Infrastructure:
Bay Area traffic delays near dot-com boom levels -- Traffic delays along several of the Bay Area's most congested freeway corridors was up in 2007 as hours wasted in the car kept pace with job growth, according to a report released Wednesday. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Caltrans report shows that the region experienced 161,700 vehicle hours of delay during the morning and afternoon commute periods on an average weekday during 2007 -- second only to the 177,600 hours recorded in 2000 at the height of the dot-com boom. Bizjournals 5/15/08
Bike to Work event meets record-setting heat -- Exactly how many Bay Area commuters hopped on their bikes is unknown for yesterday’s Bike to Work Day, but the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency counted cars and bicycles heading east on Market Street at Van Ness Avenue and found that cyclists accounted for nearly two-thirds of the traffic. Between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., the survey logged 812 bicycles and 403 cars. Organizers attributed increase in participation over years prior to area gas prices surpassing $4 a gallon along with ever-increasing concern over emissions from cars and trucks that cause global warming. SF Chronicle 5/16/08
High-speed rail:
"Air Quality is the Key" to the Central Valley's Future -- In contrast to Southern California and Bay Area HSR critics like Martin Engel, the Central Valley is very strongly supportive of the project. Central Valley politicians like Cathleen Galgiani have helped provide leadership at the state level, and Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) has been a strong advocate of HSR, helping create the project when he was in the state legislature and helping build support for it in Congress. California High Speed Rail Blog 5/15/08
Tourism:
Canadian Gay community applauds California's embrace of same-sex marriage but fears economic effect -- When the court's ruling takes effect in 30 days, Toronto's same-sex wedding industry will face a new challenge from the Golden State: Gay and lesbian couples from any place in the U.S. will be able to wed anywhere from San Diego to San Francisco. This could stem the tide of visitors seeking same-sex marriages in Canada and shift that tourist money to California. Toronto Star 5/16/08
Bay Area Emergency Response:
*Grand jury calls on county to prepare for the worst -- The Napa County Grand Jury called on the Napa County Office of Emergency Services this week to better prepare for a Bay Area emergency, guessing that Napa County would likely be a haven for urban disaster refugees. The grand jury report suggested that following potential large-scale emergencies in heavily populated areas of the Bay Area, Napa County would likely become a “lifeboat” for disaster refugees. Napa Valley Register 5/16/08
*FEDERAL OIL SPILL PREVENTION BILL PASSES SENATE COMMITTEE -- One of a few federal bills intended to buoy the U.S. Coast Guard's emergency management authority and avert catastrophic oil spills like the one in San Francisco Bay in November passed a Congressional committee Thursday. The Oil Spill Prevention Act, a bill cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., passed the Senate's Commerce Committee and will now be considered by the full Senate, Boxer's office reported. The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., would require protective double hulls around the fuel tanks of newly built non-tanker ships with a capacity of at least 600 cubic meters of fuel. CBS 5 5/16/08
U.S. Issues Strategy to Prevent Small Boat Terrorist Attacks -- The Bush Administration wants to enlist America’s 80 million recreational boaters to help reduce the chances that a small boat could deliver a nuclear or radiological bomb somewhere along the 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline and inland waterways. On April 28, officials released the plan, which asks states to develop and enforce safety standards for recreational boaters and asks them to look for and report suspicious behavior on the water — much like a neighborhood watch program. The Log 5/15/08
Mass transport:
Caltrans to continue suicide barrier project -- Public debate continued Thursday over plans for a suicide barrier atop the Cold Springs Arch Bridge on scenic Highway 154, but a Caltrans official made it clear the agency intends to proceed with the controversial project. Lompoc Record 5/16/08
Ports and shipping:
*Port of Oakland fights trucking industry over driver status -- Port officials are considering whether to require that truck companies hire drivers rather than employ them as independent contractors. Trucking industry officials threatened to go to court to block mandates that truck companies hire drivers. The American Trucking Association said it is preparing a lawsuit against the Port of Los Angeles, the nation's busiest, which recently adopted a plan calling for truck drivers to be employees. Bizjournals 5/16/08
Air travel:
Airbus, Honeywell team up on biofuel for commercial jets -- Planemaker Airbus and diversified manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. on Thursday said they are developing a biofuel that by 2030 could satisfy nearly a third of the worldwide demand from commercial aircraft, without affecting food supplies. Along with JetBlue Airways Corp. and International Aero Engines, they plan to produce fuel from vegetation- and algae-based oils that do not compete with existing food production or land and water resources. SF Chronicle 5/16/08
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