San Benito County Local Transportation News Articles and Digest

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Public Safety Health Transportation Elections & Politics Government

Can Traffic Deaths in Los Angeles Be Reduced With a Ballot Measure?

01/16/2024
Image for display with article titled Can Traffic Deaths in Los Angeles be Reduced? Ballot Measure Aims for ‘Healthy Streets’

City council rejected the “Healthy Streets L.A” initiative. Now it’s up to Angeleno voters.

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COVID-19 Public Safety Health Transportation Crime & Justice Government

Death on the Roads: Traffic Fatality Crisis Far From Over

01/14/2024
Image for display with article titled Death on the Roads: California Traffic Fatality Crisis Far From Over

California in 2024 has implemented two new, potentially important traffic safety laws

From LA Times...

Business, Economy & Jobs Transportation Government

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.

From SFGate...

Public Safety Environment Transportation

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.

From SFGate...

Public Safety Transportation Government

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.

From Benito Link...

Land Use & Development Transportation Sustainability County of San Benito City of San Juan Bautista

Major Projects in 2024

01/02/2024
BenitoLink looks ahead to construction projects in the county that are expected to begin or be completed in 2024.

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Business, Economy & Jobs Transportation Government

California Insurers Drag Feet, Leaving Many Drivers Uninsured

12/26/2023
Image for display with article titled California Insurers’ Drag Feet, Leaving Many Drivers Uninsured. Now State May Crack Down

State says it has received numerous complaints about insurance companies making it difficult for drivers to obtain policies.

From SanBenitocom...

Business, Economy & Jobs Transportation

Pilotless Airplane Tested at Hollister Airport

12/26/2023
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Mountain View-based Reliable Robotic conducted a successful 12-minute test of a Cessna 208B Caravan out of Hollister Municipal Airport—with no pilot in the cockpit.

From Los Angeles Times...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Transportation Agriculture, Food & Gardening

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.

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Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Transportation Government

EV Transition Threatens Roads With Drastic Gas Tax Revenue Cut

12/14/2023
Image for display with article titled California's Electric Vehicle Transition Means Drastic Cut in Gas Tax Revenue, Endangering Roads

Image for display with article titled California's Electric Vehicle Transition Means Drastic Cut in Gas Tax Revenue, Endangering Roads

As consumers require less gas for their cars, they'll also be paying out less in gas tax to the state.

From Gilroy Dispatch...

Business, Economy & Jobs Land Use & Development Transportation City of Gilroy

Gourmet Alley Project Delayed

12/14/2023
Image for display with article titled Gourmet Alley Project Faces Delays

The $3.9 million grant from the California Department of Transportation’s Clean California Local Grant Program will be used to improve the Gourmet and Railroad alleyways between Fourth and Seventh streets by adding lighting, benches, garbage enclosures, bicycle and pedestrian markings, signage and more.

From Los Angeles Times...

Business, Economy & Jobs Transportation

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.

From LAist...

Public Safety Transportation Government

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.

From Benito Link...

Public Safety Transportation

Rep. Lofgren Announces Funding for Safer Roads in Hollister

12/08/2023
U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren announced Dec. 8 that the Department of Transportation will distribute $1,080,000 to the city of Hollister for a comprehensive roadway safety action plan.

From Gilroy Dispatch...

Land Use & Development Transportation City of Gilroy

Council Gets Look at Downtown Gilroy Parking Study

12/07/2023
Image for display with article titled Council Gets Look at Downtown Gilroy Parking Study

Brian Canepa of W-Trans, the consulting firm hired by the city in September 2022, said multiple surveys of weekday parking in the broader downtown area revealed that only 44% of the 3,181 spaces were occupied during the peak hour of 10 a.m., noting that was before the new 144-space lot opened on Eigleberry and Seventh streets.

From Los Angeles Times...

Environment Transportation Sustainability

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.

From Sacramento Bee...

Transportation Elections & Politics Government

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.

From KQED...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Transportation Sustainability Government

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.

From Los Angeles Times...

Transportation

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.

From SanBenitocom...

Transportation

Union Road Closure Shortened to Eight Weeks

11/21/2023
Image for display with article titled Union Road Closure Shortened to Eight Weeks

There’s good news for San Benito County motorists regarding the upcoming Union Road closure as Caltrans has proposed an accelerated time frame for road work.

San Benito County Local News: Transportation