Ford is officially bringing its self-driving cars to California’s public roads

Ford is bringing its self-driving cars to California’s public roads.

The American automaker announced plans today (Dec. 16) to begin testing its fully-autonomous Fusion Hybrid model on public streets in 2016, as part of a state-run Department of Motor Vehicle program.   http://qz.com/575609/ford-is-officially-bringing-its-self-driving-cars-to-californias-public-roads/

Article courtesy of Quartz by Ashley Rodriguez

Auto Travel

California Department of Motor Vehicles drafts new regulations say self-driving cars must have licensed driver behind wheel until technology proven safe - @frankmottek
http://www.breakingnews.com/topic/california-us/
Article courtesy of Breaking News-CA US

How the MBTA is handling the first snow of the season

In the first test of MBTA winter readiness, the Red Line’s Braintree branch experienced severe delays early Tuesday morning because of a frozen switch near JFK/UMass.

The T reported the problem shortly after 5:50 a.m. It was addressed by 6:15 a.m., MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said.  http://www.boston.com/news/2015/12/29/first-winter-test-mbta-deals-with-early-frozen-switch/1Q8bcyEXEvH1kPSHukLvsO/story.html?p1=Must_Reads_hp

Article courtesy of boston.com by Eric Levenson and Adam Vaccaro

Is El Niño the elephant in Paris or will it change the mindset there?

In 1997, the effects of a great El Niño were first felt around the Pacific and beyond although 400 years had passed since similar weather was last seen Not many realised how and why their crops were dying, wildlife was disappearing and temperatures wildly fluctuated both above and below normal. We have learned the cause and the current Paris Climate Conference faces that evidence alongside the other unimaginable effects of global warming. What is so far not evident are the approaching horrors of this year’s giant El Niño. Since the end of October NOAA(from Hawaii in the US)has reported their increasing worries over huge rises - See more at: http://www.earthtimes.org/energy/el-nino-elephant-paris-mindset/2889/#sthash.oEZ7Qvab.dpuf
Read more at http://www.earthtimes.org/energy/el-nino-elephant-paris-mindset/2889/#iEQowUAsy57MwEQc.99

Article courtesy of Earth Times by JW Dowey

Climate Change

Climate change is the biggest and most controversial environmental issue of our times. Or rather, the cause of climate change is.

The fact that the Earth's climate has changed over its history - sometimes with cataclysmic consequences, called mass extinctions, for many of the planet's inhabitants - is not disputed. However, what has been the cause of fierce debate is whether or not human activity is currently causing a warming of the world.

Read more at http://www.earthtimes.org/encyclopaedia/environmental-issues/climate-change/#mLtEJQMfQE21y6F5.99

Article courtesy of Earth Times by Colin Ricketts

Life On the Edge of Climate Change

Close your eyes and picture your best memory with your family and friends. Have it in mind? If you’re like me, that memory is filled with the warmth and comfort of a familiar home. I hope that, unlike me, you are never asked to put a price on that home.

Welcome to Shishmaref, Alaska, population: 650. We’re a small Iñupiaq community where everyone knows each other. Shishmaref is a barrier island that has been eroding and flooding for the past 50 years, even before climate disruption was widely recognized. Over the past 35 years, we’ve lost 2,500 to 3,000 feet of land. I was born in 1997—over the course of my lifetime, Shishmaref has lost about 100 feet of land.  http://sierraclub.org/sierra/2015-6-november-december/green-life/life-edge-climate-change?mostpopular=true

Article courtesy of sierraclub.org by Esau Sinnok

Another big week coming at the MBTA

It’s shaping up to be another busy week at the MBTA, and Monday’s commute hasn’t even started yet.

Officials continue to investigate how a Red Line train carrying about 50 passengers traveled through four stations with no driver Thursday. The Green Line extension is up for further discussion. Several changes to MBTA policy will be weighed. And a long-awaited report on the embattled agency from transit leaders is due to lawmakers.  http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/12/13/another-big-week-coming-the-mbta/UACLlQi4MO2Boms5LoBqVP/story.html?p1=feature_sec_hp

Article courtesy of Boston Globe by Adam Vaccaro

Hey Mr. Green, How Ecofriendly Is Online Shopping?

Hey Mr. Green,
Could you give your thoughts on the greenness of online shopping and home delivery? I'm sure it varies by product and home location, but what should a person think about in terms of things like transportation usage and added packaging waste.
—Dick, in Philadelphia

It all depends on how far you drive to buy stuff, according to the life-cycle studies that I’ve looked at. If you simply walk or bike to an ordinary, old-fashioned store to make your purchase, you burn through half the energy that it takes for e-commerce, because online delivery requires more packaging, and fuel for its delivery trucks. However, if you drive as far as the average American on the average shopping expedition, online shopping wins. Obviously, a car going to and from a store and hauling a few items is nowhere near as efficient as a UPS truck delivering a load of merchandise to houses only a few blocks apart in a neighborhood. It’s kinda like what I pointed out awhile back regarding the transportation of food: half the fuel used to haul food is burned by cars going to and from the store.
So the moral is the same old one I’ve harped on endlessly: walk, bike, take the bus, or car pool with fellow shoppers instead of driving alone to the store. If this is truly not possible, then go online, with my green blessings, unless you’re a shopaholic, in which case you might be better off deprived of both your car and your internet service.
Article courtesy of sierraclub.org by bob Schildgen

Portland May Require Developers to Offer Residents, Employees $600 for Biking or Transit

​Got a new job in Portland? Have a new bike. Deals like that could become common under a set of proposed rules being discussed by the City of Portland that might require developers or property managers to give each new resident or on-site worker $600 that could be spent only on non-car transportation: a nice new bike, six months of TriMet passes, four years of bike share memberships, or whatever.http://smartgrowth.org/portland-may-require-developers-to-offer-residents-employees-600-for-biking-or-transit/?utm_source=SGN+2015-1123&utm_campaign=sgn-news-2015-1123&utm_medium=email
Article courtesy of BikeOregon.org

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MBTA board considering cutting late-night T service

For the second time this year, late-night T service is on the chopping block.

Members of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Fiscal and Management Control Board on Wednesday seemed open to abandoning the weekend bus and subway service, which runs until 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings, to cut costs.  http://www.boston.com/business/2015/11/18/mbta-board-considering-cutting-late-night-service/JFvW3SaUOTckRqGAca2f2J/story.html?p1=Must_Reads_hp

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Adam Vaccaro

#TBT: The worst earthquake in Massachusetts history 260 years ago

On November 18, 1755, Massachusetts experienced its largest recorded earthquake.

The earthquake occurred in the waters off Cape Ann, and was felt within seconds in Boston, and as far away as Nova Scotia, the Chesapeake Bay, and upstate New York, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Seismologists have since estimated the quake to have been between 6.0 and 6.3 on the Richter scale, according to the Massachusetts Historical Society.  http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/11/19/tbt-the-worst-earthquake-massachusetts-history-years-ago/b2byfYaFeX2IqiLxN8czxN/story.html?p1=Must_Reads_hp

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Hilary Sargent

El Niño temperatures in Pacific Ocean break 25-year record

Temperatures in a key location of the Pacific Ocean are now far hotter than normal than ever were in the record 1997 El Niño.
Some scientists say the readings show that this year’s El Niño could be among the most powerful on record -- and even topple the 1997 El Niño from its pedestal.  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-el-nino-temperatures-new-record-20151117-story.html
Story courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Rong-Gong Lin II and Rosanna Xia

MBTA considers price increases, other changes for disability service

Before MBTA leaders began a scheduled discussion about the finances of its paratransit service, The Ride, several of its users stood before them Monday to urge them to keep prices stable and all existing service in place.  http://www.boston.com/news/2015/11/09/mbta-considers-price-increases-other-changes-for-disability-service/3kj4fR8Ru0c0mUcsJVB4zI/story.html?p1=stream_business
Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Adam Vaccaro

MBTA will unveil its commuter rail winter plan Wednesday

The MBTA and the operator of its commuter rail service, Keolis, will explain their winter weather plans at a media event Wednesday. Commuter rail riders were beset by severe delays and cancellations during last winter’s record-setting snowfall.  http://www.boston.com/news/2015/11/04/mbta-will-unveil-its-commuter-rail-winter-plan-wednesday/POwLt7rUgKtuQsfU3YYSuI/story.html?p1=feature_stack_7_hp
Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Adam Vaccaro

At lawmakers' urging, agency reveals report on growing bullet train costs

he California high-speed rail authority bowed to pressure from California legislators and members of Congress late Tuesday and released a copy of a 2013 report showing a large estimated increase in the cost of building the initial segment of the bullet train project. http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-bullet-cost-response-20151104-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Ralph Vartabedian

Freezing temperatures expected after warmest October on record in Southern California

Antelope Valley residents are in for a cold couple of days.
A frost warning issued for Wednesday morning -- meaning temperatures could hover just above 32 degrees -- will be followed by an advisory for possible freezing temperatures after sundown, the National Weather Service said. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-freezing-cold-20151104-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Joseph Serna

SAN DIEGO — Just a year ago, the Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club — which bills itself as having an “exquisitely manicured, visually breathtaking” golf course — featured the same traditional rolling hills of grass found at golf clubs around the country.
But then came the $4 million renovation. With shovels and bulldozers, out went 54 acres of turf, nearly half the lawn on the course. Walkways that were once grass were replaced with shredded redwood bark, known here as “gorilla hair” for its coarse appearance and the way it feels underfoot. Large stretches of fairway are now covered in decomposed granite, which Kevin Hwang, the general manager of the club, calls a “fancy term for dirt.”http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/27/us/in-drought-ridden-california-the-classic-lawn-loses-ground.html?ref=topics&_r=0
Article courtesy of the New York Times by Jennifer Medina

Passports may be required for some for domestic flights

Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York have failed to comply with the REAL ID Act, a federal law enacted a decade ago. January 2016 is the deadline for states to reach compliance with the federal guidelines and if those states don't issue federally approved IDs before January, residents of those states will not be able to use their state-issued driver licenses for air travel.

Read more: http://www.wfsb.com/story/30277633/passports-may-be-required-for-some-for-domestic-flights#ixzz3pCq4RPT6
Article courtesy of CNN

Local ski resorts giddy over weekend flakes

Some folks may have grumbled over the snowflakes that fell across New England over the weekend, but ski resorts were downright giddy. http://www.boston.com/news/local/2015/10/19/local-ski-resorts-giddy-over-weekend-flakes/XmF6RAOzWqQ1lyPXSZ1YWL/story.html?p1=story_hp
Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Kristi Palma

Drone pilots could get jail time, fine for violating new L.A. ordinance

Flying a drone too high, too close to people or at an airport in Los Angeles could soon land you six months in jail and a hefty fine.
In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the L.A. City Council approved an ordinance that mirrors the Federal Aviation Administration’s civilian drone regulations and makes it a misdemeanor to violate them. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-passes-new-drone-ordinance-20151014-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Joseph Serna

Port of Los Angeles has failed to meet pollution-cutting measures

The Port of Los Angeles has failed to carry out vital pollution-reduction measures it agreed to make after a legal settlement more than a decade ago, according to a document released by the port.  http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-1014-port-pollution-20151014-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

Los Angeles goes car free for a day for CicLAvia

Some six miles of streets in and around downtown Los Angeles are closed to motor vehicles Sunday as the city’s fifth anniversary celebration of the CicLAvia (sick-luh-VEE’-uh) festival opens the lanes to cyclists. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/angeles-688081-car-free.html
Article courtesy of The Associates Press by Richard Vogel

California seeks to build one of world's largest recycled water programs

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is in talks with Los Angeles County sanitation districts about developing what could be one of the largest recycled water programs in the world.
In a committee meeting Monday, the agency’s staff presented the framework of a plan to purify and reuse as much as 168,000 acre-feet of water a year – enough to serve about twice that number of households for a year  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-mwd-recycled-water-20150922-story.html
Article courtesy of Los Angeles Times/ latimes.com by Matt Stevens

Uber’s Plan for Self-Driving Cars Bigger Than Its Taxi Disruption

Uber has fundamentally changed the taxi industry. But its biggest disruption may be yet to come.
The ride-hailing company has invested in autonomous-vehicle research, and its CEO Travis Kalanick (pictured above) has indicated that consumers can expect a driverless Uber fleet by 2030. Uber expects its service to be so inexpensive and ubiquitous as to make car ownership obsolete. Such ambitious plans could make its disruption of the taxi industry look quaint in comparison
- See more at: http://mobilitylab.org/2015/08/18/ubers-plan-for-self-driving-cars-bigger-than-its-taxi-disruption/#sthash.cak7Sysz.ohfyOuOc.dpuf  http://mobilitylab.org/2015/08/18/ubers-plan-for-self-driving-cars-bigger-than-its-taxi-disruption/
Article courtesy of Mobility Lab by Paul Goddin

Forget the "Next Brooklyn," Bring In The Next Newark

Real estate developer Ron Beit is passionate about Newark, New Jersey. Dedicated to its downtown revitalization, he has worked on dozens of projects in the city’s core, including the mixed-use Teachers Village and Makers Village, with its noteworthy indoor vertical farm design. I talked to Beit recently about the potential he sees in Newark, working within a historic district, New Jersey politics and more.http://smartgrowth.org/forget-the-next-brooklyn-bring-on-the-next-newark/?utm_source=SGN+2015-0824&utm_campaign=sgn-news-2015-0824&utm_medium=email
Article courtesy of SG online blog by By Tom Dallessio AICP/PP via NextCity

Taste Test: Five Foods Made From Trash

At least 30 percent of food ends up in landfills each year in the United States. Thanks to these five noshes—all made from castoffs—the trash piles are a little smaller. http://sierraclub.org/sierra/2015-5-september-october/taste-test/5-foods-made-trash?pi_email=pmorris%40transactionassoc.com&pi_state=MA&suppress=true&src=1btn&utm_source=greenlife&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
Article courtesy of The Green Life -Sierra Club by Chelsea Leu

Uber and Lyft could start operating at LAX within weeks

After weeks of debate, the Los Angeles City Council today approved a policy that would allow ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft to apply for permits to fully operate at L.A. International Airport.

Uber and Lyft could be operating at LAX in a matter of weeks. Los Angeles will be the largest city in the nation to allow such services to pick up passengers alongside taxis at its airport.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-uber-lyft-lax-20150824-story.html
Article courtesy of Los Angeles Times by Laura J. Nelson

Astronomers discover the smallest known supermassive black hole

Here's a cosmic contradiction: A tiny supermassive black hole. Astronomers using the Magellan II telescope in Chile and NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory have discovered the smallest supermassive black hole yet found at the center of a dwarf galaxy. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-tiny-supermassive-black-hole-dwarf-galaxy-oxymoron-20150812-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Amina Khan

California will soon have toughest shower head requirements in nation

Current rules, established in 1994 at the federal level, allow a maximum flow of 2.5 gallons per minute from a shower head.
Effective next July, the limit will fall to 2.0 gallons per minute and will be reduced again in July 2018, to 1.8 gallons, giving California the toughest standard of any U.S. state http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-shower-heads-20150812-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Kurt Chirbas and Taylor Goldenstein

Latest forecast suggests 'Godzilla El Nino' may be coming to California

The strengthening El Niño in the Pacific Ocean has the potential to become one of the most powerful on record, as warming ocean waters surge toward the Americas, setting up a pattern that could bring once-in-a-generation storms this winter to drought-parched California.  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-el-nino-20150813-htmlstory.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Rong-Gong Lin II

How to watch tonight's meteor shower created by a very mysterious comet

There's a very strange comet flying through our solar neighborhood that unlike any other comet astronomers have seen.

This had led some to speculate that this comet is not from around here — instead, it came to us from a completely different solar system, far way.

This mysterious, and potentially alien comet, is called Comet 69P/Machholz, and it's the most-likely source for the annual meteor shower happening this week.  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/watch-tonights-meteor-shower-created-124100740.html

Article courtesy of Business Insider by Jessica Orwig

Oil prices fall to lowest in nearly six months

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell to their lowest in nearly six months on Tuesday, as a rout in the Chinese stock market cast further doubt over the outlook for crude demand in the world's top commodities consumer.  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-prices-fall-close-four-030714429.html
Article courtesy of Reuters by Amanda Cooper

Portion of 10 Freeway near Arizona border washed out in storm to reopen

Astretch of the 10 Freeway that has been shut down after heavy rain washed out a bridge halfway between Coachella and the Arizona border over the weekend is expected to open Friday at noon.
About 30 feet of the eastbound lanes washed out on Sunday near Desert Center in Riverside County when heavy rain washed away the earth supporting the bridge, triggering a collapse that damaged one truck  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-10-freeway--to-reopen-near-arizona-border-20150724-story.html Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Joseph Serna

It's critical El Niño hits Northern California. Why experts are growing optimistic.

It's the middle of the summer, but it felt a bit like winter in the Sierra this week as a storm dumped four inches of hail on Interstate 80 around Donner Summit.

The hail storm was just the latest strange weather to hit the Sierra Nevada, influenced by the weather-changing phenomenon El Niño. For months, climate scientists have said El Niño is likely to bring more rain to Southern California this winter.  http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-el-nino-north-20150723-story.html#page=1
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Hailey Branson-Potts and Rong-Gong Lin II

It appears Boston’s last snow farm has finally melted

Has Boston’s last snow farm finally met its maker?

“There is no snow left as far as I can tell,” Elise Musumano, an employee at ChoiceStream in Boston’s Seaport district, told Boston.com. “Based on my close proximity this morning, it’s really just a pile of trash at this point.” http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/07/13/appears-boston-last-snow-farm-has-finally-melted/M3ag1L8yKTI1iiiWNhHGLM/story.html?p1=stream_news

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Eric Levenson

SUMMER CLEAN AIR CHALLENGE INFORMATION

Your car doesn’t have air conditioning? Tired of hunting (and paying) for parking? No problem!

Give transit a try this summer and take a few rides on us with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s (RIPTA) “Try Transit Clean Air Challenge”! Beginning July 1, RIPTA is offering Rhode Islanders five, free all-day passes if they fill out a simple online survey about their commuting habits. We want you to take the bus and see how it works for you!

Participants can get their free passes from July 1, 2015 through Aug. 31, 2015, but can use them at any time. Visit https://www.ripta.com/passes-fares and hop on! http://www.ripta.com/july-newsletter-3

Article courtesy of RIPTA Newsletter

Cities' food supplies are eating into groundwater reserves, study finds

Groundwater in America's major aquifers is being used up way faster than it's being replenished. But where does all that water go?
A lot of it is used in producing food for the nation’s city dwellers, a new study calculates. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-groundwater-food-supply-20150630-story.html
Article courtesy of Los Angeles Times/Science Now by Sasha Harris-Lovett

Hail a robo-cab, save the planet? Why driverless taxis are good for the environment

If you want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consider commuting by robo-cab.
Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report that by 2030, traveling by driverless taxi could lower greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 90% compared with the same length ride in a privately-owned gas-powered car today. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-hail-a-robocab-save-the-planet-20150707-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times/Science Now by Deborah Netburn

FDA bans hydrogenated oils from American food supply

In a final move to ban trans fats from the American food supply, the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday removed hydrogenated oils from its list of food additives that may be used by food manufacturers without special clearance because they are considered safe to consume.  http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Science Now

Officials: Cost to clean oiled Santa Barbara beaches exceeds $60 million

leaning up the thousands of gallons of crude oil that spilled into the Pacific Ocean near Refugio State Beach on May 19 has cost more than $60 million, officials said Wednesday, and the figure is expected to climb as the cleanup continues.http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-santa-barbara-oil-spill-cleanup-cost-20150610-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Javier Panzar

Talented bacteria detect cancer, diabetes

You might want to park at the door any assumptions about bacteria being primitive, inert or yucky. This is a story about genetically engineered forms of bacteria that may someday diagnose cancer by analyzing a urine sample, and that have already shown a knack for recognizing the hallmarks of diabetes in humans without so much as a pinprick. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times/Science Now by  Melissa Healy

One in six species could be wiped out by climate change, study says

About one in six species now alive on the planet could become extinct as a result of climate change, according to a study published in Friday’s edition of the journal Science. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-species-extinction-20150501-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times/Science Now by Karen Kaplan

Long Beach's answer to Uber and Lyft: Cheaper taxi fares

Long Beach officials loosened restrictions on local taxi fares Tuesday, a move aimed at keeping cabs competitive with the flexible pricing models of ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-long-beach-uber-20150514-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Laura J. Nelson

Construction starts on new Allston-Brighton commuter rail station

Construction on the new Boston Landing commuter rail station near the Allston-Brighton line officially got underway Tuesday.

The new station, located adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike, is on the commuter line connecting Framingham and Worcester to South Station. It’s expected to open in the fall of 2016, two years later than originally planned. http://www.boston.com/business/news/2015/05/12/construction-starts-new-allston-brighton-commuter-rail-station/RsxvjmSp2dFRVANmdv7mOM/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Adam Vaccaro boston.com staff

Boston Bike Week Festival: May 15th!

Free breakfast by Boloco, vendors, music and fun!
Register now! The event is free, but it helps to know you’re coming.

Join one of 10 convoys with experienced ride leaders biking in from neighborhoods throughout metro-Boston to Boston City Hall or simply meet us at City Hall. Enjoy free food, music and fun. Plus, local shops will be on hand to examine bikes and lots of other commuters stopped in to share their energy.
The fun continues all summer, with Bike Fridays: April 24th, June 26th, July 24th, & August 28th, 2015. Same event, different name! http://www.bostonbikes.org/events/bike-fridays/boston-bike-week/
Article courtesy of The City of Boston/Boston Bikes

Self-driving cars are getting into accidents in California

The riskiest thing about self-driving vehicles may turn out to be human drivers.
Four of the nearly 50 self-driving cars undergoing tests on California roads since September, when the state began issuing permits to auto companies, have crashed.
But the cars, three owned by Google and one by Delphi, were in collisions caused by human error.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-self-driving-accidents-20150512-story.html#navtype=outfit&page=1
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Jerry Hirsch and Joseph Serna

California Commute- Metro to study converting busy Orange Line busway to a rail line

The Orange Line has since become the busiest bus route in the Valley, carrying about 30,000 riders a day between Chatsworth, Warner Center and North Hollywood. That's a sign, advocates say, that it's finally time for the busway to become a rail line.  http://www.latimes.com/local/countygovernment/la-me-orange-line-commute-20150414-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Laura Nelson

Santa Ana winds prompt red flag warning in L.A., Ventura counties

Strong Santa Ana winds are expected to exceed 60 mph Wednesday, prompting firefighters to deploy additional resources because of an increased risk of brush fires.

A red flag warning was issued early Wednesday after forecasters said dry conditions, warm temperatures and strong wind gusts could raise the threat of fire.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-winds-red-flag-warning-20150415-story.html

Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Veronica Rocha

Panel Blames MBTA Cancellations on Excessive Absences

MBTA employees average 57 days absent from work per year, according to findings by a panel appointed to assess the T’s management, The Boston Globe reported.

The panel blamed what it called “excessive absenteeism” on “weak MBTA management,” and attributed thousands of canceled trips on unplanned absences, according to the Globe.

The 11 to 12 percent absentee rate is approximately twice the rate reported in other major U.S. cities’ transit systems, the panel found. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/04/07/panel-blames-mbta-cancellations-excessive-absences/jFC1pzqr8RHN06lOzxji4K/story.html?p1=Must_Reads_hp

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Jack Pickell

New Parking Meters, More Bike Lanes, and Zero Traffic Deaths in Boston

On Wednesday, Mayor Marty Walsh unveiled a number of reforms as part of the Go Boston 2030 initiative, which aims to map out the future of transportation in the city.

The goal of the reforms is to make “our streets safer, more accessible and more considerate of the different modes of transportation we have in Boston,” Walsh said at a City Hall news conference

http://www.boston.com/cars/news-and-reviews/2015/03/25/new-parking-meters-more-bike-lanes-and-zero-traffic-deaths-boston/fhmpMGxunt3ZEeeNQwFkvO/story.html

Article courtesy of boston.com by Kelly O'Brien

California's push for clean energy has a problem: no place to store it

On a quiet Sunday morning last April, power plants were pumping far more energy into California's electricity grid than residents needed for their refrigerators, microwaves and television sets.
So officials made an odd request in a state that prides itself on leadership in renewable energy: They asked wind and solar plants to cut back their output. For 90 minutes, clean energy production was slashed 1,142 megawatts, enough electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes, while dirtier power from less flexible sources stayed on to keep the system stable. http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-pol-green-energy-20150324-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Chris Megerian

Britain’s First ‘Poo Bus’ Hits the Road This Month

Did you know that a year’s worth of your poop can power a bus for 37 miles?

That’s what Mohammed Saddiq told CNN. And he should know. His company, GENeco, runs the sewage treatment facility that provides the fuel for Britain’s new Bio-Bus, dubbed a “poo bus” by some. The bus, powered by human and household waste, goes into service March 25. http://www.boston.com/travel/destinations/2015/03/18/britain-first-poo-bus-hits-the-road-this-month/Z4HzksFdrl76hSUs3fevCP/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Kristi Palma

Spring Arrives Today At 6:45 PM

March 20, 2015 12:01 AM

Spring arrives at 6:45 PM today which means the sun, at that time, is at 90 degree above the horizon, directly over the equator. There are two equinoxes every year – in March and September – when the Sun shines directly on the equator and the length of night and day are nearly equal, but not quite. At its peak, from now until the first day of summer, the sun will continue to appear higher and higher in the sky. Once we are past June 21st, the sun will very slowly begin its decline towards the autumnal equinox and the following season which shall not be named.  http://www.boston.com/news/weather/weather_wisdom/2015/03/spring_arrives_today_at_645_pm.html?p1=Must_Reads_hp
Article courtesy of Boston.com

Confusion Sets In Over California Ground Water Law

One thing for sure: The rain and snow of the just-concluding winter have not been nearly enough to begin recharging California’s more than 100 significant aquifers. These have been pumped without regulation for many decades, to the point where land subsidence has become highly visible in the San Joaquin Valley and some other areas. http://www.smmirror.com/articles/Opinion/Confusion-Sets-In-Over-California-Ground-Water-Law/42871
Article courtesy of Santa Monica Mirror by Tom Elias/Mirror Columnist

Severe Solar Storm Hits Earth

A major solar storm hit Earth Tuesday morning, possibly making the northern lights viewable farther south, according to an Associated Press report.

The geomagnetic shock, a level 4 storm on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 1-5 scale, may also affect power grids and GPS tracking – however, no damage has been reported yet, according to the report. The storm reached the Earth about 15 hours earlier than expected – it was only expected to be a level 1 storm, too, according to the AP.  http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/03/17/severe-solar-storm-hits-earth/7UqOghZHJe2Plnei1PvxAJ/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com / The Associated Press  by Nik DeCosta-Klipa

Lawmakers seek answers on Boston transit troubles

BOSTON (AP) — State lawmakers plan to grill MBTA and state transportation officials about the massive breakdowns and delays that have angered and frustrated commuters during the recent stretch of severe winter weather. http://www.boston.com/news/weather/2015/02/26/lawmakers-seek-answers-boston-transit-troubles/wZhCa6WYYTSDmYRNbu96jN/story.html?p1=feature_stack_1_hp
Article Courtesy of Boston.com by Associated Press by Bob Salsberg

San Francisco residents relying less on private automobiles

San Franciscan Rian Adams has broken her reliance on the automobile. Parking in the city's congested urban core where she lives and works is too much hassle, and her two-mile commute typically takes five minutes on BART.  http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0224-california-commute-20150224-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Dan Weikel and Soumya Karlamangla

State's 5 worst bottlenecks are in L.A., Orange counties

During the evening rush hour, a section of Interstate 5 between the 710 and 605 freeways becomes a mosh pit of commuters as tens of thousands of vehicles outbound from L.A. squeeze from five lanes to four. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0210-california-commute-20150210-story.html
Article courtesy of The LA Times by Dan Weikel

Digging out | Boston deals with massive amounts of snow

Boston is a city that flaunts its ability to tough out winter with an army of snowplows and salt by the ton. But this week a sense of crisis set in as residents realize it will be at least several more weeks before the city--and their lives--can be fully functional again.
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times

Snow, Dangerous Winds, Cold Strike New England Again

BOSTON (AP) — Snow and dangerously high winds roared across parts of New England in the dark of night to face an army of road crews and emergency workers Sunday, who had readied themselves for the fourth winter onslaught in less than a month. The odds favored the ominous weather.  http://www.boston.com/news/weather/2015/02/15/snow-dangerous-winds-cold-strikes-new-england-again/wdtd4vBylkysM1U5dYV1TN/story.html?p1=well_ItKeepsSnowing_subheadline_hp
Article courtesy of boston.com /Associated Press by Sylvia Lee Wingfield

Apple’s electric car dreams carry challenges

Apple has put a few hundred people, including some new workers from the auto industry, to work on the early development of an electric vehicle resembling a minivan. Such a car would challenge Tesla, as well as electric and hybrid cars sold by Nissan, General Motors, Ford and other companies.
http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Apple-s-electric-car-dreams-carry-challenges-6086121.php
Article courtesy of SFGate by David White and Dana Hull

California’s snowless winter worsening; Oregon also in trouble

WASHINGTON — California’s unusually high temperatures and shortage of precipitation — especially snow — will probably continue into the spring, federal scientists said Thursday.
And it isn’t just California that is experiencing growing problems, the scientists said: An unusually warm winter in Oregon is creating alarm there about the lack of snowpack to fill reservoirs.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/California-s-snowless-winter-worsening-6090485.php
Article courtesy of SFGate by Carolyn Lochhead

Chillin’: Bostonians Build Snow Lounge with Fire Pit

When faced with a pile of snow taller than a fence, Imgur user WeAreNotRealWeAreJaden and a few friends broke out the shovels, the fire pit, and the beer to show snow what American ingenuity is all about, with a little inspiration from our neighbors to the north. Behold the fire pit:




Article courtesy of boston.com
http://www.boston.com/news/weather/2015/02/18/chillin-bostonians-build-snow-lounge-with-fire-pit/sTxr8vM5FWvewazkYJkzTK/story.html

How Will MBTA Issues Affect Home Buying in Greater Boston?

The ability to walk to public transportation has been a popular priority for many home buyers in the Greater Boston Area over the past several years, but the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) recent service disruptions may make living close to the subway or commuter rail less important going forward.  http://www.boston.com/realestate/sponsored/boston_home_buyer_education/2015/02/how_will_mbta_issues_affect_home_buying_in_greater_boston.html
Article courtesy of boston.com

Boston’s Rising Tide Isn’t Dampening Development

Surging sea levels may eventually give the term “underwater condo” a whole new meaning in Boston.

Still, the Urban Land Institute’s much-touted report warning of a Boston half under water in the decades to come shows no signs of slowing down a hot market, one in which multi-million dollar condo sales are routine and a new luxury tower is seemingly going up on every corner.http://www.boston.com/real-estate/news/2014/10/04/boston-rising-tide-isn-damping-development/NA9BoaMvmb1kG8EetEWloN/story.html?p1=related_article_page

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Scott Van Voorhis 

EPA urged to tighten ozone standards

It is time to strengthen the nation's smog limits to improve the health of millions of people who suffer the ill effects of air pollution, dozens of environmentalists, doctors, asthmatic children and religious leaders told a panel of federal officials Monday at a daylong hearing. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0203-ozone-hearing-20150203-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

Little-known agency keeps commuter rail network on track

The 351-mile rail corridor that runs along the coast between San Diego, Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo is the second-busiest intercity route in the nation.
Its annual passenger load of 7.4 million is surpassed only by that of the northeast corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., which handles more than 11.4 million a year.


But keeping those trains running on time — and safely, as they occasionally share tracks with freight traffic — is a constant challenge. The job has fallen to a little-known regional authority known as the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-california-commute-20150127-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Dan Weikel

Lyft lovers, kiss that big, fuzzy pink mustache goodbye. The goofy stache strapped to the front of Lyft cars will vanish, and the Glowstache will take its place. http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-lyft-pink-mustache-20150120-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times Mary Forgione

'Climate change is real and not a hoax,' Senate overwhelmingly decides

The U.S. Senate has made it official: Climate change is not a hoax.

 

As part of the long debate on the Keystone XL pipeline, the Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday for an amendment that aimed to answer once and for all whether senators believe the climate is changing. http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-senate-climate-hoax-20150121-story.html

Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Lisa Mascaro

Hydrogen-Powered Cars Will Be in Mass. in the Not So Distant Future

A few years ago if someone told you that you could power a car with hydrogen, it would have probably sounded a lot like a plot for a bad science fiction movie

Charles A. Myers, president of the Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition, said at the New England International Auto Show that people should expect to see fuel cell cars on the road in Massachusetts by the end of this year. http://www.boston.com/cars/news-and-reviews/2015/01/15/hydrogen-powered-cars-will-mass-the-not-distant-future/BC2IgBFETokGH3wAgPB8aM/story.html
Article courtesy of Boston.com by Megan Turchi

California drought could end with storms known as atmospheric rivers

Powerful storms known as atmospheric rivers, ribbons of water vapor that extend for thousands of miles, pulling moisture from the tropics and delivering it to the West Coast, have broken 40% of California droughts since 1950. http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-atmospheric-rivers-20150119-story.html
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

Effectiveness of state's 'parking cash-out' program is unclear

To reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, California legislators passed an innovative law in 1992 to encourage solo commuters to get out of their cars and bike, carpool or take public transit to work.

Participants soon found that the law was easy to implement and that they could cut the expense of leasing space or lots for parking. Workers who chose to give up their spaces liked the cash payments — up to $150 to $200 a month in some cases. What money was left over after transit passes or carpooling expenses, they could pocket. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-california-commute-20150113-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Dan Weikel

Bicycling in Los Angeles

Hit-and-runs involving bicyclists surged 42% from 2002 to 2012 in Los Angeles County, according to a Times analysis. Between 2002 and 2012, more than 5,600 cyclists were injured and at least 36 died in hit-and-run incidents. Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Jay L Clendenin

Feds to Formally Back Green Line Extension Project

SOMERVILLE, Mass. (AP) — U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is planning to visit Massachusetts to formally announce the federal government’s commitment to the planned extension of the Green Line MBTA line to Somerville and Medford.  http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/01/04/feds-formally-back-green-line-extension-project/IxauMUKj2TMIiqm66ciWoL/story.html?p1=Topofpage:sub_headline_2
Article courtesy of Boston.com by Associated Press