I found the Auto Club of Southern California's report "The Quiet Crisis: Transportation and Mobility in Southern California" a bit schizophrenic. Many of its recommendations seem half-hearted, built on vague summaries of transportation research and policy developments occurring during the past decade. One often searches in vain for specifics or examples of new initiatives that would carry forward their recommendations. Why in discussing new roads is no mention made of the innovative Community and Environmental Transportation Acceptability Process in Riverside County? [http://www.rcip.org/transportation.htm or 877 735-RCIP] It could be a model for dealing with the pressure to build new roads in north L.A. county. How can one seriously take the assertion on page 19 that we should consider in urban environments "...additional freeway levels below-grade and urban vehicle tunnels" on the thin justification "[They] are likely to be expensive, but not providing additional capacity will be more so". Also troubling is the mantra that 'performance measures' comparing potential investments across modes should prioritize spending (pages 12, 36). Determining cost/benefit for the automobile is problematic. Even the report stumbles over the negatives of car use (traffic deaths, social equity) and often prescribes simplistic solutions to gloss over their seriousness. I am struck how more than once the primacy of the auto in the hierarchy of transportation is reasserted ("...the backbone of mobility" p.10). Perhaps this reflects the current diminished state of the Auto Club. AAA once wielded vast influence over transportation policy, working hand in hand with Highway Departments and politicians in its pursuit of massive road construction/expansion. Now phrases like "bottlenecks" and "road management" are its stock in trade. Cassandra-like it speaks of a crisis and predicts "Southern California must have additional road capacity" (p.11) . Yet it seems often clueless, offering politically untenable recommendations such as privatization of public transit (p.32) and road design (p.37). One ends with sense of AAA being a helpless giant, pitiful amidst its crumbling kingdom. I do agree with the report that pavement maintenance should be a priority. And some of the funding proposals in the final chapter are intriguing. But the overall sense one has of this key player in the dialogue regarding the future of our transportation system is disturbing. The report is on the Auto Club's website: http://www.aaa-calif.com/ members/corpinfo/qc/quietcrisis.asp or request a copy by calling (714) 885-2300.

Hank Dittmar is expanding his Great American Stations Foundation into a transit oriented development clearinghouse. This includes information gleaned from the study of past TOD projects and their perceived success or failings: http://www.transittown.org/

Quote of the month: "Fully funding federal education reforms enacted in January, grade separations for the Alameda Corridor-East project and the extension of the Gold Line light rail to Claremont" Congressman Adam Schiff on his top priorities, Oct. 23 Pasadena Star News.

Ho hum, the BRU is holding yet another rally Nov. 14 at L.A. City Hall. This entails activating the phone bank at BRU Central entreating anyone whose phone number they have collected over the years to come and join the historic struggle of the underclass. The sad thing is Mann's perpetual protest strategy has been getting diminished returns - his last few rallies have garnered spare if any media coverage. About all they are achieving is recommitting the troops to the cause. And I wonder whether the number of true believers who respond to the call to action isn't also dwindling over time.

Chris Flescher has brought to my attention that the University of Akron Press is about to release "Transport of Delight: The Mythical Conception of Rail Transit in Los Angeles" by Jonathan E. D. Richmond. I am hoping to obtain a copy and review it in a future newsletter.

The El Monte Station and adjacent MTA Division 9 Bus yard is the focus of a master-planning effort among key stakeholders: MTA, Foothill, Caltrans, L.A. County Sheriff, and Greyhound. This dovetails with plans the city of El Monte has for its nearby Civic Center. As the proposal will take several years to implement in the interim Foothill will be proceeding with a downscaled version of its original plans to rehabilitate the station. This will include remodeling/ reopening the transit store, improving the public restrooms and installing electronic arrival signs.

While Norm King of the San Bernardino Associated Governments just about bursts a blood vessel in denouncing Prop 51 and Jerry Meral in the Oct. Metro Investment Report, California Secretary of Resources Mary Nichols in the same issue in a few sentences deflates the ire aimed at Meral by outraged bureaucrats and legislators: "[Meral] probably spent more time vetting this proposition with all of the stakeholder groups and received more input than most measures passed by the Legislature". Amen!

simplistic transportation solution of the month: "By transferring just 25 percent of cargo shipments from highway trucks to freight rail, the savings for commuters will be measured not only in dollars but also in time, money and frustration" -- Wendell Cox ("Putting Freight on Trains Can Ease L.A. Drive", Daily News Oct. 14).

MTA will be holding three planning workshops during Nov. and Dec. to discuss station design and planning for the Exposition Light Rail project. When specific location, dates and times are announced we will place the information on the front page of our website and send a cyber-bulletin to members.

I'll conclude by offering congratulations to Howard Silver, a board member of the Golden Empire Transit District in Bakers-field, on being re-elected to a second one year term as Vice Chair representing transit board members on the American Public Transit Association Executive Committee. Also GET can take pride in the 3rd place finish of operator Felix Teston at APTA's 27th International Bus Roadeo in the 35 foot bus category. Way to go, Howard and Felix!