Friday, January 07, 2005
VTA Buys Out Managers Contract
VTA Cans VTA Manager and buys out his contract for $334,000 The problem seems to be that the CEO wants to wait till 2006 to go for another 1/2 cents tax vote and the San Jose Mayor wants the tax increase vote to be this year even before the 1/2 cent sales tax increase voted in 2000 goes into effect in 2006.
BART to San Jose no delay for study
Commission approves CascadeStation for big box retail stores
Portland proves again that it's vision and planning, don't work in the real world. Planners changed their previous plans for Cascade Station so someone might move in and open a business.
Until this change, big box stores were not allowed.
Portland proves again that it's vision and planning, don't work in the real world. Planners changed their previous plans for Cascade Station so someone might move in and open a business.
Until this change, big box stores were not allowed.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Inhofe and Climate Change Alarmists
Senator James M. Inhofe
Chairman
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
"An Update on the Science of Climate Change"
January 4, 2005
"As I said on the Senate floor on July 28, 2003, "much of the debate over global warming is predicated on fear, rather than science." I called the threat of catastrophic global warming the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people," a statement that, to put it mildly, was not viewed kindly by environmental extremists and their elitist organizations. I also pointed out, in a lengthy committee report, that those same environmental extremists exploit the issue for fundraising purposes, raking in millions of dollars, even using federal taxpayer dollars to finance their campaigns." Read More..
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Portland's light rail runs red light, smashes fire truck
A fire truck racing to someone's rescue was destroyed by a light-rail train in the Portland suburb of Hillsboro. The accident took place Sunday afternoon, January 2, and about 4:15. Several people were injured, including a firefighter and the train driver. Only ten to fifteen people were on board the two-car train (capacity = 300 or more) and most were uninjured.
The fire truck, however, was apparently totalled. Though no photos are available, The Oregonian reports that the "entire back end of the fire engine was crushed and twisted like an empty soda can," totalling the nearly new $300,000 truck. One of the two light-rail cars also suffered severe damage after being derailed and smashing into a tree. Witnesses said that the tree probably saved a nearby home from destruction.
Emergency vehicles and light-rail cars both have "signal priority," which means traffic signals change to accommodate them. Given a conflict, the emergency vehicles get priority over the rail cars. A follow-up story reports that the fire engine's signal system was working properly and officials speculate that the light-rail car was simply unable to stop for the red light. Even at a speed of just 15 miles per hour, say transit officials, a light-rail train can take 50 feet or more to stop.
This means that such accidents are completely predictable, and this isn't even the first time a Portland light-rail train has collided with a fire engine. What can be said about the sanity of planners who put 110-ton trains in the same streets as fire engines, cars, and pedestrians?
The fire truck, however, was apparently totalled. Though no photos are available, The Oregonian reports that the "entire back end of the fire engine was crushed and twisted like an empty soda can," totalling the nearly new $300,000 truck. One of the two light-rail cars also suffered severe damage after being derailed and smashing into a tree. Witnesses said that the tree probably saved a nearby home from destruction.
Emergency vehicles and light-rail cars both have "signal priority," which means traffic signals change to accommodate them. Given a conflict, the emergency vehicles get priority over the rail cars. A follow-up story reports that the fire engine's signal system was working properly and officials speculate that the light-rail car was simply unable to stop for the red light. Even at a speed of just 15 miles per hour, say transit officials, a light-rail train can take 50 feet or more to stop.
This means that such accidents are completely predictable, and this isn't even the first time a Portland light-rail train has collided with a fire engine. What can be said about the sanity of planners who put 110-ton trains in the same streets as fire engines, cars, and pedestrians?
