CA Transit Operators Win in Court, But Face Challenge by Governor
SF Streetsblog
A state appellate court in Sacramento ruled that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger can't continue taking money out of the Public Transportation Account (PTA) to help balance the budget, something the governor has done repeatedly while in office, costing state transit operators $1.19 billion in 2007-2008 alone … “The ruling clearly states that the rip-offs are illegal,” said CTA Executive Director Joshua Shaw. “It says they’ve been illegal since before 2007, and it says that the definition of mass transportation that lawmakers have adopted since then to mask these diversions is illegal.”
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Bay Area transit riders about to pay more
San Francisco Chronicle
The cost to ride buses, ferries and trains in the Bay Area will increase Wednesday to help cash-strapped transit agencies balance their books. Fares will increase on BART, the Municipal Railway in San Francisco, AC Transit, and the Golden Gate ferry and bus system. A combination of falling tax revenue and the state's decision to cut off funding for transit operations hit agencies hard. In addition to raising fares, agencies are looking at cutting service and laying off employees.
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MTS fares rise to help offset funding cuts
San Diego News Network
The price of public transport will go up Wednesday, according to the Metropolitan Transit System. The MTS says the fare hikes are needed to offset the elimination of $14.3 million in local transportation funding from the state.
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OCEANSIDE: Transit district may outsource bus service
North County Times
In the face of looming deficits, the North County Transit District is looking into outsourcing bus service, a move that could reduce costs but force many employees to reapply for jobs likely to come with watered-down compensation. "There are no secrets behind how the outsourcing option saves money - it ends up being reduced wages and benefits for employees," the district's executive director, Matthew Tucker, said Wednesday.
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Transportation funds misdirected, analysis says
San Francisco Chronicle
In brief: far too much on new roads, not nearly enough for badly needed repairs and public and non-motorized transportation. "Given California's enormous backlog for road repair and mass transit, building new roads is like adding a new wing to a house when the roof is falling in," said Emily Rusch, CalPIRG's state director in San Francisco.
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