Financial crisis:
*Schwarzenegger to propose lottery borrowing -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday will propose borrowing against future state lottery revenue to help close a $15.2 billion budget deficit in the next fiscal year. The governor will propose raising $15 billion over the next three years by selling bonds based on anticipated lottery revenue. SJ Mercury 5/14/08
Schwarzenegger's ambitious plans blocked by state's budget deficit -- On just about any issue the governor cares about - health care, education, the environment, infrastructure - the state's fiscal crisis is undermining, if not thwarting, the governor's sweeping policy remedies. And by the time the economy improves, Schwarzenegger, who is termed out of office in 2011, may have little time to make up the lost ground. SJ Mercury 5/14/08
Mass transit:
*Proposal would end mayor's transit control -- The mayor of San Francisco would be stripped of control over the city's transit system under a proposed ballot measure that would hand more control to the Board of Supervisors. SF Chronicle 5/14/08
*Spare the Air Days won't bring free transit rides -- Thursday may be the first Spare the Air Day of the season, but there will be no free public transit rides that day even if smog reaches unhealthy levels — unlike past years. Changing course in its battle against air pollution, the region's clean air agency has decided to hold just one day of free rides this year and to announce it weeks in advance. The region had two free fare days in 2007 and six days in 2006. SJ Mercury 5/13/08
California Public Transit Advocates Urge No Funding Cuts -- Public transportation advocates are focused on the governor and legislature's commitment to allocate 50 percent of the so-called "spillover," a fund for public transit that increases when gas prices rise faster than inflation. With more than 80 percent of other transportation funds dedicated to roads and highways, the spillover has become the largest source of funding for public transit services. Environmental Newswire 5/13/08
The Bike Issue: Behind the pack -- San Francisco still has a higher per-capita rate of bicycle use than any major city in the United States, and that number has been steadily rising in recent years, even as construction of new bike facilities has stalled. It'll take at least another year for city officials to wrap up the environmental studies on the 56 proposed bike projects and get Judge Peter Busch to lift the injunction (see "Stationary biking," 5/16/07). But it's still an open question whether San Francisco's three-year hiatus will be followed by the rapid installation of new bike lanes and other facilities. SF Bay Guardian
Firms ride Bike to Work popularity -- On Thursday, tens of thousands of Bay Area workers are expected to participate in the Bay Area Bike to Work Day. A number of Bay Area employers are offering incentives to employees to bike, bus, BART, carpool, walk or even skate to work. SJ Mercury 5/13/08
Air Quality District unveils new fleet for Bike-to-Work Day -- It seemed preposterous that the Bay Area's smog control agency was telling its employees not to ride bikes on the job. Insurance wouldn't cover bike accidents on the job. As the East Bay's 15th Bike-to-Work Day dawns Thursday, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District will officially resolve its bicycling quandary. It will unveil its new fleet of bikes and helmets — including a fold-up bike to take on BART during peak hours — to satisfy its insurance company that it has control over bike safety on the job. Inside Bay Area 5/13/08
Infrastructure:
Railroad Resurgence: Uptick in freight hauling could mean changes for tracks near Truckee -- Before the country’s antiquated railroad infrastructure can consider the coming boost in train traffic, changes must be made to the outdated tracks and tunnels, including the Union Pacific rail line over Donner Summit. The California Transportation Commission is currently working with the Union Pacific Railroad on the Donner Project, a plan to construct 9.3 miles of second main track and to increase tunnel clearances for double-stacked freight trains. Nevada Appeal 5/14/08
OFFICIALS ACT TO PROTECT WATERS FROM INVASIVE MUSSEL SPECIES -- Water officials took the unprecedented step Tuesday of banning boating in all Santa Clara County reservoirs - at least until May 23. Citing the need to protect the local water supply from invasive shellfish that have hitchhiked to California on the bottoms of boats, they have barred all watercraft including canoes, kayaks, water bikes, motorboats and fishing boats. SJ Mercury 5/14/08
Air travel:
U.S. surprises EU with global airline ownership plan -- The United States proposed a deal on Tuesday to sweep away a global "spider's web" of airline ownership rules, taking the EU by surprise as it seeks a transatlantic deal for its airlines to buy their U.S. rivals. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation Affairs John Byerly said Washington had an open mind on Europe's long-standing demand to ease American restrictions on foreign ownership of U.S. airlines. Reuters 5/14/08
High-speed rail:
Umberg joins California High Speed Rail Authority's board -- California State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez recently appointed Thomas Umberg to the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) board. A litigation partner in the Orange County office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips L.L.P., Umberg has served three terms in the California legislature, most recently between 2004 and 2006. He was assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles and Orange County, and served in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Progressive Railroading 5/13/08
If you missed this morning's High-Speed Rail hour on KQED-FM's Forum, you can get an archived version of the show at this link. Judge Quentin Kopp appeared, as well as bay area reporter Erik Nelson, and Lee Harrington. California High Speed Rail Blog 5/12/08
California High-Speed Rail Authority Announces New Website with Virtual Trips Throughout the State -- the California High-Speed Rail Authority has developed a virtual tour that offers a sneak peak of what to expect once the first train leaves the station. The new website - complete with virtual trips, travel times, and estimated ticket prices - was launched last week and will be highlighted during the Authority's Board meeting on Wednesday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. at the Anaheim City Council Chambers. PR Newswire 5/13/08
Coast Guard:
*Drill will simulate oil spill off local coast -- The command team trained to respond to Northern California oil spills has gathered in Crescent City this week to practice its coordination and response to a mock massive ocean spill. The team includes the U.S. Coast Guard, the California Department of Fish and Game's Office of Spill Prevention and Response and shipping industry officials. Triplicate 5/14/08
Small fuel spill occurs north of San Francisco Bay -- A tugboat hit underwater pipes at a refinery located north of San Francisco Bay, spilling 1,500 gallons of fuel into the bay, a spokesman for Tesoro Corp's Golden Eagle Refinery said on Wednesday. The Coast Guard was handling cleanup in waters beneath the Benecia-Martinez Bridge after the tugboat Independence hit inactive Tesoro pipelines used to transfer fuel to ships after midnight, Tesoro spokesman Ken Dami said. Reuters 5/14/08
Shipping:
*Ocean shipping: Port Tracker report says traffic still lags 2007 pace -- Although traffic at U.S.-based retail container ports is expected to grow at a steady rate this summer, volumes are likely to remain at or below last year’s levels due to ongoing domestic economic troubles, according to the monthly Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation. Logistics Management 5/13/08
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