Governor Brown Signs Cap and Trade Extension
California's landmark cap-and-trade bill was signed today by Governor Jerry Brown. It was a speech-filled occasion: a victory celebration, a moment to crow--and a chance to warn of the existential threat of climate change.
July 26, 2017
Help Ensure that S.B. 1 Tax Money Is Wisely Spent
While there is a push to make quick decisions and get projects on the ground fast, there is also counter pressure to take enough time to get these decisions right. There won't be another opportunity to raise money for transportation any time soon.
July 11, 2017
Legislative Update: Greenhouse Gas Targets, Rolling Turns, Fare Evasion, Disabled Placards, BART Housing
The Assembly Transportation Committee heard and passed along several bills this week.
June 30, 2017
A Conversation with Caltrans Sustainability Chief Ellen Greenberg
Greenberg's job is to work across all the different programs within Caltrans to guide and offer resources for meeting the department's sustainability goals, including interior goals--like efficient energy and water use--and external goals relating to the state transportation system.
June 21, 2017
CA Crosswalk Bill Moves Forward, Bike Stop/Yield Bill on Hold
The pedestrian countdown crossing bill is a needed update to an outdated law. The stop-sign-as-yield bill upsets people who don't understand its intent.
May 10, 2017
CA Legislative Update: “Idaho Stop” and Pedestrian Signals to Be Heard Next Week
Two bills very pertinent to bicyclists and pedestrians are set for their first committee hearings in the California legislature on Monday's Assembly Transportation Committee. One would allow bike riders to roll through stop signs--when safe; the other would make clear that pedestrians are allowed to cross while their signals are counting down.
May 5, 2017
CA Legislative Update: Transit Passes, Transportation Commission Representation, Automated Speed Cameras
A bill to create a statewide youth transit pass program passed the Assembly Transportation Committee, as did one that would require that at least one member of the California Transportation Commission represent low-income communities. Another bill, to create a pilot program to use automated speed enforcement cameras in San Francisco and San Jose, was put off for a year.
April 26, 2017
Bill to Stymie 710 Tunnel Stymied by Asm Transportation Committee
A bill that would have ended consideration of a potential tunnel on the 710 freeway through Pasadena fell short of votes. Assembly Transportation Committee members hesitated to step into what they call a "local issue."
April 21, 2017
Webinar Offered Wednesday: How to Set Up a Bicycle Traffic Diversion Program
A California bill passed in 2015 allows bicyclists who get tickets to attend "bike traffic school" and reduce their fines, but currently there are few places where that is possible. The California Bicycle Coalition will present a webinar on how to get a diversion program started.
April 11, 2017
Appeals Court Rules That Cap-and-Trade Is Not a Tax
The court ruled that California's cap-and-trade system involves voluntary participation and the purchase of a commodity with value—neither of which are “the hallmarks of a tax.”
April 7, 2017
