North Bay Business Journal

Carpool lanes opened in Cotati

The new seven-mile stretch spans north and southbound on U.S. Route 101, between Rohnert Park Expressway and Old Redwood Highway Bridge.

Diesel emissions found to be a fraction of rules target

A number of local contractors using backhoes or other large off-road equipment are hoping state air-quality regulators late this year push back the cleaner-burning diesel deadline by several years, based on new figures for soot and ozone-forming emissions that are roughly 20 percent of those used in adoption of the rule three years ago.

Sonoma Co. Airport new terminal opens

SANTA ROSA — An expanded commercial airline passenger terminal for Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport partly reopened to the public today with key upgrades such as indoor baggage pickup and an integrated security checkpoint.

Bridge tolls increased

BAY AREA – Tolls at seven state-owned toll bridges in the Bay Area, including the Richmond-San Rafael bridge, are set to increase on July 1, most of them up to $5 per car.

SMART opens Santa Rosa office as it looks to 2014

SANTA ROSA – The Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit has opened the doors to its SMART Santa Rosa project office.

SMART to open project office in Santa Rosa

SANTA ROSA — Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District plans to open a project office, located in downtown Santa Rosa, as initial work on the $590 million project progresses toward targets for construction in 2011 and the start of commuter rail service in 2014.

SMART signs contracts; local firms included

NORTH BAY — Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit has signed off on two of the requests for qualification at its board of directors meeting Oct. 21.

Understanding truck emissions mandates

SANTA ROSA — As emissions rules that require the gradual retirement of diesel-powered over-the-road vehicles are set to take effect in the next two years, a state air-quality regulator visited the North Bay recently to offer solutions for compliance.

Reducing dependence on cars key to climate initiative targets

NORTH BAY – Napa County is searching for ways to become less dependent on cars in order to comply with state climate change protection targets.

Sunset Aviation renamed Solairus

PETALUMA – Sunset Aviation, a leader in charter aircraft, has restructured and rebranded itself as Solairus Aviation.

Impact Napa registration now open

SANTA ROSA – After a successful inaugural event with more than 300 attendees, the Business Journal is holding its second Impact Napa Conference exploring top issues shaping the future of business in Napa County.

Napa startup targets private car sales warranties

NAPA – A team of automotive aftermarket and insurance industry veterans has come up with a fresh idea to serve individuals with cars for sale.

Backers of $200 million development on Railroad Square ‘just ecstatic’

NORTH BAY – Funding, the primary obstacle of the mixed-use Railroad Square project in Santa Rosa, no longer stands in the way.

The project was approved to receive $15 million in state bond and federal stimulus funds.

Airport readies for terminal improvements

SANTA ROSA – The Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport is getting ready for a major facelift, thanks to funds coming from two different sources totaling more than $3.3 million.

Non-transportation projects around the North Bay

NORTH BAY – Here’s an update on major construction projects around the North Bay:

Builders, communities get some early guidance on emissions

NORTH BAY – As government policy evolves on all levels to cut human-caused emissions of what are considered climate-changing gases, state and Bay Area air-quality regulators recently released draft guidelines aimed at helping planning officials and the building industry gauge how much would be considered too much from a given project per environmental-protection laws.

Stimulus, other funding set for North Bay transit projects

NORTH BAY – Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties plan to repair and repave roads and streets with funds allocated from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but several larger projects are funded and proceeding on schedule.

Marin and Sonoma counties plan electric-car fueling network

NORTH BAY – U.S. automakers are diving belatedly into the hybrid and electric-car market, but what’s the good of an electric car that runs out of juice between San Francisco and the town of Mendocino?

County governments coordinate climate-change solutions

SANTA ROSA – Former Sebastopol City Manager Dave Brennan has come out of retirement to help coordinate efforts by Sonoma County governments to meet looming deadlines for reducing greenhouse gases.

County hopes for 1,000 electric cars

SONOMA COUNTY – An ambitious plan to bring 1,000 electric-powered vehicles to the county starting next year could get rolling as early as this summer if the many moving components mesh.