Calif Democrats cry again about Road fund deficiencies (they cause by diversion) to fund HSR, post Court Decision!

Can you believe this "new" Democrat Politician, this new Senator Jim Beall and comrades, Assemblyman Rich Gordon, Senator Jerry Hill et al effort to suck even more monies fraudulently out of us motorists to fund their urban density transit, especially High Speed Rail, and deadly, motorist road congesting, deadly, outdated Caltrain, while continuing to actually leave our roads in bad shape--for another dip in motorist-funded financial troughs later?  Democrats cannot, nor will not, "solve" our road deficiencies, lest they dry up their funding sources for their wasteful, unnecessary, ever-larger, special-interest (read: campaign-contributor cronies) merry-go round.

Motorist-voters need to get back to dedicating motorist-derived monies (Taxes, Fees, Fines, charges,j surcharges, penalties) back only to the road users who generated them and therefore should benefit from them. 

Currently, motorist-derived revenues are more than ample to go around now,but Democrat Politicians like Beall, Hill, Yeager, Cortese, Liccardo, Kalra (yech!), Tissier, SFer Democrats, divert huge monies to low-efficient transit dangerous Caltrain-HSR placeholder, road diets that reduce automobility to coerce motorists "out of their cars" by restricting lanes to CAUSE congestion, reduce miles we travel, or, charge more to use the roads we paid, and are paying for, via new toll lanes, toll roads (SR152, I-15, I-405, and 800 miles of SF Bay Area one-freewauys. 

Senator Beall is being two-faced. He wants the monies to reduce our automobility (Democrat politicians hate independent people's mobility--w/o govt control) VMT. See his current bill SB628 that passed the legislature, but is being held now "pending the governors plan to implement cap and trade funding" diversion of motorist fees and gas taxes to C&T via Beall's Infratructure Financing Authority to launder the funds for, you guessed it: High Speed Rail's $7 Billion current funding deficit (to grow later) leverage from other, Private (read Public Private PartnershipToll Road-generated motorists funding).  Indeed, in April 2013, these and other Democrat Politicians who run the SF area Metropolitan Transportation Commission serving in their dual role as Bay Area Toll Authority that controls all Bay Area Highways and Bridges, voted that Bay AreaToll Revenues will go into this newly Democrat State Legislature created Infrastructure Financing Authority. 

Beall's support to eliminate State Routes 130, SR 82--to reduce automobile lanes (and formulated gas tax monies to SJ) for bus only lanes and road diets is another testimony to this now-arrogant, vindictive, in-office-too-long powerful politician "caring" chameleon (seniors and foster kid cover). This man is the once, but no longer, road advocate. Now, I suppose to stay in office, he has sold out to high-density developers and construction union supporters and motorist-human subordinating Sierra Club, who back HSR at all cost--to their benefit by sucking more money from motorist-voters by opposiing new/better roads in actuality. Beall has opposed SR152 for decades (despite family there) being converted to a divided, safe highway, toll-free. SR152 is designated to be a toll road, since at least 2006, to support HSR, literally by $billions of surplus toll monies. Same with SR85, no widening for the congestion/accident relief--except as a toll lane to screw motorist$ more--congestion priced--no limit--thanks to legislation this Dem, like all others in the Bay Area. Worse yet, no support for direct SR130 to I-5 Patterson to relieve I580/I680 congestion for Amazan, Kohl and other warehouses, Tracy et al and commuters. And, Beall also opposed BART to SJ to keep Caltrain as the 30-yr HSR placeholder, as announced essentially by Jerry Brown and Rod Diridon Sr on air interviews last year, 2012. We voted for SB83 $10 Vehicle fee and where is much of the money going? To Road Diets as part of Obama's Sustainable Livable Communities method to coerce motorists from their cars (Ray Lahood, March 2010 National Press Club speech), SmartGrowth (not), and One Bay Area.purposes, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, San Jose, road diets etc.

No malice intended, but Beall cannot be trusted now. Free speech, The "road" monies he wants NOW are directly or via displacement, a desperate attempt to generate more motorist funds for HSR (as a result of the recent HSR court decision) by an unflinching, Now anti-highway (was for SR85 and half-aborted SR87 to SR237), HSR-backer, Democrat Politician who is union-backed (see Vote Smart) and thus a body-snatched "Stepford Wife" robot, like all the one-party Democrat monopolists who rule the Bay Area. They deny us real road and mass transportation on our highways and BART that should run continuously around the whole SFBay, circular, bidirectional, replacing the outdated, deadly, traffic-congesting Caltrain.

Politicians should pass laws that once again revert road and motorist generated monies to go only to roads...roads that serve not only automobiles, but also trucks, motorcycles, paratransit, transit buses, utility vehicles of private and public entities, emergency vehicles, etc. 

LOL! Not possible by these anti-motorist, special-interest Democrat Stepford-Wife politician robots, of course. 

Today's daylong overturned 18 wheel flipped big rig that blocked Northbound I-680 near the Sunol CHP Truck Weigh Station is the third major multi-mile, multi-hour long, traffic clogging, and air polluting\ incident in the SJ-Central Valley I-580 and I-680 commute route in the past month.  
Both I-580 eastward congestion from the dangerously outdated Hopyard Rd+I-680 Interchange, these freeways are overcongested/overcapacity due to South Bay Bay's growth over the past decades since either they were built or expanded. 

I-580 east from I-680 was last widened in 1972 by two-lanes each way. It is time to get started to build the long-planned (SR130) direct freeway connection from San Jose to I-5 at Patterson to serve this growth in population, motorists, and business expansion on both sides of the Diablo Range. Patterson, CA, where SR130 would meet I-5 travelers from north, south, and east origins is now where new, large, retail distribution centers are located, Kohls, others, and newly under construction, an Amazon distribution center, as well as its new Tracy distribution center would use this new route over time.  

California needs a direct, low VMT access to/from San Jose (10th largest city in the US, Third largest in the US) to/from the growing Central Valley communities' jobs and homes. 

Once again, the myopic Democrats' Agenda 21, Sustainable Communities Strategy, One Bay Area Plan central government planning by the MTC/BATA and ABAG don't provide for such employment growth and related efficient expanded transportation needs. This SR130 reduces VMT beneficially by 55 miles EACH WAY from/to Patterson and from/to San Jose when compared to the current sole I-580 to I-680 route currently available.  

State Route (SR) 130's shortened VMT direct route benefits not only Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) gas/diesel fueled cars (about $5.00 savings in fuel each way), but also low and no emission, especially limited range clean electric, vehicles.

Coming to California soon.  Frequent HSR accidents and fatalities as in Europe and China et al.

1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23442956  (6 dead in Caltrain-like/HSR shared track)

2) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16345592 (40 dead, no electricity, Positive Train Control fails on second train).

3) http://www.france24.com/en/20100624-several-revellers-killed-high-speed-train-while-crossing- track-spain (13 ultimately dead crossing HSR track from Caltrain/Metrolink-like train)

STOP HSR in California now, for safety, finance irregularities and lies, waste, low-tech score, low bidder, and unconstitutional 2008 Ballot measure (January 2011 CA 3rd Appellate Court ruling HJTA C060441)

These are converse photos that news outlets ought to display every time news outlets quote anti-HSR forces. Converse of news outlets' display of (pre-crash!) blue and yellow "sleek" HSR renderings when discussing the stories.

CA HSR Contract to TPZP awarded for first leg, despite serious concerns. Better to fund key regional roads and transit for mobility

This comment was posted to the Orange County Register website report of today's award of the first major contract for CA HSR in the Central Valley to Tutor-Perini-Zachary-Parsons consortium for the stretch from Madera to Bakersfield, CA.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/authority-511625-bid-board.html

Typical HSR issues in that so many if not most WW HSR projects involve bribery or other corruption. Google HSR and Bribes and Corruption.  Seems like nothing new with Calif's HSR, from the pre-selection of SR152 route alignment, secret link with making it (and other CA"Trade corridors" routes) into Toll roads to help fund HSR operating cost (ala Paris-Lyon France HSR). A review of the now-ruled unconstitutional and illegal Nov 2008 Ballot Measure 1A( 3rd Appellate Court Case C060441, 1/28/11) campaign contributors is the who's who of rail project beneficiaries, including member companies of the TPZP consortium and other CA HSRA contracts.. A 2002 SJ Mercury News discusses Rod Diridon Sr's HSR shenanigans while on the Board (now USHSRAssoc Chair and Tax-gigolo funded "Mineta Transportation Institute Exec Director platform).  All the ballot numbers were wrong/fraudulent.  Even if this is built, the ballot "guarantees" nor intra-venously union-funded Democrats (and a few Repubs--Swearingen) in charge of, or pushing, this blue sky project have any civil or criminal penalty risk at all. Snake Oil at the expense of the taxpayer and govt. integrity.  A trip from SF to LA may take 6 hours or whatever, and no one goes to jail. The project is built on fraud.   Nevertheless, a recent SF Examiner article revealed the long history of Tutor-Perini cost overruns on many of their projects, with Mr Tutor making the same claims for "quality.  Overruns will happen here as well--with no repercussions, just as Parsons Brinkerhoff (a 2008 campaign contributor, like Parsons et al) already got a contract $96 million addition in May 2013.   What a waste of tax monies and union labor when they could be so much better for regional transit and highway improvements in:
Southern California  (Metrolink, Coaster, Red Line, I-5, SRs 14, 18, 58, 74, 76, 79, 90,138, US395),
Northern California (BART around the Bay, SR152-no tolls, SRs 20, 36, 37 (urgent!), 65, 84, 102, 130,  148, 238 etc) and
Central Valley (I-5 to 6 or 8 lanes from SR99-South to SR99-North or SR138 Grapevine, SRs 43, 46, 48, 58  65(Urgent) (from SR99 to Porterville), 140, 148, 65 (Roseville), 102, I-80,  etc).

Until the Calif Republican Party can update its brand and platform to serve the public, especially the Calif.car-loving motoring public/voters, including opposing any more toll roads/lanes (to fund HSR, especially), buying out all existing Toll Roads for all to use, then the CA Democrats can and will get away with all this!  Mr. Tweed, Democrat, might have been quite pleased with CA HSR

The fifth violent death occurred on May 27, 2013 due, in my road safety view, due to irresponsible removal of a critically important center median shoulder to make way for another lane (future toll lane is likely) that used to allow space for a disabled vehicle and safety zone for occupants.

Callous Caltrans (District 4) and distracted San Mateo County Transportation officials have removed the center safety shoulder median from this stretch of US101, such that a vehicle is only inches (less than 12" or so) from the center K-rail at 65 mph.  A car can easily hit or touch it, lose control, spin out, then the immobilized vehicle will get whacked from other fast-moving vehicles with no escape route or path available in the midst of 5 lanes of fast moving traffic on either side of the freeway.

US101 here, and other highways in this Caltrans district are thus, killing zones for disabled, unconscious, injured, or live and post-accident ambulatory motorists and passengers. No escape to safety is possible from the center area, nor for oncoming vehicles to dodge around a stopped car.

So, it is a multi-lane bloody, viciously violent road, from Broadway past SR92 since it was recently repaved to eliminate even a minimal median shoulder.  In some segments,  not even a right side shoulder exists anymore (Poplar). Her death is the Fifth most horrific and unspeakably violent death in the no-shoulder stretch between Broadway to Poplar to 3rd Ave. Sad, very sad, and so unnecessary from a highway safety viewpoint. I hope a very mean bulldog-type Personal Injury attorney gets involved to rectify and stop further tragedies of such beloved people here and elsewhere on such deliberately unsafe roads. 
Another SM County example is at I-280 at Edgewood where a tiny 4' median shoulder contributed to 2 deaths there, too, when that SUV got a flat tire and could not get completely off the fast (#1) lane, presumably.  Where else could they go? Certainly not across four lanes of traffic to the right shoulder at that time of day. 
This is a testament to San Mateo County Transportation agency, elected officials, and Caltrans disregard for the most basic roadway safety needs--that costs real people their lives in the most horrific way. Friends and family suffer lifelong pain.    Caltrans and local transportation agencies are eliminating too many safety shoulders here and elsewhere, but San Mateo County is one of the worst. Perhaps this is because their Transportation head holds three jobs in order to "earn" over $432,000/yr and is too focused on transit only.   But, he can do no justice to any of the three jobs by holding all three.  Too many violent, vicious road deaths occur in San Mateo County, in my view.

It is ironic indeed, that the new Devil's Slide (SR1) tunnels have escape routes for accident and stalled vehicle occupants, as does the new Caldecott Tunnel, yet, Caltrans and local transportation agencies are eliminating such safety zones, shoulders, and routes. 

Reference Articles:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2013/05/woman-killed-fatal-accident-was-well-known-burlesque-performer

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Ten-Injured-After-Party-Bus-Crash-in-Burlingame-209003281.html

About the tragic limousine fire on the San Francisco Bay's San Mateo Bridge on Saturday, May 4, 2012....  

Every driver should have the $12 Emergency Hammer (multi-function, seat belt cutter, too) in their car, especially Limosines or other very closed vehicles. The tool, available at any auto parts store and some big box stores, quickly shatters automobile windows for easy escape in cases where the doors won't open due to crash damage, submerge in water, or, fire, such as this limo tragedy. See: 
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/life-hammer-escape-tools.html?gclid=CI-K4IL-i7cCFc47OgodIXQAgw I have no affiliation with this company, of course.

Reference article: 
http://mountainview.patch.com/articles/experts-ponder-what-trapped-the-limo-victims-11693ebe#comment_7253308

S.F. Bay Area's...I-580 comments:

The Westbound I-580 to I680 South (to San Jose) and North (to Walnut Creek) is in desperate need to be upgraded/rebuilt into a high-capacity, high-speed freeway-to-freeway interchange.

This interchange has motorists suffering almost daily accidents, some fatal due to semi-truck involvement and the Hacienda and Hopyard line-of-sight limitations due to their undercrossings, and, the grossly inadequate signage and lane space for traffic to line up and stack to handle the decades-long outdated old interchange.   Indeed, after the BART line was installed in the Westbound I-580 median, Caltrans forgot to move the line-up sign with arrow to the right (the whole freeway was moved over one lane) and a couple of fatal accidents occurred, I called Caltrans to advise them that the sign was pointing to the wrong lane, second from the right, instead of the rightmost lane where the newly aligned lane would line up to the I-680 interchange, especially to San Jose (I-680 South).   Instead of moving the sign and arrow to the right, Caltrans "saved a buck, but killed a motorist" by simply removing the sign's arrow, leaving the sign to simply display "San Jose".   More signs are needed to properly segregate through traffic from I-680's two directions and further west, Foothill Blvd.

Another key contributor to the congestion of I-580, is the lack of the long-planned State Route 130 (SR130) which was designed to pull traffic to/from San Jose directly to Interstate I-5 at Patterson.  It is long past time to get the process started to study, fund, and built SR130 to accommodate and balance out traffic to San Jose, the third largest city in California, San Jose, with over 1 million motorist-inhabitants and the central Central Valley and all point East between SR152 (Pacheco Pass) and I-580, I680, and reaching to reduce traffic as far as I-80 to/from Sacramento and points East, North, and South (I-5).

I-580 lingering daily and weekend congestion and accidents is just another indication of the failure of MTC/BATA which seems more interested in social(ist) engineering, tolling--not fixing or expanding our highways--under the MTC/BATA's modern day motorists' Caligula, Steve Heminger, Executive Director, in conspiracy with the Democrat monopoly of politicians who sit on the MTC/BATA Board of Directors.

More to come....