Shipping:
*Imports recover at most US ports in April -- Exports posted mixed results in April against March, but year-on-year it showed robust growth, due to exchange rates. Up the coast, imports to the Port of Oakland rose more than 10 percent in April against March but fell nearly four percent against last April. Oakland's exports grew nearly four percent in April versus March and almost 14 percent versus last April. Cargo News Asia 6/11/08
Bar pilots brave a treacherous Bay -- San Francisco bar pilots bring in vessels from Monterey to Sacramento, about 10,000 "moves" a year, coming and going. Since the amalgamation of bar and river pilots in 1984, San Francisco Bar Pilots have maintained a safety record of 99.74 percent of all vessel movements in the Bay without pilot error, according to statistics from the pilots association. Inside Bay Area 6/11/08
*Cosco Busan ship pilot Cota could face fines, prison time -- The federal attorney has accused Cota of two misdemeanors under the Clean Water Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. He could be sentenced to a maximum of 18 months in federal prison and $115,000 in fines. Cota also faces two felony charges of lying in Coast Guard annual medical reports, in 2006 and 2007. It has been revealed during investigations that he has been on prescription drugs for sleep apnea and has two DUI convictions. Inside Bay Area 6/11/08
Infrastructure and mass-transit:
*AC Transit to pitch $48 property tax -- Directors for the East Bay's largest bus agency will meet at 5 p.m. today to consider a new $48-a-year parcel tax increase aimed at staving off fare increases. AC Transit's board of directors had been scheduled to consider a fare increase, including raising base fares from $1.75 to $2 and a highly controversial youth pass boost from $15 to $28 a month. Contra Costa Times 6/11/08
*Gov. Schwarzenegger commits $36M for BART upgrades -- BART will receive $36 million to modernize its 43 stations, replace aging equipment and improve station signs, as part of a $136 million slate of transportation projects announced Tuesday by Gov. Schwarzenegger. The funds come from Proposition 1B, a $20 billion bond measure approved by California voters in November 2006. A total of 99 transportation projects will benefit from the funds allocated Tuesday. East Bay Business Times 6/11/08
Bay Area transit agencies awarded $60 million -- Bay Area transit agencies are set to receive more than $60 million in state transportation funding, with the biggest chunk going to BART for station improvements, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Tuesday. SamTrans gets $8 million to buy 126 buses that will be more fuel efficient and cleaner burning than the existing fleet. SF Chronicle 6/11/08
Diverting transit funds now would harm state for years -- Ironically, just when the public has started parking their cars and giving public transit a try, the governor has once again proposed to raid transportation funding to plug the state's gaping budget deficit. This shift of funding represents opportunity costs, which may not show up on a balance sheet, yet will be felt by millions of California residents for years to come. SJ Mercury 6/11/08
Major grants from DOT for Nevada roads -- Nevada Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign today announced more than $6 million in grant funding for the Department of Transportation (DOT). The funds will be used to ease traffic congestion and fix roadway problems in southern, northern and rural parts of the state. KRNV 6/11/08
Emissions:
Motorcycles and emissions: The surprising facts -- In California, motorcycles and scooters make up 3.6% of registered vehicles and 1% of vehicle miles traveled, yet they account for 10% of passenger vehicles' smog-forming emissions in the state. In fact, the average motorbike is about 10 times more polluting per mile than a passenger car, light truck or SUV, according to a California Air Resources Board comparison of emissions-compliant vehicles. Motorcycles and scooters are, on average, about twice as fuel efficient as cars. They also produce greater amounts of a smog-forming emission called oxides of nitrogen. LA Times 6/11/08
No comments:
Post a Comment