Saturday, April 6, 2013
Santa Monica Could Legalize Pedicabs Next Week
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/04/santa_monica_could_legalize_pedicabs_next_week.php
By Eve Bachrach, April 5, 2013
Four pedicab companies look set to get permission to peddle their wares in Santa Monica if the city council approves a proposed ordinance next week. The ordinance would bar the bike-powered taxis from the bike path and require them to have headlights, break lights, and turn signals that would be checked at annual inspections. Pedicabs would also be required to stick to routes listed on their permit applications. Advocates of the pedicab plan say their leisurely pace will be a boon for tourists in addition to providing a green transportation option, though at least two councilmembers are worried the cabs will clog the streets, worsening traffic. The Santa Monica Lookout reports that four operators have applied for permits, it's unclear how many cabs each business intends to put on the street (the application doesn't ask). Under the ordinance, each operator would be charged an annual fee of $195, plus an initial $112 permit fee per pedicab, to be renewed for $54 each year. Pedicabs are currently banned from the streets of LA, though that may be changing too with a potential pilot program in Hollywood.
Lack of ‘arrangements’ keeps giant tunnel machine in the bay
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2013/04/lack-of-arrangements-keeps-giant-tunnel-machine-in-the-bay/
By Mike Lindblom, April 5, 2013
The ship carrying Bertha, the $80 million boring machine for the
Highway 99 tunnel, will remain anchored in Elliott Bay, unable to dock
as planned at Terminal 46.
A news release from the state Department of Transportation Friday morning doesn’t explain why, except that ”arrangements are still being made to unload the ship.” The parties have had three years to prepare, since the Seattle Tunnel Partners team led by Dragados USA and Tutor-Perini won the $1.4 billion contract for the two-mile tunnel from Sodo to South Lake Union.
The state DOT initially hoped to dock the M/V Fairpartner on Wednesday, then estimated Friday.
Linea Laird, program administrator for state DOT, said in an interview Friday she is hoping to resolve the problem within a few days. ”The contractor is working on these arrangements, with labor. It does take some time to sort through the issues,” Laird said.
Unloading is expected to require nine workdays, but the vessel must yield to Port of Seattle container ships, so the task will be spread over two weeks or more. It is a delicate operation that includes lowering pieces of nearly 900 tons onto flatbed trucks with up to 768 tires, just to travel a quarter mile or so from the waterfront to a pit where the Japanese-built machine will be reassembled this spring. The job requires a coalition of tunnel-machine engineers, skilled truck operators, and longshoremen to work as a team.
Below is the short news release, issued this morning:
A news release from the state Department of Transportation Friday morning doesn’t explain why, except that ”arrangements are still being made to unload the ship.” The parties have had three years to prepare, since the Seattle Tunnel Partners team led by Dragados USA and Tutor-Perini won the $1.4 billion contract for the two-mile tunnel from Sodo to South Lake Union.
The state DOT initially hoped to dock the M/V Fairpartner on Wednesday, then estimated Friday.
Linea Laird, program administrator for state DOT, said in an interview Friday she is hoping to resolve the problem within a few days. ”The contractor is working on these arrangements, with labor. It does take some time to sort through the issues,” Laird said.
Unloading is expected to require nine workdays, but the vessel must yield to Port of Seattle container ships, so the task will be spread over two weeks or more. It is a delicate operation that includes lowering pieces of nearly 900 tons onto flatbed trucks with up to 768 tires, just to travel a quarter mile or so from the waterfront to a pit where the Japanese-built machine will be reassembled this spring. The job requires a coalition of tunnel-machine engineers, skilled truck operators, and longshoremen to work as a team.
Below is the short news release, issued this morning:
Statement by Linea Laird, Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program administrator:
The ship carrying the State Route 99 tunnel boring machine, the Jumbo Fairpartner, was scheduled to berth at Terminal 46 this morning to begin unloading. Arrangements are still being made to unload the ship.
The machine will not be unloaded today and will remain on board the ship, anchored in Elliott Bay, until arrangements are in place.
Seattle Tunnel Partners is under contract with WSDOT to complete the SR 99 tunnel by December 2015. This includes building, transporting, operating and maintaining the tunnel boring machine.
Additional information and comments, including the schedule for unloading the ship, will be provided once arrangements are made.
Where to Park Your Bicycle When You Take the Metro? Updated.
By Peggy Drouet, April 6, 2013
The latest push to get you out of your car is for you to ride your bike to the Metro and then take public transportation to your destination. I've been wondering where you would park your bike if you didn't want to have to take it along with you on the light rail or train. This photo is of the first bike storage structure that I have so far seen at a Metro station--on the Gold Line at the Indiana station:
A bike locker rental, though I don't know how you would use it. It looks like you need to get the key for it. Gold Line stations aren't usually staffed with actual Metro people that you can ask questions of. They are more of a figure-it-out-yourself thing. (See update below.)
Anyway, it does seem to be an improvement over the bike parking lot in Venice, Italy, used before taking a vaporetto:
All photos by Peggy Drouet.
Update: Instructions for Renting a Bike Locker:
http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bikes/images/locker_rental_instructions.pdf
Determine if a locker is available at your preferred Metro station; if locker is available, fill out a bicycle locker agreement; then send agreement and a check for $75.00 and your locker assignment and key will be sent to you. The Italian way to park your bike to go on public transportation appears to be both free and with less hassle, that is, if you can find your bike again.
By Peggy Drouet, April 6, 2013
The latest push to get you out of your car is for you to ride your bike to the Metro and then take public transportation to your destination. I've been wondering where you would park your bike if you didn't want to have to take it along with you on the light rail or train. This photo is of the first bike storage structure that I have so far seen at a Metro station--on the Gold Line at the Indiana station:
A bike locker rental, though I don't know how you would use it. It looks like you need to get the key for it. Gold Line stations aren't usually staffed with actual Metro people that you can ask questions of. They are more of a figure-it-out-yourself thing. (See update below.)
Anyway, it does seem to be an improvement over the bike parking lot in Venice, Italy, used before taking a vaporetto:
All photos by Peggy Drouet.
Update: Instructions for Renting a Bike Locker:
http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bikes/images/locker_rental_instructions.pdf
Determine if a locker is available at your preferred Metro station; if locker is available, fill out a bicycle locker agreement; then send agreement and a check for $75.00 and your locker assignment and key will be sent to you. The Italian way to park your bike to go on public transportation appears to be both free and with less hassle, that is, if you can find your bike again.
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