The Governance Seminar last month in San Francisco shared may challenges for transit transportation in San Francisco Bay Area regional areas. The performance standards set by MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Commission) for transit transportation is a national systematic model. It's a model to engage efficient public transportation services and providing effective and quality services for passengers especially working class people. However, the public discussion discloses many challenges facing economical support and tax funding can vary with the economy status.

The California High Speed Rail (HSR) competition is presently in place for train developmental process including a bidding process for the HSR contract. The HSR trains will have to be developed with safety and healthy measures in place accordingly during trains manufacturing development by contracted agency. The California HSR Authority Board shared interest with train manufacturing agencies from Japan, China, France, Germany, and South Korea.

The state Caltrans agency is planning to close San Mateo Bridge and more update findings on Bay Bridge malfunction rods in San Francisco Bay Area. As we posted previously, latest reporting research information indicates San Francisco Bay Area roadway and highway bridges are outdated and needs retrofitting repairs for public safety. The Caltrans agency provided the bay bridge oversight committee with reports mentioning fractured rods holding the bridge towers.

Traffic congestion in San Francisco and throughout the bay area is getting worse and possible underground railway tunnel could be a resolution answer. The San Francisco Bay Area commuters are looking for answers to help with traffic because some people are saying "it can become very stressful and unhealthy." The San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee is researching for answers including real estate relief within Mission District for possible underground railway linkage to Central Transit Center.

Transportation and housing with health and safety measures are part of the Plan Bay Area 2040 initiative and requesting public input during open house public meetings. The ongoing public meetings have been in place since last week in April 2015 within nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. The last public meeting will be Thursday, May 28, 2015 at Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, California from 5 PM to 7 PM. These public meetings will provide people with updates and planning information for transportation in the future within San Francisco Bay Area.

The upcoming San Francisco 49ers home games will cost more for transit transportation to transport fans to Levi Stadium at San Francisco Bay Area. The Santa Clara County VTA (Valley Transportation Agency) has been assessing the costing impact for fans transit transportation, and VTA officials mentioned it would cost them more than $3 million a year for 30 events at Levi Stadium. The VTA officials are considering transit fee increases for 49er fans riding to Levi Stadium and approached City of Santa Clara, California for financial expense assistance.

The Star Princess cruise-ship docked in San Francisco at Pier-27 yesterday due to a norovirus outbreak making people sick onboard. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) personnel and medical officials started assessing passengers for norovirus screening symptoms. CDC personnel and medical officials met with the cruise-ship crew members and collected evaluation elements for assessing norovirus disease while docking in San Francisco. Including crew members cleaning the cruise-ship and sanitizing all appropriate areas and advised passengers to not touch anything and wash hands before eating.

The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) airplanes traffic within San Francisco Bay Area is becoming an issue within local peninsula cities. The City of Palo Alto residents are complaining about the noise of SFO airplanes flying over their homes and disrupting family sleeping patterns. Some local residents are saying airplanes are flying into SFO with lower altitudes and residents can actually see the airline logo from ground level.

Biking to work is another way of people commuting to and from work today throughout San Francisco Bay Area sharing ways to protect our natural environment and making it healthy for people. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition with a number of sponsors organized the "Bike To Work Day" with energize stations for cyclists within nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Cyclists are expecting to ride their personal bikes or a bike from bicycle stations regardless of potential rain in the bay area and participating numbers are expecting to increase.

The eastern span of San Francisco Bay Bridge continues with problematic issues and oversight committee approved funding for more research study. The Toll Bridge Oversight Committee approved $4 million on Monday to study for problematic issues on bridge towers questioning the safety of drivers on the bay bridge. The bridge tower failed an assessment test when salt was found on the bridge anchor rod pending damages and showing more corrosion problems. More people are questioning the safety of driving on the bay bridge and ongoing problematic findings and spending more tax payer monies.