Michael Cabanatuan

East Bay Regional Park District

Trails and Rails Battle in San Francisco Bay Shoreline Park

Can freight trains and a scenic shoreline park along San Francisco Bay coexist, or are they incompatible uses? The East Bay Regional Park District voted to remove old rail tracks that BNSF Railway wants to reactivate. A local court may decide.

April 16, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco, California

Open for a Month, San Francisco's Transit Terminal Shut Down Due to Cracked Beams

The $2.2 billion Salesforce Transit Center, which opened to much celebration on Aug. 11, closed down abruptly Sept. 25 after workers found a cracked steel beam. A second cracked beam was later found. Work began Sunday to shore up the structure.

October 1, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Subway Turnstiles

Means-Based, Transit-Fare Discounts Take a Leap Forward in the Big Apple

The 2019 New York City budget includes $106 million to subsidize half the transit fare for qualified residents for six months. The city joins the ranks of Seattle, Toronto, and the Bay Area that offer income-based discounts for transit fares.

June 13, 2018 - The New York Times

Dockless Scooter

New Chapter in the San Francisco Scooter Wars: Removal

The city attorney vows to bring order to the streets (and sidewalks) of San Francisco by requiring electric scooter share companies to apply for permits. First step: all e-scooters must be removed by June 4, or risk a $100 fine per day per scooter.

May 29, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

BART Station

Nothing Conventional About It: BART Begins New Diesel Train Service

By building a diesel-powered train line for the 9.2-mile extension to Antioch in East Contra Costa County, BART saved almost $500 million and began service earlier than had it extended the existing line, though a transfer is required between trains.

May 26, 2018 - East Bay Times

Gaslamp Quarter

$4.3 Billion Awarded to California Transformative Projects from Gas Tax and Climate Fund

Two difficult votes last year, both requiring super-majorities, are paying huge dividends to 28 transformative projects throughout the Golden State to improve rail and transit service and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

April 30, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

USDOT Awards $96 Million to BRT Projects in Washington, Missouri and Commuter Rail in California

On April 9, FTA awarded $43 million for a new, 12-mile bus rapid transit line in Everett; $30 million to extend BRT 10 miles in Kansas City and $22.5 million to extend a North Bay commuter rail line two miles to a ferry terminal on San Francisco Bay.

April 17, 2018 - AASHTO Journal

Toll Road Truck

Praise for the Trump Infrastructure Plan

While there has been no lack of criticism (some might say condemnation) of the $200 billion investment that aims to generate an additional $1.3 trillion, some individuals and groups have stepped forward to praise the plan, or at least parts of it.

February 14, 2018 - DC Velocity

Dublin, California Freeway

Bay Area Express Lanes Turn a Profit

Not all of them, just the I-580 lanes. One of the reasons is that most users are actually paying, unlike the other two express lanes where a majority of users are clean-air vehicles or carpools, neither of which pay.

December 12, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco

Increased Tolls for Bay Area Bridges Headed for a Vote

It is now up to the Bay Area's transportation planning agency to determine when to ask voters to hike tolls on seven Bay Area bridges, by how much, and whether to phase the increase. A bill to allow voters to fund Caltrain was also signed.

October 17, 2017 - SF Gate

Bay Area's Newest Express Lanes Opened Monday

Due to the high level of existing congestion, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission warns motorists that the new I-680 Contra Costa Express Lanes will offer relief just before and after the peak commute hour.

October 11, 2017 - SF Gate

4-Wheeling

Can I Have a Diet Coke With That Ice Cream Sundae?

Essentially that's what UC Davis, Yale, and MIT researchers found among California families who purchase very fuel efficient vehicles—they also pair them with gas hogs. If your family owns two vehicles, do you meet the profile?

October 3, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

New Bay Area Commuter Rail Service Begins Today

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) train is set to start service Friday, running between Sonoma and Marin Counties in the Bay Area. Future extensions are planned that to take it to Larkspur for ferry service to San Francisco.

August 25, 2017 - SF Gate

BART Station

Why was BART's Ridership Forecast for Millbrae Station So Wildly Off-Base?

In 1995, planners forecasted that the Millbrae BART Station in San Mateo County, where riders can transfer to/from Caltrain, would attract 16,500 weekday riders. Fourteen years after it opened, ridership is 7,000. Planners were off by 58 percent.

July 16, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Lafayette BART

Passage of 12-Cent Gas Tax Hike Allows BART to Reduce Service Cuts

The gas tax bill couldn't pass soon enough for the Bay Area's metro system. Service cuts and fare increases, scheduled for approval April 13, were greatly reduced due to an unexpected $16 million BART will receive, and the bill has yet to be signed!

April 17, 2017 - SF Gate

Only a Year Old, Bay Area's Newest Express Lanes Rated a Success

A report produced by the county authority that built and operates the I-580 Express Lanes in the Bay Area declares them a success. Operating speeds are faster and congestion is reduced. About 11 percent of the freeway traffic uses the toll lanes.

March 21, 2017 - SF Gate

More Details of Bus Rapid Transit's Expanding Reach in San Francisco

The Geary bus corridor was the #1 pick for a subway according to a Muni survey, but commuters will have to settle for bus rapid transit. A milestone was reached when the San Francisco County Transportation Authority approved the design and EIR.

January 9, 2017 - SF Gate

Bus Lane

San Francisco's Red Carpet Transit Lanes to Continue Through March Evaluation

San Francisco's red, transit-only lanes are a demonstration project. The lanes first appeared in 2013 and were supposed to last two years, with state and federal regulators to determine whether they would continue. The state evaluation began Dec. 6.

December 30, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bay Bridge, New Year's Eve

Bay Area Voters May Be Asked to Hike Bridge Tolls 60 Percent

Before the ballot measure would go to voters, state legislation needs to be written, passed, and signed by Gov. Brown. The first step was taken Dec. 14, when the region's planning agency discussed the option. Tolls are $5, last raised $1 in 2010.

December 19, 2016 - SF Gate

'Back to Normal' for BART's East Bay Commuters...Maybe

Two 'good news' stories greeted suffering BART riders this past week. First, service was back to normal between North Concord and Pittsburg/Bay Point stations. Second, new cars have arrived, though they will not be put into service until December.

April 10, 2016 - ABC KGO TV 7 - San Francisco

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