October 2024 News Items

October 14, 2024

Stretch of Hwy. 101 in Pismo Beach has notoriously bad traffic.  Is relief finally on the way? – San Luis Obispo Tribune via Yahoo News

Caltrans has the go-ahead to add a part-time lane to southbound Highway 101 in Pismo Beach — an area of the highway famous for afternoon traffic jams.

As California farms use less Colorado River water, worries grow over shrinking Salton Sea – Los Angeles Times via AOL

A three-year program that incentivizes Imperial Valley hay farmers to decrease the water they take from the Colorado River has raised concerns it’s also accelerating the decline of the Salton Sea, which is fed by agricultural runoff.  California officials are years behind schedule on plans to build wetlands at the Salton Sea, although the state has largely finished construction of a 4,100-acre habitat area along the south shore.  And Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation this year establishing a Salton Sea Conservancy that will coordinate efforts to protect public health and bolster the lake’s ecosystem.


October 10, 2024

Bridges built for wildlife crossing freeways in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Siskiyou counties – Ventura County Star

Caltrans has identified more than 140 locations for improving access for animals in its new Wildlife Connectivity Report.  The document mentions current efforts to resolve 31 barriers on state highways to fish and wildlife.

CARB, truck and engine manufacturers announce clean truck partnership – The Buzz EV News

The California Air Resources Board announced a Clean Truck Partnership with truck manufacturers and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association.  CARB says this partnership is aimed at advancing the development of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for the commercial trucking industry, which includes flexibility for manufacturers to meet emissions requirements while still reaching the state’s climate and emission reduction goals.

State Water Board approves boost in rates for 2024-25 – Maven’s Notebook

California State Water Resources Control Board has approved rate increases – including for groundwater recharge projects – that farmers and ranchers pay.  The money will go toward water rights and water quality programs.  The higher fees come as California water users and local agencies work to balance critically overdrafted aquifers under the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.


October 7, 2024

Caltrans Surpasses Record $15 Billion in Transportation Construction Projects – Equipment World

Caltrans recently hit a record milestone: $15 billion in contracts under construction across the state.  The state also reached a record 1,060 projects in progress across the state last month.

California May Require Bidirectional Charging EVs. That Could Save Lives – Inside EVs

It didn’t get a ton of attention in the wider press, but a new law signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom is an extremely big deal.  SB 59 empowers the California Air Resources Board and other agencies to require that future EVs be “capable of both charging and discharging electricity.”  That feature can be an absolute life-saver during emergencies.

California’s new water recycling rules turn wastewater to tap water.  What this means for you – LAist

Water recycling — once dubbed “toilet-to-tap” by naysayers — has officially entered a new era in California.


October 3, 2024

Caltrans offers new facts to support replacement at latest Albion River Bridge meeting – Mendocino Voice

Caltrans surprised the Albion community again.  At Thursday’s online meeting called to discuss why the Albion River Bridge needs to be replaced rather than restored as some have advocated, the state agency presented a mostly new mountain of facts about why the old bridge has plummeted in safety ratings in recent years and therefore must be replaced.

California is gearing up for weather extremes at the start of the water year – Spectrum News 1

The start of this water year brings many challenges to the California Department of Water Resources.  The state’s water managers must be ready for both wet and dry conditions.  California is coming off the heels of a record-hot summer while also expecting effects from a looming La Niña weather pattern.  However, the change in climatology over the past decade poses the biggest challenge of all.  In the last ten years, the state has faced climate extremes, and that trend is expected to continue.

CARB proposes additional changes to LCFS amendments – Biodiesel Magazine

The California Air Resources Board on Oct. 1 published a second set of proposed changes to its pending Low Carbon Fuel Standard modifications, including those that would limit the use of sunflower oil feedstock for biomass-based diesel production and update regulations related to corn stover and biomethane.


September 2024 News Items

September 30, 2024

This I-80 project was Caltrans’ lowest priority.  A year later, it received a $100M grant – The Sacramento Bee via Yahoo News

Documents shed light on how a Caltrans freeway-widening project lost a $100 million competitive grant and then won the same grant a year later without material changes to the project — or competing against other applicants.

California High-Speed Rail funding awarded by Biden Administration; largest grant in its history – KTLA

The California High-Speed Rail has received its biggest boost from the federal government yet, being awarded more than $3 billion in grant funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

What’s in store for California’s new water year?  Experts say ‘extremes are getting more extreme’ – ABC 7 Los Angeles via MSN

Typically, fall rain starts in October, then the bulk of California’s rain falls from December to February.  April is when we see peak snowpack.  So, what will this year look like?  Climate experts are warning us to be ready for some extremes.   The rainy season could be delayed this year, but when it arrives, forecasters are urging people to be ready because we could see more intense precipitation even during dry years.


September 26, 2024

Ian Choudri’s new job: Getting that bag – Politico

Weary watchers of California’s oft-maligned high speed rail project have a message for its new CEO: Show us the money.  Ian Choudri is stepping into the lead role for the decades-old plan to construct a rail line linking the Bay Area to Los Angeles as the job is becoming simpler — and simultaneously more challenging.

Californians who steal water from rivers will soon be subject to much steeper fines – The Hill

Fines for stealing California water resources will sharply increase after Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) last weekend signed A.B. 460.  The new law will raise fines to a maximum of $10,000 daily.  That’s 20 times more than violators had to pay two years ago, when state officials charged $4,000 — about $50 per person — when a group of Siskiyou County ranchers diverted water from Shasta River, according to CalMatters.


September 23, 2024

Parents of 4 Pepperdine students struck and killed on PCH sue state and local agencies – Los Angeles Times via AOL

The families of the four Pepperdine University students who were struck and killed on Pacific Coast Highway last year and a fifth student who was injured in the incident have sued the local and state agencies they say are responsible for the deadly roadway.  Four lawsuits filed Friday in Santa Monica claim the State of California, Caltrans, the California Coastal Commission, Los Angeles County, and the City of Malibu are responsible for the dangerous design of PCH and a failure to implement adequate safety measures.  

California carbon emissions lag behind 2030 climate targets, data show – The Sacramento Bee via Phys.org

California carbon emissions are falling, but not fast enough to reach the state’s 2030 climate targets, according to data released Friday by the Air Resources Board.  Leaders predicted that new and existing industry regulations would put the state on track.

DWR marks 10 years of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act – WaterWorld

September 16, 2024, marked the 10th anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) for the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).  Here’s a list of the law’s accomplishments over the last decade.


September 19, 2024

California water board puts Tule Subbasin on probation – Courthouse News Service

California’s state water board Tuesday placed the Tule Subbasin on probationary status after a daylong hearing in which water agencies asked for a delay and a community group and many others urged for sanctions.  The State Water Resources Control Board’s unanimous vote puts fees and reporting requirements on those who pull groundwater from the area. It’s the second such designation made this year by the board, with the first being the neighboring Tulare Lake Subbasin in April.  

Locals know this California highway by many names.  Why is it closing? – SFGate.com

A scenic state highway that runs parallel with Highway 101 on the Central Coast is closing for five weeks as Caltrans undergoes a storm damage repair project.  Elsewhere on the highway, Caltrans began instituting one-way traffic control overnight for another section that needs resurfacing.  Caltrans closed state Route 192 on Monday from Alamar Avenue to Sycamore Canyon Road until the middle of October to address a section of the hillside near Parma Park that had crumbled after the storms.

Could California become the first U.S. state to regulate airline emissions? – CBS News

California is split over a proposal to become the first U.S. state to regulate airline emissions.  There is some question about whether the California Air Resources Board can legally regulate jet fuel.  Meanwhile, airlines are lobbying against the idea.


September 16, 2024

Mexico will finish its side of new Otay Mesa border crossing in 5 weeks, officials say – KTXL-TV (Sacramento)

The Mexican side of the new Otay Mesa II Port of Entry, currently under construction, will be ready in five weeks, according to officials south of the border.  Meantime, construction on the U.S. side of the border – a joint venture between the California Department of Transportation and the San Diego Association of Governments – has yet to begin and is said to be at least two years behind schedule.  It was supposed to be done by next month.  

‘Buy America’ Feud Risks 200 Mile-an-Hour Rail From Vegas to L.A. – BNN Bloomberg

For nearly 20 years, a plan has been brewing for a high-speed rail line connecting Las Vegas to southern California.  Something was always getting in the way, from ballooning budgets to bureaucratic red tape, not to mention developer and investor switcheroos.  Now that shovels are finally in the ground on the $12 billion Brightline West project, there’s yet one more wrinkle: A corporate rivalry between two manufacturing giants vying to build the highly specialized trains that will reach speeds of more than 200 miles per hour — the fastest in the U.S.

Kings Co. farmers win preliminary injunction against state over groundwater restrictions – The Sun

Kings County farmers will not have to worry about potential state-mandated water restrictions for the time being.  Last week, Superior Court Judge Kathy Ciuffini issued a preliminary injunction over the state’s decision to designate the Tulare Lake Subbasin as probationary, which would have triggered a $20 per acre-foot extraction fee for groundwater that is pumped into the basin.


September 12, 2024

Californians Are Breathing Far Less Vehicle Pollution, but Disparities Are Widening – NPR

Californians are breathing nearly two-thirds less pollution from vehicles than they were in the year 2000, according to a study published Wednesday — a tremendous decline showcasing that state policies focused on reducing vehicle emissions are working.  However, the research also shows disparities are widening between the communities most exposed to harmful pollutants and those most protected from them.  The California Air Resources Board has, more recently, woven such policies into its core mission — targeting cleaning up drayage trucks, which move freight in and out of ports, and programs that help lower-income Californians trade in highly polluting vehicles for electric ones.

‘I won’t let them drink the water’: The California towns where clean drinking water is out of reach – CalMatters

In a major milestone, state regulators announced in July that nearly a million more Californians now have safe drinking water than five years ago.  But across the state, the problem remains severe: More than 735,000 people are still served by the nearly 400 water systems that fail to meet state requirements for safe and reliable drinking water.  Latino farm communities struggling with poverty and pollution are especially hard-hit.

High-speed Brightline West Trains Will Feature Sleek Seats, a ‘Party Car,’ and More — Travel + Leisure

Construction on a high-speed rail connection between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is currently underway, and a peek inside the cars shows it will be a luxurious option when complete.


September 9, 2024

State, federal assessors find risks post Borel Fire – Bakersfield Californian

State and federal authorities have mostly completed hazard and risk assessments in the burn scar of the Borel Fire, which burned close to 60,000 acres in the last two months, making it the largest wildfire in Kern County history.  “The fire generally burned moderately with some areas of high in the upper elevations, particularly in areas that were dominated by more timber,” said Don Lindsay, senior engineering geologist/geotechnical engineer with the California Geological Survey.

Outgoing High-Speed Rail CEO: ‘Optimistic and Satisfied’ – The Fresno Bee via Yahoo News

For the past 6½  years, Brian Kelly led the California High-Speed Rail Authority through a complicated recalibration of its scope, budget, schedule and priorities as construction proceeded slowly in Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley.  As he approached his last day on the job before retiring on Aug. 30, Kelly sat for an exclusive interview with The Fresno Bee to reflect on his tenure.  The discussion ranged from the progress of construction after a slow start to the challenges that lie ahead for the ambitious rail project.

‘This is the time’: Mayor says I-15 widening needs to happen ahead of LA Olympics – Las Vegas Review-Journal

With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games less than four years away, is the time now to widen Interstate 15 from the Nevada state line to Barstow?  Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman thinks so.


September 5, 2024

Why building U.S. highways is so expensive – Construction Dive

The U.S. overspends on its transportation infrastructure compared to its international peers, and a team of university researchers wanted to understand why.  Their investigation found that a lack of DOT staff capacity and a dearth of contractor competition in the market are key drivers of high project costs.

Gov. Gavin Newsom drops drought emergency for Southern California and Bay Area – CBS News

After two wet winters, 19 counties encompassing most of California’s population have officially emerged from the drought emergency that has afflicted the state for the past three years.

Support for unions is strong, according to Gallup Labor Day poll – Spectrum 1 News

Support for labor unions is near an all-time high.  According to the newest Gallup Labor Day poll, 70% of Americans say they approve of labor unions — up from 67% last year.


August 2024 News Items

August 29, 2024

DOT awards $521M in EV charging grants amid slowing sales growth – Smart Cities Dive

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced $521 million in grants to deploy more than 9,200 electric vehicle charging ports and build alternative-fueling infrastructure across 29 states, eight tribal areas and the District of Columbia.  The largest grant is $102 million for the California Department of Transportation to deploy charging and hydrogen fueling stations for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles along 2,500 miles of key freight corridors on the West Coast to connect ports, freight centers, and agricultural regions between the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

California Launches $500 Million Initiative for Zero-Emission School Buses – MarketWatch

California is rolling out a $500 million statewide program to introduce 1,000 new zero-emission school buses, according to the California Air Resources Board.

Please note that Media Briefing will not be published on September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.  


August 26, 2024

California adopts plan to advance 7.6GW of offshore wind – Power Engineering International

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) last week unanimously adopted a proposal setting a need determination for 7.6GW of offshore wind by 2035.  The plan stops short of authorizing DWR to procure wind at any price.  Instead, CPUC is trying to reduce costs by scheduling three phases of procurement spanning 2027-2030, allowing lessons to be learned and cost savings to be realized later in the process.

A third of California is ‘abnormally dry,’ drought monitor says.  Where are conditions worst? – The Sacramento Bee via Yahoo News

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest update, about a third of California was “abnormally dry” last week as parts of the state appear poised to return to triple-digit temperatures.  As of Thursday, areas of “moderate drought” were isolated to Northern California while a sliver of the state near the Oregon border was under “severe drought,” the Drought Monitor said.

Tower Bridge outage in Sacramento caused by electrical issue, Caltrans says – KXTV News (Sacramento)

Electrical issues plague Sacramento’s prominent Tower Bridge landmark, with the lights on the east side of the structure closest to Sacramento out for about three weeks due to electrical cable problems, according to a Caltrans spokesman.  He said some lights are also out on the west side, closer to West Sacramento in Yolo County, due to ballast issues.


August 22, 2024

As Colorado River states await water cuts, they struggle to find agreement on longer-term plans – Associated Press via ABC News

The federal government is expected to announce water cuts soon that would affect some of the 40 million people reliant on the Colorado River, the powerhouse of the U.S. West.  The Interior Department announces water availability for the coming year months in advance so Western cities, farmers, and others can plan.  Behind the scenes, however, more elusive plans are being hashed out: how the basin will share water from the diminishing 1,450-mile river after 2026 when many current guidelines that govern it expire.

Caltrans presents bridge replacement options at public meeting – Fort Bragg Advocate-News

Coastal residents packed into a crowded room at the Whitesboro Grange last week for a public meeting led by Caltrans to discuss various alternatives for replacing the historic Albion River Bridge while acknowledging the WWII-era wooden structure’s importance to the community.

2024 Looks Like the Year IIJA Funding Increases Really Started to Spend Out – Eno Center for Transportation

Most people love infrastructure projects – sometimes the bigger the better.  But large capital projects – whether building a new subway, hospital, or aircraft carrier – take time, and sometimes it’s a lot of time.  Based on monthly financial reporting, it appears that the ongoing fiscal year (2024) is the tipping point where the massive funding increases provided by the 2021 infrastructure law for highway and transit spending started pouring out of the U.S. Treasury.


August 19, 2024

Caltrans halts Highway 1 repair work in Monterey County – Cal Coast News

Caltrans announced that it temporarily halted excavation work on Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide in Monterrey County because of ongoing landslide activity around the repair site.

Shell contracts emissions capture firm in Los Angeles – Splash Newsletter

Giant black pipes will be inserted into the funnels of tankers calling at Shell’s Mormon Island Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles from next year.  STAX Engineering, a pioneer in maritime emissions capture and control, has entered into a five-year agreement with Shell, coinciding with new California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions regulations for tanker vessels kicking in from the start of 2025.

New bill could force ship owner to pay up to $854M for Baltimore bridge collapse – WABE/PBS

Following the catastrophic collapse earlier this year of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge upon impact with a vessel, a new Congressional bill would increase the limit on the ship owner’s liability for the disaster.  measure introduced by U.S. Reps. John Garamendi (D-Ca.) and  Hank Johnson (D-Ga) would increase the maximum liability for foreign-flagged ships to up to 10 times the combined cost of the ship and its cargo, excluding expenses.  The bill would apply retroactively to the day before the bridge disaster.  In April, the ship’s owner/manager filed a joint petition to cap its monetary liability for the collapse at $43.7 million.   The company could pay up to $854 million if the bill passes.


August 15, 2024

A man took an illegal bike ride across an active landslide in Big Sur.  He fell but survived – Los Angeles Times via Yahoo News

Ignoring warnings that he “will probably die,” a bicyclist tried in vain to cross a stretch of Highway 1 in Big Sur that was buried under a landslide — and promptly plummeted down the sheer rock and dirt face.  Caltrans said it expects to reopen the section of highway affected by Regent’s Slide in the fall.  Work has been delayed due to the danger and daily unpredictability at the site.

8 states including ND file court brief challenging California’s electric vehicle mandate – North Dakota Monitor

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led a coalition of eight state attorneys general in filing a court brief supporting Ohio’s lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over California’s electric vehicle mandates.  North Dakota is one of the states that signed the court filing.  California’s mandate requires all new cars and vehicles sold in California to be electric by 2035.  Bird and others allege the EPA violated the states’ equal sovereignty rights when the agency allowed California to pursue its own regulatory standards while preventing other states from doing so.

Caltrain debuts electric train service with VIP tour – Mass Transit

Caltrain recently debuted its electric fleet by hosting a VIP tour where participants boarded the trains for its historic inaugural service.  The event included a 30-minute round-trip experience, starting in San Francisco, Calif., with the opportunity to engage with federal, state, local elected officials, as well as transportation, business, labor, and community leaders.  The electric trains ran their first regular service on Aug 11.


August 12, 2024

Portion of major California highway to close for 2 weeks – SFGate

Tracing beneath the jagged ridges of the eastern Sierra Nevada, a portion of one of California’s best highways is fully closing for more than two weeks as Caltrans continues an ongoing effort to install a wildlife crossing under the roadway.

California Needs to Pull Carbon From the Air to Meet Its Climate Goals.  This Bill Lays Out a Plan – KQED

To achieve its ambitious climate goals, California will likely need to not only slash emissions but also remove huge amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using new and expensive technology.  SB 308 would require the California Air Resources Board, the state agency tasked with reducing air pollution, to set targets to scale up the amount of carbon dioxide removed annually and report on that progress.  The measure’s author thinks this will also help assure carbon-removal companies that they will have a robust market.

States could struggle to cut workforce costs in next downturn – Route Fifty

In the face of nascent fiscal challenges, Arizona, California, Maryland, and Massachusetts governors recently turned to a similar strategy to bring state budgets back into balance: They have sought to spend less on state employees.  In taking these actions, the governors are following a well-worn script: When states face budget challenges they typically try to limit state head counts and personnel spending.  But if states face new budget problems—later this year or in the future—there are good reasons to doubt that this strategy will achieve the same savings it has in the past.  That’s primarily because many already allocate a significantly smaller share of their budgets toward salaries and wages.


August 8, 2024

Watch the world’s largest wildlife crossing taking shape across the 101 Freeway in California – Archinect

A new video depicts the world’s largest wildlife crossing taking shape in Los Angeles’ Santa Monica Mountains.  The long-awaited $92 million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which broke ground in 2022, can be seen sitting above eight lanes of traffic within the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills.

Federal Authorities Back California’s Order to Halt BlueTriton’s Water Extraction from San Bernardino Mountains – Weather News Point

The federal government has supported California state regulators in ordering BlueTriton Brands, the company behind Arrowhead bottled water, to cease drawing water from the San Bernardino Mountains.  This decision follows concerns from environmental activists who argue that the company’s water extraction damages the local ecosystem, particularly the wildlife in Strawberry Creek.  About a year ago, California’s Water Resources Control Board ordered BlueTriton to stop using water from the San Bernardino National Forest, where the springs are located.

California High-Speed Rail names new CEO – KTLA News

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has named its new chief executive officer to oversee the next phase of the project’s development.  On Thursday, the CAHSR announced Ian Choudri as the next CEO, taking over for Brian Kelly, who announced in January he would be retiring and stepping down from the role after six years of service.


August 5, 2024

State report supports new, proposed oil regulations – Bakersfield Californian

A recent review of dozens of scientific studies, some conducted in California, provides new backing for the state’s latest and one of its most contentious oil-field regulations while also proposing additional health and safety measures opposed by the industry.

Highway 41 reopens with new Kings River Bridge completion – The Sentinel (Hanford, CA)

A project five years in the making that required the closure of a vital travel route for six months is officially complete.

California High-Speed Rail Design Gets First Public Test – Newsweek

California High-Speed Rail was showcased to the public this week as the rail authority opened its first-ever interactive exhibit at the California State Fair in Sacramento. 


August 2, 2024

California hopes to bolster AI preparedness with employee training for state workers – The Sacramento Bee via Yahoo News

California hopes to build state workers’ artificial intelligence credentials through optional training that teaches staff how to use the rapidly evolving technology.  The California Department of Human Resources unveiled a series of professional development courses for public employees this month following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s September executive order that instructed state agencies to brainstorm and develop a plan to “ethically and responsibly” deploy AI technology in government operations.

State Water Project supplies could fall up to 23% within 20 years due to climate change – Los Angeles Times via Phys.org

A new analysis by the California Department of Water Resources examined a range of climate change scenarios and projected that by 2043, the massive network of reservoirs and canals that supply more than half the state’s population could decline between 13% and 23%.

“Better Slow Than Sorry” Public Awareness Campaign Amid Continued Speeding-Related Traffic Fatalities in the State of California – Santa Barbara Independent

This week, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and Caltrans kicked off the “Better Slow Than Sorry” campaign, which the Santa Barbara Police Department is supporting.  The statewide public awareness effort urges drivers to slow down, follow posted speed limits, and drive responsibly.


July 2024 News Items

July 25, 2024

Map shows where California ‘atmospheric thirst’ ramped up following historic July heat wave – San Francisco Chronicle (free read)

While California’s reservoirs are currently 116% of normal for this time of year, other signs of drought are quickly creeping in. The reason: July’s extreme heat.

After several years of rapid growth, state budgets are downsizing – Route Fifty

State budgets are expected to shrink substantially in fiscal year 2025 as the post-pandemic era of surging revenue, record spending and historic tax cuts comes to a close. According to new data released by the National Association of State Budget Officers, total general fund spending is expected to decline to $1.22 trillion, a more than 6% drop from estimated levels in fiscal 2024, which ended for most states on June 30. For starters, California’s 2025 budget closes an eye-popping $46.8 billion budget deficit in large part by cutting or delaying spending.


July 22, 2024

Oil and Gas Wells Are in the Path of California Wildfires, Putting Millions in Extreme Peril – Los Angeles Times via Yahoo News

A new study has revealed that millions of Californians live near oil and gas wells — and these wells are in the path of potential wildfires.  This has led to experts sounding the alarm about the worrying revelation, as data shows that millions of people could be in extreme peril if a wildfire heads to one of the wells soon.

Western state DOT projects win regional awards – Geosynthetics Magazine

Two Caltrans projects recently received top prizes in the 2024 America’s Transportation Awards competition for positively changing their communities. 

U.S. High-Speed Rail Map Shows Proposed Routes – Newsweek

The U.S. High Speed Rail Association (USHSR) published a map outlining its proposal for a new 17,000-mile national high-speed rail network across the United States, which it claims will “cut our carbon footprint by epic proportions.” Under the plan, which the USHSR proposes to build in four stages, it would be possible to travel between Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; Miami, Florida; and Boston, Massachusetts, entirely on 220-mile-per-hour high-speed rail lines.  The first stage includes the completion of the California High-Speed Rail, a line already under construction intended to run between San Francisco and Los Angeles.


July 18, 2024

California needs a million EV charging stations — but that’s ‘unlikely’ and ‘unrealistic’ – CalMatters

California will have to build public charging stations at an unprecedented pace — and some experts say unrealistic — to meet the needs of the 7 million electric cars expected on its roads in less than seven years.  The sheer scale of the buildout has alarmed many experts and lawmakers, who fear that the state won’t be prepared as Californians purchase more electric cars.

Judge temporarily blocks state order to growers who depleted groundwater – CalMatters

A Kings County judge granted a temporary restraining order against the State Water Resources Control Board’s unprecedented mandate.  Growers there will not have to meter their groundwater use for now.

Not just farmland.’ This Central Valley art installation points to California’s Ice Age past – KVPR (Fresno/Bakersfield)

Officials from Caltrans and UC Merced recently held a ribbon cutting for a Central Valley overpass on Highway 99 featuring an artistic homage to massive beasts that roamed the area hundreds of thousands of years ago.


July 15, 2024

Delays continue to plague completion of Otay Mesa East border crossing – San Diego Union-Tribune via MSN

At the construction site of the new Otay Mesa East border crossing, scores of workers on the Mexican side have been busy working on the structures needed to connect traffic as part of the long-awaited project.  On the U.S. side, the border crossing facility was supposed to be completed by the end of this year but has yet to even rise from the ground.  The San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG, which is the project’s sponsor along with Caltrans, said the setback has to do with pending agreements with the federal government on operation and maintenance roles and responsibilities.

World’s 1st hydrogen-fueled zero-emissions ferry unveiled in San Francisco – ABC 7 (San Francisco)

The world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered 100 percent by zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells was unveiled Friday in San Francisco.  MV Sea Change is a 70-foot catamaran ferry that fits 75 people.  It will launch on July 19 and run for free for six months between the San Francisco Ferry Terminal and Pier 41.  The state is requiring all short-distance ferries to be emissions-free by the end of 2025, according to the California Air Resources Board.


July 11, 2024

Despite a persistent heat wave, California’s grid is ‘stable’ – The San Diego Union-Tribune via The Orange County Register

Though there are no signs that residential utility customers need to reduce their energy use, a lingering heat wave covering much of California has prompted the state’s grid operator to send an alert to power companies.

Plan to connect California’s 2 high-speed rail projects moves forward – KTLA 5 News

A plan to connect California’s two high-speed rail projects via a dedicated High Desert corridor is continuing to progress.  The passage would link California’s High-Speed Rail and Brightline West’s line from Southern California to Las Vegas.  The connection’s completion is crucial in California’s and the nation’s mission to create a high-speed rail network in the West.

Could this plan to preserve ‘The Palm and The Pine’ work? – KSEE via Yahoo News

Plans to widen Highway 99 in Madera County to create a six-lane highway will come at the expense of “The Palm and The Pine,” but Visit Yosemite has a proposal to preserve the historic tree-based landmark and make it more visible.


July 1, 2024

Cost of bringing clean drinking water to California communities estimated at $11.5 billion – Los Angeles Times via AOL

California has made significant progress helping small communities address problems of contaminated drinking water, but the costs of bringing safe tap water to hundreds of communities over the next five years will run more than $11.5 billion, according to a new state estimate.

‘A decade of climate emergency’: California looks to lead regulation of shipping carbon emissions – TradeWinds

California did not wait for the International Maritime Organization to tackle shipping’s sulfur and nitrogen emissions or the invasive species carried in vessels’ ballast water.   The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is seeking further reductions in emissions, according to spokeswoman Lynda Lambert, through regulatory and voluntary measures to reduce emissions by oceangoing vessels in transit to California ports, rather than just within them.

California budget deal: Here’s who won and who lost in $300 billion spending plan – The Sacramento Bee via AOL

The budget cobbled together by Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers has clear winners and losers. One area of spending where the impact is not yet clear: cuts to ongoing state operations


June 2024 News Items

June 27, 2024

Cost of bringing clean drinking water to California communities estimated at $11.5 billion – Los Angeles Times via AOL

California has made significant progress helping small communities address problems of contaminated drinking water, but the costs of bringing safe tap water to hundreds of communities over the next five years will run more than $11.5 billion, according to a new state estimate.

‘A decade of climate emergency’: California looks to lead regulation of shipping carbon emissions – TradeWinds

California did not wait for the International Maritime Organization to tackle shipping’s sulfur and nitrogen emissions or the invasive species carried in vessels’ ballast water.   The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is seeking further reductions in emissions, according to spokeswoman Lynda Lambert, through regulatory and voluntary measures to reduce emissions by oceangoing vessels in transit to California ports, rather than just within them.

California budget deal: Here’s who won and who lost in $300 billion spending plan – The Sacramento Bee via AOL

The budget cobbled together by Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers has clear winners and losers. One area of spending where the impact is not yet clear: cuts to ongoing state operations


June 24, 2024

Storm-damaged stretch of Hwy. 1 to reopen this weekend after a year and a half – San Francisco Chronicle

A 4.3-mile section of Highway 1 at Paul’s Slide in Monterey County will reopen on Sunday, a year and a half after the stretch was damaged in severe winter storms, Caltrans officials said.

California lawmakers reject proposal to curb well-drilling where nearby wells could run dry – Los Angeles Times via Yahoo News

Over the past several years, California’s water managers have seen a pattern emerge in farming areas of the Central Valley: Even as declining groundwater levels have left thousands of residents with dry wells and caused the ground to sink, counties have continued granting permits for agricultural landowners to drill new wells and pump even more water. 

California High-Speed Rail Line Gets Boost – Newsweek

A plurality of eligible U.S. voters support the construction of a high-speed rail line linking San Francisco to Los Angeles even when told the estimated cost has soared to $128 billion, up from an initial estimate of $33 billion, according to a survey conducted exclusively for Newsweek.  A bill that was sponsored by the California Department of Water Resources sought to address these problems, but the State Senate narrowly rejected it.


June 20, 2024

The Multibillion-Dollar Implications of EVs for State Budgets – Governing

States must quickly develop new transportation funding strategies to compensate for declining fuel tax revenue as drivers transition to electric vehicles, but the change will bring other significant national challenges.  For example, governments will face higher long-term costs to remediate gas stations’ abandoned underground fuel storage tanks.  Sales tax revenue and lottery ticket sales from convenience stores will drop.

California, which has the nation’s highest market penetration rates of EVs, is projected to see a 64 percent decline in the state’s gasoline tax alone, equating to a revenue hit of more than $5 billion over the next 10 years.  As a result, its local government highway maintenance and rehabilitation programs are projected to face funding declines of $1.5 billion over the next decade, dropping from $5.7 billion to $4.2 billion, according to a new Syracuse University report that documents the direct and indirect funding at risk from the EV transition and the associated increases in public expenditures.

Some California state workers return to offices with tainted water – CalMatters

The bacteria that can cause Legionnaires’ disease have been found in a state office complex in Sacramento.  Meanwhile, an order requiring state employees to return to the office at least twice a week started Monday.

California’s Move to Ban Non-Electric Trains Sparks Backlash: ‘Unworkable’ – Newsweek

California’s plan to ban carbon-producing trains from operating in the state beginning in 2035 has come under fire from critics, with a major rail industry body claiming it would be “devastating” to “the critical efficient functioning of the national freight rail network.”  The new rules must be approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which has yet to take place.


June 17, 2024

Gavin Newsom and top Democrats are deciding California’s budget behind closed doors – CalMatters

After legislative leaders failed to reach an agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom about how to close California’s projected multibillion-dollar deficit, the Legislature passed a placeholder state budget last week, just ahead of a mandatory deadline.  With only a few weeks left until the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, both sides refuse to publicly discuss what specific issues are holding up a deal.

Caltrans Chooses Mile-Long Underground Option For Last Chance Grade Bypass – Lost Coast Outpost

In a significant step toward securing a long-term solution at Last Chance Grade, Caltrans has selected a preferred alternative that could pave the way for constructing a tunnel along U.S. 101 in Del Norte County.

Colorado River Water Use in Three States Drops to 40-Year Low – Circle of Blue

As the Colorado River declines, one fundamental question hangs over the Southwest’s most important waterway: can its people and industries slash their water use, thus aligning their water demands with a shrinking supply?  The answer so far – with important caveats – is a clear but qualified ‘yes.’  California’s largest municipal user of Colorado River water reduced its take from the river by 40 percent last year, partly because of a robust snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains.  That meant more water was available from the State Water Project.


June 13, 2024

These California dams need repairs.  But Newsom plans to cut grants in half – CalMatters

Several dozen dams throughout California could store up to 107 billion more gallons of water if they underwent repairs to fix safety problems.  But facing a staggering state deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed cutting funding for a dam repair grant program in half this year, while state legislators want the $50 million restored.   California has an aging network of nearly 1,540 dams — large and small, earthen and concrete — that help store vital water supplies.  For 42 of these dams, state officials have restricted the amount of water that can be stored behind them because safety deficiencies would raise the risk to people downstream from earthquakes, storms or other problems.

Caltrans: Concrete gap under freeway overpass in viral video is expansion joint – ABC 7 News (Los Angeles)

A video gaining viral traction on social media shows what looks like a separation or crack in a Southern California freeway overpass with debris falling out underneath.  Caltrans says the gap, on a ramp at the 105 transition to the 605 freeway in the Norwalk-Bellflower area, is just an expansion joint functioning as designed.

Baltimore’s busy port fully reopens after bridge collapse, and a return to normal is expected – Associated Press

Commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore is expected to return to normal next month, officials said Wednesday, after the channel fully reopened this week for the first time since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March.


June 10, 2024

Here are California reservoir levels following steady winter storms – San Francisco Chronicle

Nearly all of California’s biggest water supply reservoirs are starting off June above average, following steady storms this winter on the heels of historically wet weather in 2023.  The state’s reservoirs contained 34.1 million-acre feet of water as of June 3, 119% of average for this time of year, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

California Contemplates Cuts to Middle-Mile Broadband Build – Government Technology

A multibillion-dollar plan to develop 10,000 miles of broadband infrastructure has hit financial headwinds, forcing the state to consider what not to build.  Some construction is already underway.

Lax oversight by California agency put LA freeway at risk before 2023 blaze, audit finds – Associated Press

A state audit says lax oversight by California’s transportation agency contributed to a destructive blaze last year that consumed a vital section of a Los Angeles freeway used by hundreds of thousands of commuters.  The Office of the Inspector General for the California Department of Transportation said the agency conducted its required annual inspections of lots under Interstate 10 only five times in 15 years and failed to fully document them.  When Caltrans discovered problems, it failed to act.


June 6, 2024

California’s largest reservoir project in decades clears environmental court challenge ­­– The Sacramento Bee via AOL

California is one step closer to building its largest water storage facility in nearly 50 years after a court ruled in favor of the Sites Reservoir project following a challenge by environmental groups.  The court ruling marks the first time a CEQA process has been streamlined under Newsom’s SB 149, which allows the governor to certify certain projects for judicial fast-tracking.  Under the law, courts must decide CEQA challenges within 270 days.

Caltrans Pilots Generative AI to Probe and Resolve Traffic Woes – Government Technology

The California Department of Transportation is working with vendors on GenAI tools that can investigate near misses, reduce crashes, and eliminate bottlenecks.  Officials hope to more quickly analyze millions of data points.


June 3, 2024

Locals rejoice as Topanga Canyon Boulevard reopens months ahead of schedule – KTLA

Topanga Canyon Boulevard officially reopened on Sunday, three months ahead of schedule, giving residents something to cheer about.

California adopts program that could hinder community solar – Politico

California regulators approved a community solar program that clean energy advocates say would still leave the state a laggard at a time when the federal government is promoting the emerging sector.

California judge weighs injunction for planned water conveyance project – Courthouse News Service

Petitioners are battling over a massive and controversial California water infrastructure project drilled into the details on Friday over what actions require specific authorization before they can occur.  Local governments and water districts are asking a Sacramento County judge to stop the state water resources department from making any exploratory moves.


May 2024 News Items

May 30, 2024

Caltrans says work on Highway 1 Big Sur slides progress toward fall opening – Monterey Herald via MSN

With an estimated late autumn full opening of Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria on the horizon, Caltrans continues to make progress at three repair sites in Monterey County along the Big Sur coast.

California High-Speed Rail Makes $450 Million Plea – Newsweek

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has applied for new federal funding to speed up construction on the line.  It has asked for $450 million to help advance progress toward the city of Merced, with most of the money going towards extending the segment between Madera and Merced.

Musk’s $56 billion pay package opposed by CalPERS, CNBC reports – Reuters

California Public Employees’ Retirement System’s CEO, Marcie Frost, said the agency plans to oppose Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package.  “We do not believe that the compensation is commensurate with the performance of the company,” Frost said in an interview with CNBC on Wednesday.


May 23, 2024

How $3.4B in federal aid will help in effort to connect Caltrain and high-speed rail to SF (MSN)

Leaders are calling it a major transit milestone. A new $3.4 billion federal commitment will help connect Caltrain’s 77-mile system and California High-Speed Rail to Downtown San Francisco.

The Downtown Rail Extension (DTX), also known as The Portal project, will eventually connect 11 Bay Area transit systems.

In striking before-and-after photos, a parched Lake Shasta is transformed (Los Angeles Times)

For a second consecutive year, Californians can celebrate the rejuvenation of the state’s reservoirs.

Lake Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir, is full again after reaching perilously low levels in the drought-stricken years from 2019 through 2022.

Delta pumps likely killed over half a million fish in two decades. This year was extra deadly. (The Sacramento Bee)

Just east of the San Francisco Bay, a steel bucket holding 90 gallons of water is strained to rescue precious cargo. The metal roars as it spins, dispelling more and more water, to reveal, finally, a wriggling pair of juvenile Chinook salmon. 

These young, two-inch long fish were drawn into danger by giant pumps that push water south to millions of Californians and farms. Saving them from likely peril has been the core purpose since 1968 of the John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility.


May 20, 2024

$35.2M in Federal Funding Will Help Plug Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells (mynews.LA.com)

About $35.2 million in federal funding will be coming to the state of California to plug 206 high-risk orphaned oil and gas wells, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced in Los Angeles Friday.

Haaland, who joined Mayor Karen Bass at a downtown event as part of national Infrastructure Week, said the funding will also aid in the decommissioning of 47 attendant production facilities with approximately 70,000 feet of associated pipelines.  Haaland also announced matching grant guidance for states to access $30 million each in additional funding for orphaned well cleanup.

Delta Tunnel Project to Generate $38 Billion in Economic Benefits As Costs Rise (Engineering News Record)

A new financial analysis of California’s ambitious but controversial Delta Conveyance Project indicates that the project would create billions of dollars in benefits even though the price tag has increased substantially.  The massive tunnel project, California’s largest water infrastructure project in decades, would net economic benefits more than double its costs, according to state officials.


May 16, 2024

California lawmakers break with Newsom, order audit of state worker return to office policy (The Sacramento Bee)

The California State Auditor’s Office is set to scrutinize Gov. Gavin Newsom’s controversial “Return to Office” (RTO) policy, after the Joint Legislative Audit Committee voted unanimously to give it the green light.

In April, Newsom issued the order demanding that state agencies and departments produce a hybrid telework policy that includes mandatory in-office days, beginning June 17.  The audit will study “the rationale, timing, legality, and costs associated with the decision to rescind telework privileges for state employees,” according to the office of Assemblyman Josh Hoover, R-Folsom, who proposed the audit.

Sacramento Republican: Gov. Newsom must reconsider his return-to-office mandate | Opinion (The Sacramento Bee)

Last month Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced a return-to-office mandate for state workers that will limit telework at every state agency beginning on June 17.  Prior to this sudden shift in policy, individual state agencies have had the flexibility to determine which jobs could be performed remotely.  The California Environmental Protection Agency said telework has been an “efficient and effective way to conduct business,” while a California Health and Human Services’ internal survey found that remote work allowed for “improved employee collaboration,” and “increased productivity,” according to The Bee.

California is offering drivers money to test its alternative to the gas tax (KTLA)

For decades, California has depended on taxes from gasoline and diesel to provide most of the money for road repairs, but as the state pivots more towards electric and hybrid vehicles, officials are trying to figure out how to replace that income.

Road improvements are mainly financed through the state’s high excise tax on fuels.  Approximately 80% of highway and road repairs are funded by a tax on gasoline charged at the pump when you buy gas.

Price tag for California’s controversial Delta tunnel project increases by $4 billion (The Sacramento Bee)

The estimated cost for California’s controversial Delta Conveyance tunnel just went up by more than $4 billion.  The state Department of Water Resources on Thursday released an analysis that estimates the price tag of the project at $20.1 billion, up from a 2020 assessment of $16 billion.


May 13, 2024

Here are the winners and losers in California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Revise budget (Sacramento Bee)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Revise budget proposal offered few winners, and plenty of losers, Friday, as he unveiled an austere vision for state finances. Newsom called for slashing more than $32 billion in one-time and ongoing spending, with reductions, cost shifts and delayed spending across a wide variety of state departments and programs. The governor however presented a defiant stance at his press conference Friday, telling reporters that “we’re holding the line on unprecedented investments.”

Californians can now track cost of improvements, investments in their community.  Here’s how. (Fox40 News)

new interactive map seeks to enable residents of California to track the impact that community-focused improvements and infrastructure investments have throughout the state.  

According to Caltrans, the digital map lists 319 projects across the state that Clean California funded with $643 million as a part of the organization’s initiative to “clean up, reclaim, transform, and beautify public spaces in California.”

California Leaders Celebrate Ten Years of Climate Action (Streetsblog Cal)

In 2014, California’s Cap-and-Trade Program began allocating revenues from its nascent cap-and-trade auctions. For several years there was a lot of discussion about where that money should go, while various factions kept trying to undermine it and cast doubt on its potential for success.

Fast forward ten years, and a lot of progress has been made. While the notion of cap-and-trade – in which industries basically pay to pollute – has some fundamental flaws, it is the choice California made in 2006 to try to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And it is definitely raising money.

California reports the first increase in groundwater supplies in 4 years (Chico Enterprise-Record)

After massive downpours flooded California’s rivers and packed mountains with snow, the state reported Monday the first increase in groundwater supplies in four years.

The state saw 4.1 million acre-feet of managed groundwater recharge in the water year ending in September, and an 8.7 million acre-feet increase in groundwater storage, California’s Department of Water Resources said.

Giant new California reservoir plan would bring water to 24 million people (SFGate via MSN)

California’s reservoirs are not only vital to the state’s complex water systems, providing millions of people and the state’s agricultural economy with needed access to water; they’re also important gauges for how healthy the state is overall.  This year’s at-capacity reservoirs have been a boon for a region besieged by drought for much of the past decade, but more work is needed to help ensure a plentiful and water-wise future for the most populous state in America.  

Enter Sites Reservoir, a long-in-the-works projects that aims to be the biggest reservoir development in nearly half a century.  It’s been a massive dream for decades, an idea first worked up by landowners and water districts northwest of Sacramento.  Thanks to a new infusion of federal cash, the proposal is closer than ever to actually happening – but not without a very real cost.


May 9, 2024

$900M Caltrans Project Set to Replace Aging Stockton Channel Bridges – ENR California (tiered subscription)

A $900-million project to replace the pair of aging bridges that take Interstate 5 traffic across the Stockton Channel is scheduled to begin construction in late 2026, California Dept. of Transportation (Caltrans) officials announced this week.  “It will be the most significant and costly project in the history of [Caltrans] District 10,” says Skip Allum, a spokesman for the district, which covers much of the northern San Joaquin Valley.

California Home to Two ZEV Firsts – Clean Technica

In just the last three days, California has seen two firsts related to zero-emission vehicles: the nation’s first solar-powered electric truck charging depot and Amazon’s largest electric truck fleet in any country.


May 6, 2024

Newsom wants California state employees back in the office.  New ruling makes it harder to object – CalMatters

California state agencies can compel employees to come to the office even if their union-negotiated contracts promise them the right to work from home.  That’s the gist of a labor arbitrator’s decision in a dispute between the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the union representing state attorneys.

California roads damaged by storms could get help with Newsom’s emergency declaration – Los Angeles Times via Yahoo News

Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency Friday to help fund badly needed repairs of roads battered during this year’s storms, including scenic Topanga Canyon Boulevard that was blocked by millions of pounds of debris.  The governor’s action comes two weeks after California Department of Transportation officials said the massive, 300-foot-tall landslide that covered Topanga Canyon Boulevard in March with mud and rocks would not be cleared until fall “if all things go well.”

California reports the first increase in groundwater supplies in 4 years – Associated Press

After massive downpours flooded California’s rivers and packed mountains with snow, the state reported Monday the first increase in groundwater supplies in four years.  The state saw 4.1 million acre-feet of managed groundwater recharge in the water year ending in September and an 8.7 million acre-feet increase in groundwater storage, California’s Department of Water Resources said.  Groundwater supplies are critical to growing much of the country’s fresh produce.


May 2, 2024

A.M. Alert Newsletter – The Sacramento Bee via Yahoo News

Lawmakers Rally for Offshore Wind Infrastructure; State Initiates Second One-Time Spending Freeze.

Seeing orange and white lines on the freeway?  Here’s what they mean – KSEE TV News (Fresno)

Transportation officials in Southern California are testing a new way to get drivers to slow down in construction zones, and — based on early results — they say it’s working.

Brightline picks manufacturer for high-speed trains to connect SoCal to Las Vegas – KTLA via Microsoft News

Brightline West has chosen the company to build and deliver new high-speed trainsets to be deployed on its bullet train system between Southern California and Las Vegas.  The trains will be built by Siemens Mobility, a German manufacturing company that has been building trains in Northern California since the 1980s and has a U.S. headquarters in Sacramento.


April 2024 News Items

April 29, 2024

Highway 1 closure: Public can convoy in and out of Big Sur starting Monday – Los Angeles Daily News

Starting today, Caltrans will open the twice-daily convoys on Highway 1 through the Rocky Creek slip-out to the general public, according to a press release from the organization.

Lake Oroville storage at 3.37 million acre-feet – CBS 12 (Chico)

Lake Oroville is at 889 feet elevation as of Friday, the Department of Water Resources said.  Lake Oroville’s storage is at around 3.37 million acre-feet, which is 95% of its total capacity and 125% of the historical average.

In Fresno’s Chinatown, High-Speed Rail Sparks Hope and Debate Among Residents – KQED

In the 1960s, Fresno’s Chinatown was hit hard by urban renewal.  A major highway cut through the once-vibrant neighborhood, resulting in demolished buildings and shuttered stores.  Now, the California High-Speed Rail Authority promises to bring economic prosperity back to this area by constructing a new station — one of the first to be built along the line.


April 25, 2024

Will animals cross one of the nation’s busiest freeways? – KCRW

When the 101 freeway was built through the Santa Monica Mountains nearly 100 years ago, it trapped wildlife — lizards, birds and famously, mountain lions — on either side of it.  That’s led to inbreeding and even the threat of extinction.  Now Caltrans is constructing the largest animal-crossing bridge in the world after researching and experimenting for years to create a bridge that all types of wildlife will actually use, despite the 400,000 cars that drive the 101 each day.

California increases water allocation after wet winter, but fish protections limit pumping – Los Angeles Times via Yahoo News

With runoff from this year’s snow and rain boosting the levels of California’s reservoirs, state water managers on Tuesday announced plans to increase deliveries of supplies from the State Water Project to 40% of full allotments, up from 30% last month.  But the Department of Water Resources also said officials have had to limit pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta this year because of environmental protections for native fish.

Industry Groups Urge EPA to Deny CARB Rule – Railway Age

Railroad industry groups are calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject an authorization request from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to implement a regulation that was finalized last year.  The rule would ban any locomotive that is 23 years or older from operating in California starting in 2030 and require that new locomotives can only operate in the state if they are “zero-emissions locomotives,” beginning in 2030 for switch, industrial, and passenger locomotives and 2035 for line haul locomotives.


April 22, 2024

Caltrans battles with extreme rockslides along SR-70 – Fox 40 News

Clearing thousands of cubic feet of boulders and soil from State Route 70 within the Feather River Canyon has become common for Caltrans crews in charge of the roadway.  Since January 22, Caltrans District 3 and Caltrans District 2 have cleared at least one medium to large-scale rockslide or landslide every month.

California acts to halt Kings County’s groundwater overpumping – CalMatters

Kings County growers will face millions of dollars in fees and a mandate to report groundwater pumping after California officials voted unanimously last week to put local agencies on probation for failing to protect the region’s underground water supply.  The unprecedented decision is a first step that could eventually lead to the state wresting control of aground water basin in a severely depleted part of the San Joaquin Valley.

Work starts on bullet train rail line from Sin City to the City of Angels – Associated Press

A $12 billion high-speed passenger rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area has started construction, officials said Monday, amid predictions that millions of ticket-buyers will be boarding trains by 2028.


April 18, 2024

How Gavin Newsom’s budget sidesteps the growing cost of CalPERS pensions, for one year – CalMatters

California is expected to spend about $8.7 billion on state worker pensions next year.  Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to offset some of that cost by repurposing a previously scheduled debt payment.

‘Learning curve’: California’s first turbo roundabout near Bay Area is showing mixed safety results SFGate

The first “turbo roundabout” in California, installed at a notoriously dangerous intersection near Gilroy, has had mixed results since it opened earlier this year.  Crash data indicates that travelers may be struggling to adapt to the road design since its completion in February.  The area has seen one crash every 2.5 days on average versus approximately one every eight days previously.  Notably, however, none of the crashes with the new turbo roundabout have led to serious injury or death, and the share of crashes that led to any injury at all has also dropped.

High-Speed Rail Between U.S. Hubs May Be Closer Than It Appears – Commercial Observer

High-speed passenger rail in the U.S. is closer to reality than ever before, so why does its arrival seem so far off?


April 15, 2024

Gov. Newsom’s mandate for state workers to return to the office gets a mixed reaction – KCRA News (Sacramento)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement this week that state workers will no longer be able to work from home full-time in many cases is getting mixed reactions from a local state legislator, state employees, and local business interests.

How safe are bridges at Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach? – NBC Los Angeles

While the exact cause of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore is under investigation, there are key differences between the destroyed bridge 3,000 miles away and the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge, according to Mario Cordero, the CEO of the Port of Long Beach: The pillars that support the bridge are land-based.  In contrast, the Baltimore bridge has pylons in the water.  The Vincent Thomas Bridge at the Port of Los Angeles is also anchored to land.

Caltrans officials said bridges in California are safe to travel because they are supposed to meet rigorous seismic and safety standards.  “Caltrans has installed fender systems on all major bridges, further protecting bridge piers from the unlikely and rare event of being struck by marine traffic,” the agency said in a statement.  “All state-owned bridges are regularly inspected to ensure strict structural safety and have been seismically retrofitted to the highest national standards.”  Caltrans also said once the investigation into the Baltimore incident is complete, the agency will use the findings to further bolster bridge safety in California.

California farmers depleted groundwater in this county.  Now a state crackdown could rein them in – CalMatters

For the first time in California history, state officials are poised to crack down on overpumping of groundwater in the agricultural heartland.  The State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday will weigh whether to put Kings County groundwater agencies on probation for failing to rein in growers’ overdrafting of the underground water supply.


April 11, 2024

Newsom calls on state workers to return to office in June – ABC 10

State workers in California will return to the office at least two days a week in June, according to a memo from the governor’s office. (Note: This report includes the memo to Cabinet Secretaries.)

How full are major California reservoirs as state exits another wet winter? – The Sacramento Bee via AOL

After two wet winters, most of California’s reservoirs are above their historic average levels.  Here’s the status of California’s 17 major reservoirs as of midnight on Thursday, April 9, according to data from the California Department of Water Resources.

U.S. court upholds EPA decision to approve California electric-vehicle rules – Reuters via Yahoo Finance

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to grant California a waiver to set its own tailpipe emissions limits and electric-vehicle requirements.


April 8, 2024

Newsom and Democratic lawmakers detail first California budget cuts totaling $17 billion – Los Angeles Times via AOL

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and leaders of the state Senate and Assembly announced an agreement last week to cut $17 billion from the state budget in April, providing the first details of their plan to begin to tackle the state’s massive deficit.  The plan calls for delaying $1 billion in grant funding for transit and intercity rail projects, saving $762.5 million by pausing hiring for open state jobs and pulling back $500 million from a program to help districts pay for K-12 building projects, among other proposals to trim the shortfall now, before additional cuts are made this summer.

California will pay millions for safety violations in Sacramento County, Oakland – KCRA News (Sacramento)

Millions of taxpayer dollars will go toward settling a lawsuit accusing California of numerous safety violations involving underground storage tanks beneath state buildings, according to Sacramento County court documents.

Lawsuit challenges $1 billion in federal funding to sustain California’s last nuclear power plant – Associated Press via ABC News

An environmental group has sued the U.S. Energy Department over its decision to award over $1 billion to help keep California’s last nuclear power plant running beyond a planned closure set for 2025.  The move opens another battlefront in the fight over the future of Diablo Canyon’s twin reactors.


April 4, 2024

State workers in 8 more California departments receive two-day return-to-office mandate – The Sacramento Bee via AOL

Roughly 19,000 permanent state workers under the California Natural Resources Agency will be required to return to their offices or work in the field at least twice a week starting this spring.

Why Highway 1 is going to keep falling into the sea – Politico

Another piece of Highway 1 in Big Sur fell into the Pacific over the weekend.  Cue the stories about stranded tourists and struggling businesses — and cue Caltrans’ inevitable graders and bulldozers propping up the iconic cliff-hugging road again.  As climate conditions continue pounding what is arguably the world’s most famous highway, California’s plan to adapt is to keep rebuilding it.

CA snowpack in good shape after several storms.  What does that mean for the water supply? – ABC 7

After all the recent storms, California’s snowpack is more than abundant this year, but officials say we still need to capture and store as much water as possible.


March 2024 News Items

March 28, 2024

California employees could lose telework if they don’t comply with two-day in-office mandate ­­­– The Sacramento Bee via Microsoft News

Ever since California departments and agencies started implementing hybrid work rules, critics have suggested that sooner or later, the state will creep back toward a full-time in-office model.  That once seemingly far-fetched scenario could become a reality for some state managers within departments under the California Health and Human Services Agency, according to an unreleased draft memo obtained by The Sacramento Bee.

LAO: California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to cut vacant state worker jobs to solve budget deficit is flawed – The Sacramento Bee via AOL

In a new report, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office criticizes Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to address the state’s budget deficit by eliminating funds for vacant positions.  Eliminating telework stipends also has problems because it “likely would result in difficult labor relations and an erosion to any savings,”  according to the analysis.  Furloughs also present problems for the administration, said Nick Schroeder, the LAO’s specialist in public employment, since CalHR would likely face significant pushback from state worker unions given the circumstances of the last furlough-like program.  “It’s a difficult situation because in 2020, the bargaining units did agree to the Personal Leave Program, and then that year, we ended up not having a budget problem,” Schroeder said.  “It kind of makes it more difficult for the state to try to get concessions of that size again.”

Caltrans lowers speed limit on 44.5 miles of California’s Highway 1 – SFGate.com

California sightseers, be warned: Caltrans is reducing the speed limit along three different stretches of State Route 1 on the coast of Big Sur.  The agency recently conducted an engineering and traffic survey that found lowering speed limits would be advisable along the three segments of the highway, which are all in Monterey County and total 44.5 miles.


March 25, 2024

California state agencies won’t report telework data anymore as workers return to office – The Sacramento Bee via Yahoo News

California’s most reputable state telework data source will disappear from the internet soon, according to a recent memo from CalHR’s top brass.  The Department of General Services monitored the state’s implementation of telework and provided support with IT security, equipment tracking, facility-use monitoring, and training.  “In the coming weeks, DGS will provide modified instructions for telework data reporting and prepare to sunset www.telework.dgs.ca.gov, including the telework dashboard,” CalHR Director Eraina Ortega said in an email to departmental leadership.  “This will result in reduced reporting requirements for departments and DGS.”

California doubles State Water Project allocation thanks to February storms – Los Angeles Times via Yahoo News

On the heels of a soaking start to 2024, state water managers on Friday announced a considerable increase in their forecasted water allocation for the year.

CalPERS says Exxon should drop lawsuit against climate-conscious investors – Reuters

The largest U.S. public pension fund plans to ask Exxon Mobil to drop a lawsuit against investors that filed a shareholder resolution asking the U.S. oil major to curb greenhouse gas emissions faster.  According to its most recent disclosure, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System holds a 0.2% stake in Exxon.  At a meeting of its officials last week, it disclosed that it will raise the issue ahead of the energy company’s annual shareholder meeting in May.


March 21, 2024

California Advancing Efforts to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Network – Ytech News

California is taking proactive measures to expedite the utilization of substantial federal funds to develop a widespread electric vehicle charging infrastructure.  In pursuit of this goal, the California Energy Commission and the California Department of Transportation are actively gathering input on the optimal approach to deploy funds from the National Electric Vehicle Funding Infrastructure Program.

Drone photos show dramatic rise in California reservoirs after record-setting rain, snow – Los Angeles Times via Yahoo News

Winter storms across California have significantly improved drought conditions and filled state reservoirs that had held less than a third of their capacity.  Drone photos from the California Department of Water Resources show just how big a difference a recent series of storms, brought on by 11 atmospheric rivers, has made.

California reaches clean-car deal with maker of Jeep and Chrysler – The San Francisco Chronicle (free read)

The car company that owns the Jeep and Chrysler brands has agreed to meet California’s climate goals and slash greenhouse gases in the next several years by improving designs and promoting cleaner models such as electric vehicles.  Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced the deal between Stellantis, the brand producing Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Fiat vehicles, and the California Air Resources Board.


March 18, 2024

Port of Los Angeles readies $130 million transportation project – Port Technology

The Port of Los Angeles and the California Department of Transportation will begin construction on a $130 million transportation project this month.  According to the port, the transportation project aims to redesign a key intersection at State Route 47/Vincent Thomas Bridge and Front Street/Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro.

State approves nearly $2 billion plan to improve transportation infrastructure: ‘Making sure [the] communities most in need have better access’ – TCD

California is about to get a lot more electric vehicle chargers.  A new $1.9 billion investment plan that will result in 40,000 new chargers statewide has been approved by the California Energy Commission.  Including other investment plans and funding from the federal government, California expects to reach 250,000 chargers statewide in the next few years, well over double the current amount.

California weakens plan for mandatory cutbacks in urban water use, yielding to criticism – CalMatters via Capital Public Radio

Facing criticism over their ambitious plan to curb urban water use, California’s regulators weakened the proposed rules last week, giving water providers more years and flexibility to comply.  


March 14, 2024

Did California save taxpayer dollars on leased office space during the pandemic?  See the data – The Sacramento Bee via Yahoo News

One point that state employees love to make is that telework during the pandemic helped the state save money on rented office space.  But how true is this theory?   And if the state did save taxpayer dollars by terminating or not renewing leases, how much are we talking about?

Newsom stays silent on Cal-OSHA staffing crisis as legislators and advocates call for action – The Sacramento Bee via ArcaMax

California lawmakers and labor leaders are calling for change within the state’s workplace safety agency following a four-month Sacramento Bee investigation into the organization’s hiring practices.  The Bee’s reporting found numerous troubling examples of how a staffing shortage within the Division of Occupational Health and Safety, also known as Cal-OSHA, causes serious harm to state employees and California’s front-line workers.

Freeways split San Diego’s communities of color.  This new Caltrans project aims to reconnect them – San Diego Union-Tribune

Neighborhoods in southeastern San Diego and National City that were disconnected by Interstate 805 construction are part of a pilot program that will provide millions for parks, bike lanes and other amenities.  The goal of the state program is to re-imagine and revitalize dozens of blocks divided by freeways.  The pilot program, announced by Caltrans on Tuesday, also includes divided communities in Arcata and South San Francisco.


March 11, 2024

Multiple landslides in Malibu, surrounding areas close Pacific Coast Highway – Los Angeles Times via AOL

Several active landslides closed Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Monday morning, and it wasn’t immediately clear when traffic would be able to pass through again as road crews scrambled to move the boulders and debris.

Coast Guard Will Not Enforce New California Rule, Citing ‘Safety Concerns’ – MarineLink

The U.S. Coast Guard says it “will not enforce” a new California Air Resources Board regulation, citing “safety concerns.”  The Coast Guard and business organizations oppose CARB’s requirement that commercial harbor craft install diesel particulate filters (DPF) linked to a number of fires.  Seventeen states are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for giving an exemption to California alone to enact its own air standards that, by power of its market size, govern much of the rest of the country.

Helicopters map California groundwater basins with electromagnetic technology – CBS News

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has mapped out the state over the last few years to gain a better understanding of its groundwater basins.  The department has been using new technology combined with helicopters to create a database about what lies below.


March 7, 2024

California agrees to long-term cuts of Colorado River water – CalMatters

California, Arizona and Nevada would cut their allocations about 20% when reservoir levels drop.  But other states have their own opposing plan.  Now the federal government has to decide how to manage the drought-plagued river.

Monster blizzard shatters California ‘snow drought’ with up to 10 feet of new snow – Los Angeles Times via Yahoo News

A monster blizzard that blasted California’s Sierra Nevada with gusts of up to 190 mph and dumped more than 10 feet of snow over the weekend shattered the state’s “snow drought” and significantly boosted vital snowpack levels.

Caltrans Launches Equity Tool to Identify Transportation Inequities, Cites Pasadena – Pasadena Now

On Tuesday, the California Department of Transportation launched a new equity tool designed to help identify communities across the state that transportation projects, including in Pasadena, have negatively impacted.


March 4, 2024

California’s most reliable source for telework data could soon vanish as program loses funding – The Sacramento Bee via Yahoo News

The future of California’s ability to track how many state employees telework and the policy’s many benefits is murky as state employees — to the dismay of many — begin returning to their offices this month.  Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2024-25 budget includes no funding for the state’s Telework Compliance Office, housed within the Department of General Services.  The office oversaw the rollout of telework during the COVID-19 pandemic and is best known for publishing state telework data on an online portal.

California water data shows change for typically drier months ahead – Scripps News

California and other parts of the U.S. West have suffered drought in recent years that has wreaked havoc on farming and caused concern for the future among state officials.  Now, after data released by California’s Department of Water Resources shows strong water levels across the state, reservoirs may be able to get typically drier parts of the country through what has been a difficult season historically.

Here’s a first look at California’s massive high-speed rail stations – San Francisco Chronicle (free read)

California’s high-speed rail stations in the Central Valley will be massive, with wide station platforms and concourses, and surrounded by spacious outdoor plazas and parking lots, according to new project renderings.