Mountain Travel Tips For Driving In Winter Weather

Big Bear Lake, CA, March 16, 2012, noon - Winter storms have been sporadic this year, but K-BEAR Meteorologist Ben Brissey says there’s a big one projected for this weekend that could bring several inches of snow. So if you must get in your car and travel anywhere in the mountains this weekend, Caltrans has a few helpful tips to make your drive a safe and enjoyable one. Fill up your gas tank and always have tire chains with you. Mountain weather is unpredictable and changes without warning. Bring water, food, warm clothing, sturdy shoes or boots, and necessary medications. Bring a charged cell phone and your cell phone charger for your vehicle. Bring a flashlight or battery operated radio just in case.  Make sure your tires are in good condition and your vehicle is running well. If you need to install tire chains, use the chain control areas or turnouts near chain control locations – never block the roadway or put chains on next to the road. Never play in the snow next to the roadway – it is dangerous for you, your kids, and other motorists. And remember, always make room and slow down for Caltrans equipment, CHP vehicles, and emergency responders. For the latest weather and road information listen to 93.3FM or visit www.bigbearnews.com.

California Motorists Urged To Share The Road

Sacramento, CA, March 13, 2012, noon - During the next several months, the CHP will use a federal grant to assist in reducing the number of people killed and injured in motorcycle-involved collisions. The Department continues to improve safety for everyone by placing an emphasis on the concept of sharing the road.  Enforcement and education efforts through the California Motorcycle Safety Enforcement and Education grant will continue through September 30, 2012. To help get the word out and continue to reduce the number of people killed and injured annually in motorcycle-involved collisions, CHP personnel are appearing at public outreach events throughout the state, distributing informational brochures, and providing traffic safety tips. In addition, motorcycle safety and road-sharing presentations are being conducted statewide. The CHP will also launch a media campaign to highlight the motorcycle safety message. Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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San Bernardino DMV Office To Close For Renovations

Sacramento, CA, February 27, 2012, 4:00pm - The California Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that the San Bernardino office located on North Waterman Avenue will be closing at noon on Friday, March 30 for renovations. As a result of the closure, six nearby offices will open an hour earlier each day beginning Monday, April 2 to accommodate local customers. The $2.6 million renovation, which will take 18 months to complete, includes structural reinforcements, larger lobby space for customers, and improved energy efficiencies. Beginning April 2, nearby field offices in East Riverside, Riverside, Norco, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, and Redlands will open at 7:00 am.

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CHP Teaches Mobility Independence

Sacramento, CA, February 20, 2012, 8:00am – Driving a car is part of maintaining an active, rewarding lifestyle. It means independence and freedom at any age. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) understands how much seniors enjoy driving, and offers a program to help seniors continue driving as long as possible and save lives. CHP personnel are taking the ‘Age Well, Drive Smart’ program to senior communities in California. The recent receipt of a federal grant will enable the CHP to continue this valuable traffic safety program for California’s growing senior population through September 30, 2012.  “Age Well, Drive Smart” is a free, two-hour senior driver safety/mobility class offered by the CHP and focuses on educating drivers over 65. Individuals can register for the course by contacting their local CHP office. The Keeping Everyone Safe (KEYS) grant will also help fund a public awareness campaign using a variety of tools to address older adult driving issues. In addition, educational materials will be produced and distributed statewide. CHP personnel will also conduct educational presentations at various venues and will staff traffic safety booths at community events. Funding for the KEYS grant is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Enjoy the Fresh Snow This Holiday Weekend!

Big Bear, Ca, February 17, 2012, 4:00pm – The recent snowfall the Big Bear Valley received has created great conditions for this holiday weekend.  With 14-16 inches of fresh snow on the slopes and surrounding mountainside, skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers are in for a great weekend.  Nearly all the runs are open at both Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, and Big Bear Mountain Resorts is Southern California’s “Learn to Ski & Ride Headquarters,” so those needing lessons or a refresher will find excellent classes and instructors.  Outdoor enthusiasts who are interested in going snowshoeing, can stop by the Discovery Center for guided tours, or they can go to Goldsmith’s Boardhouse, North Shore Trading Company or Bear Valley Bikes to rent snowshoes.  Motorists are advised to drive with care as roads may be icy or slippery, and are reminded that there are three routes in and out of the valley for your driving needs.  Highway 38 is on the east side of the valley and often is an easier route to take when departing on holiday weekends, as there is less traffic.  Highway 18 down through Lucerne Valley is also another way down the mountain, and is ideal for those traveling back to the desert communities, Arizona, or Nevada.  And as always carry chains in your vehicle as it is the law that you have them in your car when driving in the mountains in the winter months.

MARTA Seeks Public Opinion

Big Bear, Ca, February 16, 2012, 4:00pm – The Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority (MARTA) is currently updating its Short Range Transit Plan.  According to MARTA, the plan will guide fixed route and Dial-a-Ride transit services in the Rim area and Big Bear Valley over the next five years. Last summer, extensive market research and outreach was conducted and identified a variety of service alternatives for changes and improvements to transit services over the next five years.  MARTA is seeking community feedback on the proposed alternatives, and will be sponsoring a series of public workshops, which will be held on February 29^th, and March 1^st. The workshops will address: proposed bus route and schedule changes, potential changes to dial-a-ride service, and a revised fare structure. Workshops will be held at the following times and locations.  There will be a brief presentation of the service alternatives and then opportunity for questions and discussion.

February 29th

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

City of Big Bear Lake City Hall

Training Room

39707 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake

March 1st

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Crestline Library

24105 Lake Gregory Dr, Crestline

For more information or transportation assistance, call MARTA at 1-909-875-5200 or visit www.marta.cc.

City Received Over $5 Million In Grants In Last Two Years

Big Bear, Ca, February 16, 2012, 2:00pm – At the City Council meeting earlier this week, city staff members gave a presentation on the status of the City’s Quality of Life Initiatives.  According to the City, the initiatives include projects that enhance and preserve our mountain community, economic development, revitalization and communications outreach.  One of the initiatives is an aggressive grant program that is conducted in house, and has resulted in over $5 million dollars in grants in the last two years.  City staff has been researching and applying for grant funds available through Federal and State governments as well as other non-profit agencies to complete infrastructure improvements throughout the City. The following projects have been funded, or partially funded through grants: Kickerbocker Road sidewalk, Boulder Bay Park, Fishing Dock at Boulder Bay Park, pump station upgrade, Tahoe Sewer Line replacement, overlay projects, lighting upgrade at the Civic Center, Lakeview Drive declaration lane, solar parking canopys at the Public Works yard, visitors center, and recycling facility, sidewalk from Millcreek to Edgemoor, and from Paine to Barlett road in the village.

Deputies Seeking Assistance In Search For Christina Johnson

Big Bear, Ca, February 13, 2012, 12:00pm – On Friday, February 10 at about 12:00 noon, deputies from the Twin Peaks Station responded to the area of Hook Creek  Road and Hwy 173, in the Cedar Glen area near Lake Arrowhead,  following the report of a stabbing.  Upon arriving on scene, deputies were told that the victim was attempting to repossess the suspect’s vehicle that had been reported stolen.   The suspect had bought the vehicle using fraudulent information and the victim was working as a repossession agent for the dealer.  The suspect refused to let the victim take the vehicle and, in the midst of the confrontation, the suspect retrieved a knife from the vehicle and stabbed the victim a total of five times in the back, wrist and arm.  While attempting to flee, the suspect rammed her vehicle into the victim’s vehicle several times and attempted to hit the victim as she fled.  The victim was flown by helicopter to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries.  Deputies are still searching for the suspect: Christina Johnson, a 47 year old African American female, described as 5’3 and 190 lbs, with shoulder length black hair with blonde highlights.  Johnson is expected to be driving a 2008 Subaru Impreza Black 4 door with rear end damage, with a California license plate of 6JTR982.  If anyone has information on the suspect’s whereabouts or the suspect’s vehicle location please contact the Twin Peaks Sheriff Station at (909) 336-0600.   Callers wishing to remain anonymous may leave information on the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.

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Caltrans Awards $203 Million In Grants To Improve Public Transit And Air Quality

San Bernardino, CA, February 13, 2012, 8:00am – Caltrans has awarded nearly $203 million in grants to improve public transit across California.  More than 80 projects will upgrade transit service, purchase eco-friendly buses, modernize transit stations and create jobs throughout the state. The grants are funded through Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, which is providing $3.6 billion over a ten-year period to improve public transit in California. Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty says the projects are a direct investment in the state’s public transit system and will help energize California’s economy. He also believes the projects will help create jobs, reduce traffic congestion, clean the air, and provide an alternative to rising gas prices. To date, Proposition 1B has funded more than a billion dollars in transit projects. For a comprehensive list of all projects that received transit grants in this funding cycle, please visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/docs/Prop1BTransitProjectsFebruary2012.pdf .

Tour of California Stage 6 Route Announced: Palmdale to Big Bear

Big Bear, Ca, February 8, 2012, 11:00am – This week the stage routes for the Amgen Tour of California are being announce and Big Bear will once again be a mountain top finish for the Tour as this year’s finish for Stage 6.  The route will take professional cyclists from Palmdale to Big Bear Lake with over 12,000 feet of climbing over 115 miles and two mountain ranges.   Stage 6 will begin at the Marie Kerr Park in the City of Palmdale at 10:00am on May 18^th, taking cyclists through the San Gabriel Mountain Range, up through Silverwood Lake, to Crestline, and over to Big Bear Lake.  Once cyclists enter the Big Bear Valley they will race along North Shore through Fawnskin, and will cross the lake at Stanfield Cutoff, where they will all make a dash to the finish line at Snow Summit.  The race is expected to end in Big Bear sometime between 2:35pm and 3:25pm. Race promoters at AEG stated that the Big Bear Climb should be a determining factor in the outcome of the final standings for the Tour, which consists of eight stages that will take place from May 13^th to May 20^th.

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