Doug Letterman
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dougletterman.bsky.social
Doug Letterman
@dougletterman.bsky.social
59 followers 140 following 49 posts
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Reposted by Doug Letterman
kingtides.bsky.social
The Bay took over the highway during this morning's #KingTides in Marin.
See from above, water covers an off-ramp of highway 101 and a parking lot next to the highway and bikepath.
December 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
brandontbishop.bsky.social
Picture 1 is signal of something that is ~240 km away (if it's an earthquake). 2 is signal of a non-seismic/non-explosive source (nearby machine oscillating at ~15-ish Hz). 3 is noise/no signal at all. 4 is local signal of non-seismic/non-explosive source.
December 4, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
zachlipton.com
I think entirely too much about how California’s climate plan explicitly says that converting to EVs is not nearly enough to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets so we need to reduce VMT 25% by 2030, and then we do basically nothing to try to achieve that goal
Strategies for Achieving Success • Achieve a per capita VMT reduction of at least 25 percent below 2019 levels by 2030 and 30 percent below 2019 levels by 2045. 339 Reimagine new roadway projects that decrease VT in a way that meets community needs and reduces the need to drive. • Invest in making public transit a viable alternative to driving by increasing affordability, reliability, coverage, service frequency, and consumer experience. 340 • Implement equitable roadway pricing strategies based on local context and need, reallocating revenues to improve transit, bicycling, and other sustainable transportation choices. 341 • Expand and complete planned networks of high-quality active transportation infrastructure.342 • Channel the deployment of autonomous vehicles, ride-hailing services, and other new mobility options toward high passenger-occupancy and low VT-impact service models that complement transit and ensure equitable access for priority populations. • Streamline access to public transportation through programs such as the California Integrated Travel Project. • Ensure alignment of land use, housing, transportation, and conservation planning in adopted regional plans, such as regional transportation plans (RTP)/ sustainable communities strategies (SCS), regional housing needs assessments (RHNA), and local plans (e.g., general plans, zoning, and local transportation plans), and develop tools to support implementation of these plans. 2.1 Zero-emission vehicles are not enough to solve the climate crisis. Contrary to popular belief, zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) alone are not enough to solve the climate crisis. The 2022 Scoping Plan illustrates that despite cleaner vehicles and low-carbon fuels, the path to carbon neutrality by 2045 also depends on reducing per capita VMT (the total passenger vehicle miles driven by an average person in California on any given day). To meet the carbon neutrality goal, the Scoping Plan proposes reducing VMT from 24.6 miles per day in 2019 to 18.4 miles by 2030 (a 25 percent reduction) and to 17.2 miles per day by 2045 (a 30 percent reduction). Approximately 30 percent of light-duty vehicles on the road in 2045 will still burn fossil fuels even with all new car sales being ZEVs by 2035 through implementation of CARB's Advanced Clean Cars Il regulations.? Additionally, driving, regardless of vehicle technology, will also continue to produce particulate emissions from brake and tire wear. Figure W depicts the reduction in VT identified by the Scoping Plan as necessary to help achieve the State's GHG reduction goals (green solid line), accompanied by a ' For more information on progress made toward achieving climate goals under SB 375 see: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/tracking-progress 2 For more information on the Advanced Clean Cars Il regulations adopted by CARB's board on August 25, 2022, see: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/advanced-clean-cars-program/advanced-clean-cars- 4 California Air Resources Board 2022 Scoping Plan November 2022 trajectory whereby average per capita daily driving continues to increase at its historic average growth rate (red line with dashes and dots) The blue dotted line shows a trajectory where average per capita daily driving remains unchanged from 2019 levels. Substantial and immediate action is needed to reverse current trends in order to reduce VMT to support achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. Figure W. VMT tra…
November 22, 2025 at 2:48 AM
dougletterman.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
awalkerinla.bsky.social
Two years ago I interviewed a 31-year-old NY state assemblymember about a 7-year-old girl killed by an SUV driver in his district. I hung up the phone, astonished that I'd talked to a legislator who so thoughtfully articulated what actually needs to change on our streets.

He'll make a great mayor
In February, 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun was crossing the intersection of Newtown Road and 45th Street in Astoria with her mother and sister when the driver of a 2021 Ford Explorer blew through a stop sign, striking and killing Dolma. One month later, New York City Department of Transportation commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez visited the crash site with other officials, met with community members demanding a traffic signal be installed, and promised to make changes to the street - including "daylighting" the intersection using curb extensions and plastic bollards. State assemblymember Zohran Mamdani also visited the scene that day and realized that something else needed to change. "When you take a step back and think about traffic violence in New York City," he said, "you start to understand that this is a systemic issue that is incentivized by the policies that we have in place with regard to the design of our streets and what kind of vehicles we allow to be on our roads." Whether a driver runs a stop sign or a red light, statistically, certain cars - namely, bigger SUVs and trucks - are more likely to kill a 7-year-old. This is why Mamdani is co- introducing legislation for a weight-based vehicle-registration fee intended to discourage people from purchasing heavier vehicles. "The car industry is pushing the sale of heavier and larger vehicles," he says. "The state has to make it clear that these types of vehicles come with a certain kind of cost." soar above adult shoulders. But there may be another way to disincentivize the purchases of such vehicles, says Edwards. "One other potential idea would be for someone, maybe a city's DOT, to start keeping a list of the different makes and models of vehicles that are killing pedestrians and cyclists, or kids specifically, and post that publicly," he says. "That could bring awareness to which cars are more dangerous and also potentially affect insurance rates, which would possibly convince people not to buy certain cars." There's a bit of accountability in New York's bill, which would require the State DOT to track all fatal crashes by vehicle weight. But the other encouraging aspect of the proposal is that the collected fees stay local, by county, and, after the annual dedications to highway, bridge, and transit trust funds are met, a full 75 percent of the funds raised will go toward safety improvements like bike lanes, bollards, road diets, pedestrianization of streets, and raised crosswalks. This means the neighborhoods most impacted by large vehicles are likely to see the biggest changes. And that might be the most important part of the legislation, says Mamdani. "This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children," he says. "And we are making sure a significant portion of this funding goes toward creating the very streetscapes that we know will save their lives."
June 26, 2025 at 1:55 AM
dougletterman.bsky.social
OM NOM NOM
Smoke rises from a pile of boxes in front of a garbage truck with its back hatch open. It is stopped in the middle of a city street. A person in a hi-viz vest stands next to it. Flames are faintly visible in the back corner of the truck.
October 28, 2025 at 4:16 PM
dougletterman.bsky.social
Everything's fine.
White smoke rises from a pile of trash dumped in the middle of a street. A garbage truck is parked in the foreground blocking a lane of traffic. A perosn in a hi-viz jacket directs an SUV around the blockage.
October 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
dougletterman.bsky.social
Sometime in 2023 a Google Street View camera captured a U-2 Dragon Lady flying low over a giant gold dredge east of Yuba City.

maps.app.goo.gl/VjQjYpDMnoWf...
A U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane flies low over a gold dredge east of Yuba City.
October 26, 2025 at 10:13 PM
dougletterman.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
dougletterman.bsky.social
The bridge to Coast Guard Island this morning.
Protesters fill a crosswalk at the entrance to the bridge to Coast Guard Island, Alameda.
October 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
competentposter.bsky.social
wizard frog is insane
October 4, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
tvrr.bsky.social
On Friday a driver killed a 63 year old cyclist who had lived in Garfield most of his life

Our hearts go out to our neighbor whose life was cut short while biking around his own neighborhood and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends

www.oakrapidresponse.org/posts/fatali...
A Driver Killed our Neighbor in Garfield on Friday
On Friday, September 26th at 6:15pm a driver hit a 63 year old man as he was biking on Miller Ave onto E 16th Street in the Garfield neighborhood of Oakland. Neighbors shared footage of a white Ford ...
www.oakrapidresponse.org
September 30, 2025 at 6:09 AM
dougletterman.bsky.social
Make sure to wear hi-viz everyone! /s
September 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
transitriderseb.bsky.social
AC Transit is considering the purchase of 47 Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Electric Buses (FCEB) costing over $1.7M per vehicle!

We are concerned this will worsen service for riders because 2018 and 2022 FCEBs have proven to be unreliable and expensive to operate

actransit.legistar.com/LegislationD...
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S): Consider authorizing the General Manager, or his designee, to execute documents through the State of Washington Transit Bus Cooperative Contract, to purchase up to forty-seven (47) forty-foot hydrogen buses from New Flyer America and up to ten (10) thirty-five-foot battery-electric buses from Gillig LLC. Staff Contact: Aaron Vogel, Chief Operating Officer STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE: Goal - Safe and Secure Operations Initiative - Service Quality These new zero-emission buses will enhance service quality by replacing older and higher-polluting diesel buses currently in the fleet that have exceeded their useful life. Purchasing additional new zero-emission buses is part of the District’s Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) Transition Plan, provided to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), as required by the Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT: The purchase of the fifty-seven (57) zero-emissions buses is expected to cost approximately $98 million. The purchase is funded by $70.1 million of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Bridge Toll funds through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Transit Capital Priorities Program, $5.1 million of State of Good Repair (SGR) funds, and $13 million from the Bay Area Air Quality Management’s Community Air Protection (CAP) Program.
September 24, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
stevenmazie.bsky.social
SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in a college applicant's file is blatantly unconstitutional

ALSO SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in targeting whom to detain and deport is cool cool cool
September 8, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
hrbrmstr.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Chicago / Illinois folks (really, all of us) — this was posted on other socials by your governor. Def keep a copy handy and pass it on.
Know & Exercise Your Rights Flyer provided by the Illinois Immigration Information Hub. 1. Remain Calm. 2. You have the right to deny entry without a valid warrant. 3. You have the right to remain silent. 4. You have the right to speak with an attorney. 5. You have the right to not sign anything. Know & Exercise Your Rights Flyer provided by the Illinois Immigration Information Hub. For more information, head to: https://www.illinoisimmigrationinfo.org/
September 7, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
kerstanley.bsky.social
To put this loan amount in perspective:

California is spending $500 million to widen a 10-mile stretch of Highway 37 in the northern Bay Area (through a wetland, no less).

But $750 million to save the *entire* Bay Area’s transit systems is apparently infeasible.
scottwiener.bsky.social Senator Scott Wiener @scottwiener.bsky.social · Sep 6
We’ve been informed by the Governor’s Department of Finance that it won’t agree before our legislative session ends (on Friday) to finalize a $750M bridge loan to Bay Area transit.

This loan was agreed to in our June budget. Without it, BART, Muni, et al will cut service.🧵
September 7, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
clarajeffery.bsky.social
Why is @gavinnewsom.bsky.social @governor.ca.gov breaking his word to help save Bay Area transit? It is just appalling and politically idiotic.

www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
Massive Bay Area transit cuts likely as Newsom backtracks on $750M loan, lawmakers say
Bay Area lawmakers and transit advocates say Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reneging on a critical $750 million loan will have devastating consequences for BART, Muni and other agencies in the region.
www.sfchronicle.com
September 6, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
transbaycoalition.bsky.social
Without this promised emergency loan from the state, millions of people in the Bay Area will suffer due to the steep cuts to transit service, the worsening traffic, and the rise in pollution.

We need to turn out in big numbers Monday morning & get loud

actionnetwork.org/events/emerg...
Flyer with Emergency Rally to Save Bay Area 9am Monday Sept 8 at San Francisco Civic Center Plaza. BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit vehicles are depicted on emergency stretchers
September 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
dougletterman.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
cyrushall.bsky.social
Gov Newsom still hasn't signed the $750m loan to Bay Area transit agencies that would get us to the Nov 2026 funding votes. He has eight days to act.

Please take a moment to call his office at (916) 445-2841 and use the attached script, copied from a @transbaycoalition.bsky.social.
Hi my name is (your name), I live in (your town), and I was so relieved in July when I heard that the state budget would include a $750 million emergency loan to BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain to stop massive service cuts, before funding starts to flow from a regional funding measure) . These transit agencies provide essential service to our communities and I depend on them to get where I need to go. However, I’m very concerned that with just eight days left to issue the loan, the Governor hasn’t followed through on his promise to protect our communities from these devastating cuts. I’m calling to urge him to make good on his promise and issue that loan ASAP to these transit agencies and stop these terrible cuts. Thank you.
September 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
dougletterman.bsky.social
The Teslabot's creepy blank face reminds me of the "humanoids" from the 1979 Disney film "Black Hole." Nightmare fuel when I was a kid.
A man stands next to several humanoid robots with blank, reflective faces sitting at a control panel in a screenshot from the 1979 film "Black Hole."
September 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
dougletterman.bsky.social
Grocery run by #cargobike.
An Urban Arrow sits at a bike rack in front of a grocery store. A child, a stuffed dog and a blue IKEA bag full of groceries are visible in the cargo box.
August 31, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Reposted by Doug Letterman
clumsyninja.bsky.social
Racism is fashionable these days apparently
August 29, 2025 at 3:24 AM