california Archives - Stop and Move

Major delays in new trains means no new 8th daily San Joaquin for now

On November 13, 2017October 27, 2019 By jamesinclair

Amtrak California was supposed to be welcoming a whole new fleet of bi-level trains this year. or last year. Who knows. They were funded way back in 2010 as part of stimulus package. You know, the package intended to create jobs fast with shovel-ready jobs.

The current two level trains and low floor platforms

Well something odd happened with that contract. The winning bidder (Nippon-Sharyo) couldn’t deliver. Here’s an article from April 2016.

A Japanese company hired to build new passenger railcars for regional Amtrak service has fallen years behind schedule and likely won’t complete the order before federal funding expires.

The stalled production undermines an ambitious plan to upgrade Amtrak service in California, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri and has highlighted the complexities foreign companies face in complying with made-in-the-U.S. requirements. Funding for about three-quarters of the 130-car order is tied to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
…
After repeated failures, engineers are now redesigning the car’s body shell. That and additional testing will take about two more years to complete, according to people familiar with the matter. The entire job was to be finished in 2018, with the stimulus-funded portion due for completion in 2017. Now, Nippon Sharyo isn’t expected to start production until 2018, people familiar with the work say. Click to read more!

Categories : AmtrakTags : 7th daily amtrak amtrak san joaquins california capitol corridor fresno oakland ridership ridership highs sacramento san joaquinLeave a comment

A look at Amtrak California ridership – February 2016

On April 27, 2016November 18, 2019 By jamesinclair

The recent news that the Amtrak San Joaquin line is getting a 7th daily train inspired me to ask, how is ridership doing? Long-time readers might remember that Amtrak ridership updates used to be a frequent (quarterly) feature on this blog, but the last one I did was in December…of 2012! Oops. Well, I’ve updated my spreadsheets, so let’s take a look at how ridership has been doing on California’s three state-supported Amtrak lines.

We begin with a chart showing all three California lines over the past 15 months. That allows us to see seasonal changes over the course of the year, and get a brief reference of year-on-year progress. Click to read more!

Categories : UncategorizedTags : california Clovis drought fresno landscaping trees wateringLeave a comment

Don’t let the drought kill your trees!

On July 2, 2015February 19, 2018 By jamesinclair

Not a day goes by without the mention of the word drought in California. At this point, everyone understands how serious the problem is, and what steps need to be taken to help.

Yes, we need to save water, but more important, we need to use water wisely, and that means watering your trees to keep them alive.

Frequently you hear people talking about the evils of landscaping. In most cases, they’re right. Bright green lawns serve no purpose aside from aesthetics. Places to play? Theoretically, but outside of the 4th of July, I can’t ever remember seeing a neighbor play in their front lawn. Click to read more!

Categories : UncategorizedTags : california cap and trade carbon tax gas prices gas tax oil industryLeave a comment

Surprise! Oil industry lied about massive gasoline price hike in California

On January 7, 2015February 19, 2018 By jamesinclair

On New Year’s Eve, gas stations around California were crowded as motorists rushed to fill up their tanks. They had heard the fear mongering from the oil industry that proclaimed a price hike of up to 76 cents was to be expected on New Years Day.

People all over the California are rushing to the gas station to make sure they start the New Year on a full tank.

“I read about it in the paper,” said Randy Salbaugh. Salbaugh made a special trip to the gas station. “I’m gonna run around, get all three vehicles, get’em all filled up and go into the New Year with a full gas tank,” he said.
CBS Sacramento Click to read more!

Categories : UncategorizedTags : anti-transit california central valley high speed rail HSR hyperloop los angeles musk nimby san francisco88 Comments

Hyperloop proposal: Bad joke or attempt to sabotage California HSR project?

On August 13, 2013February 19, 2018 By jamesinclair

Was Elon Musk’s s mega-announcement really just a last-ditch attempt to sabotage the California High Speed Rail (HSR) project, rather than a serious proposal to revolution travel? Something smells very fishy, so let’s take a look….

By now you’ve probably heard about Elon Musk’s widely publicized proposal to build a tube transit system that can get you from LA to San Francisco in 35 minutes.

I was excited to hear about the proposal, as there had been some hype attached to it. Elon Musk is a serious guy – founder of Tesla, SpaceX and Pay-Pal – so when he says he has something big, it makes sense to listen. Click to read more!

Categories : UncategorizedTags : amtrak california fresno megabusLeave a comment

Megabus officially skipping Fresno again

On November 29, 2012February 19, 2018 By jamesinclair

A month ago, I wrote about Megabus making their return to the California market. Sadly, for the Central Valley, their announced route structure is mostly a repeat of what they offered the state in 2007 and 2008, before pulling out.

They will be offering the following routes (no intermediate stops, aside from a possible rest stop for 15 minutes)

Los Angeles – San Jose – San Francisco
Los Angeles – Oakland – San Francisco
Los Angeles – Riverside – Las Vegas
San Francisco – Sacramento – Reno (Sparks)

In 2007, they had also served San Diego and Phoenix. Click to read more!