White House Cancels $929 Million in Grants for California’s Beleaguered Rail Project
The Trump administration on Feb. 19 said it will cancel more than $900 million in federal grants earmarked for a high-speed rail project California that the state’s Democratic governor announced would be scaled back from its initial vision amid delays and cost overruns.
Caltrans Scrambles to Hire Road Maintenance Workers
Caltrans will consider hiring nearly anyone for 333 maintenance jobs it is trying to fill. The transportation department is on a spree to hire enough workers to improve road upkeep as called for in a 2017 gas tax bill that in November survived an initiative that would have repealed it.
Los Angeles Nixes Plan to Upgrade Three Natural Gas Generators
Los Angeles will ditch a plan to spend billions rebuilding three natural gas-fired power plants as the city moves toward getting all of its electricity from renewable energy.
FMCSA Sued by California Over Uniform Meal-and-Rest-Break Declaration
California officials are suing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration over the agency’s determination that federal rest-break laws pre-empt California’s separate meal-and-rest-break requirements.
Colorado Joining California in Mandating Electric-Vehicle Sales
Colorado moved to boost electric-car sales by taking the first step toward adopting a zero-emission-vehicle mandate patterned after one in California that’s under threat from the Trump administration.
California Port Truckers and Other Workers Gain on Pay to Start 2019
For minimum-wage earners, port truckers, farm laborers, sexual harassment victims, nursing mothers, high-powered female executives and workers injured on the job, 2019 offers reason to celebrate. A score of new state laws took effect on Jan. 1, expanding the rights of many employees while placing fresh restrictions on businesses.
California Trucking Chief: Freight Projects Could Be Hurt by Fuel Tax Hike Repeal
Repealing the fuel tax hike enacted last year as part of the Road Repair and Accountability Act would mean stripping funding for key projects along some of California’s most important freight corridors, according to California Trucking Association CEO Shawn Yadon.
ASCE Accelerates Part of California Scorecard Ahead of Election
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ California Infrastructure Report Card Committee released a portion of the state’s scorecard months ahead of schedule to raise awareness about infrastructure and funding issues.
PHMSA Exempts Hazmat, Secure-Cargo Carriers From California Rest Rule
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has pre-empted motor carriers hauling hazardous materials, explosives and security-sensitive cargo from California’s meal-and-rest-break requirements.
I-5 Reopens With Restrictions in Fire-Ravaged California
An extended stretch of Interstate 5 in Shasta County has reopened with restrictions after five days of closure caused by the raging Delta Fire, which has ignited big rigs and cars, injured at least one person and consumed more than 49,000 acres as of Sept. 10, according to the U.S. Forest Service.