Water Authority Approves 7 Percent Water Rate Increase

1. The total number of annual hours lost to traffic jams during commute hours has been reduced by well over half since 2006, according to a report to be released Friday by the San Diego Association of Governments. The organization attributes the rapid decline to the poor economy, improved freeway infrastructure and a greater use of public transit. Five years ago, more than 7 million hours of cars were stuck on jammed freeways in San Diego County, according to the report. In 2009, the last year for which figures are available, the total was down to 2.8 million hours. The greatest improvements were on southbound Interstate 15 in the North
County and northbound Interstate 5 from the Sorrento Valley to Cardiff by the Sea, according to SANDAG data. The report will be delivered to the SANDAG Board of Directors.

2. The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County fell 1.1 cents Friday to $3.854, the lowest since March 3. The average price is 4.6 cents less than one week ago and 22.5 cents lower than one month ago, but 73.2 cents higher than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The average price has fallen 47 times in the past 49 days, including 1 cent on Thursday.

3. The San Diego County Water Authority voted Thursday to increase water rates by more than 7 percent.  The CWA's rate increase was part of a $1.42 billion budget passed by the Board of Directors. That's a 16 percent decrease from what was previously planned in a two-year outlook, and includes a $235 million drop in capital spending. The CWA also will lower department operating costs by 7 percent and eliminate the equivalent of 31 full-time positions. The agency takes water from the main Southern California wholesaler, the Metropolitan Water District, and passes it down to 24 member districts, such as the city of San Diego and Padre Dam Water District.