welcome to beyond theheadli.

every week we focus on a different topic. today we are talking about current and future transportation issues that will affect the bay area, from the bay bridge, caldecott tunnel tud neighborhood buses, the obstacles that will affect all of us. caltrans enlisted a new easement for the bay bridge that has been completed with the second section. first one went in after july. there are four pieces in the section. each one is 107 feet long and weighs more than a million pounds. third part is set on december. the work is visible from the bridge so caltrans is warning drivers to be aware to keep your eyes on the road. we talk about the bay bridge here is caltrans spokesperson. >> thanks for having me. >> we're talking about -- we'll

get to that in a moment. very important bridge? >> absolutely. to the entire state of california. it's the backbone of getting goods and services moved. it has served since 1936, 15 billion. it's one of the three top busiest bridges in the nation. >> and it's multiple faces of the new bay bridge and why does it take so long. it started back in 1989? >> a three hour movie couldn't talk all the topics. one thing keeping in mind, what are we getting? what we're dealing with the bay bridge has never been done before in public works and never been done again. these things that make it unique and all of construction in public works. one is that when we're done with

this bridge, it will be pinnacle of seismic technology. it's not like you can come up with new innovations and just build them. they have to be gone through experts around the world. second thing we are replacing parts of an eight-mile long structure. some of those land in the same footprint where the quarter million vehicles are traveling and we're not allowed to close it. the whole reason why we have had to create detours, to keep the traffic slowing. in some cases when we do have to close the bring it takes a year to plan for it. the third thing that makes it unique, we are building a world class architectural icon. it actually says in the law that we would create a signature of this region. now, just try and define

signature. that is challenging in the beginning. >> everyone has different tastes. >> absolutely. and once you have that and you build this thing that three major challenges that has never been end in the end this whole thing is about safety. getting people across the bay in a safe way. >> so speaking of safety, seismic kli that is the main thing. >> first thing know should know it's buy with a 150 year life span so that is twice as long as any other bridge. what will it withstand. everybody wants a richter scale number when you say. this one is designed to design for a 1500 year earthquake. if you think about the gutters designed for a 40 year flood,

this is to sustain the largest ground motions in a 1500 year earthquake so to keep it in service. this bridge is designed so that emergency vehicles can use it immediately after a large scale earthquake and in a short time return to it public service. >> there are a lot of challenges. are we on target to finish -- do you have a date? >> 2013, end of 2013 is when we are going to open it to public service. >> what about a price tag? >> the overall process, it's a series of mega projects, from the western span, mile long stretch of freeway, west span, the twin suspension bridges when you think of the bay bridge and the entire replacement comes to 7.2 bye. that is a lot of money but we're hoping we can see it be completed by the target date.

tell us about the caldecott tunnel? >> the entire region how soon a series of mega projects. it's very visible to the public. they are using the new austrian method of drilling there. they are 900 meters about ninth of way through the process right now. it's supposed to be completed about the time of the bay bridge. >> does it seem like it's going faster? >> it's apples and oranges but when you are driving on the 24 to look over there and see a new tunnel is coming too soon soo. >> no what is that going to do for folks once it's been completed. i've been stuck in that traffic. >> one of the great jobs about the cal did cot, it's going to improve the commute. some of the projects bay bridge are seismic orientated but this is something that should speed

up travel time. >> aknow people that loves to watch construction projects you have a special website. >> at bay bridge info.org you can see live footage or click on see videos and see different processes and designs for the privilege. t the project?have questions for >> call us on the phone. we have a public information office that is opened monday through friday. >> thanks for your time. >> we to take a break and we'll we're going to take a look at high speed

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swnrool welcome back. today war talking about transportation before we continue, we have a graphic on the screen for information about the bay bridge. we want to make sure you get it right. correct website is right there on the screen. bay bridge info.org for those that want information about bay bridge construction. now, the city of burlingame took an unconventional approach against the high speed rail proposal. it was next to the caltrain task to represent the platform. heather ishimaru has the story. >> the city of burlingame put up this structure next to the caltrain station to show people

the dimensions of the high speed rail platform in a electric cable system. it seems to be working. >> absolutely. >> this high speed rail animation shows how it would share trains with caltrain but it will require some changes and the tracks will have to be separated from streets along the entire route. the burlingame city council wants the trains to disappear under ground. >> our understanding they have eliminated from consideration as well as what we would call the cut and cover which is what we prefer, its trench that puts it below grade. >> but they say nothing has been ruled out. >> caltrain is a partner bringing high speed rail to the peninsula but we're in the environmental phase of that process. it's yet to determine exactly

what types of rail will look like in every community that it's going to pass through. so it doesn't mean, it may not be elevated the way that people are talking. >> you just heard about one of the many hurdles in the california high speed trail project. >> i want to thank you both for being here. so rob, where does the project stand right now? >> it's the largest construction project in the nation's history by double any of the history of the construction in our country. 790 miles long, double track, chain link fence protected. state of the art system and non-polluting and quiet. we have to go through two levels

of environmental studies in order to qualify for federal funding. we brought you the first level to identify where the corridor will be and second level of study which decides what you are going to do in the corridor, under ground or elevated. we're doing that for all 790 miles. you can imagine how complicated. we have over 120 engineering and plaque firms to try to get it done quickly. >> obviously, you are trying get this done as quickly. >> the necessity of the study and did find that high speed rail was perfect for california. we have a linear population and we're going to double in population size. we have to have a high speed rail system in order to accommodate the growth. so the need has been justified. we have to proceed now to encumber the federal stimulus funds we have received.

we have received $2.25 billion in stimulus funds and received appropriation funds, $3 billion, very lucky we've gotten more than double than any state in the nation. that, of course, will be matched by proposition 1-5678 so wear moving ahead quickly. but at the same time we have to do it right. we know there is problems on the peninsula. >> tell bus some of the problems and concepts about this. what are your concerns about this? >> i think rod is correct. when you look at california in 20 years, 30 years, we need longer transportation. the concern is, you want to do it right. talking about this large project we're talking about something that is unique. we need something that is unique but we have to do it in a way that meets the needs of the communities we serve. in europe they have systems that

don't have raised via duct deducts that is going through cities. we want to make sure that it doesn't scar a city. but the high speed rail authority has been having problems with one after another and they turn their backs to these communities. they have a lot of work to do to build the confidence. that is really the concern. the information that comes out is not always accurate. the challenges they face in the struggle and inspector just did an audit and there has been conflicts of interests. there have been complaints with that related to the conflicts of interest, income pat it of offices. every week there is a disclosure of a problem. >> so how do you answer that?

>> i have to tell you we did not do an optimum job in communicating with what the engineers were doing. engineers are wonderful people but they don't communicate the best. they are technical people. we brought in public relations and communication people but they didn't do an outstanding job in the early part of the study. we let go of that contractor and hired a new contractor with a worldwide reputation. they are doing a much better job but we have to reestablish communications and work harder with the local cities. the administrator has required us that we spend all of our federal money on a corridor in the central valley. our corridor will not be the first corridor, but it's not going to be for a multitude of reasons. that gives us more time. we can step back and take a deep breath, reengage with the cities on the peninsula and try to figure out a better way to communicate with them. i don't want to have communities

up set and we have to figure out how to get the train too while at the same time meeting the need. cities. >> when you look at the peninsula you have to do something than is different than put a raised vie deduct in. it seems like it's a rushed project. we talk about the bay bridge, a signature project. we need something we that we can are be proud of. >> unfortunately we ran out of time but we'll continue this discussion. gentlemen, thanks very much. we do have to take another break. >> coming up. we'll talk about public transportation in the bay area and talk about the future hold. we'll be right back.

welcome back. i'm cheryl jennings, right now we are talking about public transportation. joining to us talk about it a transportation spokesperson, thank you for being here. this is an agency we want to educate people. we heard it about in the news mtc but what does it do? >> we do transportation. it's my commission and we work closely in partnership with caltrans and previous guests on

all aspects of the bridge. in fact the organization i work for collects all the things, group that i work for, if you broke down on the freeway, my organization does that, as well. if you take transit and you clipper cashed which is an electronic fare payment device that is good on all bay area transit, you are always with mtc. you are place you probably never heard about but we do a lot of goods and services that you use every day. >> speaking of public transportation, how would you rate the public transportation in the bay area? >> we have many different options, they can take the bay bridge, many other bridges but a ferry, too. they can take bart and also a.c. transit bus so we are blessed with options, the bay area has the largest transit system west

of chicago, bigger than l.a. but their population is much bigger than us. but we have problems as well. we have funding shortfalls that have manifested themselves with service cuts and fare increases. >> i think a lot of people are saying, what can we do about this, cutting service and raising fares? >> it doesn't work. and we're in the economy that we have right now. public transit is a high cost business. when your revenues go down you have to cut something. you have to cut a lot and we're seeing that right now. the other part is the last 40 years we've built a bay area that really isn't conducive to officially cover covering witness transit. you can do it but it's expensive. to a effort is extent. public transit is being forced to oif a marker but its real challenge when times are tough.

>> what is the recommendation? >> to a certain extent we need to make adjustments. instead of chasing geography the person that voted in the transit my commute is congested, give me bart. the fact that serving that person is incredibly expensive and we have to make hard choices are we going to chase the geography or chase where the customers are and that is what the challenge is. >> what is the solution to that? >> part of the solution is to be good stewards. we know we have fewer of them and one of the good jokes, we don't have a coastguard station in kansas, it's next the to the water. same thing is true with many public good. we need to provide it where people can provide it the safe. so public transit that is where congestion is, where people live

in dense housing, where people actually a use it. >> i think passengers are frustrated but look, public transits is not alone. government across california, not just local government has had to do a lot more with a lot less. >> thank you so much. we learned a lot about your organization today. we do have to take another break. we'll be back with more from we'll be back with more from beyond the headlines.

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welcome back to beyond the headlines, we're talking about transportation, bay bridge, high speed rail transit and public transit. join joining us is heather ishimaru to talk about what all this means to you. thank you for being here. you have done such an outstanding job on all these issues.

when heather speaks, we listen. so what do you think about the issue? >> as you probably heard today, fare cuts and service routes is an issue. cop congestion and concern for people that live here, getting across town in their car is number one thing. >> we want them to take public transportation but that is not always practical? >> it's not and historically as part of california's history. our communities were developed in the '50s when the car was king and every house had a garage and driveway rights to the roads. >> they said 70% of the

commuters are driving alone as 2005. is that going to change in your opinion? >> in the bay area there is such a concerted effort to try to make transit more attractive and more convenient. if that trend continues, if gas prices continue to stay high go up more, people are still having trouble finding employment, that will drive people to transit but otherwise it's hard to predict. again, in this state in particular people really like to have the convenience and independence and privacy of their own car. >> what about the caldecott? >> hopefully it will get rid of the bottleneck in that direction that we've had and it should relieve that but it's not going to make it vanish completely and

more and more cars on the road at different rates. the bay bridge, my understanding is that the new bay bridge will not have any real benefit for the flow of traffic because it's not going to any more lanes, any more capacity big difference is that it will have shoulders which right now the bay bridge does not. so when there is a stall, flat tire, instead of that car taking it and blocking it, they will have a place to go to get out of the way so that traffic can continue to flow. >> and we have 15 seconds left. what is your best advice for commuters that are frustrated? >> the advice from the professionals and advocates is try transit. you knowledge sit and read a book, it costs you less money. you don't have to worry about the person cutting you off. that is their advice is get out

of your car and try an alternate means. >> we are out of time. i want to say a special thank you for all of our guests today. that is this weeks edition of beyond the headlines. there is more at www.abc7.com. click on the community page. if you are looking for community resources in your neighborhood dial 211 for help. thanks for joining us. have a great week. bye-bye. [ older brother ] hey, that's the last crescent. [ younger brother ] oh, do you want it? yeah. ok, we'll split it. [ female announcer ] made fresh, so light... ...buttery and flaky... this is half. that is not half. guys i have more. [ female announcer ] do you have enough crescents?

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