Here are newspaper and magazine stories, news releases and other items relevant to San Francisco Bay Area transportation. This list was last revised on November 13, 2009 and covers the period dating back to November 7.

Go to current listing.

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This week's pick: Pimp My Bus Ride. I can count on one hand the number of times I have traveled between cities on a bus. And let's just say that when I think back on those hulking motor coaches--from sullen rides to sleepaway camp to a terrifyingly fast tour abroad with an unpleasant-smelling driver--none of the memories are very nice. So when my ultra-cool 29-year-old cousin started raving about her regular bus trips from New York City to Philadelphia, where her fiancé is in grad school, I figured maybe it was time to review my old bias.—Time magazine

November 13

Oakland first California city to get Smart Boot Oakland will become the first city in California to use a tire boot that parking scofflaws can unlock themselves - if they immediately pay the fine.

Schwarzenegger quietly quashed effort to improve commuter rails
The governor ordered officials to seek federal money only for the proposed bullet train between San Francisco and San Diego. Rail advocates say the commuter line upgrades should take priority.

Pimp My Bus Ride. I can count on one hand the number of times I have traveled between cities on a bus. And let's just say that when I think back on those hulking motor coaches--from sullen rides to sleepaway camp to a terrifyingly fast tour abroad with an unpleasant-smelling driver--none of the memories are very nice. So when my ultra-cool 29-year-old cousin started raving about her regular bus trips from New York City to Philadelphia, where her fiancé is in grad school, I figured maybe it was time to review my old bias.

November 12

Feds never checked bridge fix The Bay Bridge fix that halted traffic across the span for more than five days was not inspected by federal authorities, The Examiner learned, despite public promises from the state agency that oversees the structure.

November 11

Public meetings begin on bringing high-speed rail to the Livermore Valley

Ideas offered to slow S-curve motorists. Getting drivers to slow down for the Bay Bridge S-curve might seem like an unusual challenge, but some states have been dealing with troublesome curves on interstate highways for decades, using everything from speed cameras and flashing lights to grooved pavement and unusual lane markings to get drivers to slow down and pay attention.

Are Wireless Road Trains the Cure for Congestion? The concept of road trains--up to eight vehicles zooming down the road together--has long been considered a faster, safer, and greener way of traveling long distances by car. And now, thanks to a European Union-financed project, the idea could be coming to a freeway near you (that is, if you live on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean).

Clever Commute a clever idea for easing traffic pains A crowdsourcing success Clever Commute is an up-and-coming information network where subscribers receive alerts on traffic and transit conditions in their area thanks to commuters who text in updates about trains, buses and traffic. It is, as creator Joshua Crandall described, a service where “only a few participate, but everyone in the community benefits.”

Connecting Cars to Avoid Speeding Tickets— Car-to-car communication is a dream of traffic researchers. Radar, video and other sensors in a car would understand the environment around it and communicate such information as sudden braking, rainfall and speed to the receptors in other cars, enabling other drivers to avoid accidents and congestion.

Santa Monica Pier to be Named Route 66's Western Point: Tomorrow is the 83rd Anniversary of the numbered highway system that gave birth to Route 66, among others. In honor of that, the long-debated ending point of the famed auto-passage will find itself at the Santa Monica Pier in a 9 a.m. ceremony with a parade 66 vintage cars and motorbikes (it begins at Santa Monica and Lincoln) and the unveiling of a replica of the "End of the Trail" sign.

November 10

Drivers ignoring S-curve warnings to slow down: During the morning commute, a digital billboard at the westbound incline read, "Slow Down. 35 MPH Curve Two Miles Ahead," yet few drivers heeded the warning, perhaps because of distraction or a simple refusal to slow down, said Simon Washington, director of the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center at UC Berkeley.

Changes coming to Bay Bridge after death plunge: Caltrans will add more safety measures and warning signs on the Bay Bridge to try to get drivers to slow down before the new S-curve, where a speeding truck driver lost control early Monday and plunged in his big rig 200 feet to his death on Yerba Buena Island, authorities said.

Slow down for S-curve: The skid marks at the start of the new westbound S-curve tell the story. (Editorial, Chronicle)

Bay Bridge S-curve death highlights safety concerns: The dramatic fatal crash of a big rig Monday on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge has spotlighted yet another safety concern on the troubled span.

MTA report calls for light rail, not rapid bus line, on Crenshaw corridor: A proposed transit line that will run through South Los Angeles should be light rail, not a rapid bus line, according to a report released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. (LA Times)

Energy costs to soar if no carbon deal, agency says: The world faces a surge in energy costs, as well as in planet-warming carbon emissions, unless it can swiftly agree a climate change deal, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday. (Reuters)

Criticism over California law that allows repeat DUI offenders to get licenses: A Burlingame man with eight DUIs still had a valid driver's license when he got his ninth in January because he apparently never hurt or killed anyone and many of his previous convictions were outside a 10-year cutoff period used by the Department of Motor Vehicles to assess drivers, a department official explained Monday.

Highway closed, Bay Area Amtrak service disrupted by derailed train in Pittsburg: Pittsburg police Lt. Brian Addington said 11 of the train's 12 cars derailed at low speeds due to an unspecified mechanical failure. All but one of the derailed cars, which remained upright, was empty.

New trail rules should be guided by public safety: MARIN Supervisor Steve Kinsey is correct. The rules that ban bicyclists from single-track trails on the county's open space lands are not working...The local bike community likes to characterize its fight for greater access to narrow trails as some sort of civil rights debate. Advocates say they are being discriminated against and prevented from enjoying their tax-supported open space.What they need to do is keep their bikes on designated roads and trails. Or get off of their bikes and hike. (Editorial, Marin Independent Journal)

Golden Gate Bridge lane change helps northbound evening commuters: Barring any dramatic shifts in traffic, the northbound four-lane configuration will continue at least through the end of the year, until work begins on the new Doyle Drive.

Pedestrians walking fine line on San Francisco streets: Much less transit funding goes to pedestrian-related projects in The City than the national average.

Caltran says speed to blame for bridge fatality, not design: In the aftermath of the crash, the California Department of Transportation will move forward with installing signs on the bridge to warn drivers to slow down at the new curve... Larger improvements — such as installing a higher guardrail or funneling traffic to fewer lanes — are not being considered, Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney said.

Caltrain releases draft short-range plan: Caltrain is seeking pubic comments on its annual Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) update. The plan, which covers fiscal years 2010 through 2018, includes a 10-year operating and capital plan, and financial projections used to qualify for state and federal funds.

November 9

Driver dies as truck plunges off S-curve: A truck driver died early today after losing control on the Bay Bridge S-curve and plummeting in his big rig 200 feet to Yerba Buena Island, the most serious crash since the new detour was installed, the California Highway Patrol said.

Big rig crashes through Bay Bridge S curve and plunges 200 feet, killing driver: The far-right lane was reopened about 7:45 a.m., after a nearly four-hour closure, but residual backups are expected to cause delays for westbound traffic.

Eyebar just one of Bay Bridge's many problems: Despite all the attention it has received, and all the complaining it has caused, the eyebar isn't the biggest danger on the eastern span of the Bay Bridge. And it's not the reason the span is being replaced - at a cost of $6.3 billion - instead of retrofitted.

Metrolink officials consider rate hike to counter revenue shortfall: The five-county rail agency's board is scheduled to decide this week whether to increase fares by as much as 6%. Some worry that the move would exacerbate a drop in ridership. (LA Times)

New lanes open on 405 Freeway through Westside: New carpool and exit lanes made their debut on the southbound 405 Freeway between the 10 and 90 freeways over the weekend. The existing traffic lanes were also widened as part of the project. (LA Times)

Cattle crossing causes problems off I-280: There is a cattle crossing under the freeway, and the culvert appears to be settling. Caltrans will make temporary repairs until its engineers can recommend a long-term solution. (Roadshow, MediaNews)

Repeat DUI offenders deserve Three Strikes, lawmaker says: Not long after a San Mateo County man with a valid driver's license was sentenced to two years in jail for his ninth drunken-driving conviction, a Bay Area legislator has called for a rule that would automatically revoke the licenses of motorists who are repeatedly over the limit and behind the wheel.

Florida most dangerous state for pedestrians-report: Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Jacksonville and their surrounding areas were the top four hazardous cities for walkers in the Pedestrian Danger Index, which is used to assess the risk of walking in urban areas, followed by Memphis, Tennessee..."These areas are dominated by lower density and automobile-orientated development patterns, which include high-speed urban arterials that are particularly hazardous for walking," according to the report by Transportation for America, (T4), a coalition of organizations focused on transportation problems.

City Streets a Mortal Threat to Pedestrians: A report released today finds more than 43,000 pedestrians nationwide have died this decade on roads the authors complain don’t provide adequate crosswalks and other safety features. (Wired)

Three excellent plans to increase the cost of your commute: Our bridges may not have kept pace with engineering advances, but our tolls have run rings around inflation.

Dangerous by Design: L.A. Metro Lags Behind Nation on Funds to Fix Unsafe Streets. Our streets are amongst the most dangerous ones in the country for pedestrians, yet our governments aren't taking the issue seriously enough to adequately fund safety improvements. (LA.Streetsblog)

California's Great Cycle-Way: During the 1880's, 1890's, and the first few years of the 20th century, the Bicycle Craze prompted many innovations that would soon be adapted for the automobile. One innovation was described in the following article about a bicycle freeway, built before the term "freeway" was coined.

Bill pushes 'green' lessons for new drivers: Is it environmental awareness or political correctness? (Detroit News)

November 8

Meters on Highway 101 to begin working Monday: Meter lights are the second biggest scam in transportation management — right behind the "Lexus Lane" plan to allow solo drivers with money to buy their way into the carpool lane. When you look at the impact to the total commute time, these lights do not make any sense. They increase the commute time, not decrease it. (Roadshow, MediaNews)

Spy-in-the-cab could improve teenage driving: ACCIDENT rates among teenage drivers could be slashed using in-car technology that warns them when they are driving recklessly. (NewScientist)

November 7

Work begins on easing traffic in Baldwin Park: Crews break ground on carpool lanes on the 10 Freeway. The estimated $175-million project creates lanes that stretch about two miles in each direction from the 605 Freeway to Puente Avenue.

How to make the S-curve safe on the Bay Bridge: Caltrans said they expect the accidents to decline as motorists get more familiar with the S-curve and the need to slow down there.