The Bay Area will receive twice as much federal security funding for port and public transit facilities as it did last year in what local officials called a positive step away from early funding inequities that favored areas with no terror targets. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to award the $54 million set aside for the Bay Area, but its announcement Friday marked the beginning of the process for applying for those funds. The money will likely be focused on surveillance systems. CC Times 2/05/08
A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 will make a flight later this month from London's Heathrow Airport to Amsterdam and for the first time a commercial aircraft has flown on biofuel. Airlines are under great financial pressure because of soaring fuel costs, and according to the EPA represent up to 12 percent of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the U.S. transportation sector. The fuel used in the flight will be a blend of 80 percent conventional jet fuel, which is essentially kerosene, and 20 percent biofuel. SF Chronicle 2/05/08
The Legislature has only 21 days left to address the current state fiscal crisis, under the provisions of Proposition 58. Proposition 58 requires the Legislature to "address" the fiscal crisis within 45 days. Legislative Counsel Diane Boyer-Vine said the word "address" is not defined, and "does not require that the legislation resolve the fiscal emergency, but leaves this matter within the discretion of the Legislature with respect to a bill or bills passed and sent to the Governor." News Blaze 2/05/08
France's Alstom unveiled a new generation of faster high-speed trains on Tuesday in a bid to keep ahead of rivals Siemens and Bombardier in the multi-billion dollar rail transport market. The train will have a commercial speed of 360 kilometres per hour versus 320 for current models. Alstom is being considered by California for its High Speed Rail. Reuters 2/05/08
Even though it's far from certain, the High Speed Rail Authority Wednesday will consider whether to study the option of a station in the Visalia-Tulare-Hanford area. Right now, the rail authority's statewide plan only includes stops for Fresno and Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley. Visalia Times Delta 2/05/08
Officials of the Port of Oakland said an incident report compiled by the Office of Inspector General upholds the manner in which they handled a delayed flight with a number of military personnel aboard as passengers on Sept. 27. The Office of Inspector General report said the incident was caused by "lack of a coordinated policy between the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security for screening military personnel" and recommended establishing a task force of aviation and federal agencies "to develop and implement a uniform process for handling members of the Armed Forces on all military charter flights at U.S. commercial service airports." East Bay Business Times 2/04/08
McCarran International Airport set another record in 2007 by hosting 47.7 million travelers, but the 3.1 percent increase from 2006 was the lowest rate since 2002 and traffic dropped measurably in December. Las Vegas Review Journal 2/05/08
A $135 million bond issue for highway projects -- with more than half of the bond money going for a costly job between Reno and Carson City -- was endorsed by the Nevada Transportation Board. Las Vegas Now 2/03/08
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