Ricardo Cano
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@sfchronicle transportation reporter. ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com
Articles by Ricardo Cano
Newsom’s revised budget eases budget worries for UC and Cal State
By Ricardo Cano, EdSource Higher education leaders were cautiously optimistic in January when Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a proposed budget that included a combined $716.3 million in new base funding for the University of California and California State University. Their sentiment remained largely unchanged Thursday, as Newsom’s revised budget maintained the proposed funding for universities.
Newsom’s revised budget eases budget worries for UC and Cal State
Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a proposed budget that included a combined $716.3 million in new base funding for both systems. The revision defers paying out $129.7 million for UC and $143.8 million for CSU until next year. California’s community college system will receive a $197.7 increase from the state’s Prop. 98 general fund. Higher education leaders were cautiously optimistic in January when Gov.
Newsom’s revised budget eases budget worries for UC and Cal State
5 hours ago An Alabama man is facing criminal charges after being accused of shooting his son’s girlfriend, police said. On Monday, May 11, Jeffrey Scott Towers, 54, of Trussville, was arrested on a warrant and charged with manslaughter, the Trussville Police Department said in a statement. The arrest stems from …
Newsom’s revised budget eases budget worries for UC and Cal State
This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for their daily newsletter. Top Takeaways Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a proposed budget that included a combined $716.3 million in new base funding for both systems. The revision defers paying out $129.7 million for UC and $143.8 million for CSU until next year. California’s community college system will receive a $197.7 increase from the state’s Prop. 98 general fund. Higher education leaders were cautiously optimistic in January when Gov.
14 Cadets Graduate from Hancock Core Custody Academy
Fourteen cadets graduated from Allan Hancock College’s CORE Custody Academy during a Sept. 19 ceremony at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc. All 14 graduates of CORE Academy Class #20 completed a comprehensive California Standards and Training for Corrections course consisting of 260 hours of instruction. The six-week academy is designed to prepare students mentally, morally, emotionally and physically to work as correctional officers.
Cloverlane Foundation Helps Provide Textbooks for Nursing Students
The nonprofit Cloverlane Foundation has initiated the Nurses Project, a program to provide textbooks and other educational resources for nursing students with the initial savings for students of $35,000. Allan Hancock College is the first school selected to participate in what is intended to become a multi-college program. The Nurses Project is opening at Hancock with two initial grants.
Women's Fire Camp Offers Skills Prep for Careers in Fire Service
Allan Hancock College will again host its Women’s Fire Camp, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 31 at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex, 1 Hancock Drive, Lompoc. Geared toward women ages 15-25, the camp will feature hands-on firefighting skills training; mentorship from women in the fire service; and activities such as rope rescue, ladder operations and hose handling.
Here’s your guide to robotaxis: Major companies of the industry, technology involved and key terms
COMPANY APPLE The tech giant spent almost a decade quietly testing and developing its own self-driving car. The company last year more than tripled the number of test miles logged by its vehicles before it abandoned the effort to develop driverless software.
Frightmare Forest Maze of Mystery to Haunt Hancock College
After last year’s slam-dunk success with Frightmare Forest, Allan Hancock College men’s basketball program is preparing to scare and delight the community with the return of the haunted maze. The three-acre eerie labyrinth will be 7-10 p.m. Oct. 24, 25, 26 and 31 at Hancock’s basketball and softball complex, adjacent to the college’s vineyard, 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the men’s basketball program.
Cruise’s robotaxis are returning to paid driverless ride-hailing — with the help of a competitor
General Motors’ Cruise hasn’t given up on its effort to deploy autonomous vehicles for paid ride-hailing and is now teaming up with a former competitor to reach that goal. Cruise announced on Thursday that it’s partnering with Uber to bring the company’s robotaxis to the ride-hailing giant’s platform.
Why California’s high-speed rail project could look different if Trump regains the presidency
Three U.S. presidents have sat in the Oval Office since California voters approved a 2008 bond to build a high-speed rail system from Los Angeles to San Francisco. But the next president, whether it’s Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, could determine if the state’s beleaguered bullet-train project encounters new setbacks.
Caltrain debuts electric trains that are faster, more spacious and quieter than past models
Caltrain, the oldest continually operating rail service west of the Mississippi River, once again became a pioneer Saturday with the debut of its new electric fleet. The 160-year-old Peninsula commuter rail system’s transition from diesel to electric service is the first project of its kind in North America.
S.F. ready to replace Muni train control system that runs on floppy disks
San Francisco transportation officials want to replace the “antiquated” infrastructure that uses floppy disks to run the Muni Metro light-rail system and awarded the first contract Tuesday for the roughly decadelong project. The $700 million project to replace Muni Metro’s train control system with a modern one would be its first upgrade in almost three decades.
BART’s new, reinforced fare gates are being installed at this popular S.F. station
BART’s new reinforced fare gates have arrived in San Francisco. The regional rail agency is installing the sturdier, 7.5-foot-tall entry gates at Civic Center/UN Plaza Station, one of the system’s most popular stations where fare evasion is common. Last week, the agency finished installing the new gates at the first of the Market Street station’s three entry points near Seventh Street. Construction on Civic Center station’s second entry point near UN Plaza is scheduled to start the week of Aug.
Yes, there are more driverless Waymos in S.F. Here’s how busy they are
The month before Waymo opened its driverless robotaxis to anyone in San Francisco, the company significantly expanded its presence in the city in May with more than 133,000 paid trips, or roughly 4,300 per day. Waymo rapidly expanded its driverless ride-hailing service in San Francisco and Los Angeles that month, with more than 200,000 people riding its autonomous vehicles, most of them in San Francisco.
The next wave of robotaxis is driving outside of S.F. They’re unlike anything you’ve experienced
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The next wave of robotaxis is driving outside of S.F. They’re unlike anything you’ve experienced
Continue reading More for You
A car with no front or back that has no steering wheel: What S.F.’s next robotaxis could look like
The toaster box-shaped robotaxi that pulls into a parking space outside a waterfront office park in Foster City resembles a carriage more than a conventional car. The vehicle is symmetrical and almost half the width of a sport utility vehicle, but taller than a typical sedan. It has no steering wheel or pedals. There are no front seats. Or back seats. Rather, the driverless car manufactured by Amazon’s Zoox features inward-facing chairs, similar to taxicabs in London, for four passengers.
CA: What happens when S.F.'s streetcars break down? Muni calls this team to re-create the past
Jul. 12—Nothing lasts forever, but San Francisco's iconic cable cars and streetcars are putting that theory to the test. Every day, the city's treasured historic artifacts shuttle thousands of tourists and riders up steep hills and down Market Street, just as they did when they debuted more than a century ago. Despite their ubiquitousness in parts of the city, they're not indestructible.
What happens when S.F.’s streetcars break down? Muni calls this team to re-create the past
Nothing lasts forever, but San Francisco’s iconic cable cars and streetcars are putting that theory to the test. Every day, the city’s treasured historic artifacts shuttle thousands of tourists and riders up steep hills and down Market Street, just as they did when they debuted more than a century ago. Despite their ubiquitousness in parts of the city, they’re not indestructible.
Muni is heading for a financial cliff. S.F. activists are trying to save it with a new tax
San Francisco transit activist Chris Arvin has had a front-row seat to the potential slow-motion collapse of Muni, from its struggles to restore pre-pandemic service to the nine-figure looming “fiscal cliff” that could destabilize the city’s flagship transit system. So this spring Arvin and dozens of activists banded together to do something about it.
Big changes could be coming to Bay Area’s largest bus agency
Riders of the East Bay’s largest bus operator could see the most significant service changes since the pandemic under a years-long plan that would alter bus routes, frequencies and schedules in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The potential service changes run the gamut from the consolidation of some routes, adjustments in where some routes begin or end, changes in service frequencies and the creation of new bus lines.
Is a robotaxi better in S.F.'s neighborhoods?
When it comes to getting a ride in San Francisco, is a robot better than a human? It’s a question that this city is uniquely positioned to answer. San Francisco, after all, is where Uber and Lyft got their start last decade before the companies disrupted the global taxi industry. It’s also where, since last fall, robotaxi companies Waymo and Cruise started their commercial driverless ride-hailing operations in California.
California approves final high-speed rail link connecting S.F. to Los Angeles
California’s bullet train project reached a major milestone: The entire 463-mile route from San Francisco to Los Angeles is now environmentally cleared for construction. The High-Speed Rail Authority’s board signed off Thursday on a preferred route and environmental clearance for the 38-mile segment that would carry bullet trains from Palmdale to Burbank. It was the project’s last segment between San Francisco and Los Angeles that had yet to be cleared.
California approves final high speed rail link connecting S.F. to Los Angeles
3 hours ago Biden needs to step aside—for the sake of his own dignity, for the good of his party, for the future of the country. President Biden needs to end his campaign. The first presidential debate, held on Thursday night, was a disaster. It was clear from the outset that Biden looked old, sounded old, and …
California’s high speed rail plan reaches major milestone
7 hours ago More than 500 people camped out without a permit in Northern California’s Plumas National Forest were given notifications on Wednesday to leave within 48 hours or face fines, the U.S. Forest Service said. The campers are part of the Rainbow Family of Living Light, an unauthorized party in the woods …
Waymo opens its driverless robotaxi service to anyone in S.F.
The autonomous vehicle company announced Tuesday that its driverless ride-hailing service in the city is no longer limited to people who’ve been approved off a waiting list. Users can hail a Waymo robotaxi through the company’s Waymo One app like they would an Uber or a Lyft ride-hail.
Riding Waymo’s robotaxis in S.F. for the first time? Here’s what you need to know
Waymo launched the next phase of its robotaxi expansion in San Francisco on Tuesday, opening its previously restricted driverless ride-hailing service to anyone in the city. The development means the Alphabet-owned company’s robotaxis are now just as accessible to the public as traditional ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft, although with far fewer vehicles on the road. Article continues below this ad Tourists and first-time riders might find traveling in a self-driving car a novel experience.
Waymo opens its driverless robotaxi service to anyone in S.F.
Anyone can now hail a driverless Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco. The autonomous vehicle company announced Tuesday that its driverless ride-hailing service in the city is no longer limited to people who’ve been approved off a waitlist. Users can hail a Waymo robotaxi through the company’s Waymo One app like they would an Uber or a Lyft ride-hail.
Self-driving Waymos secure final clearance for expansion beyond S.F.
Autonomous vehicle companies won two key regulatory battles this week that allow Waymo to move forward with expansion plans to the Peninsula and preserve California’s authority over the emerging industry. On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission upheld its March decision to approve Waymo’s expansion from San Francisco to San Mateo County and Los Angeles over protests from local officials. Earlier in the week, state Sen.
California Approves Waymo's Expansion Beyond San Francisco
Earlier in the week, state Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, withdrew a bill that would have given cities the power to regulate the operations of autonomous vehicles within their boundaries.
Fans mourn Willie Mays, the Giants legend who died Tuesday
The 9-foot bronze statue of the legendary Willie Mays in front of Oracle Park became a shrine of celebration on Wednesday where hundreds of fans gathered to mourn the death of the iconic center fielder. Below the towering monument that depicts Mays gazing at the sky while following through on a swing sat a massive pile of flowers, candles, letters, signs and other memorabilia of the baseball legend. Mays died Tuesday of heart failure at age 93.
Time is running out to fund BART, Muni. Here’s why the obvious solution isn’t an easy one
BART and the Muni have been stuck in a turbulent loop in recent years, approaching financial collapse only to be rescued with timely financial assistance. In 2021, billions of dollars in federal aid began flowing to BART and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, sustaining their transit service as ridership fell to historic lows. Last year, as those federal dollars dwindled, Gov.
24 Cadets Graduate from Hancock Law Enforcement Academy
Twenty-four recruits graduated from Allan Hancock College’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy Jun. 5 at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc. The cadets in Class #24-127 gathered with friends and family to celebrate the completion of more than 871 training hours required to graduate from the academy and enter careers as peace officers. All of the recruits have been hired by Central Coast law enforcement agencies.
This Bay Area county is eager to put autonomous vehicles on the road. Here’s why
“We have a first- and last-mile problem,” said Tim Haile, executive director of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. “We feel we can really address a lot of use cases and gaps in the current transportation network with shared autonomous vehicles, so that led us to really investing in better understanding this technology and how to use it in a safe way.” Many thanks to Alexis V.
Tax measure to fund Bay Area transit is dead for this year. Now what?
Bay Area lawmakers abandoned a plan to place a tax measure to fund BART, Muni and other Bay Area transit agencies on the 2026 ballot, vowing to try again next year. Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Sen. Aisha Wahab, D-Fremont, said in a statement Friday that state official needed more time to work out differences in Senate Bill 1031 and plan to reintroduce similar legislation in 2025.
CA: The plan to rescue BART, Bay Area transit agencies from a death spiral is at risk of unraveling
May 28—Legislation to allow the region's nine counties to place a measure raising up to $1.5 billion for transit operations passed the California Senate on Friday. The bill's future, however, remains uncertain amid vocal criticism from transit agencies and local officials on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. Transit agencies in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties oppose SB1031 by San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener and Hayward state Sen. Aisha Wahab.
The plan to rescue BART, Bay Area transit agencies from a death spiral is at risk of unraveling
BART is placing all its hopes for financial survival on the public approval of a sweeping 2026 tax measure to save the regional rail system, but the high-stakes proposal may not even reach Bay Area voters’ ballots. Legislation to allow the region’s nine counties to place a measure raising up to $1.5 billion for transit operations passed the California Senate on Friday.
BART’s Board of Directors has a new member. More changes are on the way
BART’s Board of Directors has appointed Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez to fill the board seat vacated by former Director John McPartland. Hernandez will fill the board’s District 5 seat, which includes Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and parts of Hayward and unincorporated Alameda County, through the remainder of McPartland’s term, which ends in December. BART directors appointed Hernandez to the vacancy, on a 6-2 vote, at Thursday’s board meeting, where she was also sworn in.
S.F.’s massive plan to create a ‘Grand Central Station of the West’ wins major funding grant
San Francisco’s vision to make the desolate Salesforce Transit Center the “Grand Central Station of the West” has received support from the federal government, which has pledged $3.4 billion toward the city’s downtown rail extension project. The massive, four-block transit hub in SoMa opened in 2018 equipped with a dormant train platform in its basement and has, so far, lived a muted existence.
You’ll have to wait longer to ditch your Clipper card to ride BART or Muni
Being able to pay for BART or Muni fares with your debit or credit card instead of a Clipper card is going to take longer to become reality. The launch of the upgraded Clipper system, which was scheduled for this summer, has been paused indefinitely, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the region’s transportation agency. The upgrade will eventually allow contactless debit or credit card payment options to ride BART, Muni and other Bay Area transit.
War on cars? Why San Francisco drivers say they feel under siege
Driving in San Francisco has been changing, and Nicky Trasvina isn’t among those celebrating. Protected bike lanes. Less parking. Streets that favor pedestrians. Bans on right turns at many red lights. “Now when you get in the car, it’s giving a lot of seniors anxiety just to go on their errands,” said Trasvina, 68, a longtime San Francisco resident who finds the city much more difficult to navigate.
CA: BART has 'no backup plan' if Bay Area voters reject tax measure
May 8—BART officials say the tax measure is their only way forward — there is no plan B. The regional rail agency expects to run out of the $1.9 billion in federal and state assistance by around April 2026, at which point BART projects a $35 million deficit for the 2026 fiscal year. By fiscal 2027, the agency expects to face a $385 million deficit — about one-third of BART's operating costs — with projected shortfalls of $377 million following in fiscal 2028 and $355 million in fiscal 2029.
BART has ‘no backup plan’ if Bay Area voters reject tax measure
BART could enter a transit death spiral in less than 24 months, once the Bay Area transit agency runs out of emergency pandemic aid, and officials are pinning all their hopes for survival on voters’ approval of a 2026 tax measure. BART officials say the tax measure is their only way forward — there is no plan B.
S.F.’s Twin Peaks tunnel to close for repairs this year. Here’s when it will affect your commute
San Francisco’s 106-year-old Twin Peaks tunnel has experienced significant wear and tear, with a gradual distortion of the tunnel causing leaks, cracks and other severe defects that will require extensive repairs in the coming years. The city’s Municipal Transportation Agency plans to begin the first set of repairs in August, necessitating an eight-day shutdown of the tunnel that connects Muni’s light-rail network from West Portal Station to the Castro and downtown.
CA: Why ferry service was suspended from Sausalito to S.F., and when it could return
Apr. 23—Golden Gate district officials say they immediately suspended ferry service from Sausalito to San Francisco on Friday afternoon after they discovered a damaged steel pile at the pier. "On Friday afternoon, during a routine inspection, our staff found damage to one of the four steel piles that support the float at the Sausalito Pier," said Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, spokesperson for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which operates ferry service in Sausalito.
California proposal for speed governors in cars advances in Legislature — with one big change | Flipboard
Airports Now California bill to restrict CLEAR at airports passes first legislative hurdle POLITICO - By Eric He • Now The bill was amended to avoid effectively placing a ban on the security screening company.
Wrong-Way Waymo in San Francisco Avoided Crash, Company Says
According to the videos, a Waymo robotaxi heading west crossed a double solid yellow line onto the eastbound lane closest to the median as it drove behind a crowd of people riding electric scooters and unicycles. The autonomous vehicle, which carried someone in the passenger seat, continued to drive in the opposite traffic lane, braking intermittently as it approached the Shaw Alley crosswalk.
A Waymo robotaxi drove on wrong side of a S.F. street. The company says it was to ensure ‘safety’
Cyclists captured a Waymo robotaxi driving in an opposite travel lane against oncoming traffic for nearly two blocks in downtown San Francisco — a maneuver the company says the driverless vehicle took to avoid a potential collision. Footage of the incident, which happened about 9:30 p.m. Friday near Mission and First streets in SoMa, was posted on Reddit over the weekend.
Fewer people are riding S.F.’s iconic cable cars
San Francisco’s iconic cable cars have had a tumultuous couple of years. Beloved by tourists and residents, cable cars have been a fixture of the city for more than 150 years, but were shut down in March 2020 amid stay-at-home orders during the pandemic. The cable cars sat idle in their barn at Washington and Mason streets for 17 months before the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency brought them back in August 2021.
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