing machine. It resembles an ATM, except it holds 400 popular paperback titles instead of cash. Others will be added later at a shopping center in Discovery Bay, a transit village near the Pleasant Hill BART station and a site in West County not yet chosen. SJ Mercury 2/18/08

 

California Air Resources Board staff on Friday unveiled proposed modifications to the shoreside power regulation approved by the Board in December. The regulation requires that vessel operators whose container, reefer or passenger ships call at least 25 times a year at six identified California ports will have to turn off their auxiliary engines at dock and plug into shoreside power.The proposed modifications - which include exceptions to the rule, vessel operational requirements and violation details - were discussed at a workgroup meeting in Sacramento. The new language was added in response to public comments the staff has received since last year, as well as directions from the board. Cunningham Report 2/24/08