San Diego Transportation

The state's political watchdog agency fined California Transportation Commissioner J. Thomas Hawthorne of Escondido $165,000 on Tuesday for voting on San Diego County freeway projects that translated into additional business for his Caterpillar heavy equipment dealership. The fine is the second-largest ever assessed against a public official by the Fair Political Practices Commission, according to the commission.

Most of the 108-mile San Diego & Imperial Valley Railroad has been closed since 1983, and neglect, violent rainstorms, fires and rockslides have rendered its tunnels and trestles inoperative. But now an effort is being mounted by San Diego officials--with the support of the Commerce Department--to reopen the line to give San Diego and Tijuana a direct link to the rail grids of the southwestern United States and the interior of Mexico. The reason is trade.

A bill by state Sen. Wadie P. Deddeh (D-Chula Vista) authorizing a sales tax election to fund San Diego transportation passed the Senate by a 30-4 vote Tuesday. The bill also would create a regional transportation commission. Under the bill, the San Diego Assn. of Governments could ask for a sales tax increase of between one-quarter of 1% and 1% to help make up a projected transportation funding shortage of $3.2 billion over the next 20 years.

The state's political watchdog agency Tuesday fined California Transportation Commissioner J. Thomas Hawthorne of Escondido $165,000 for voting on San Diego County freeway projects that translated into additional business for his exclusive Caterpillar heavy equipment dealership in Kearny Mesa. The fine is the second-largest ever assessed against a public official by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

California Transportation Commissioner J.T. (Tom) Hawthorne, warned against voting on San Diego highway and trolley projects because they involve customers of his Caterpillar equipment dealership, says he will not resign from his appointed state position.

San Diego officials plan to testify before a congressional subcommittee May 2 in Washington in hopes of persuading a reluctant Reagan Administration to help fund an $80-million extension of the San Diego Trolley to El Cajon. The White House opposes further federal funding of new mass transit projects.

The state's political watchdog agency Tuesday fined California Transportation Commissioner J. Thomas Hawthorne of Escondido $165,000 for voting on San Diego County freeway projects that translated into additional business for his exclusive Caterpillar heavy equipment dealership in Kearny Mesa. The fine is the second-largest ever assessed against a public official by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

A six-story building near Lindbergh Field is an "accident waiting to happen" because Boeing 747s and other jumbo jets have little or no room to clear the structure's top floor while descending into the San Diego airport, according to the national organization representing commercial airline pilots. A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said that the agency is preparing a response to charges by the Air Line Pilots Assn. that the Laurel Travel Center, 1025 W. Laurel St.

Most of the 108-mile San Diego & Imperial Valley Railroad has been closed since 1983, and neglect, violent rainstorms, fires and rockslides have rendered its tunnels and trestles inoperative. But now an effort is being mounted by San Diego officials--with the support of the Commerce Department--to reopen the line to give San Diego and Tijuana a direct link to the rail grids of the southwestern United States and the interior of Mexico. The reason is trade.

Workers have started a four-year project to replace an aging 107-mile stretch of train track from Fullerton to San Diego to smooth out and speed up the ride while lessening the likelihood of mishaps. The $44-million project is being financed primarily by Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, Caltrans and the two railroads that use the track--Amtrak and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Co.

The state's political watchdog agency fined California Transportation Commissioner J. Thomas Hawthorne of Escondido $165,000 on Tuesday for voting on San Diego County freeway projects that translated into additional business for his Caterpillar heavy equipment dealership. The fine is the second-largest ever assessed against a public official by the Fair Political Practices Commission, according to the commission.

The last time Simi Valley resident Amber Lievens rode on a train was in 1943, when she came to Los Angeles from Colorado. On Monday, the 69-year-old got a chance to relive that experience when she joined about 25 other Simi Valley residents, city and state officials on the inaugural ride of Amtrak's second daily San Diegan train serving Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

British Airways announced Wednesday the suspension of service between San Diego and London on Nov. 30. The move eliminates the only trans-Atlantic flights from San Diego International Airport. The San Diego to London daily service, by way of Los Angeles, was "no longer economically viable to operate and make a reasonable (profit) return," said Robert Falkner, British Airways' executive vice president in North America.

Caltrans announced Friday it is extending rail service to the San Fernando Valley, Ventura County and Santa Barbara Oct. 28, adding a second daily train that will carry passengers to and from San Diego and Los Angeles. Under an agreement signed with Amtrak, there will now be both morning and evening trains between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, in addition to the traditional Coast Starlight, the long-distance service that carries Los Angeles-Seattle passengers along the same route.

When Ibby Gaunt was hired three weeks ago by San Diego Trust & Savings, she was offered an incentive to use public transportation. If she took the trolley or bus to work, she would be reimbursed 125% of the cost for a monthly pass. Gaunt took the offer and now rides the trolley daily, commuting from her home in Rancho San Diego to the Gaslamp stop at 5th Avenue and C Street. Gaunt, 31, a payroll assistant at the Trust & Savings main office on Broadway, receives $56.

Top Amtrak officials said Wednesday that they cannot afford to add trains on the Los Angeles-San Diego rail corridor, the nation's second-busiest passenger route, or replace aging signal equipment. In a Washington meeting, Amtrak officials said they might not have enough money this year to cover existing service, much less the expense of adding trains or making system improvements.

San Diego residents seeking to change the name of Martin Luther King Way back to Market Street have obtained sufficient signatures to force the City Council to consider the matter. According to the San Diego city clerk's office, the council now must either change the street name or put the issue before voters in November.

Top Amtrak officials said Wednesday that they cannot afford to add trains on the Los Angeles-San Diego rail corridor, the nation's second-busiest passenger route, or replace aging signal equipment. In a Washington meeting, Amtrak officials said they might not have enough money this year to cover existing service, much less the expense of adding trains or making system improvements.

Workers have started a four-year project to replace an aging 107-mile stretch of train track from Fullerton to San Diego to smooth out and speed up the ride while lessening the likelihood of mishaps. The $44-million project is being financed primarily by Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, Caltrans and the two railroads that use the track--Amtrak and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Co.