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Nevada County Transportation Digest



California Needs a Million EV Charging Stations — but That’s ‘Unlikely’ and ‘Unrealistic’

07/15/2024

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.

Road Work in Nevada County Starts June 24

06/18/2024

Road resurfacing and rehabilitation work is scheduled for June 24 through the end of July 2024 in a number of Nevada County neighborhoods.

June is Truckee Bike Month

06/05/2024

To get people outside and on two wheels, Truckee is celebrating bike month with events and contests.

Why a Bay Area Transit Rescue Plan Is on Hold

05/31/2024

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

Mosquito Ridge Road Reopens

05/22/2024

Closed since the 2022 Mosquito Fire, the Mosquito Ridge Road in the Tahoe National Forest has been repaired and reopened.

Nevada County Transportation Survey Closes May 9

04/24/2024

Nevada County is seeking public input for a survey on a pedestrian improvement plan for a roundabout at the Ridge Road and Rough & Ready Highway intersection closes May 9.

Electric Vehicle Drivers May Not Be Able to Ride Solo in Calif. Carpool Lanes Anymore

04/09/2024

A program that allows solo drivers of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to use carpool lanes on freeways and bridges in California may be removed for good next year.

Part of Highway 1 Near Big Sur Crumbles as New Landslide Closes More of Historic Roadway

03/30/2024

Highway 1 is closed indefinitely from Palo Colorado Road to Rocky Creek Bridge, the California Department of Transportation said on social media after a new landslide eroded part of the roadway.

Capital Improvement Plan to be Released

03/22/2024

Nevada County staff have prepared a $56M+ Capital Improvement Plan to be presented to the Board of Supervisors with a focus on maintenance of local bridges and roads.

Snowplow Naming Contest Winner Announced

03/21/2024

With 3,000 Californians submitting entries, the winners of the CalTrans snow plow naming contest have been announced.

Upcoming Highway 49 Work Outlined

03/10/2024

Projects to improve safe access and widen lanes and add shoulders to improve the highway as an evacuation route are in the early stages.

Waymo Approved to Start Robotaxi Service in Los Angeles and San Mateo Counties.

03/01/2024

On March 1, the California Public Utilities Commission gave approval for driverless taxi company Waymo to expand service into Los Angeles and San Mateo counties.

California EV Sales Are Falling. Is It Just Temporary, or a Threat to State Climate Goals?

02/14/2024

California electric vehicle sales dropped significantly in the last half of 2023, raising questions about the state’s ability to phase out gas-powered cars.

Cargo Traffic Jumped at L.A. and Long Beach Ports in January

02/14/2024

The San Pedro ports had a busy January as they rebounded from last year’s labor troubles and picked up cargo redirected because of Suez and Panama canal troubles.

Controversial California Bill Would Physically Stop New Cars From Speeding

01/25/2024

The proposed bill would require new California cars to have a speed limiter.

Electric Rail to Las Vegas Keeps Rolling with New Federal Funding Approved

01/24/2024

A project to connect Los Angeles and Las Vegas via electric high speed rail could break ground in early 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced.

A Guide to License Plates

01/23/2024

The numbers and letters on your car can reveal more than you think.

Two New Libraries in Nevada County to be Considered by Supervisors

01/20/2024

A new location for the Bear River Library will be announced at the Nevada County Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 23 in the chambers of the Eric Rood Administrative Center in Nevada City.

Caltrans Launches Its First Ever Snowplow Naming Contest

01/17/2024

Caltrans and the California Office of Traffic Safety are injecting a flurry of fun into this season of inclement weather by inviting Californians to participate in the first Caltrans Snowplow Naming Contest.

State Trying to Use Generative AI to Reduce Traffic

01/08/2024

Caltrans has set a Jan. 25 deadline for tech companies to show how generative artificial intelligence might reduce traffic congestion in the state. This follows an executive order that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September related to this type of AI.

Snow Shortage Followed by Potential Whiteout in Sierras

01/05/2024

Heavy snow is projected in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Previously, warmer storms had been bringing precipitation mainly to higher elevations in the Sierras.

Driverless Cars Can’t Be Ticketed in SF for Speeding or Running Red Lights

01/03/2024

San Francisco police officers have been operating for more than a year with guidance from their chief that California’s vehicle code doesn’t provide authority for them to ticket driverless cars for infractions like speeding or running red lights. Officers are still encouraged to report relevant information about incidents.

Kern County Is Poised to Become Warehousing’s Next Frontier

12/19/2023

Farmland is being rezoned for industrial use, and massive warehouses are being built on spec near communities like Buttonwillow and Shafter, so goods coming through the Southern California ports can be shipped quickly throughout the western United States.

Protesters Calling for Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Shut Down 110 Freeway

12/13/2023

A group of protesters sat down with interlocked arms on the 110 Freeway near downtown LA on Dec. 13, halting southbound traffic for more than an hour. Multiple people were arrested according to the CHP.

Commute Times Highlight Income Divide

12/13/2023

Higher-income workers are more likely to work from home, analysis of recent census data shows. Lower-income workers can face long and solitary commutes to get to work.

High-Speed Rail Project Connecting SoCal to Las Vegas Wins Grant

12/05/2023

Private company Brightline secured a $3 billion grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation toward a 218-mile high-speed rail line from Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas. The line would allow people to make the trip to Sin City in a little over two hours.

Oakland Might Have to Pay Developers Millions Over Coal Terminal

12/04/2023

An Alameda County judge ruled on Nov. 22 that the city of Oakland thwarted a proposed coal export terminal. The judge will rule if the developer who sued is entitled to $159 million in damages or moving forward with the project.

DMV Shift Appears to Spur Drop in ‘No Party Preference’ Voter Sign-Ups

12/04/2023

The California Department of Motor Vehicles changed its voter registration process in 2019 to put a party selection dropdown on the same page. Since then, the number of people registering as Republicans or Democrats has jumped close to 20 points.

Express Lanes Open on Interstate 405

12/01/2023

The Orange County Transportation Authority announced that work has been completed for express lanes along 16 miles of Interstate 405. The lanes, which were part of a $2.16 billion improvement project, span from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County line.

Data Shows Four Cities in California Among Worst for Holiday Travel

11/21/2023

A new study by Forbes shows that four cities in the Golden State—Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego and Sacramento—are among the 21 worst cities in the United States for holiday travel. Forbes looked at a variety of factors including car accidents, hotel prices and air travel.

Interstate 10 Is Reopening Much Sooner than Expected

11/16/2023

Interstate 10 in Los Angeles will reopen Nov. 21, following a fire on Nov. 11. It had previously been feared the freeway would be closed much longer.

Public Meeting for Edwards Crossing Bridge Project Set for Nov. 1

11/01/2023

County staff will discuss three replacement alternatives for the Edwards Crossing Bridge and the environmental impacts that would result from each. A draft environmental impact report will be available through Nov. 14 for the public to review.

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