News Briefs
Bay Crossings Staff Report
Published: April, 2007
Air Quality Board Changes Spare the Air Days
The new plan extends the current three free roundtrip transit days to four on Muni, BART and buses, and also changes the three free days on Caltrain and ferries to four free one-way trips. Spare the Air days occur when ozone levels exceed Federal health standards.
Air Quality Concern on the Inside
Connecticut Transportation officials reacted with concern when learning a Clean Air Task Force discovered high levels of diesel exhaust inside commuter trains in New York City and Boston. These findings have implications for California’s commuter trains, buses and ferries.
MTC Arranges Feud to End
The long-standing fight, which at times has turned into a brawl, between SamTrans and BART over excessive costs and low ridership for the Millbrae extension now appears to be over. The incredibly complex document outlining the terms had yet to be approved by press time, but, so far, everyone is making friendly noises.
CTC to Award Congestion Funds
California Transportation Commission has awarded $1.29 billion to be aimed at highway congestion issues, primarily aimed at local Interstate 101 and State Routes 4 and 24. This is Proposition 1 Bond funds and does not affect other transportation funding.
Rideshare to Offer Rewards
Rideshare, the 511 program with its free phone and web site service helping to match commuters with carpools, is again offering a $10 gift certificate for either gas or Safeway Markets to those who switch to a carpool for a full work week. Each week thereafter, the commuter will receive another certificate up to a total value of $100.
BART Polls Its Riders
And finds them generally happy with service, speed and price (who’s ever happy about price?) But ratings fell on general cleanliness of cars, windows and stations. BART had been running longer trains without all the necessary personnel to clean them, and is reviewing that policy. Another experiment to be tried is linoleum floors – easier to clean than carpet.
Ticket Fraud Hits All Systems
BART has recently announced a correction to its fare machines where the magnetic strip was modified to read higher. Various BART ticket scams have cost the system about $300,000 each year. Both Muni and the ferries have also seen ticket scams and fraudulent passes.
Surprise! Bay Bridge Costs to Rise
This time the bill is for $140 million to help fund a by-pass on the Yerba Buena approach. Officials say that this expense will save time and money later.
