Transportation in the news - the Bay Area and beyond

Here are some key headlines around the Bay Area and beyond...

In local Bay Area News....

VTA Board approves first phase of BART extension to the Silicon Valley. Highlighted in a post last week, Skanska-Shimmick-Herzog, a joint venture of three construction design firms was awarded a $772 M contract to build the first phase of the BART extension to San Jose's Berryessa district. Santa Clara County's VTA board approved the contract to build the 10 mile extension in a unanimous vote last week.

Supervisor Chuck Yeager has been choosen to be the new the VTA Board chair the upcoming year. In a KLIV-AM radio interview Yeager stressed the need to keep bus and light rail ridership up due to the high fixed operating costs for the systems. Key projects for the year in Santa Clara county will be getting the Interstate 880/280 interchange project back on track (see below), the county's first BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), and the viability of Caltrain.

In another sign that the Silicon Valley continues to flex its political muscle, local transportation leaders have asked Caltrans to open a local office. Local VTA officials cite recent delays in major projects such as the Interstate 880/280 interchange, toll lanes on 237, and improvements to the south county portion of 101.

San Francisco County Transportation Authorities will conduct an open house this evening to highlight plans for the Bay Bridge western span. Earlier studies have concluded that the best option is to cantilever a path to the sides of the existing bridge.

A Napa County task force  (Napa County Register) representing commercial, agricultural, and taxpayer interests within the county have recommended the agency put a half-cent transportation sales tax on the ballot next November. Napa County is one of many Bay Area agencies that have had to tackle the increasing cost of road maintenance.

Other Transportation News

Amanda Eaken comments on a recently published report by the Urban Land Institute.  In a recent blog post titled "Has the sun set on suburban sprawl in Southern California?", she states that from now into the near future; or at least until 2035 the supply of single family homes on traditional lots will far exceed demand. Demand will come from central cities and concentrated developments near transit.

Proving that political and financial support for solo occupant auto commuting is often the unintended consequences of ill conceived policies, a recent New York Times article traces the history of this gift to suburban drivers. For those of you who read last week's posts, I recently mentioned my own bewilderment over such a anachronistic policy.



And don't forget this Friday, December 16th....San Jose Bike Party's Pajama ride on the East Side...don't forget to dress weather appropriate.