LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Funds from the latest round of financing from Caltrans will be heading to Lake County for public transit.
Caltrans said Thursday that it has awarded approximately $350 million in grants to improve public transit across California.
An estimated 80 projects will upgrade transit service, purchase eco-friendly buses, modernize transit stations and create jobs throughout the state.
“These projects are a direct investment in our state's public transit system and will help energize California’s economy,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Not only will these projects help create jobs, they will also reduce traffic congestion,clean the air, and provide Californians with more viable alternatives to rising gas prices.”
The grants are funded through Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, which is providing $3.6 billion over a 10-year period to improve public transit in California.
In Lake County, Lake Transit Authority will receive $1,366,525 for five replacement buses. The funds come as Lake Transit has continued to see increased demand for its services and record ridership.
Other notable projects around the North Coast that will receive funds include an award of $283,936 to Humboldt Transit Authority for 30 foot replacement vehicles.
Among Lake's neighboring counties, the Napa County Transportation Agency will receive $178,743 for replacement vehicles; the city of Santa Rosa will receive $889,008 for replacement buses; Sonoma County Transit will receive $2,056,707 to purchase a 40-foot bus; Glenn County Transportation Commission gets $561,142 for a Glenn Ride vehicle replacement; and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments in Yolo County has been awarded two grants, one for $2.6 million for a fixed route bus replacement and the second for $197,183 to replace two double deck buses.
To date, Proposition 1B has provided $1.7 billion in funding to more than 700 transit projects statewide, with 216 completed, according to Caltrans.
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written by ca215, June 01, 2012
Say for instance that a such a person lives on Cedar Ave near Davis. Want to go anywhere? Ride chair either down across the Highway in search of a place the bus' liftgate may be used or up to (I believe) Philips. Hope that the bus is not already loaded with the allowed number of powerchairs or "scooters."
Making it home via bus after finishing off the To Do list is equally unamusing. Disembark at either the business uphill from Flyer gas station, make it back DOWNhill to make a left hand turn onto the --- thank goodness! --- actually paved entrance to where stops along the way may be made if need be at a grocery store, pharmacy, medical clinic, etc.
Get safely through the crowds of cars, bounce-jounce over a section of sidewalk that COULD have been caused to be flat instead of the (sorry I do not know the tech terms that should be used here) sharp angle that can cause damage to the undercarriage of the chair if it clears ground by one half an inch as mine does.
Get up to the crossing of Highway & Lakeshore Blvd. The wait/walk lights there do work but the tappable buttons have not been installed even though their boxes have been waiting for months for such controls to be added. But I digress.
Okay. Fine. Made it safely across the highway? Hang a left at H&R Block. Many blocks later, arrive home. You want a chair-off-the-bus gate drop space closer to home? Tough. You may either get off at the stop already mentioned or stay on until the bus arrives at Philips. Get down that hill with its' dangerously narrow so-called 'break down lanes, bike/pedestrian lanes," call them whatever you wish.
But do not make that trip anywhere near dusk. Odds are bad that you might get caught out on a holey path where road lights do not exist.
An apology: I am sorry I had to bring this matter to lakeconews.com. Last Saturday I asked a nice bus driver what organization should be contacted to inquire about the possibility of getting 1, 2, 3, or so chairlift-friendly bus stops added to the nowhere nearly enough number of such stops. As I have said the driver was very kind. But she had no idea what or whom should be contacted.
Anyone have an answer? I do not even though I've raised this matter with several people including some who, such as myself, are what's being called "chair-people." We here in the across-the-Highway area need bus stops where the bus lift-and-lower gate may be used safely.
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