SAN LEANDRO -- A burning car that was abandoned by its owner on a freeway median forced the closure of two northbound lanes of Interstate 880 Thursday, the California Highway Patrol said.  

From BART to Caltrain to the Valley Transportation Authority, every Bay Area transit agency has hiked fares and reduced train and bus service to plug deep budget holes. But the changes have produced fewer riders and even less revenue '” leading some to worry that the transit system has entered a death spiral.