i work at caltran's in sacramento at the headquarters level. i am at the corporate level and i don't get involved in district projects that often. on occasion i do, i work at the policy level, and do draft changes to the manuals and move us away from all cars all the time and towards a complete street perspective. and i comment on national guidance documents such as ashto guides and i provide input to the policy documents. and i do provide some technical assistance to the districts, and on occasion, they will ask for my advice on the correct approach in order to provide bicyclists or pedestrians with the same or better level of safety and mobility that we instinctively provide to drivers, and i enjoy sharing information with both our staff and anyone who asks. if anyone would like to know something about our caltran's policy says and free works or if you would like to borrow my slide show and use it, i would be thrilled. i love to share information and i develop research problem statements when i feel more research is needed on a question. such

why it's still the focus of a heated debate between bicycle activists, environmentalists and caltrans. >>> and is another change droiiiid. what this droid does will change how you do web connections. this creates a mobile 3g hotspot, powerful enough to fuel multiple devices at will. putting you at the center of your own world wide web. introducing the new droid x. the next generation of does. with my citi thankyou points when it happened... [ glass breaks ...again. ♪ [ child run! [ man first it was the mailbox. then my squirrel. and now, this. so i used my points to make a donation to get the park down the street built. when it finally opened, i also used my points for... car repair. [ male announcer use your citi thankyou points for almost anything, even local charities. what's your story? citi can help you write it. >>> sources are reporting that "american idol" has a new judge. sources say steven tyler from aerosmith reportedly signed a deal late last week with fox executives. jennifer lopez is also rumored to be joining the show. the two will replace simon cowell and ellen degen

caltrans, that was 6.5%. contra four is the construction of tunnels, and we have been working very closely with theresa sparks on local participation, and we are currently at 17.56% of all dollars paid that are going to san francisco lbe certified business, and this is construction, and this is unheard of. we really want to push back to jose and the enormous whether they have engaged this, because it really is putting people back to work, keeping small businesses in, and on july 1, we had an event, and julie, if you could stand up, she is with a view. she and her husband had had an exceptional business. just like two seconds about your business, because this is how the rubber meets the road. >> i thank you for the opportunity to speak briefly about my business. my business is concrete pumping, which seems very odd for a woman to do that, but i love construction. i love seeing things constructed and put together, so i actually had an opportunity to meet paul at one of the outreach events, and i was one of 1500

why it's still the focus of a heated debate between bicycle activists, environmentalists and caltrans. >>> and is another change coming in our weather? mark tamayo will be back with your five-day forecast. >>> sources are reporting that "american idol" has a new judge. sources say steven tyler from aerosmith reportedly signed a deal late last week with fox executives. jennifer lopez is also rumored to be joining the show. the two will replace simon cowell and ellen degeneres. >>> kra caltran says one of the bay area's scenic highways is downright dangerous. rob roth explains. >> reporter: beua schoolic, that's how one bay area residents describe this area. niles canyon road is also highway 84. narrow terrain could make it tough for bicycle riders. >> when there's no shoulder, it is tough. >> reporter: some environmental groups are up in arms by a proposal by caltrans to make an improvement aimed at making the road safer. >> they are gonna make it easier for people to drive. >> reporter: an environmental impact report, caltrans says over a three-year period, there were almost 60 accide

with that, i want to turn the program back over to the caltrans spokesman. [applause] >> ok, i would like to thank our speakers today for their great comments in acknowledging this moment in history and all the work that has been done by the bay bridge team and basically concl

with that, i want to turn the program back over to the caltrans spokesman. [applause] >> ok, i would like to thank our speakers today for their great comments in acknowledging this moment in history and all the work that has been done by the bay bridge team and basically conclude the ceremony portion of what we are going to be doing today. for those of you in the media that are going to be taking the boat trip, i need to talk with you for a few minutes, so give us basically invented to excuse everybody. those of you in the media, please stay right here. i'm going to go over the next steps we have to do to go out on the water to see this thing very closely. also, thank you to the warriors for showing up today, and taking this icon literally on to their uniforms. thanks, everybody. one minute, media.

to the city of san francisco, to caltrans, thank you from the bottom of my heart. thank you for understanding how critically important small and disadvantaged businesses are to the fabric of the great city, our state, and our nation. we will do you proud on this project. you have my word on it. thank you. [applause] >> thank you, julie. we have no doubt that you will make a sprout on this project. so will the other contractors on this incredible project. let me promise you from the podium that for the next ground- breaking we will have hot chocolate for you. thank you all very much. [applause] >> get this ceremony under way. we have a great day here for the momentous occasion for the sentences " and a bridge retrofit. in the public information officer for san francisco opened a bridge with caltrans. \ we're going to hear from a few key folks to talk about the history, what is actually happening today, and media that are interested, hopefully you have signed up on the waiver sheet and the signing sheet to take a boat tour that will get you a little closer to the wor

caltrans, that was 6.5%. contra four is the construction of tunnels, and we have been working very closely with theresa sparks on local participation, and we are currently at 17.56% of all dollars paid that are going to san francisco lbe certified business, and this is construction, and this is unheard of. we really want to push back to jose and the enormous whether they have engaged this, because it really is putting people back to work, keeping small businesses in, and on july 1, we had an event

caltrans, that was 6.5%. contra four is the construction of tunnels, and we have been working very closely with theresa sparks on local participation, and we are currently at 17.56% of all dollars paid that are going to san francisco lbe certified business, and this is construction, and this is unheard of. we really want to push back to

caltrans delayed in part because

in the public information officer for san francisco opened a bridge with caltrans. \ we're going to hear from a few key folks to talk about the history, what is actually happening today, and media that are interested, hopefully you have signed up on the waiver sheet and the signing sheet to take a boat tour that will get you a little closer to the work happening today. this morning, about 6:00, we started lifting a 1200-ton, 165- foot tall section that is the first part of our signatures than for the world's largest self-anchored suspension bridge. you can sit right here behind me. it is already vertical. it is being unbolted, and it will be split into place and sit down on a foundation where it will stand for at least 150 years in the next few hours. without further ado, i would like to introduce our secretary of california business, transportation, and housing agency, secretary dale bonner. >> thank you very much, and thank you all for coming out here this afternoon. great to be here. great day for the bay area commuters. i want to just underscore that today is a day that has been very

well, for caltrans, if they make money off the deal. and for you, if you can get where you need to go faster, even if you will end up a few dollars lighter. garvin thomas, nbc bay area news. >> h.o.t. lanes will be in effect only during commute hours and solo drivers will have to have fastrack if they want to use them. it will cost as little as 35 cents up to a few dollars depending on traffic. caltrans says the price could go higher if too many people are using the lanes. here is the complication. carpoolers are still free, but you'll have to disable your fastrack or you're going to get charged. >> starving for a silver lining. investors jump at news today that the economy is still growing and that the fed is ready to react if something changes. the dow jones gained 164 points. nasdaq picked up 34. nbc bay area steve handelsman explains why any growth is good to some economists. >> reporter: 1.6% was our economic growth rate from april through june. to many economists, even 1.6 means no dreaded double dip, a return to recession. >> big

. >>> caltrans is trying hard to keep up with graffiti artist. you may have noticed the big green highway signs hidden behind tons of graffiti. summer, it turns out, is a busy time for those graffiti fighters. damon is live in san jose where crews are seeing a lot of vandalism. >> reporter: that's right. signs like the one behind me are clean now because caltrans has spent the last few days cleaning them, removing that graffiti. but how long will that cleanliness last? they leave the evidence behind after tagging the signs and walls of bay area highways. caltrans cleaned this sign only tuesday on highway 87 in san jose. we're going to tweak our video to show you how it potentially looked after taggers attacked it recently. >> i know what exit i'm coming off of. but people here from out of town, they're not going to know what exit. >> reporter: summer months are usually their busiest because kids are out of school. they'll scale security fences protected by razor wire and dang frel a rope or other instrument more than 100 feet off the ground. >> i

caltrans crews out there now trying to clean up the mess. but they also need two huge heavy duty tow crews out there to try to up right the big rig. in the meantime, they are giving us an eto of 8:45 so this sea of brake lights will grow. unfortunately i wish i could give you a better alternate. there isn't one. westbound 50 is a parking lot. sounds like at the top of the altamont pass backup, i have never seen this high a backup here, 109 minutes, hours long delay on westbound 580 from the altamont pass to 680. so really ace train number 3 is going to be your best bet in the area. it should be leaving the vasco station shortly but unless you want to be late for work or just get in a huge traffic mess avoid westbound 580 for the next three hours or so. that is your traffic. for your forecast, here's tracy. >> hey, thanks, elizabeth. i have nice news, much nicer in comparison to what elizabeth has going on this morning! we have some clouds, we also have some fog especially around the bay and for the coast. even some drizzle. so this morning,

while this is in limbo, the want to merge with enough cash on hand in a memo, the director of caltran listed some of these projects it could be in a holding pattern because of the available cash. this is what could be affected in the bay area. and the solano county, 13 of the rehabilitation of interstate 80. antioch, highway 4, to connecting whiting and tho eight lines, and then, how 101 san rafael. and also how long this will go on, that it will affect long going projects. some of them are paid by the state and reimbursed with federal funds. according to the memo, some high-profile projects could be impacted include the tunnel, codoyle drive in the doubleproj and i am christine connolly, kron 4 news. >> there was a strange a site at fisherman's wharf. people were dressed in plastic bags by the california senate. that would back plastic crush rebecs all around the state. if this passes? large grocery store woodstock using is by 2012. a 5¢ fee would be used for paper. >> and we would be the first state. and that will to allow for the environment. plastic bags less full and 1000 years.

and it is actually-smaller record to zoom out, and show you that it is right above the caltran tracks. you are taking a nice look at downtown and beyond. it is supposed to of a nice view and threw gravel earth, why it is a desirable location it is right next to the caltran. and our according to the google earth, the shark tank, and it is right in slated for sports. also, a transportation hub. and this is the problem, right in the middle of the ball park is the at&t building. it is over one half of the site. and without at&t planning ball, san jose's code of a difficulty putting it and this spot. fast and with this area, it is the pg and the substation and already there and talks to move this. and across the street, the firefighters' training facility in the could have a department parking. and this firefighter is actually on board. the only delay is this big building from at&t. jonathan blum. >> and the san francisco 49ers alex smith is hoping to help improve last season's record. with the were second in the western division and the 49ers open the regular season september 12th in seat

. >>> the late budget is having a negative impact on business throughout california, including caltrans. they say the budget stalemate may force them to slow or halt more than $3 billion in projects unless a budget is passed by the end of the month. caltrans says this will impact both workers and drivers. >> every motorist in california can potentially affect as well as construction workers, the vendors that work for the construction, vendors that kind of has a snowball effect. >> reporter: several projects in the bay area may be halted if a budget isn't passed. they include widening highway 4, repaving interstate 80 and roadway improvements in san rafael. >>> after temporarily putting the breaks on catching fare cheats, the crack down is back again. sal castaneda has the story. >> reporter: officials say they lose about $19 million a year because of fare evaders. and that's why fare inspectors are back with ticket books in hand. fare inspectors walked through the train, it wasn't long till they found fare evaders. they've been doing enhanced enforcement looking for proof of payment. in

caltrans and moved the third leg of the new the new bay bridge tower into place today. magellan's got very close in this exclusive look at caltrans. >> were going to grab this elevator so you can shoot it from above. the catwalks, it doesn't get any better than that. you can see everything about this operation premier. you can see that this 1,200 t chair leg is being tipped right now all the weight is on our check that are connected here with these china cups. that's really doing the big lifting right now. down below you can see concrete runners that we built on top of the spurge that allows the piece to slide along as we tidbit. it has to get over the one or down there inland directly on top of those hundred pins that you see sticking appeared over the next couple of months will be jumping this whole system of support up. in the next pieces are good over 400 ft. overhead if you're standing on the bridge. the wooden platform you see hanging off the fort is where the air workers will actually stand when they're positioning the piece of leg. >> speeded up the video 6000 p

caltrans crews may have left, as well. so right now the only thing we are dealing with is something in vallejo against the commute eastbound 80 the columbus parkway on-ramp shut down right now. an accident involving a big rig so watch out for that. the main lines. freeway westbound 80 look good towards the carquinez bridge. 18-minute drive time from the bridge to the maze if you are in the westbound lanes of 80 on the eastshore freeway. oakland near the coliseum no issues on the nimitz freeway. taillights are northbound traffic. if you are cruising all the way into downtown 580 in oakland at keller an accident involving a deer is gone. we were seeing slowing on our sensors for a short while. in the meantime milpitas 880/237 near that interchange, traffic moving fine towards silicon valley. another look at the san mateo bridge where traffic is picking up since our last traffic hit but otherwise no problems on the span. and mass transit is on time. that is your traffic. for your forecast, here's tracy. >> hey, thanks, elizab

we owe them an amount of gratitude, because it is not easy dealing with caltrans from time to time. and because on tolo drive, there are disadvantaged, note there are no local business goals, and we know we cannot do, but we know we can also do, and they have been really great. 127 different chambers of commerce throughout san francisco. we also believe that these plans are large, they are huge, and if you have to pay for the printing of these, you are going to be putting out $400 just to find out if you actually have an opportunity. we actually got rid of that barrier, a drug san francisco and the bay area, we have paid to have those specs frf

new contracts would be delayed until caltrans can pay crews. there are currently $9.5 billion worth of projects under way, but another $1.5 billion in projects could be on hold. >>> there are a few projects under way even this morning. one of them is in the south bay and mike inouye has the latest on the morning commute. >> i depend on your live update every morning, brent. the construction zone were talking about, 101 past tully, seeing some slowing. 7 miles per hour that may be a misread on the sensor, but general slowing, extended cones through the area and a lot of trucks. they may be moving. a couple other construction zones picked up on northbound 101, the off-ramp from 280 at 10th ramp closed, and montague expressway from southbound 680 still closed. the treasure island off of the lower deck blocked by debris from an earlier accident. another five to ten minutes for that to clear. back to you. >> right where your 7 miles per hour marker was is where most of the activity was. it is possible they are pulling up right now. >> there you have

. >>> caltran is looking for public input over its proposed cuts. the transit agency is hosting six different public hearings to get input on the new proposals which include the possibility of ending all weekend trains cutting all early morning trains. ending service south of san jose, increasing fares by 25 cents each way. and/or increasing the cost of monthly passes and parking fees. the meetings will take place at caltran stations in san francisco, san jose and san carlos. there will be three hearings in gilroy tonight after the evening trains arrive. >>> let's talk about the economy now. there's a new report today casting doubt on any sort of recovery. the number of americans applying for jobless benefits hit 500,000 last week. it's a 9-month high. businesses are laying off and an increasing number workers are cutting back on orders. damon trujillo takes a look at that report. >> it's a similar scene playing out from job fares in major cities to community unemployment offices. long lines of out of work americans applying and vying for jobs in sh

. >> another developing story this time involving caltrans the entire system is experiencing delays. joining us now on the phone is christine down the hotel train. please explain it's happening now? >> it's a very hot day outside and one of the things that happens when it's warm like this is the rails get hot. as they get hot they tend to get soft. so it to drive the chain's a little bit slower to keep the rails from going stretching in the heat. jenny had the hell long these delays may last. as the day goes on it's going to get cooler and will keep taking the temperature one gets down to tarnoff will be able to lift the restriction. right now were experiencing 25 minute delays to northbound trains but we expect that to get worse as the trains that run in san francisco >> is there any danger associated with this episode with the tracks getting he did like they are. this is exactly what we're doing were preventing danger by slowing the trains down this is a safety measure that prevents anything from happening systemwide delays we don't know how long was going to go begging caltrans is

coming out of the city, coming out of caltrans, and even coming up on note -- out of bart. the buyback plan, the traffic calming plan, these were projects that we layered on a tugboat -- on top of tiers one and two, and then we added tier 4. princetons, you will hear today about -- for instance, you will hear today about parkmerced, how they are solving some of transportation issues, andti then, er 5. -- and then, tier 5. they have this view of where the system is going. we then will use our best professional judgment to fill and the gap and thai networks together to make even the areas that the project proposed before or the improvements the developer could not fix, we will recommend big fixes that go through the corridor, so if i walk you through that, we will start with pi r.e. -- with tier 2. san francisco state and others. no, we laterlaya -- er tier -- we layer tier 3. and then, we also layered on top of those other things, like running the shuttle, other improvements we wanted to see to get more efficiency of the transit network. . -- tier 4, bringing the san francis

we owe them an amount of gratitude, because it is not easy dealing with caltrans from time to time. and because on tolo drive, there are disadvantaged, note there are no local business goals, and we know we cannot do, but we know we can also do, and they have been really great. 127 different chambers of commerce throughout san francisco. we also believe that these plans are large, they are huge, and if you have to pay for the printing of these, you are going to be putting out $400 just to find out if you actually have an opportunity. we actually got rid of that barrier, a drug san francisco and the bay area, we have paid to have those specs free of charge so that anybody can take a look at what is in those contracts. that has been really successful. the website has been great. we are using some innovations to hear directly from small businesses the are successful so that it is in their own words. note on contract number one, we are right now at 82% small- business participation. there are environmental contracts and other contracts, building stabilization contracts, so 82% of all go

this is not just about bringing caltrans

caltrans plans to start drilling on monday using this massive tunnel boring machine. the new tunnel is meant to ease traffic congestion along highway 24 between oakland and arenda. the project is budgeted at 420 million. they expect to complete the job in about three years. >>> a major beef recall is underway tonight in the wake of an e.coli outbreak. some of the beef being recalled was sold at safeway locations here in the bay area. jim vargas has details on this massive recall. >> reporter: state health officials say valley meet of madeso acted quickly on it madesto acted quickly on it. the meat, a million pounds was sold to safeway in four different states, some under the brand "butchers cut". >> you can not smell it, taste it or anything. >> reporter: they say people who intend to cook their food should cook it well. >> the best thing to do is cook the food and handel it carefully. >> reporter: wash your food, too. that is what the shopper, who used to handel food on amtrak, does. >> you should wash anything that you buy at the stores as far as food and produce. e