El Dorado County Transportation Digest

Following an incident in which a vehicle damaged the railing on January 12, the Mount Murphy Bridge in Coloma was closed for up to a month by the El Dorado County Department of Transportation. Read on to learn more.

While cities in California continue to pass ordinances to combat illegal sideshows, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several laws that go into effect this year statewide to give municipalities more legal tools to address them. 

For the second time this year, Mosquito Bridge in Placerville has been damaged by a vehicle on December 22, the first time being October 29. Read on to learn more about the results of an inspection by county officials and next steps.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decree that by 2035 all new cars sold in California must be powered by batteries or other zero-emission systems has received a double dose of legal and political support.

The US EPA granted California’s waiver, which the incoming Trump administration is likely to try to overturn in the courts. The state’s zero-emission vehicle mandates have been the driving force behind California’s progress in cleaning up dangerous air pollutants.

The Biden administration is awarding Inflation Reduction Act money to help clean the air before President-elect Trump takes over.

California has an aggressive mandate for zero-emission trucks, which are powered by electricity or hydrogen. But trucking companies face big obstacles — and people are still breathing dangerous diesel exhaust.

Learn more about the CalTrans plan to replace the Meeks Creek Bridge on State Route 89 and give your feedback during the comment period which closes on December 27.

Most ships discharging ballast water into California waters are inspected, but state officials have tested the water of only 16 ships. Experts say invaders like mussels are inevitable under current rules and enforcement.

The 100 year-old Newtown Road Bridge south of Camino is scheduled to be replaced in 2025. Read on for details about the project.

Experts don’t know how much gas prices may rise from the revised California climate program, which tightens standards and gives incentives for low-carbon fuels. The board ordered an annual review of the cost impacts.

Learn more about snow removal staffing shortages which will affect unincorporated parts of El Dorado County in the coming months.

The El Dorado Board of Supervisors have approved certification of the environmental impact report necessary to begin work on replacing the Bucks Bar Bridge.

California motorists buy and consume a billion gallons of gasoline each month and are very sensitive about pump prices, which are markedly higher than those in other states. Naturally, they are a political football.

The state air board will vote on changes to its landmark clean fuel program that would cut more greenhouse gases but could raise the cost of gas and diesel.

Tens of thousands of California ride-hailing drivers, and possibly more, could eventually get back pay after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that clears the way for the state and some cities to proceed with their lawsuits against Uber and Lyft.

Learn how to make give your input on the Tahoe Transportation District Short Range Transit Plan.

The state Senate signs off on Gov. Newsom’s bill to stop spikes in California gas prices. A final vote is scheduled on Monday.

On Aug. 31, when Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session on gas prices, California motorists were paying $4.61 per gallon on average, $1.27 more than the national average.
On October 7, when the state Senate finally convened, prices were $4.68 in California, or $1.51 above the national average.

The Assembly approves Gov. Newsom’s bill on oil refineries on a 44-17 vote. But the state Senate will have its say during the special session.

The governor wants new gas reserves to dampen seasonal price spikes. Refiners say the move would raise prices and require new storage tanks.

California is the seventh U.S. state to adopt mobile driver’s licenses for iPhones, part of a growing push by businesses and governments to make digital IDs commonplace.

California Highway Patrol officers received historically high raises in 2022 and 2023, but it continues to face a high vacancy rate of 16%.

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments is seeking public input through an online survey about what areas in the region are most in need of transportation investment.

The EPA must grant a waiver before the diesel truck measure can be implemented. It’s one of California’s most controversial measures to clean up air pollution and greenhouse gases.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is asking for public participation as it prepares the 25-year Connections 2050 Regional Transportation Plan.

Work on Ice House Road is underway through November.

The Tahoe Transportation District is holding two public meetings in August to discuss updates to its Short-Range Transit Plan.

Public chargers must be built at an unprecedented pace to meet the target in less than 7 years, and then doubled to 2 million in 2035. The high cost — $120,000 or more for one fast charger— is just one obstacle.

A Bay Area transit funding bill is delayed so supporters can seek consensus on how the money will be raised and distributed.

With the underground work and massive footers poured, forms for the support columns are being constructed for another massive cement pour of the project which began in September 2022 and is slated to be complete in late 2025 or early 2026.

The Tahoe Transportation District is expanding service along several routes.