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Santa Clara County Transportation Digest



Waymo in San Jose?

04/17/2025

Robotaxis may be a fixture on San Jose streets as Waymo applies for permits to operate in the city with the support of Mayor Matt Mahan and local Congressperson Sam Liccardo.

California Drivers With Disabilities May Use Blue Envelopes for Police Stops

04/15/2025

Almost everyone gets nervous during a traffic stop, but people with disabilities also worry about whether an officer understands their condition or could misinterpret their symptoms.

Palo Alto Chooses From Downtown Parking Options

04/14/2025

In their April 14 meeting, the Palo Alto City Council considered choices to either mix parking and housing or just move forward just with parking at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Waverley Street.

License to Kill

04/13/2025

The California DMV routinely allows dangerous drivers with horrifying histories to continue to operate on our roadways. Too often they go on to kill. Many keep driving even after they kill. Some go on to kill again.

Crosswalk Buttons Hacked

04/12/2025

Silicon Valley area crosswalk buttons have been hacked and speak in voices imitating Elon Mush and Mark Zuckerberg saying ... interesting ... things.

Palo Alto Rethinks Bicycle Transportation

04/10/2025

An in-depth report on considerations underway by Palo Alto transportation officials to advance safe bicycle transportation.

California Street Traffic Safety Improvements Begin in Mountain View

04/03/2025

Work is underway on a 1.4-mile section of California Street in Mountain View to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

VTA Employees Back at Work as Contract Talks Continues

04/03/2025

Though back at work following a court order, the workers union is making little progress toward a new deal with the Valley Transportation Authority.

VTA Workers' Union Files Strike Appeal

04/02/2025

In an April 1 appellate court filing, the union representing Valley Transportation Authority workers appealed the superior court ruling ordering them to end their strike.

Mountain View License Plate Cameras Operational

03/27/2025

Mountain View has activated its first automatic license plate cameras.

If Zero-Emission Cars Cut Gasoline Sales and Tax Revenue, How Will California Replace Them?

03/24/2025

When California motorists fill their tanks, they are often paying the nation’s highest gas prices, an average of $4.65 a gallon currently and about $1.50 above the national average.

Rural California Schools and Roads Lose Millions in Federal Funding After Latest Cuts

03/24/2025

For the last century, the money has gone to counties with large amounts of federal land that can’t be taxed. Congress failed to include it in the upcoming budget.

Highway 140 to Yosemite Will Reopen One Lane

03/24/2025

Work on clearing a massive rockslide is progressing smoothly and one lane of Highway 140 into Yosemite National Park is expected to reopen within days.

VTA Strike Updates

03/23/2025

As of Sunday March 23: VTA raised offer yet again, union vote Tues or Wed. Read on for the latest updates on the VTA strike from the folks at the Palo Alto Daily Post.

Rockslide Closes Highway 140 Entrance to Yosemite

03/20/2025

A major rockslide has closed the Highway 140 entrance to Yosemite National Park. Read on for details.

Tesla Gets Permit to Ferry Passengers in California, a Stepping Stone Toward Autonomous Taxis

03/19/2025

The permit lays the groundwork toward a driverless taxi service. Tesla has said it will launch such a service in Austin, Texas in June.

‘Herculean Effort’: These Port Communities Have Waited Decades for Clean Air. Why a New Plan May Fall Short

03/19/2025

The ports of LA and Long Beach are the biggest sources of air pollution in the LA basin. Air quality officials have drafted new rules to help electrify the ports. But community groups representing 400,000 residents say they don’t go far enough or fast enough to clean up their dirty air.

Waymo Robotaxi Service Now Available in Palo Alto, Los Altos and Mountain View

03/12/2025

And not everybody is thrilled about it. Read on to learn more and what some local residents have to say.

Palo Alto Makes Car-Free Streets Permanent

03/10/2025

In their March 10 meeting, the Palo Alto City council voted unanimously to make the pandemic era closure of California Avenue and part of Ramona Street to cars. Read on to learn more, and why local business objected to part of the plan.

Milpitas Receives Federal Traffic Safety Grant

03/08/2025

The City of Milpitas has been granted nearly $5 million by the federal government for traffic and pedestrian safety improvements. Read on to learn more.

Transit Union Plans to Strike

03/07/2025

In a March 6 communication, the union representing Valley Transportation Authority workers gave notice of an intention to strike starting on March 10.

‘Too Damn Hard to Build’:  a Key California Democrat’s Push for Speedier Construction

03/03/2025

Oakland Democrat Buffy Wicks said lawmakers will soon see 20 bills to speed up housing construction, along with more on energy, water and transit.

Towing Companies Can Sell Your Car — And the DMV Gets to Keep the Profit Without Telling You

03/03/2025

Since 2016, the DMV has collected more than $8 million from nearly 5,300 car sales, according to a CalMatters analysis.

Hundreds of Housing Units Proposed Near Tamien Station

03/03/2025

A "transit village" of several units of housing is being proposed near Tamien Station in San Jose. Read on for details.

Mountain View Considers Moffett Boulevard Bike Lanes

02/27/2025

Not currently known as a safe route, Mountain View is considering adding bike lanes to Moffett Boulevard. Read on for details.

California’s Controversial New Fuel Rules Rejected by State Legal Office

02/20/2025

California’s new Low Carbon Fuel Standard has been stalled because it lacks ”clarity.” The new standard, which offers incentives for cleaner fuels, is highly controversial because it would raise gas prices.

Palo Alto Releases List of 68 Projects for 2025

02/20/2025

Read on to learn more about the report from Palo Alto City Manager Ed Shikada detailing the list of 68 projects on tap in the coming year.

California Lawmakers Scramble to Fix ‘Lemon’ Vehicle Law — Again

02/19/2025

California lawmakers are rushing to fix last year’s controversial changes to the state’s lemon law, which critics say weakened protections for car buyers.

VTA Struggling to Bridge BART Funding Gap

02/19/2025

After receiving less federal funding than hoped for, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is struggling to cut costs or raise funding to bridge the gap for the project to build 6 miles of rail to being BART to San Jose. Read on to learn more.

Los Altos Council Advances Downtown Park and Parking

02/18/2025

The Los Altos City Council approved $2.3 million towards development of a combined downtown park and underground parking. Read on for details.

Frustration Grows as Sunnyvale’s Bike Safety Plan Stalls Over Funding for Debris Cleanup

02/15/2025

Sunnyvale residents have been waiting for the city to implement its grand plan for a bicycle safety network, but a lack of action has led to mounting frustration.

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