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enterprise THE DAVIS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020
Davis roads worst in the region Council subcommittee to seek solutions BY ANNE TERNUS-BELLAMY Enterprise staff writer
ANNE WERNIKOFF/CALMATTERS PHOTO
An electric car charges at a rapid charge station at the Emeryville Public Market.
Legislature backs off on emissions Bill to use clean-car rebates as leverage stalls BY RACHEL BECKER CalMatters
A plan to weaponize cleancar rebates in California’s ongoing feud with the Trump administration over tailpipe pollution stalled in the state Legislature on Monday. The bill, by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francsico, would have restricted clean-car rebates to people buying from automakers that have sided
with the state. That would have meant millions of dollars of incentives for Californians to buy clean vehicles from Honda, Ford, Volkswagen and BMW — the four major automakers that agreed to follow California’s clean car rules. The bill, AB 40, was up for consideration by the Assembly Transportation Committee this week, but Ting elected to pull it — citing too little support. The decision means the bill will
advance no further this year, which Ting called disappointing. “But I am not deterred,” Ting said in a statement emailed to CalMatters. “I will keep pushing to decarbonize our transportation system because our climate crisis is worsening rapidly.” The legislation was intended as another strike against federal efforts to roll back tough tailpipe pollution rules that require carmakers to curb greenhouse
gas pollution and increase fuel efficiency to reach an average of roughly 50 miles per gallon by model year 2025. The Trump administration has proposed freezing fuel economy standards at 37 miles per gallon — and, in the meantime, has revoked California’s authority to make its own greenhouse gas rules for cars, SUVs, light-duty pickup trucks, and crossover vehicles. California is fighting the move in court. The state
SEE REBATES, PAGE A6
The city of Davis has the worst roads in the region, with a pavement condition index — the standard by which the quality of streets and bike paths is gauged — continuing to decline in recent years, according to a report presented to the City Council on Tuesday. The city’s roads PCI of 57 is worse than virtually every city in the area, including that of Winters, Woodland, West Sacramento, Dixon and Sacramento. The city’s bike paths are even worse off, with a PCI of 52, according to the 2019 Pavement Management Report. In 2015, the PCI for Davis streets was 63; in 2012, the PCI for bike baths was 58. According to the PCI scale, the city’s roads and bike paths currently are in the “fair” category but perilously close to dropping into the “poor” category if they fall below 50.
SEE ROADS, PAGE A6
Next stop for free college push: CSU?
Council moves forward with safety fix for East Davis bike path
BY FELICIA MELLO
BY ANNE TERNUS-BELLAMY
destinations to the west. The bike path is even a designated Safe Route to School corridor. All but one portion, that is. The section between Salamanca Court and Ponteverde Lane was removed from the suggested safe route several years ago because of safety concerns. At this location, bicyclists headed eastbound on Ponteverde from Tulip must cross the westbound traffic lane on a tight 90-degree curve to access the bike path. To avoid this, bicyclists — frequently children — ride on the north sidewalk. Additionally, city staff have noted, “no
In yet another push to make higher education more accessible in California, a bill filed in the state Legislature last week would extend the state’s tuition-free college guarantee to four years — and beyond community college — for some students, making it one of the most generous programs in the nation. Students who earn an associate’s degree for transfer through the California College Promise program could finish their bachelor’s degrees for free at California State University under the legislation, authored by
SEE SAFETY, PAGE A5
SEE COLLEGE, PAGE A5
Enterprise staff writer
The Davis City Council on Tuesday moved forward with plans to improve safety on a bike route in East Davis heavily used by school children. Three of the five council members voiced support for extending the bike path that runs parallel and south of Loyola Drive to Tulip Lane and creating a bicycle and pedestrian crossing on Tulip so cyclists no longer have to cross traffic on a section of Ponteverde Lane to enter the path. Mayor Pro Tem Gloria Partida recused herself from the matter because she lives near the location, while Councilman Dan
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Carson said he preferred a different fix that involved extending the path to Tulip and creating a four-way stop at Tulip and Ponteverde instead of a new crossing north of the intersection. Mayor Brett Lee and Councilmen Lucas Frerichs and Will Arnold favored the bike path extension and new crossing. The Tulip and Ponteverde multi-use path extension project has been in the works for several years with funding — up to $770,000 — allocated in the city budget. At issue: the multi-use path is a key east-west route connecting Mace Ranch Park, Korematsu Elementary School and Harper Junior High School with
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WEATHER Satu Saturday: Mostly cloudy. M High 55. Low 37. Hi
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