Please Send Your Comments On The Highway 1 Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) To The SMCTA by 7/22/10

Dear Pacifica residents,

As you may or may not know, the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) concerning Highway 1 is currently in the process of being developed. The San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) is continuing to accept comments on the scope of this environmental document through July 22, 2010. It is very important that all comments, from Pacifica residents be submitted to the SMCTA no later than that date.

Please submit your comments to the specific email address (smcta_feedback@smcta.com) that has officially been set up by the SMCTA to receive comments from the general public on the scope of this report ...and, as recently announced at the general informational meeting held on June 22nd, the SMCTA wants to hear from the entire Pacifica community, as best as possible, on this very important subject. This has been a long process and there have been no final decisions made as yet.

What happens next appears to be as follows:

As soon as the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) is completed, it will be circulated to the public and at that time the Pacifica City Council will have the opportunity to review the draft and associated technical studies, provide comments and may even take a position on the proposed project, if they so desire. The Pacifica City Council will also have an opportunity to hold a hearing to take input from the public. After the completion of the EIR, the City will have to approve the necessary permits for this project prior to the start of construction.

As mentioned above, the SMCTA will continue to receive comments on the scope of the environmental document through July 22, 2010. A public hearing will also be scheduled during the public circulation period. Responses to comments received will be included as part of the final environmental document projected to be certified in late 2011 by CALTRANS, which is the environmental lead agency on this project.

Barbara Arietta
Vice Chair, San Mateo County Transportation Authority, CAC
415-246-0775
email: barietta@hotmail.coom