Friday Tips: Travel trips for Independence Day July 4th

It's time to celebrate our nation's Declaration of Independence! For those traveling out of Southern California or setting off fireworks, here are some basic tips to get the most out your holiday:

Flying? Buy your tickets and book your flight, airport shuttle and lodging reservations as early as possible. Arrive early at the airport and give yourself lots of extra time to clear security. Take advantage of online check-in options to avoid getting bumped off of an overbooked flight.

Taking the train or bus? Buy your tickets and book your trip early for the better fares. Take care of your lodging reservations early. Take advantage of online ticket options so that you can arrive at the station stress-free, check your baggage and board. Plan some stopovers along the way for long-haul ground trips.

Traveling by car? Plan your route and book your hotel/motel stops well in advance. Get your car properly tuned up. That means changing the oil if needed, inspecting the brakes, fluids and tire pressure. Remember that Inland Empire freeways, especially SR-91 will get very congested this Friday afternoon! The highways are also busy during commute hours and during the day and evening on weekends. The highways are generally wide open during the late night on weekdays and early morning hours on weekends. Make sure your designated driver gets proper rest breaks. If you have a smartphone, take advantage of numerous free travel apps to get live traffic reports and the best prices on gas, food and lodging.

For those who plan to shoot off fireworks at home, please follow these tips published by the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection and our friends working for Riverside and San Bernardino County:

• Obey all local laws and ordinances before buying or setting off home fireworks. Don't be the one responsible for fire damage due to unsafe or illegal use of fireworks.
• All fireworks are illegal in Riverside County. The only cities in the county that allow State Fire Marshal Safe and Sane Fireworks are Cathedral City, Indio, Blythe and Coachella. However, these fireworks must not be transported or possessed outside of the cities where they were purchased according to law enforcement. 
• Fireworks are not permitted in unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. Safe and Sane fireworks are only allowed in Adelanto, Chino, Colton, and Rialto, as well as designated locations in Fontana, Grand Terrace, and San Bernardino. Please call the fire department in these cities for more information. 
• Use only State Fire Marshal approved fireworks. All fireworks that explode, shoot into the air or move along the ground are termed dangerous and are illegal anywhere in California.
• Never allow children or teenagers to light fireworks on their own without adult supervision. They are not toys. Parents will be liable for any damage or injuries caused by their children using fireworks.
• Read the instructions on the package before lighting the fuse.
• Enjoy the fireworks outside only.
• Keep your fireworks show away from dry grass or other flammables.
• Enjoy one firework at a time.
• Keep a safe distance. Do not wear loose fitting clothing.
• Sparklers can reach 1800° F. Hot enough to melt gold.
• Never point or throw active fireworks at another person.
• Do not experiment with fireworks.
• Never carry fireworks in your pockets.
• Have a bucket of water to dose the used fireworks in & a hose in case of flying embers.
• Discard defective fireworks. Do not attempt to re-light or repair.

The Ontario International Airport and the federal budget

(2/27/13) – IE Transit Talking Points Short

Automatic federal spending cuts may occur within a few days, an event known as the sequester. According to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, the cuts would cost Ontario International Airport and 60 other smaller airports its overnight Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers. That would mean no overnight flights despite the fact that the FAA allows airlines to land at airports that don’t have active control towers. Even though few passenger flights use ONT overnight, cargo carrier UPS relies on overnight flights for its Next Day Air service. The Ontario Airport and several logistic employers would be severely affected if UPS diverted its cargo planes to LAX; therefore, the situation is serious.

The Obama administration has no plans to cut federal spending without increasing taxes, a notion objected by several members of Congress. This has led to the impasse which may cause the automatic cuts to take place March 1st. Despite what many federal officials claim, Washington spending needs to be controlled better. The federal debt is nearing $17 trillion and spending increased 75% over the last decade, yet the economy remains lackluster.

The FAA is the backbone of regulating the aviation market and maintaining safety standards in the air. Its cornerstone is the Air Commerce Act of 1926, passed through the urging of the aviation industry. Certainly, any public entity like the FAA can streamline operations to eliminate waste, but maintaining staffed control towers 24-7 at ONT is productive for the logistics and airline sectors and should be maintained, even if the controllers are contracted. At the same time, government agencies need to police their budgets better so that taxpayers are not funding wasteful spending. Remember when former Metrolink CEO John Fenton was able to slash $3-4 million off the railroad’s budget simply by forbidding trains to sit idle between routes? The feds too need to get serious about government spending.