Transportation (News)

Caltrain considers raising fares to cover fuel

Editor2 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

by Rachel Gordon

Caltrain commuters, many of whom were lured out of their cars to save money at the gas pump, may be paying higher fares to help offset the commuter rail agency's own rising fuel costs.

In April 2007, when Caltrain last raised fares, a gallon of diesel fuel to run the trains was almost $2.30; at the end of last week, the price was $3.39. In early July, the cost skyrocketed to $4.25, showing the volatility of fuel prices.

During the last fiscal year, Caltrain spent almost $11 million on fuel; this year's fuel budget was set at $14.4 million - but even that may not be enough, officials say.

VTA Strike Avoided For Now

Editor2 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

San Jose, Cailf. (KCBS/Mercury News) -- The union representing some 1,400 Santa Clara Valley bus and light rail workers threatened to hold a strike vote Wednesday, but Michael Burns, General Manager of the Valley Transportation Authority, says the two sides are still talking.

“We have requested that they have come back to the bargaining table and they have agreed… that’s good news. We hope that we’ll be successful in collective bargaining and coming to an agreement.”

Burns says a strike would be catastrophic and would potentially shutdown the entire transit system.

SMART train critical to green transportation strategy

Editor2 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

By Charles McGlashan

MY FRIEND and colleague Hal Brown listed some great ideas for reducing car trips in his Marin Voice column ("Some real alternatives to SMART," Aug. 17).

Providing financial incentives for employees to carpool, walk, bike or take public transit is a necessary step to get cars off the road and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it has been working well since the county introduced the Green Commute program last year.

Allowing and encouraging more telecommuting also can be an effective tool for employers to reduce vehicle trips by their employees.

Eliminating California's suburban sprawl

Editor2 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

By Paul Rogers

For 30 years, as California's growing population led to sprawling suburbs, traffic jams and fewer farms, attempts to craft statewide laws to stop it have failed again and again.

City councils worried about losing local control. Property rights advocates bristled. And the ranch house with a backyard — the centerpiece of Sunset magazine and the Brady Bunch lifestyle — proved a powerful symbol.

But now, in what many observers are calling the most significant environmental bill of this year's state legislative session, builders and environmentalists have found common ground on a compromise they hope will limit global warming by changing where homes are built.

Commentary: The Ripple Effects of Bus Rapid Transit

Editor2 — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

By Russ Tilleman

Business is Booming for BART

Editor2 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

By : Jim Knowles

here’s a lot of gloomy talk about the economy but business has never been better for BART.

More people than ever are commuting on Bay Area Rapid Transit, said Bob Franklin, a member of the BART board of directors. But the increase in passengers – up to 380,000 riders a day – is presenting other problems for BART.

“Daily ridership is up now,” Franklin said. “People in some areas are fighting for a BART station, but here in San Leandro, you have two stations.”

But with the added passengers, BART is taking out some seats on trains and adding more handrails, meaning more standing and less sitting during peak hours.

Study finds congestion pricing doesn't hurt the poor

Editor2 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Hymon

One of the long-held arguments against congestion pricing or toll lanes is that they're not fair to low-income users. The tolls are the same for everybody and low-income earners get hit the hardest, so goes that line of thinking.

In fact, pretty much every politician I spoke to in the San Gabriel Valley has raised that point when talking about the proposal to convert the carpool lane on the 10 and possibly the 210 freeways into toll lanes.

Two local academics have concluded otherwise: tolls are a pretty fair way of raising money to build road capacity. In fact, they say, it's fairer than most other funding schemes.

Bay Area transit agencies to swap ideas

Editor2 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

by Eric Young

Top technology executives at several Bay Area transit agencies have begun a forum to discuss issues of common concern.

The Bay Area Transportation CIO Forum is the first of its kind in the region, bringing together chief information officers from AC Transit, BART, Caltrain, the ports of Oakland and San Francisco, San Francisco International Airport, Muni and SamTrans.

The group said it expects to meet on a quarterly basis to swap ideas on issues such as disaster planning, security and wi-fi.

Bay Area transit systems creak under new strains

Editor2 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

by Eric Young

With ridership on the upswing, the Bay Area’s transit operators are squeezing more efficient operations from aging fleets.

San Francisco’s Muni is undertaking the most thorough review of its operations in 25 years as it rethinks routes, frequency and boarding procedures. The East Bay’s AC Transit system is timing streetlights to give buses along two major routes the right-of-way and hopes to expand that and other efficiency concepts to more of its lines. Caltrain, which continues to enjoy a ridership boost on its express service, is trying to line up funding so it can switch to more efficient electric-powered locomotives.

Bill Approved to Ease Bay Area Traffic, Reduce Auto Pollution

Editor2 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Yee’s legislation would enact $1 vehicle fee to improve freeways

SACRAMENTO – The California State Assembly today approved legislation authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) to reduce traffic congestion and auto pollution in the Bay Area. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) will have until September 30 to sign or veto the measure.