RSI’s Transportation Insights

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RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:   Sometimes it’s not about saving, but what you get back.  For example - several gas cards offer 5% cash back, point programs, and balance tranfsers.  Research card review sites for the offers that best suit your company’s needs.
County:  San Bernardino
Date: September 6, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.95

Date: September 6, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1945 South Tippecanoe Ave. and East Rosewood Drive, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.95

Date: September 6, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.97

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: September 6, 2008
Station: Thrify
Address: 11454 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills   
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.95
 

Date: September 6, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: 5158 Laurel Canyon Blvd. and Magnolia Blvd., Valley Village
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: September 6, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: Nordhoff and Wilbur, Northridge
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.00
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: September 6, 2008

Station: Fastrip
Address: 23991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Heacock Street, Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: September 6, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 24991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Perris Blvd., Moreno Valley 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: September 6, 2008

Station: Spirit
Address: 25760 New Chicago Ave. and Florida Ave., Hemet
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

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RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:   This time we’ll pose a question: How do you feel about the federal government’s offer of $213 million to  has offered Los Angeles County to convert carpool lanes to special, congestion-pricing toll lanes on three major freeways?  Feel free to comment in the “Comments” section at the end of this blog.

County:  San Bernardino

Date: September 5, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1945 South Tippecanoe Ave. and East Rosewood Drive, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.95
Date: September 5, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.95
 
Date: September 5, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.97

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: September 5, 2008
Station: Thrify
Address: 11454 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.95
 

Date: September 5, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 5158 Laurel Canyon Blvd. and Magnolia Blvd., Valley Village
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: September 5, 2008
Station: 76
Address: Toganga Canyon Blvd. and Burbank, Woodland Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.01
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: September 5, 2008
Station: Valero 
Address: 395 West Stetson and Sapphire, Hemet
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.05

Date: September 5, 2008
Station: Spirit
Address: 25760 New Chicago Ave. and Florida Ave., Hemet
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.06

Date: September 5, 2008
Station: Gas Mart
Address: 1005 West Florida Ave. and South Western Ave., Hemet 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 

 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

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Nobody likes traffic.  Except for maybe a motorcyclist or two who like the thrill of cutting in and out of lanes while passenger cars sit, idling away gas and patience.  Similar to cities such as New York (as the most visible – and costly)  where regular toll fares increase as congestion mushrooms, Los Angeles is considering the addition of a toll lane on three major freeways that would charge drivers based on the amount of congestion on the road. 
Steve Hymon of the Los Angeles Times reported, “Officials here are seeking federal money to put toll lanes initially on three freeways, including the 210 and 10 in the San Gabriel Valley and the 110 south of downtown. The 60 Freeway is next on the list.
The tolls would vary by time of day and be highest during rush hour. Single-occupant cars would probably pay the most to use the lanes,”  (http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/14/local/me-roadsage14). 
Economic and environmental concerns top the list of reasons to convert the lanes with advocates arguing that the measure would improve current conditions.  The amount of traffic on the road would inevitably lessen (just like it did when gas prices went up – suggesting that people really don’t want to – or can’t – pay even more to drive.)  Meanwhile, opponents of the measure believe such a toll would tax an already financially burdened lower and middle class.  (More on that topic in a yet-to-be published blog.) 
Similar plans were proposed in San Francisco as well, but were quickly vetoed on August 8th by the San Francisco Transportation.  According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Authority voted down the plan and will instead  As an alternative, the Authority agreed to take money from the federal gas tax to buy new parking meters that will be used to charge significantly higher rates for parking based on the time of day.

Currently - $213 million dollars from the Federal Government sits on the laps of local and state lofficials. 

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RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:  Time management.  Letting an engine “warm-up” is helpful, but letting the engine run too long is wasteful and results in less gas and money.  Determine exactly how much time your rig’s engine needs to warm-up (taking temperatures into account) and do not exceed. 
County:  San Bernardino
Date: September 4, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.99
 

Date: September 4, 2008

Station: Thrifty
Address: 1945 South Tippecanoe Ave. and East Rosewood Drive, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel $4.03

Date: September 4, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $4.03

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: September 4, 2008
Station: Thrify
Address: 5601 Toganga Canyon Blvd. and Burbank Blvd., Woodland Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.07
 

Date: September 4, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 5038 El Segundo and Ocean Gate Ave., Hawthorne
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: September 4, 2008
Station: Valero
Address: 1234 West Cowles Street and Fashion Ave., Long Beach
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: September 4, 2008
Station: Spirit
Address: 25760 New Chicago Ave. and Florida Ave., Hemet
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.06

Date: September 4, 2008
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: September 4, 2008
Station: Shell
Address: 1213 Calimesa Blvd. and Sandalwood Dr., Calimesa  
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

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A seaport the size of Long Beach and Los Angeles on the West Coast?  Our Southern California ports have become increasingly exposed and strained due to environmental initiatives and urban development,  which Mexico is aiming to both relieve and rival as it plans the construction of its new port.  

Considered to be the country’s largest infrastructure project in history, Mexican government officials including President Felipe Calderon intend to snare Asian cargo traffic and freight it off to the U.S.  The new port would be located in Punto Colonet, which is located roughly 150 miles south Tijuana. 
The Los Angeles Times reported that, “Punta Colonet is expected to have a capacity of 2 million shipping containers annually when it opens in 2014, Mexico’s transportation secretariat told The Times But officials envision it ultimately handling five times that amount. Last year, the ports of L.A. and Long Beach handled 15.7 million containers combined.” (www.latimes.com)
A tiny village, Punto Colonet is currently home to about 2,500 residents who will be visited by President Calderon in coming days.  Calderon, other government officials, and businessmen and women see potential in the location which is not a high traffic area and relatively close to Southern California. While 30 million shipping containers traversed the Pacific ocean last year to West Coast ports (15.7 million to Long Beach and Los Angeles ports combined), Calderon expects Punto Colonet to handle about 2 million containers its first year in action. 
Money to fund the colossal project will be privately funded.  And while overall economic tribulations have hit the logistics industry, it is expected to rebound in the next year or two. Should Calderon’s vision go as planned the port would be open for business in 2014. 

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RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:  Tax breaks for blenders.  The Alternative Fuel Excise Tax Credit is available for alternative fuel that is sold for use or used as a fuel to operate a motor vehicle.  The details of the credit are as follows: The credit is $0.50 per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) of compressed natural gas and $0.50 per liquid gallon of liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas, and liquefied hydrogen.   Who’s  eligible for the eco-friendly and economically friendly measure?  For one, eligible parites are required to be registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Also, parties must register with the IRS and be classified as an “Alternative Fueler.”   In order to be classified it’s essential to to complete the IRS Form 637 titled “Application for Registration for Certain Excise Tax Activities.”
County:  San Bernardino
Date: August 31, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.99

Date: August 31, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $4.03

Date: August 31, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address:  1945 South Tippecanoe Ave. and East Rosewood Drive, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.03

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 31, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 8050 Van Nuys Blvd. and Lanark Street, Panorama City
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 

Date: August 31, 2008
Station: Valdero
Address: 1234 West Cowles Street and Fashion Ave., Long Beach
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 31, 2008
Station: Speedy Fuel
Address:  Alameda Street and Eubank Ave., Wilmington
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: August 31, 2008
Station: 5 Star
Address: Barton Road and Vivienda, Colton
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.97

Date: August 31, 2008
Station: Gas and Go
Address: 8790 Mission Blvd. and Pedley Road, Mira Loma
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 31, 2008
Station: Shell
Address: 1213 Calimesa Blvd. and Sandalwood Dr., Calimesa 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

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RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:  From the Federal Government’s Environmental Information Administration (EIA): Diesel fuel fell from $4.76 per gallon on July 14 to $4.35 on August 11, a drop of 41 cents.  Annual average gasoline prices are projected to be $3.65 and $3.82 per gallon, respectively, for 2008 and 2009, compared with $2.81 in 2007.  Diesel prices are projected to average $4.18 and $4.27 per gallon, respectively, in 2008 and 2009, compared with $2.88 in 2007.

County:  San Bernardino
Date: August 28, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $4.03

Date: August 28, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $4.03

Date: August 28, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address:  1945 South Tippecanoe Ave. and East Rosewood Drive, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.03

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 28, 2008
Station: Thrify
Address: 11454 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 

Date: August 28, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: El Segundo and Ocean Gate Ave., Hawthorne
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 28, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 8050 Van Nuys Blvd.
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: August 28, 2008
Station: Chevron
Address: 290 Highland Springs and I-10, Banning
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.73

Date: August 28, 2008
Station: Gas and Go
Address: 8790 Mission Blvd. and Pedley Road, Mira Loma
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 28, 2008
Station: Shell
Address: 1213 Calimesa Blvd. and Sandalwood Dr., Calimesa  
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

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For a long time, putting a dollar value on the cost of car insurance in California has been dependent on zip code, prior claims, and a few qualitative characteristics including gender and age.    Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner may change these pricing tenets and base premiums primarily on the distance we drive. 
From a risk perspective, it’s statistically proven and logically true that the more one drives, the higher the chances he or she will be involved in an accident.  Aside from the safety benefits though, this provision would have positive economic and environmental impacts as well. 

In a Business Week article, the Associated Press reported, “Two out of three households in the state could save an average of $276 per vehicle, and lower-income people, who generally use their cars less than the middle class or the wealthy, might save even more, said a July study by the Brookings Institution in Washington. However, some high-mileage drivers might see their rates increase by opting for pay as you drive, the Brookings report said.”  (www.businessweek.com)
And the savings continues.  According to the same article, the Environmental Defense Fund estimates that California drivers would save $40 billion in car-related expenses from 2009 to 2020 if only about 8.5 million drivers sign up for pay-as-you-drive policies.  Where’s the pen?   
 
Less cars on the road also means less greenhouse gas emissions – music to environmentalists ears.  It was reported such a move would be equivalent to taking 10 million cars off the road.  Considering there are nearly 5 million cars that travel through Los Angeles a day alone, the improvements in air quality would be significant. 
This means less fuel, smog and ultimately more motivation to really look at alternative modes of transportation.  For the transportation industry – this move would mean less congestion, ultimately leading to greater fuel efficiency (if there’s a reduction in stop and go traffic) and quicker transporting of goods and services.  
A public hearing is set for October 20th – enough time to start reconsidering our driving habits and re-navigating our routes. 

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RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:      Traffic’s a killer - both to our patience levels and the fuel tank. Preplanning trips to account for high traffic areas will help fuel efficiency - that is if planned correctly.  GPS, online maps, traffic alerts, and proper communication from homebase can all help.  So does an experienced driver who knows the routes backwards an forwards.  Traffic patterns are predictable and fortunately, a driver’s ability to time and navigate through congenstion can save substantially. 
County:  San Bernardino

Date: August 27, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.95

Date: August 27, 2008

Station: 76

Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $4.03

Date: August 27, 2008
Station: Valero
Address:  2649 South Waterman Ave. near Barton Road, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 27, 2008
Station: Thrify
Address: 8050 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 

Date: August 27, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 11454 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 27, 2008
Station: Chevron
Address: 5703 Gage Ave. and Eastern Ave., Bell Gardens
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: August 27, 2008
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside-West
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 27, 2008
Station: Gas and Go
Address: 8790 Mission Blvd. and Pedley Road, Mira Loma
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 27, 2008
Station: Shell
Address: 1213 Calimesa Blvd. and Sandalwood Dr., Calimesa  
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

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RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:     Service!  This is not a tennis reference nor waiter/waitress order.  It’s something extremely important to your wallet.  Regular semi servicings are critical to fuel efficiency and overall cost savings.  Ensuring your rig’ is properly maintained whether it’s cleaning dirty air filters or replacing old spark plugs will save substantially at the end of the day.  

County:  San Bernardino

Date: August 25, 2008

Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.95

Date: August 25, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.97

Date: August 25, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address:  3368 South Riverside Ave. and Agua Mansa Road, Bloomington
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 25, 2008
Station: Chevron
Address: 1700 West Wardlow and Santa Fe Ave., Long Beach
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.05
 

Date: August 25, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 5601 Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Burbank Blvd., Woodland Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.07

Date: August 25, 2008
Station: Blue
Address: 1430 East Pacific Coast Highway and Blinn Ave., Wilmington
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: August 25, 2008
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler Ave., Riverside-West
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 25, 2008
Station: Shell
Address: 1213 Calimesa Blvd. and Sandalwood Drive, Calimesa
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 25, 2008
Station: Gas Mart
Address: 1005 West Florida Ave. and South Western Ave., Hemet  
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

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