The SamTrans transit bus services in San Mateo County is promoting their annual "Art Takes A Bus Ride" contest partnering with San Mateo County Office of Education. It's the 14th year for therein artistic contest for local students and inviting all local school grades 1-6 countywide to participate. The art contest theme this year is "The Wild Side Of SamTrans" and San Mateo County students have to submit their artistic work for the competition. The winning artistic entry will be displayed around the outside of SamTrans bus for the whole year.

The San Francisco Bay Area WETA (Water Emergency Transportation Authority) is possibly looking to explore smaller vessel ferry services in the Bay Area. The WETA Board of Directors will decide today on Thursday, May 1, 2018 if the exploratory project of small vessels should go forward or not. The approval process by the board will give WETA staffing an opportunity to study elements involved for small vessels ferry services. The smaller vessels exploratory project will depend on available funding because it may need to hire a contracting study agency.

The California DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) advanced new regulations for testing self-driving cars in San Francisco Bay Area, and statewide without a backup driver behind the steering wheel. Therein new DMV regulations will take affect in April 2, 2018 for testing autonomous vehicles and transporting passengers. A backup format is mandatory for safety reasoning during testing for self-driving cars and ready to take over vehicular operation when necessary.

The ranking study survey by RedFin identifies San Francisco #2 for two consistent years with transit friendly cities nationwide along with best public transportation. The transit services study scores top 5 cities are as follow: #1) New York - 85, #2) San Francisco - 80, #3) Boston - 73, #4) Washington DC - 68, and #5) Philadelphia - 67. The San Francisco muni public transportation services have been convenient for most trips with consistent improvement projects.

The Caltrain joint powers Board of Directors is considering to approve the new contracting agency to install safety systematic mechanisms for transit trains. The Wabtec Railway Electronics Inc. is a new contractor agency for Caltrain to install PTC (Positive Train Control) systems for safety improvement to protect passengers. Because U.S. Congress approved the Rail Safety Improvement Act legislation and requires PTC system installation for transit trains nationwide.

The Caltrain Station underpass project by VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) in Santa Clara County wins 2018 Golden State Award. Therein award is presented by ACEC (American Council of Engineering Companies) to recognize and honor outstanding projects with engineering partnership in California. The honorary award was presented during the banquet event and many projects were selected from 55 different projects statewide. The VTA Caltrain underpass project provides pedestrians and bicyclists a safety pathway to use Caltrain transit for transportation.

The safety lights project for an underpass pathway in Marin County to connect two cities between Sausalito and Marin within San Francisco Bay Area. The North Bay members of an advocacy group called "Tunnel Light Brigade" was able to work closely with Marin County Department of Public Works and Caltrans for therein project improvement. The safety lights improvement project will happen during this Spring season and construction is planning to begin in March. The contract amount of $108,000 is awarded to install safety lights for therein tunnel underpass below Highway 101.

The Caltrain is constructing new improvement elements for safety within Redwood City to enhance safety reasoning for drivers and pedestrians. The Caltrain services will not be interrupted and some temporary roadways will be closed for painting signs and sidewalk construction for safety improvement projects. The safety improvement project activities will happen on weekdays between 7 AM and 3 PM, and some sidewalks will be temporarily closed for construction.

The SamTrans transit agency board approved the purchase of 55 new transit buses serving San Mateo County, and therein buses will be more environmentally friendly for passengers. The new transit buses will cost $48.9 million and primary costing amounts will be included in FTA (Federal Transit Administration) funding. The new buses will replace 2002 articulated model transit buses because of their overly used and reached it's lifetime usage regarding FTA regulations.

The SFMTA (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency) is starting to receive their new electric trolley buses as they arrive during this week. The new trolley buses are going through a procedural safety testing process before rolling them out on San Francisco streets. The new electric trolley buses will operate standard routes using street overhead wire lines and they can operate several miles without therein connected wire lines. The trolley bus operators can reattach therein wire lines back on track by pushing a button and it can save traveling time.