In a stunning rebuke of duplication ideology the MTA Sector Councils refused to at this time trim lines merely because local munis share portions of the same corridors. This just one fight in this ongoing struggle, as MTA staff seem determined to push this stupidity (which to me ranks with the OCTA's Straightlining debacle of 2000). We will continue to argue for rationality over shortsighted penny-pinching.

I recently stumbled across a "case study" the Bus Riders Union from one of their current funders (who have given them nearly million dollars over the past 4 years): http://www.caseygrants.org/documents/casestudies/Busriders_Union.pdf

It was gratifying to be able to thank L.A. Times reporter Caitlin Liu for saving lives by forcing action be taken regarding the dangerous situation in North Hollywood station with the Orange Line terminus mid-block across from the subway station. Faced with bad publicity the L.A. Dept. of Transportation belated committed to placing a crosswalk with flashing red light at the crossing instead of having patrons jaywalk. As I was quoted in the Sept. 14 L.A. Times ("Valley Express Busway to Get Crosswalk at Transfer Stop), "Well, thank god someone realized [a crosswalk was needed] before someone got killed!"

Heretofore I have been lukewarm on the proposed Perata/Torlakson bond (SB 1024). Now I've learned the latest revision includes $1 billion for the high speed rail project that may actually be more useful than the pending $10 billion rail bond.

Meanwhile Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed Senate Bill 275, which we supported and had sent a letter urging he sign it. This would have provided a statewide assessment of transportation investment needs. In his veto message the Governor wrongheadedly derided the need for such a study which just last year none other than the respected Legislative Analyst's Office stated is needed) and griped about the stalling of his GoCalifornia legislative package. How petty and short-sighted!

Remember the comments I quoted last month of Foothill Transit staff expressing concern at escalating operational cost trends? I've now run across similar concerns voiced by the Riverside County Transportation Commission staff at the Commission's July 13 meeting.

Another troubling trend: MTD of Santa Barbara County is talking with the city of Santa Barbara about using traffic monitoring cameras on upper State St. to "capture designated bus information ... to monitor the arrival and departure time of these buses" (agenda item #10, MTD Board Sept. 13 meeting). And MV Transportation will installing DriverCam, Driver Behavior Management System, on all Access Service owned vehicles operated by them in the Fernando Valley. This is a digital event recorder intended to reduce incidents by monitoring driving (mostly pointed toward the road). Strangely while ASI worries in staff report (agenda item 12, ASI Board Sept. 19 meeting) at length about invading the privacy of passengers it is mute regarding privacy rights of the drivers..

Speaking of ASI, consultant Nelson/Nygard has just completed the first performance evaluation of ASI: http://www.asila.org/accessparatransit/Newsletter/index.cfm available in Word or PDF] finally obtained the outline of remarks< ASI's General Counsel at its Community Advisory Committee meeting on July 12. Counsel deals with everything from the of governing boards to the exact requirements of ADA in re complimentary paratransit. I hope with some help to scan post this document shortly on our website, along with some others I believe deserve wider exposure.

Fact of the month: by participating in "cooperative" procurement with LACMTA ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel MTD of Santa Barbara County estimates during the past 2 years it saved about $25,000 in fuel costs.

Goods movement is a phrase I have hearing more and more over the past years. Simply put, it is the movement freight and commodities, especially to from the ports. The Southern California Association of Governments recently released its action plan for goods movement: www.scag.ca.gov/goodsmove/pdf/GoodsmovePaper0305.pdf . And it also hired Prof. Leachman of U.C. Berkeley evaluate how private investment can be garnered for goods movement projects. Leachman concludes if improvements produce congestion relief shippers will be convinced to make such investments via container fees: http://www.scag.ca.gov/goodsmove/pdf/FinalElasticityReport0905.pdf

The draft north coastal rail route (aka LOSSAN) strategic business plan is now available: http://www.sandag.org/programs/transportation/public_transit/LOSSAN/2005_LOSSAN_north_corridor.pdf

Fact 2: The Metro Transportation Library is the fourth largest transportation library in the U.S.; after UC Berkeley, Northwestern University and the Volpe Transportation Center. It also contains the second highest number of unique items not found in any other transportation library, only UC Berkeley has more. (source: Metro Transportation Library)

I'll conclude by noting the passing of Ralph Melching, a founding member of the Pacific Railroad Society (originally Railroad Boosters). He was active in many aspects of PRS over the years, lately with the society’s Museum in San Dimas. He will be missed.