Emissions:
*Bay Area Getting $140 Million for Cleaner Freight Transport -- The Bay Area Goods Movement Program will provide more than $35 million this year for public and private entities to make their trucks, trains and harbor vehicles cleaner. The program, a collaboration between the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Air Resources Board, is accepting applications for grants until August 15. Grants are given to fund retrofits or replacements of engines and purchases of new equipment that reduce diesel emissions in advance of regulatory requirements. The Air Resources Board will provide $140 million in bond funding for the program over the next four years. Green Biz 6/17/08
Infrastructure and mass transit:
*Agencies offer year's only free rides Thursday -- Bay Area residents will get their lone chance at a free ride on Thursday when air quality and transportation officials try to lure more drivers out of their cars and onto buses, trains and ferries. In previous years, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission offered free rides on transit on Spare the Air Days - days when ozone levels were expected to exceed federal standards. SF Chronicle 6/17/08
Free ferry rides Thursday -- Vallejo Baylink ferry commuters can ride free Thursday morning through the "Dump the Pump" program by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Times Herald 6/17/08
*Bill would improve transportation -- The case in point is AB 3021, the bill introduced by Pedro Nava to authorize the California Transportation Finance Authority (CFTA). The CFTA was proposed by Treasurer Bill Lockyer to give local governments and regional agencies an alternative way to finance locally needed transportation infrastructure without going to Sacramento to ask permission from the Legislature. By authorizing local governments and agencies to charge tolls and sell bonds backed by these revenues, it would significantly increase the options for financing new transportation system capacity. Daily Bulletin 6/15/08
Overwhelmed by bikes, Caltrain seeks comments Monday night -- As the high cost of gasoline pushes more commuters onto Caltrain, the rail service says it has become overwhelmed by bicyclists wanting to take their bikes on the trains. Every weekday, the agency says, 2,400 people do so, and there is no reasonable way to make room for more on the trains. Locals will have an opportunity to comment on the issue Monday night at 6 p.m. in the Plaza Conference Room at Mountain View City Hall, 500 Castro St. Mountain View Voice 6/17/08
Tourism:
*State tourism leader addresses many issues in tough times -- The leader of a group representing all segments of the $740 billion travel industry called on California tourism leaders Monday to join forces and promote the "fragile" industry. Roger Dow told roughly 400 tourism industry leaders gathered for the 2008 California Conference on Tourism, "You're part of a state that gets it." Dow advised tourism professional to brace for a slowdown, predicting industry growth in 2008 of 1 to 2 percent. The Desert Sun 6/17/08
Not Just for Tourists; Transit Agencies Eye Double-Decker Buses -- When the San Francisco Muni was testing double-decker buses on some of the city's busier routes, regular passengers were a bit shocked and surprised not to see their typical Muni bus. Transit agencies see that they can add capacity to busy bus lines without taking up more space on the streets or in the maintenance yards. San Francisco Muni has been reviewing the pilot test comments. Muni reports that so far, they are mostly positive. The final report on the double-deckers will be finished later this year. Wired 6/17/08
High-speed rail:
HSR and the November Ballot -- The High Speed Rail bond is going to be on the November ballot regardless of what happens to AB 3034 - unless of course the legislature and Arnold Schwarzenegger decide to postpone it. Combined with the other $6 billion in bonds being proposed on the November ballot, voters - especially low-information voters – may get skittish about all the proposed taxes and spending plans. California High Speed Rail Blog 6/16/08
Shipping:
Greenpeace activists intercepts toxic electronic waste shipment in Hong Kong -- Greenpeace says its activists have boarded a cargo ship in Hong Kong to keep officials from unloading a container allegedly carrying toxic electronic waste from the U.S. Greenpeace says it has tracked the shipment of printed circuit boards since it left the Port of Oakland on May 30th. ABC 7 6/17/08
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