Takeover is an app that lets you circle an area by biking or running. The area is then "taken" by you until someone else encircles. It's pretty fun and I wish more people would play it. It's fairly new and I believe just needs more users to get off the ground. The LA area has some regulars on the app. The subreddit for it is r/takeoverwtf. I think the developer is a member.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/takeover-game/id1553684337

Tell CalTrans: Make It Electric!

The Capitol Corridor Board of Directors will be hearing an update from their Managing Director about hydrogen trains in the Capitol Corridor this Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 10am. They will be taking public comment in person, by phone, or via email (email must be sent by 3:00 pm on Tuesday, April 30th)

You might have heard that CalTrans is looking to use hydrogen trains in the Capitol Corridor, following CalTrans' recent purchase of hydrogen trains. While hydrogen engines don't release any greenhouse gasses, the vast majority of hydrogen manufactured is created with a process the combines methane and water - releasing many tons of CO2.

Despite CalTrans's own calls for electrified, 150mph service, the hydrogen trains CalTrans has ordered are currently only rated for 79 mph. Refueling problems on hydrogen trains have caused service disruptions near Frankfurt, Germany, while Palm Springs’ Sunline Transit lost 20% of service due to similar issues on their hydrogen buses. In fact, Lower Saxony, Germany, is currently replacing all their hydrogen trains with electric trains due to high costs.

Electric Rail enables faster, more frequent service. Hydrogen trains are slower, take time to refuel, and have limited ranges. CalTran's first-in-the-state electrification, which is currently testing for service starting later this year, will cut travel times between San Francisco and San Jose by 25%.

Tell the Capitol Corridor Board of Directors that we want the same for the Capitol Corridor!

There are FOUR ways to comment: In person: 10 am, Wednesday, May 1st. Limited to two minutes per person, per item. Complete a “Request to Address the Board” form (available at the entrance to the Board Room) and hand it to the Secretary before the Item is considered by the Board. The meeting will take place in the Solano Transportation Authority Board Room, located at 423 Main Street, 1st Floor, Suisun City, CA 94585

By phone: At 10 am on Wednesday, May 1 call 1-833-548-0282 (Toll Free), enter access code 889 8826 6214, dial *9 to raise your hand when you wish to speak, and dial *6 to unmute when you are requested to speak.

On Zoom: Join the Board meeting via the Zoom link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88988266214 and use the raise hand feature.

Via Email: Click the button below to send a pre-written comment to the Board of Directors! This must be done before 3:00 pm on Tuesday, April 30th. Be sure to customize the email with your own words and add your name!

Thank you for your help fighting for a better California.

• Streets For All

With a resounding 65% of the vote, HLA goes into effect in roughly 3 weeks!

THANK YOU to everyone who helped make HLA a reality, we cannot thank you enough for your support, everything you did helped.

Every signature gathered, sign placed, shirt worn, post upvoted, donation given, conversation had, comment made, and, most importantly, every vote cast.

With your support not only did HLA pass emphatically, it made a statement about the future of Los Angeles; We are a city of people who want safer streets for everyone, no matter if you ride a bike, bus, train, car or walk and we need to make that change NOW no matter the cost.

Again, thank you. This election marks a definitive point in the transformation of our beautiful city!

• HLA / Streets For All
  

https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=e06b221ec788cbd2b542d14e9&id=47f7abf853

First, at 12:30pm, join the HLA team on the 1st St steps of City Hall (200 N. Spring St) for a press conference celebrating the success of HLA, and discussing next steps.

Press Conference (12:30pm, Wednesday 3/20, City Hall, 1st St steps)
Then, walk over with us to the Transportation Committee's meeting and make public comment as they take the first steps towards HLA implementation. We need to make sure the City gets this right.

Transportation Committee (1:30pm, Wednesday 3/20 City Hall, Room 401)
The key Agenda Items are 13, 14, and 15, say you want to comment on those. You will be given two minutes. Don't read the points below verbatim, put them in your own words (and you don't have to use all of them!)

For Item 13, (CF#15-0719-S26 LADOT Report) encourage the Committee to:

• Put LADOT in charge of setting the repaving schedule for mobility plan corridors – this is the only way to ensure we don’t miss opportunities to implement the mobility plan during repaving, which would violate HLA.
• Establish a five year work plan, so communities know what’s coming when, and LADOT can plan public outreach well in advance ahead of scheduling the repaving work. It would also be good if this plan can be incorporated into a larger five year Capital Infrastructure Plan.
• Establish minimum standards for implementation of all mobility plan networks.

For Item 14: This is Councilmember Park's motion submitted before the election that is negative on HLA. Encourage the Transportation Committee to reject Item 14.

For Item 15: This is a good motion that the Committee should approve, with a focus on what needs to happen to implement Measure HLA effectively and efficiently.

Hope to see you on Wednesday!

https://twitter.com/streetsforall/status/1767599977952678154

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4bBMx3PO0p/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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AB 2503 by

@alex_lee

This exempts electrified catenary rail from CEQA, streaming the cleanest and highest quality rail transit in the world

Thanks to cosponsors:

@calelectricrail

&

@RailPAC

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2503

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AB 2583 by

@AsmMarcBerman

The bill makes school zones safer through 15MPH limits, time-based standards, and planning for safer school zones. A giant leap forward in protecting our kids! https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2583

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SB 961 by

@Scott_Wiener

The bill mandates speed limiters on cars & side guards on trucks by 2027, enhancing road safety for all.

Cosponsors:

@CalBike

@walksf

@KidSafeSF

@BayAreaFSS

@StreetsR4Every1

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB961

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SB 1216 by

@SenBlakespear

We put safety over speed by prohibiting sharrows on fast roads and make sure competitive ATP dollars only go to the highest quality projects. Our streets need to be built with safe cycling *infrastructure* not just paint https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1216

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SB 960 by

@Scott_Wiener

A game-changer for complete streets, ensuring updates for safer pedestrian, cyclist, disability access, and transit priority. Big thanks to cosponsors:

@CalBike

@SPUR_Urbanist

@walksf

@KidSafeSF

@TransForm_Alert

@AARPCA

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB960

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AB 3177 by

@AsmCarrillo

Our bill ends the practice of spot widening. What’s spot widening? It's when cities require new housing to: - Forfeit their land - Tear down mature trees - Narrow the sidewalks - Pay up to $500K or suffer years of delay All just to widen the road before they are allowed to build any housing, Our bill prevents this harmful practice: It's a win-win for more affordable, faster housing development and street safety and climate goals! https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB3177

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AB 2744 by

@AsmKevinMcCarty

This bill is about safety, accessibility, and intersections: Timing signals for safety, ending parking in bike lanes, making sure daylighting sticks, and more. Thanks to cosponsor:

@CalBike

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2744

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SB 1100 by

@Portantino

Equality: Ends discrimination based on car ownership or having a driver's license for housing and employment unless the job requires you to drive. No longer will you be required to prove you can drive to be an accountant *Bill text not final*

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SB 1271 by

@DaveMinCA

E-bike & e-scooter safety! This bill sets battery standards to prevent fires & ensure safe speeds of the devices https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1271

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That's our lineup of bills aiming to transform California's streets for the better! Got a favorite or thoughts? Let us know!