Category: california

California bike politics and transportation funding

Richard MasonerNovember 12, 20153 Comments on California bike politics and transportation funding

California State Senator Jim Beall, the powerful head of the California Senate Transportation Committee who happens to represent most of Santa Clara County (aka “Silicon Valley”), is well known around these parts for his long-time friendliness to bike advocates going back at least 20 years to his time serving as a Santa Clara County Supervisor. The California Bicycle Coalition gave Senator Beall a 100% score in their recently released legislative voting record report, huzzah.

Senator Jim Beall bicycle voting record

Senator Beall’s contribution to the on-going Special Legislative Session for Transportation Funding is SBX 1-1, which calls for $4.3B in new taxes to mostly pay for road maintenance, but also contributes $300 million to the California Trade Corridor Improvement Plan. Beall has said specifically would like to see lanes added to the freeways serving the Port of Los Angeles using these funds. This won’t make him popular to Angelenos living along the Long Beach Freeway corridor.

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Posted In california | politics

California 2015 Active Transportation Program recommendations released

Richard MasonerSeptember 16, 20153 Comments on California 2015 Active Transportation Program recommendations released

Caltrans released their staff recommendations for the Statewide and Small Urban & Rural Components of the 2015 Active Transportation Program (ATP). ATP staff selected four Santa Cruz County projects among the 27 projects recommended for Small Urban & Rural funding statewide. The ATP commission must still approve the projects.


Teen girls

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Posted In california | news | santa cruz

What is a Mobility Plan, and how can you influence its outcome?

Richard MasonerAugust 12, 20152 Comments on What is a Mobility Plan, and how can you influence its outcome?

Several people have been talking about the dramatic shifts in transportation policy highlighted in the new Mobility Plan approved yesterday by the Los Angeles City Council. This Mobility Plan, which is an element of the city General Plan, is the official transportation policy for the city of Los Angeles.

la2b

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Posted In advocacy | california

“Bicycles must pull over” bill passes California legislature

Richard MasonerJuly 22, 20153 Comments on “Bicycles must pull over” bill passes California legislature

California Assembly Bill 208 passed both the Senate and the Assembly and currently awaits a concurrence vote before heading to Governor Jerry Brown for his veto. The intent of this bill is to clarify the existing slow-moving vehicle law so that bicycles along with any other slow moving vehicle must pull over whenever five or more vehicles are piled up behind the cyclist on a narrow two-lane road.

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Posted In california | law | politics