Business supports highway improvement for this City, for our economy and for you traveling.
Pacifica Tribune 8/24/11."The Pacifica
Chamber of Commerce voted to endorse Highway 1 widening in a
unanimous vote Friday, Aug.19. "The Chamber recognizes the
economic and safety issues inherent in this unacceptable
bottleneck," said Courtney Conlon, Chamber CEO. 'It's a regional
issue that affects residential commute, tourism, and Coastside
business. Highway 1 is our only north/south transit corridor and is currently unable to handle everyday traffic. In addition, emergency vehicles are unable to get through during commute times.'"
Don't forget to write your letter for the needed the highway fix, and include your name, address and phone number. Easiest way, email to: Yolanda
Rivas, Branch Chief, Division of Environmental
Planning & Engineering, California Department of
Transportation, District 4, Attn: Thomas Rosevear, 111 Grand
Ave., Oakland, CA 94623, fax 510-286-5600, email thomas_rosevear@dot.ca.gov." These comments must be received by 5pm, October 7, 2011.
Reference - Pacifica
Chamber of Commerce.
Note: Example letter from Jim Wagner posted in comments 8/24/11.
Note: Example letter from Jim Wagner posted in comments 8/24/11.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
150 comments:
Pacifica has been talking about fixing this bottleneck for as long as I can remember. It's time! The EIR addresses and mitigates the concerns that have surfaced over the years. Please take a couple of minutes and copy the letter below, personalize it and re-format it to letter size, and FAX it to 510-286-5600. That will get it to the address and people above.
Your address
Pacifica, CA 94044
Yolanda Rivas, Branch Chief
Division of Environmental Planning and Engineering
California Department of Transportation District 4, Attn:Thomas Rosevear
111 Grand Avenue,
Oakland, CA 94623
Dear Ms. Rivas;
I am writing to strongly encourage you to complete the Calera Parkway Widening Project.
This project has been needed for years. The people of Pacifica are at risk with multiple safety issues while this highway remains in its current state. Police, Fire and Ambulance professionals are held up frequently because they simply cannot get around the traffic on both sides of this road. Ambulances try to inch around cars in this dangerous bottleneck. The cars simply have nowhere to go. I am certain this creates extra risk for the patients inside of the ambulances because it slows response time in both directions.
We also know businesses have been impacted by the traffic bottleneck. When traffic slows that much, no one wants to stay and shop. They just want to keep moving until they are in a place where they will not risk getting stuck in more traffic. There have been many businesses that have suffered and in some cases closed because it was too challenging for customers to stop and shop there.
Pacifica deserves better. If we can widen that road, it will help Pacifica and contribute to our quality of life here.
I strongly urge you to proceed with this project.
Sincerely,
Cute Jimmy, but the widening will create a bottleneck of three lanes to two. Nice try though.
So the Chamber of Commerce saw fit to endorse the piecemeal progression of Hwy 1 into a freeway in order to eventually allow traffic to bypass Pacifica, way to go C of C! One day Pacifica merchants will be content waving at traffic whizzing by and be content capturing all those Segway riders. Or maybe we can base our economy on selling dog collars?
fax is busy most times
email
thomas_rosevear@dot.ca.gov
Hey brainiacs, how do you know this whole strategy isn't devised by crazed no growthers to create a freeway, thereby enabling all these "people" to whizz by and not even see Pacifica, thereby accomplishing the very goal of the no growthers! No people stopping, building, spending, procreating, (grooossss)or bothering them? Brilliant! We can become the Hobbitt-ville we so desire.
Hey Bray, how many times have you taken the bus anywhere? You're the problem. One occupant car. You drive a moped? Ride a bike? Walk? Obviously you don't need to be on that road during commute times. Can you explain to your audience how you would feel if one of your family members, or yourself, needed an ambulance urgently and they were in the north end of town at rush hour? Hang on to your rosary because you'll need divine intervention to get help.
4 Jim:
Dear Tom,
Please pay no mind to folks who support this segment of highway titled CALERA CREEK PARKWAY PROJECT that will create AM/PM peak hour bottlenecks from 3 lanes to 2 potentially increasing commuter collisions. It is a 30+ years old concept that as you know will not provide much if any relief as the intersections are to remain signaled. Sorry so much tax payer money is being spent on this but I guess it provides some folks within the SMCTA with a feeling of job security.
"...that will create AM/PM peak hour bottlenecks from 3 lanes to 2 potentially increasing commuter collisions."
Oh brother, Todd (625), now you're advocating against proven engineering science. What's being added are axillary lanes that allow better traffic flow on highway 1 in the Calera Creek 1.3 mile bottleneck.
For the safety of our citizens and traffic coming through our city, I agree with Jim (140), its beyond time for this highway improvement to be built.
For those with vision and/or sick of being stuck in traffic, write the letters, and please ask your e-list friends to do the same.
Screw Pacifica. It's our regional responsibility to move folks through town as quick as possible. Caltrans says so.
WE DON'T NEED THIS ! IT IS RIDICULOUS TO SPEND MONEY TO WIDEN A 1.3 STRETCH OF HIGHWAY - I SAY HOGWASH!
It's ridiculous to spend 1.6 billion dollars to build a train 1.7 miles under China Town that is slower than the bus system 7 stories above the tunnel they're slogging through. San Francisco and the feds think this is a brilliant idea. Who gets to pay for it? Yep, you and I and the rest of the tax payers. You want to save some real money, go make this argument in SF. 35 million, hell, if this town had any leadership this would have been done years ago at a fraction of the cost.
"We don't need this."
You mean you don't need it. you don't commute in peak hours. the rest of us do need this. I wrote my letter. everyone else do the same. this is our opportunity now.
I agree. I can't believe the Chamber would support this. Not good.
If they fix the highway
sea level will rise 10 feet!
I agree. NINBY failure to understand balanced issues of this city, NOT GOOD.
#1 reason to fix the traffic bottleneck. "The life you save may be your own."
I've sent my letter. YES!!!! Let's widen it as wide as it will go!!! People will choose whether to drive through or stop and check things out. The end of our traffic woes!!! IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!!!
All you Anonymous posters, if you are so strong in your convictions, please have the guts to print your name. As far as I know, you are all the same person or multiple personalities. Why would the Chamber sponsor this? So maybe the drivers can move in the morning from Linda Mar, Park Pacifica and Rockaway Beach at a semi normal speed during commute hours. The Tunnel will only fuel the congestion. Todd, my friend, you do not commute in the mornings and the cost of the garbage trucks idling in the traffic just adds to the bottom line. Diesel is currently $4.25 a gallon. And I say again, why are the same people who were against the Peebles project because of too much traffic congestion against the Highway widening?
Chris,
Don't assume you know my life.I'm on the road plenty during peak hours and can't remember seeing any trucks of yours idling away their diesel fuel. Usually I see them working the neighborhoods.
The widening represents a great deal of BS to a lot of folks. The ridiculous cost, the encroachment, the growth inducing impact, all of this and so much more without a real benefit as the intersections will remain signalized.
My biggest objection has been and remains the cost to benefit ratio. Local staff has informed me the price tag is really north of forty five million and climbing due in large part to purchasing land slivers from Gil, Rick and the east coast equity firm that owns the quarry. Apparently they wont sell a slice of the quarry and are demanding the whole property be purchased.
Chris, pro or con or indifferent everybody got their something.
I left my house at 7:45 this morning and drove north along Highway 1 from Linda Mar to Sharp Park and didn't even need to stop once. This is a common occurance, though admittedly there are times I hit a red light and have to wait for it to cycle.
I'm not sure about how someone voting against a ballot measure five years ago or how someone posting a lot about trash rates affects this day-to-day reality.
Chris, Lionel mentioned he is still upset about the highway improvements 45 years ago.
I avoided being in commuter traffic during peak years 2005-07/08, but from Linda Mar valley the time to reach the highway was 10 minutes, from there through Vallemar another 15 minutes.
The new highway design adding axillary lanes through the 1.3 mile Calera Creek parkway will allow much better, more efficient traffic flow, particularly at the Vallemar turn-off.
Similar to you I hope this city will run out of excuses to avoid building a protective, balanced economy. And, after so may years it will be good to finally see resolution for those little strips of private property along the highway that Todd mentioned.
I am surprised that the Chamber would support the project, as it will require tearing down the new Boston Bills and the Indian Cafe too.
Hey Mitch, that one statement of yours proves you never read the EIR! In my opinion, the one reason that Boston is going in there is to get a payday when Caltrans comes through. Pay attention before you make comments like that.
First, whoever put the message regarding Lionel under my name isn't funny. Can't anyone in this town ever be serious? Todd, I don't assume I know your life but I do know mine. I lived in HMB and would definitely take the tunnel as opposed to fighting the traffic on 92. The garbage trucks move from area to area with the debris truck going all over and they are struck in traffic. The last few months have been easier because of no school. We started again this week with the traffic (only minimal because of reduced sessions)but this impact is another major problem. Whether I go to work at 7am or 9am there's traffic.
"The Watcher said...
Hey Mitch, that one statement of yours proves you never read the EIR!"
Really! Lets see who hasn't read the EIR...
Start with PDF page 8, Table 1.5 "Preliminary Right of way requirements"
PDF pages 71-74: DEIR/EA pages 16-19
4408 Cabrillo Highway - vacant restaurant (Boston Bills)
(total: 9 commercial buildings, 3 residences, numerous vacant lots)
PDF Map pages 66, 79, 81
All maps showing road and ROW running over Boston Bills and the Indian Cafe
Also a beautiful sound wall where the Indian Cafe sits PDF page 186 "Modeled Sound Wall #1"
Now "Watcher" if you can show how none of this is true or incorrect, please do so, and post under your real name.
"First, whoever put the message regarding Lionel under my name isn't funny."
I just removed it, Chris.
Hey Mitch, you're being selective on what you post.
"The Watcher's Back Watcher said...
Hey Mitch, you're being selective on what you post."
Selective? As in providing solid facts! I think my response was very detailed and extensive. I've pointed to pages that clearly verify exactly what I stated prior.
You still have not shown how any of what I posted is not true or incorrect.
Also, let me be clear here, I am not condemning the Chamber's position. I was just surprised by it, considering the 9 listed commercial properties that will be affected by the highway project.
The EIR/EA says if it gets environmental approvals it can build all or part of the plan. There is a 10' wide shoulder as part of all three proposals that in and of itself would give room for motorists getting out of the way of emergency vehicles the handful of times a year it is needed. The highway would remain 4 lanes but there would be 20' of added width overall to create the shoulders. Or not.
At the scoping meeting, Chuck Gust expressed opposition to the highway widening project. He's on the Chamber board. Did he change his mind? Or is he not on the board anymore?
I'd like to hear more about the Gust's position on this. They've a stack in the game and considerable business sense. And their decades of commitment and support of this town go far beyond rhetoric. Any one know where they stand on this? Or the other Rockaway and Vallemar businesses? Who are we trying to help? Caltrans wants to help people drive through quicker and easier. That's what they do.
I was at that scoping meeting. Chuck Gust wasn't against the highway widening. I vaguely remember that he didn't want Caltrans/SMCTA to do anything that would make it harder to turn west into Rockaway from Highway 1.
Well that makes sense.
I saw that only one building would be purchased and that is the old deli which is the indian restaurant.
Its in the document very clearly listed
Page 16 Draft EIR/ EA
4408 Cabrillo Highway (the old KFC, now Boston Bills)
Doesn't Caltrans compensate business owners for displacement? I heard it wasn't too shabby$. I wanna open a business in the right of way and wait for a payday!
Caltrans takes the property via eminent domain
paying the lowest price for the value of the building and land, they do not pay for the value of the business.
I don't think you get a big payday if you started a business after it was known that the building was going to be taken because it's in the right of way. You only have a business until the ax falls. Then you're SOL.
Nobody makes a killing under eminent domain. Quite the contrary.
Mitch
It is all open for discussion. Caltrans or the government agency gets an appraisal. You get an appraisal. But Businesses do get money to relocated and for goodwill.
There is a very well documented case of this right here in Pacifica. 2 in fact.
"There is a very well documented case of this right here in Pacifica. 2 in fact."
What are they?
Mitch, isn't one of your main customers Caltrans?
How much Goodwill does a brand new business like Boston Bill's have?
What is a Boston Bill's? Let's argue about something concrete, like how does that other little restaraunt even stay in business? Let's have a show of hands of us locals that have actually eaten there.
"How much Goodwill does a brand new business like Boston Bill's have?" Exactly. If you open a business in a building that is already planned to be taken by a highway project, you don't have much goodwill and you don't get much compensation.
Mitch, do you read the Tribune?
Ok so we're sacrificing one or more Pacifica businesses for the alleged greater good of highway widening. Caltrans will compensate the property owner and the tenants in splendid Caltrans fashion. Very modest relo money usually included so maybe they can find a failed restaurant site and move right in.
"Jim Alex said...
Mitch, do you read the Tribune?"
Every week for the last 15 years.
Historically, a lot of property owners in these situations have not received what they thought was reasonable compensation. In recent years some have done very good, but only after spending years and big bucks on attorneys. If you can afford a good law firm you have a good chance, but still a gamble, and a painful process.
ust in case anyone missed it the TA is proposing the city give up 5.1 acres of land it controls in the quarry, namely the creek itself, as a mitigation bank for the ESHA that all three alternatives will admittedly "take." When the heck did that happen and who OK'd it? The creek is already a mitigation for the waste water treatment plant that was a USFWS condition of approval and the CCC declared it an ESHA during the yellow grease refinery permitting process.
Also the document says the project will not be growth inducing but also says structural roadway allowances must be made for any future quarry development and to accommodate future projected growth on the coast.
And it also shoot down alternatives like buses, round a bouts, grade separations and a partial widening to the highway just around Reina Del Mar because they are either too expensive, too invasive of ESHA, wont deliver enough relief or too visually disruptive. Of course so is the project but that doesn't seem to matter.
The document is pervasive with these sorts of schizophrenic delusional qualifying statements. It's become comical to me now. I'll read a series of justifications for the project then a series of criticisms for the various alternatives that are for all intents and purposes identical to the justifications.
Todd, today I have spent some time with the highway 1 widening improvement DEIR/EA, produced by ever-so-green David J. Powers & Associates.
No surprise, my findings are that the analysis and project path are solid, as is the DEIR/EA itself. The alternatives you mention were all considered, found on Table 1.7, pdf page 95. The print type is small, and "fix to page" works for printing.
Based upon the DEIR/EA text factual information, the article posted on Pacifica Riptide 9/1/11, presented by Bill Collins as his "opinion" is seriously flawed, and substantially false. What do you call the promotion of lies to advance an agenda that works against highway improvement updating, and the regional safety of our commuting citizens?
BTW, all the environmental and other agencies involved got their copy of the DEIR/EA. See chapter 6, distribution list (pdf pages 259-262, and the CEQA 10 page environmental checklist looks good (pdf pages 264-273).
(903) second paragraph page 95 comment correction: "... "shrink to page" if printing.
Mitch
You clearly do not understand how Real Estate and Negotiating works.
The State gives their price they want to pay, you hire experts to get your price then you work from there.
If you want to study this and be well informed The State bought out about 46 houses in Hayward for the freeway improvements.
Plus they did the same thing with Bart.
The document is pervasive with these sorts of schizophrenic delusional qualifying statements.
Todd
Instead of making these comments how bout you scan the document and show it to us.
Post it for discussion.
Back up what you say. And say what you back up
The document is readily available for anybody to download and read. Go to the city's web page at http://www.cityofpacifica.org/ and click on State Route 1/Calera Parkway Draft EIR.
Jim, no one on this earth owes you anything. Sorry buddy but who ever said you were Queen was lying to you. Go read the document yourself, form your own opinion and share it if you like.
Reporting in on commute this morning. Left my home on Alviso Court at 7:15 am. Had eight cars in front of me on Crespi attempting to turn on to Fassler. Turned on to Fassler and had traffic backup to the lower entrance of Seacrest. Went down the hill and got to the Rockaway Beach turn where I saw six cars backed up onto Donaldson. Could have been more but I could only see six from my viewpoint. Took two lights from Rockaway Beach and Fassler to turn on to Highway 1. Five minutes from Fassler to Reina del Mar. Arrived at my office on Palmetto Avenue at 7:45 am. Come on folks..30 minutes for this short of a commute. Also, Chris Fogel, I may write about garbage rates since I am the General Manager of the garbage company but I have made this same commute for twenty-seven years and I am currently the President of the Chamber of Commerce so I do know a little about what goes on in the is town. This commute is my day to day reality.
Chris, really, so what? Go to work earlier. The few weeks a year it is at it's worst is now. By mid October as you well know everyone will have adjusted their travel times a little and traffic will lighten up as it always does. I bet you a dollar you can count on both hands the number of times it takes you that long to get to work a year.
Chris Porter,
I've lived in Pacifica for 10 years; I'm aware of who you are. I know a little about this town as well -- not much perhaps, but a little.
I think there's a bit of creative license being exercised by proponents of the highway widening project.
Because I kept hearing outrageous claims about our traffic problems, I started keeping a traffic diary. I drive the contested stretch every business day both in the mornings and evenings.
Today, for example, I left my home in the Linda Mar area at 7:20am and started up Highway 1 at Crespi.
I was stopped for approximately 15 seconds at Sea Bowl and then proceeded without stop (albeit slowly) through Reina Del Mar. Total time to Sharp Park was a little over 10 minutes and I reached my destination (Palo Alto) in 43 minutes (8:03am).
Todd (754), for those who commute and sit in traffic, you say "so what". Do you really think when business picks-up commuter traffic will get better?
Chris Fogel (900) if you've lived in Pacfica 10 years in Linda Mar, surely you must remember waiting 10 minutes to get to highway 1, then another 20 minutes to get past Calera Creek Parkway.
Frankly I'm disgusted with the "creative" anti-highway "opinion", which lacks the kind of substance of the professional, researched Highway 1 DEIR/EA. Fact from them, fantasy from some of you. The "opinion" article from Bill Collins was almost 100% FALSE, when compared to the researched DEIR/EA, but "big group hug" for that FALSE "opinion" on Riptide.
For those who "get it"... its been 45 years since our highway 1 road has been improved to accommodate increased traffic, the project is at least 10 years overdue, and right now we have the opportunity to minimally fix the bottleneck by adding 2 axillary lanes for 1.3 miles. Help this city, and the safety of those who commute. Be sure to write your positive support comment letters to the email address listed on this article, and thanks for doing that-- we need a better road and an improved city.
Jim, no one on this earth owes you anything. Sorry buddy but who ever said you were Queen was lying to you. Go read the document yourself, form your own opinion and share it if you like.
So Todd, who called you and told you to speak out this time. Was it Pete or Jimmy?
Unlike people who sit around all day and troll on blogs and websites spewing bullshit and co2 all day, I work. 60-80 hours a week.
You don't even realize when you are being tooled by council and your buddies Pete amd Jimmy.
I guess it has been your life long dream to take over for Curtis, Huh?
If they fix the highway Obama will lose in 2012.
Check out Todd and his band of hypocritical tunnel supporters complaining about the exorbitant cost of the highway widening on Riptide. Also, there are lots of artists and other hippies providing their "expert" opinions on alternative traffic remedies. They must have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Rockaway.
Please indicate specific statements in Bill Collins' article that are false.
Jim, whining about your life on line should not be considered work even if you spend a 100 hours a week doing so. Smell a rose or something, it's free BTW.
Can't give specifics. Fail.
"indicate specific statements in Bill Collins' article that are false."
Actually, my analysis of the Collin's article indicates just about everything he stated was false, bated, twisted, out-of-context, irrelevant or did not address the existing coastal highway traffic problem-- as compared to the factual, researched Highway 1 DEIR/EA findings and consideration. Collins challenged fact by his ideological "opinion" (big whoop).
From a true informational view, Collin's 9/1/11 Riptide article is "F" rated, pure propaganda intended to advance continued adverse conditions for people who live in this city, and those who travel through this city "be damned".
To be fair, Anon (912) how about you give us a couple of comments from Collin's article that you think are completely unbiased, relevant and true?
Todd, and your job or profession is?
"...hypocritical tunnel supporters complaining about the exorbitant cost of the highway widening..."
It's hard to believe it, but the original 5 mile long bypass would have probably ended up costing more than the tunnel.
"Please indicate specific statements in Bill Collins' article that are false."
Actually, I think Bill should be asked to back-up his statements with evidence, rather than make others refute them. But anyway, here are some problems I find with Bill's article...
Bill misled readers by claiming total savings in commute time would only be 84 seconds. SMCTA in fact said the immediate peak evening commute would be reduced by over 5 minutes, and future commute times would be reduced by several minutes.
Bill implied many homes and businesses would be lost. From what I've seen in the DEIR, only one home, the Indian restaurant, and Boston Bill's would be taken. (And compensated for.)
Bill wrote that 600 homes would be subjected to excessive noise (piledrivers) for years, trying to give the impression they're going to build an elevated interstate freeway or the new Transbay terminal there. Total bs. Who says there are even going to be pile drivers involved? And I saw nothing in the DEIR that mentioned the number of homes involved. I don't think there are even 100 homes along the affected part of the highway.
Bill said there would be night construction driving people up the wall for years, while the DEIR said night construction was not part of the plan.
Bill repeats a favored NIMBY conspiracy theory that Caltrans wants to turn that section of the highway into a freeway. There is absolutely nothing to indicate that's the plan. Cars will still have to stop at the same intersections that they do now.
Bill said widening the highway would simply create bottlenecks elsewhere. This was discussed at the council chambers meeting, and SMCTA said their models didn't show that occurring.
Bill tries to make us believe that home values along a slow, traffic-clogged highway would be higher than home values near the improved, smoother-flowing highway. Again, there's no evidence for that.
Traffic will not be an "unbearable mess during years of construction" as Bill suggests. There will probably be times traffic's a mess due to construction, but there's no reason to think it will be for more than occasional, short periods of time.
Bill claims the traffic will simply clog up again due to future traffic increases. Yet other highway opponents say traffic will not get heavier, which means there's no need for highway improvements. These guys need get their stories straight. Inconsistency doesn't do much for credibility.
Bill claims SMCTA didn't study issues such as increasing bus service in lieu of widening the highway. But they did. I remember SMCTA saying something like 60+ extra buses would be needed during commute hours to alleviate the congestion the highway improvements are designed to eliminate. SamTrans obviously doesn't have 60 extra buses sitting around.
Bill's suggestion regarding car-pools is pointless. People commute all over the Bay Area from Pacifica, and work hours vary widely. It's too hard to find someone going the same way.
Bill falsely implied that the community was against the SMCTA's plans at the first scoping meeting. I was there, and the main complaint was that SMCTA hadn't made information public before the meeting. At that point, SMCTA had not even presented a plan to widen the highway, so suggestions that people were against it make no sense. At a follow up meeting at council chambers, the great majority of people spoke in favor of moving forward with the project.
Bill claims no council candidate ran on the promise of highway widening. I could just as easily claim nobody opposed highway widening when they ran. In fact, improving traffic on Highway 1 is a standard promise in local council elections, which means Highway 1 congestion is a recognized issue.
Bill says there's no way the project will get the permits required. If SMCTA thought that was the case, they would have abandoned the project.
Actually, I think Bill should be asked to back-up his statements with evidence, rather than make others refute them. But anyway, here are some problems I find with Bill's article.
If Bill Collins, has to back up his statements with evidence so should Todd Bray.
If they do not back up what they state with facts, they just lost the little shred of creditablity they had left.
Jim, get up off your butt and read the document yourself. No one owes you anything, no one. I noticed on RIPTIDE you admitted you haven't looked at the EIR/EA at all.
Jim, try using quotation marks when you quote someone. Perhaps you could borrow a few from Kathy.
From what I've seen in the DEIR, only one home, the Indian restaurant, and Boston Bill's would be taken.
Wrong. Please see pp. 16-19
Who says there are even going to be pile drivers involved?
The DEIR does. Please see pp. 175-176.
Bill said there would be night construction driving people up the wall for years, while the DEIR said night construction was not part of the plan.
Wrong. Nighttime construction is part of the plan. References to nighttime construction may be found on pp. xii, 89, 90, 161 and 176.
The project is expected to "last for more than two years" as noted on pp. 20, 23, 171.
Cars will still have to stop at the same intersections that they do now.
Yes, the SMCTA identified the lights/intersections as the cause of the "problem" and yet they still remain in the "solution." Taking a look at the proposed roadbed (the evidence), one might think the stage is being set for future incremental "improvements," but let's all hand-wave that away and dismiss it as a conspiracy rather than confront the ugly possibility.
Bill said widening the highway would simply create bottlenecks elsewhere. This was discussed at the council chambers meeting, and SMCTA said their models didn't show that occurring.
Are these the same models that indicate I'm currently sitting in traffic backed up past Crespi in the morning when in reality half the time I don't even come to a stop? But anyway, drive anywhere where two lanes merge while in moderate traffic and get back to us with your observations. This is called a "friction point" in traffic engineering, by the way.
Traffic will not be an "unbearable mess during years of construction" as Bill suggests. There will probably be times traffic's a mess due to construction, but there's no reason to think it will be for more than occasional, short periods of time.
Traffic isn't an "unbearable mess" now. But there's every reason to believe it will be during construction. The DEIR describes narrowed lanes, lane closures and lane shifting. The traffic mess is euphemistically described as "incremental delay" within the DEIR (p. ix and elsewhere).
Bill claims the traffic will simply clog up again due to future traffic increases. Yet other highway opponents say traffic will not get heavier, which means there's no need for highway improvements. These guys need get their stories straight.
You can clear up your confusion about this in 30 seconds by typing "latent demand"+traffic in a Google search box.
I remember SMCTA saying something like 60+ extra buses would be needed during commute hours to alleviate the congestion the highway improvements are designed to eliminate. SamTrans obviously doesn't have 60 extra buses sitting around.
Is your point that these buses cost money? The SMCTA doesn't exactly have spare l.3-mile lanes lying around either.
Bill's suggestion regarding car-pools is pointless.
Pure opinion and conjecture.
Bill falsely implied that the community was against the SMCTA's plans at the first scoping meeting. I was there, and the main complaint was that SMCTA hadn't made information public before the meeting.
I was there as too. I even posted an article about it here on Fix Pacifica (http://fixpacifica.blogspot.com/2010/03/route-1calera-parkway-scoping-out.html). I tried to keep my opinion out of what I wrote, but you can read between the lines: there was a lot of very vocal opposition to the plan expressed at that meeting.
Bill claims no council candidate ran on the promise of highway widening.
This is my recollection as well.
Yes, Todd my goal in life is to be a big wheel like you
Not just a little spoke in the wheel like everyone else
I was specifically asked in a candidate forum about highway widening and I was for it. I didn't make it a "platform" statement, but I did think the widening was something we should consider. Pacificans want Pacifica to be a more viable business center, without destroying the character of Pacifica. Making getting into and out of our city easier makes our businesses a more attractive alternative.
At the time of the forum, San Bruno fires were fresh in everyone's minds, particularly mine. I believed then and believe now that we do not have enough viable options for evacuation if, heaven forbid, a fire of that magnitude were to hit some of our areas. Sure, up where I live near Skyline, I've got several exit points. How about those in Vallemar?
Anyhow, I just wanted to say that no candidate specifically made highway widening part of their platform statement, but it certainly was a topic of discussion and many of the city council candidates in the last election were for widening - - or at least for considering widening.
Heather, you are boring the hippies with facts.
The hippies don't care about the facts!!
Jim, at least the Hippies are reading the facts, unlike you who has admitted to not doing so.
Did anyone notice Leo Leon's letter to the editor last week? Apart from all the same red herring arguments that the NIMBYs like to copy and paste like Tea Partiers writing into Fox News, he added this doozy: widening the highway would "...promote one person per vehicle traffic congestion". This comes from the same NIMBYs that obstruct any effort to promote the type of dense housing that could actually make mass transit workable in Pacifica.
It seems that their hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Todd, Care to share the Cease and Desist letter you received from Peebles?
Hippies are reading the facts, and disregarding them, as usual supporting their own selfish "nothing for Pacifica" ideology-- not in the best interest of the people of Pacifica, and those who drive through our city.
While other cities are trying to move beyond their limited old-style "bedroom community" model by adding commerce, thus creating a city where more people can work and value from local services-- this city has done the opposite. This city has turned productive empty land into permanent "open space", the consequences of which include 1) a limited, poor city, and 2) the necessity to drive.
The necessity to drive is the result of hippie city planning, and the leadership of their 9 year city council stooges. So, the least you hippies can and should do is support making the highway safer for all people during peak traffic hours. Safer would include building the $29,2 million highway 1 widening plan described in the SMCTA DEIR.
I'm not sure who pays most of that expense, but it isn't Pacifica; and, the portion that would be required of Pacifica can be borrowed as usual. And/or, if the City wants to put-up a value added tax for that, I'm for it. My guess, the Pacifica cost to build the 20 year highway bottleneck widening improvement would be less expensive than the past 5 year City cost to build trails.
Pacifica is the only beach town in California that does not take advantage of being a beach town.
Thanks to the hippies.
We have more beachfront land in this town because of hippies and everyone else in town that supported preserving our beaches.
This blog is not about fixing Pacifica, it is a hate all hippies all the time blog.
If your argument has to include a supplemental negative remark against the individual or group, it is a very weak one.
Mitch
You proved you don't understand Real Estate now Finance also.
How much money does the City take in? From the beach and trails. And don't tell me the sale of a sandwich at Safeway.
Name one Revenue producing project the Hippies have proposed. In the last 30 years, 20, 10?
Oh yes the Bio-Diesel Plant.
From Wikipedia:
"The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s, swiftly spreading to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into New York City's Greenwich Village, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, Toronto's Yorkville Village and similar urban areas. Both the words "hip" and "hep" came from black American culture and denote awareness. To say "I'm hip to the situation" means "I am aware of the situation."] Thus the word "hippie" means "one who is aware," and expanded awareness was a goal of the movement. The early hippie ideology included the countercultural values of the Beat Generation. Some created their own social groups and communities, listened to psychedelic rock, opposed the Vietnam War, embraced the sexual revolution, and used drugs such as marijuana, LSD and "magic" mushrooms to explore alternative states of consciousness. Hippie fashions and values had a major effect on culture, influencing popular music, television, film, literature, and the arts. Since the widespread movement in the 1960s, many aspects of hippie culture have been assimilated by mainstream society. The religious and cultural diversity espoused by the hippies has gained widespread acceptance, and Eastern philosophy and spiritual concepts have reached a wide audience. The hippie legacy can be observed in contemporary culture in myriad forms—from health food, to music festivals, to contemporary sexual mores, and even to the cyberspace revolution."
I'm a Hippie and I'm proud!
Hear hear Mitch. Well stated.
And what a day to be hateful. Can we suspend it just for today. Really fix something, however temporarily?
It sounds like you're saying that we should concentrate on the issue, rather than the people, Mitch. And then you attack the people with which you disagree, rather than their arguments.
Physician, heal thyself.
"We have more beachfront land in this town because of hippies...and everyone else in town that supported preserving our beaches." With this comment Mitch (108), I think you might have pushed-the-envelope on that hippie "alternative to an economy" comment.
"Preserving our beaches", what are you talking about? Is it the State beach reconstruction at Linda Mar now owned by the State; the support for ocean caused land erosion, aka: "managed retreat" (more beach, less land, eventually no city); the active campaign to destroy "our" golf course and invite-in the Pacific ocean? Is it the ongoing spin-machine embracing every excuse not to improve this city and our highway? Is it "no growth" with volunteer help to run this city, building-up leadership power clans at the direct, misguided expense of our citizens and the future of our city.
This highway 1.3 mile widening (alternative to a round-about) has been part of the State future planning to solve congestion in Calera Creek parkway area, probably since 4 lane construction 45 years ago. Some of our citizens own mostly empty strips of property in that area that they have not been able to sell or develop (the result of State right-of-way requirements in that area). Now these properties will be sold and financially resolved.
In his comments, Chris (9/9, 9:35am) does illustrate through referenced DEIR pages that the 287 page DEIR/EA has some areas of text variation, the possible result of itemized specifics and/or multiple, specialized research. However, the 4 lanes will remain open during peak traffic hours, and noise and other annoyances will be minimized with sensitivity during an expected 2 year+ in-stages construction.
Without fencing over trivial details, the spirit and general requirements and mitigations of the DEIR/EA are clear. In that regard, most of the claims by Bill Collins, and others who rail against highway widening and/or the validity of professional research, are both wild and generally inaccurate. There will be no "24 hour jack hammers" (daytime short durations, yes), alternatives were considered, traffic will increase (reason for fixing the bottleneck), and Pacifica is not rural (recent Riptide comment by Past Major Peter Loeb).
4 year campaign promise by Peter DeJarnatt, he will: "improve our streets and highway 1 for safety and to relieve traffic congestion". Almost 3 years have passed, the opportunity to support the highway DEIR/EA is now. Will he keep that promise?
Spot on, Mr. Reid.
Define "hippy." The only thing I know about Pacificans is that, by and large, they are a group that wears their heart on their sleeves. I've lived here now 5 years with my family. In that time, I've been embraced by a community in ways I never saw in San Francisco. I've made friends who look out for me, who help me when I need a hand, and who are extended family. The Pacificans I've met care about their town - their community. Whether we agree or not, every person I've met in Pacifica believes this town is great and wants the best for it. We may not agree on what that looks like, but what family agrees 100% of the time?
The key is we need to find some common ground. Some are interested in preserving Pacifica as it is, some want to see it grow and change. Some think Pacifica is too insular, some want to keep it from erosion by outside influences who don't get what Pacifica is.
I love this town. Being here only 5 years, I get that I don't know all that there is to know about Pacifica. But, I love that I feel good about raising my kids here. I love that people do things as a neighborhood. I love that I can have friends in all parts of Pacifica and I'm not excluded from any neighborhood because of my socio-economic place in society.
Maybe I'm a hippy, too? Doesn't really matter to me. I'm also a human, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a neighbor, and, happily, a Pacifican. Whatever labels people can add to me don't change my outlook on my responsibilities to look out for the things I believe are best for the people and things I love the most.
Thanks Heather for your heartfelt comments. We all really have more in common than we sometimes realize, and it's important to keep that in mind on this day, the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
A hippie is anyone who wants to see Pacifica, dirty, bankrupt, unable to pay the bills.
A hippie is anyone who does not understand it is expensive to run a city, and a city must have revenue.
A hippie is someone who eats at the Government trough, gets paid by the hard working taxpayers to support the lazy lifestyle.
A hippie is someone who snubs the nose at the hard working taxpayer.
A hippie is anyone in Pacifica, who likes the way things are.
A hippie is anyone who likes seeing Pacifica, look like a 3rd World Country!
Wait, I always used "hippie" as a term of endearment.
My view of hippie is closer to Anon (611). Hippie does sound too kind, including as a "term of endearment" as Steve (634) intended. I should have used the alternative word: NIMBY. On Riptide, Carl May indicated NIMBY is derogatory and kind of insulting. That's the definition I intended at (1046} for good reason.
Thanks for your comments, Heather (1220) and Ian (505). We have a common destiny in this city, we should have more in common.
hippie@611, Pacifica like a Third World Country? Visit a few real ones and you'll see the difference. Pacifica is just rundown. Badly rundown but all the basic support systems are still here. On the subject of lifestyle...has Nona's closed for good? High Tide definitely is some competition for those aging hippies' dining-out dollars but still I'd hate to see Nona's close after all these years.
Jim said:
"Name one Revenue producing project the Hippies have proposed. In the last 30 years, 20, 10?"
Uh, you don't have to go back that far, I proposed one a few weeks ago, the cannabis dispensary. You can't get more hippy than that!
Ian, As I recall the pot store got shut down for improper permits. Hmm, seems to be your grand poobah Vreeland, seems to have a problem with permits also.
Since this benefited Ian, it was good. If it benefited anyone else in town, bad.
Also a criminal investation is open on the pot store owners for lying on the permit application.
A sign of sucess for the hippies.
Oh yes Ian, didn't you also support the Bio Diesel plant? How did that end up?
Jim,
Your posts have become increasingly personal and don't seem to have any real point except to insult people. That sometimes happens when people post online. Perhaps an old fashioned one on one conversation might help. If you would like to get together, you can email me at ianbutler@netzero.net or call me at 359-5447 and we can meet for coffee.
lots of free-floating anger and anxiety on this blog
thanks Ian for perhaps defusing
Jim (9/12, 5:28am), you're behaving like a caveman. True the Cannabis Dispensary lied, and their license as a "flower shop" died. Those who seek local pain relief from cannabis lost.
What difference could it make if this city had a Medical Cannabis Dispensary? And, at city council last night, the point was made by the public that the gun shop also did not make full disclosure, and obtained a license as a "sports shop".
Your penalty, you must go to coffee with Ian. His gentle personality, thoughtful intelligence and charm may reform your "attitude" and win you over.
Hippies are not responsible for the city's economic problems, business people are, pro economy people are like the pro business folks who foreclose on properties removing property taxes of those properties from the revenue stream. Business folks are responsible for outsourcing jobs to boaster company profits at the expense of the nation as a whole. Business folks have wrecked our local economy and public sector. Where do any of you "pro economy" folks get your ideas that the city's financial woes are anything other than business created? Where have you all been for the last decade under a corporate sponsored rock or something? Business folks are the biggest problem our economy faces, local, county, state and federal.
Todd...You're kidding right? First you are telling me that there is no traffic in the morning or I should leave earlier than 7:15 am to get to work when I am usually here until 6:00 pm. Now it is the business people's fault that the economy is bad in this town? The Chamber has done more in the last two years in trying to bring business to town, fill the vacant storefronts, promote the newer businesses with ribbon cuttings and articles in trade magazines and newspapers and cleanup the town then any other group I know. I have put countless amounts of time and my own money (not Recology's) to push this City to the front of the line. The majority of properties that are foreclosed on are repaired and resold. I know two groups that are doing this in town right now. The City's financial woes, in my opinion, are do to reduction in funds from the State and the County and countless lawsuits expending enormous amounts of monies to stop whoever or whatever wants to go forward with any new construction, idea or prodevelopment thought. No one in this town is outsourcing jobs that I know of and about three quarters of my employees live in Pacifica.
Chris, the state isn't withholding funds from the city the economy is because business has decided to plunder this country by exporting work, creating and profiting from the global financial collapse and as a result tax revenues are down across the country not just Pacifica.
So yes, business has been our financial downfall.
As for the highway being crowded for a brief time in the morning or evening is your commute worth $50,000,000 of public money, 5.1 acres of city property, 6 acres of ESHA and wetlands, two businesses and a family home?
Todd (1202), there is always an excuse to do nothing to improve this city. Contrary to your comment, its clear enough over multiple years, NIMBYS are directly responsible for the structural economic failure of this city. And revisionist history does not change that fact.
Just as you insist there is no problem with highway 1 congestion, people who commute and others who drive during peak traffic hours know there is. The congestion on our highway 1 not only affects Pacifica, it also affects coastside drivers, its regional. If the money to relieve traffic congestion here is not spent, it will be spent elsewhere-- and our city and this region will worse-off as a result. (Cost narrow median, $29.2, landscaped median $34.7, page 23).
Most of the affected land parcels are vacant. They are subject to State right-of-way regulations and cannot otherwise be built or sold. These properties or right-of-ways will be bought by San Mateo County for the purpose of this highway widening (page 16-23)
The DEIR CEQA Environmental Checklist is favorable, (pdf pages 264-273).
Kathy, Sorry but your way off base. can't do anything about your reading comprehension...
Todd, hum, I gave you information with page numbers from the DEIR. You gave me an insult.
I'm not discounting the $50 M overall cost you estimated, but for the most part its not Pacifica money except for the taxes we pay. And the money to build a highway will be spent here where its needed; or, if no project it will be spent elsewhere (where its also needed). Now is OUR opportunity.
So, which is it? NOTHING FOR PACIFICA as usual, make the mess worse; or, update the 45 year old highway, and fix the peak hour traffic congestion bottle neck to a more acceptable level? This is a citizen safety issue, and the environment, discarded alternatives, and construction issues have all been addressed. Also, 4 lanes will remain open during construction peak hour traffic (its in the DEIR somewhere).
Our citizens who own affected vacant land strips along highway 1 (including Gil Anda's family and others) would probably appreciate finally being able to unload these parcels for fair market value. Now is their opportunity.
$29.2 M or $34.7 M is the cost for each of the two alternative highway 1 widening choices. Pictures of what that might look like are found on pages 137-143 (a DEIR link is found on my 6:13pm comment above). If what I think is the $29.2 build, you can really see the business properties to the west and some Pacific ocean (scenic 1.3 mile).
Perhaps if you're writing improved, it wood improve hour comprehension.
keep the chimps off the keyboards
Kathy,
Todd while posing as a hippie uses the oldest trick in the Republicans book.
If you don't like the messege attack the Messenger
Jim (9/12, 5:28am), you're behaving like a caveman. True the Cannabis Dispensary lied, and their license as a "flower shop" died. Those who seek local pain relief from cannabis lost.
What difference could it make if this city had a Medical Cannabis Dispensary? And, at city council last night, the point was made by the public that the gun shop also did not make full disclosure, and obtained a license as a "sports shop".
Your penalty, you must go to coffee with Ian. His gentle personality, thoughtful intelligence and charm may reform your "attitude" and win you over.
Jesus this keeps getting worse and worse!!
Todd, said business is the reason for the city's financial problems not the hippies who try to block every project in town.
Todd, do you have a pre-existing medical condition that was never previously diagnosed?
When you sign a promissory note, it means, I promise to pay. Not promise to pay if the value only goes up. But a simple promise to pay.
For someone who lives off the government tit, you shouldn't say a word. Your wife's gig in San Jose is funded by the state.
Kathy, sorry but can you please tell me what is behind door #2 and #3.
Sitting down with Ian, is the same as trying to sit down with Curtis, Bray, Pete or Jimmy. A lot of words come out but they are just words and talk.
The hippies ruined this town financially due to their delusional sense of self importance. Hypocrites every single one of them.
Kathy, I appreciate your passion concerning this issue. You feel the project is needed and the funds required to build it justified. Understood. We disagree.
Anon (9/13 9pm, 11:52pm), it appears that you may be "the chimp on the keyboard". Personally I prefer Todd, he has a convoluted frontal lobe brain. Although, Todd may have consulted you first about that "reading comprehension" jab.
This city has some serious structural deficiencies (including the highway). And, these structural deficiencies are not just related to the weak national recession recovery this country has experienced for almost 3 years. With 50-60% "open space", and city council majority hiding, obstructing, and "faking it" over 9 years, positive economic prospects for the future of this city have grown dim.
Is this the kind of run-down, marginal city you want to live in? If not its time to fight back. One thing you can do right now is send your comment letter to Caltrans at the email address shown in the article. First comment on this article includes an example letter. Jim said you are welcome to copy and use that text if you wish.
To be or not to be, that is the avidbjldfvzx
With the looming "Economic Collapse" "Update the 45 year old highway, and fix the peak hour traffic congestion bottle neck to a more acceptable level" may end of being the worst possible solution. Gas prices back up , jobless claims in California higher than ever (just wait until the financials start laying off people, again), consumer purchases for big ticket items down. There may not be enough cars on the road for decades to pay for this monstrosity called "Highway Improvement" I think what this is about is the government thinks it can create and save jobs by spending money on things we do not need. This is why we are in the mess we are in. Creating projects just so government can create jobs. Some people think that if the money is there NOW we should try and spend it as fast as we can on things WE DO NOT NEED. Just FIX the DANG Road!
Stuff We Do Not Need: Brand New Six Lane Highways.
Stuff We Need: Repairing Highway One and Other Inland Roads ( pot holes are bad for our vehicles=increased costs to repair, less money in our pockets) Good time to become a mechanic. Vehicles we still own, we will need a good mechanic to keep it running. Who can afford to buy a new vehicle these days?
Stuff We Need: Yellow School Buses for Children To Get To and From School (Means , less parents on the road causing traffic jams. Bus Drivers please apply.
There is no traffic on Off-School Days. Common Sense is lost in this Country.
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/75146794/
Ford Economist on 'Sober' U.S.Economic Outlook Sept 12.
Anon@939 so true. Furthermore, supporting a project designed to move people quickly through a scenic part of Pacifica (with tourist amenities in place) while saying you support local business, is ludicrous. This project is part of a regional Caltrans agenda and it will benefit the very tourist-ready HMB not Pacifica.
Other than those few who will sell land to Caltrans, no one in Pacifica will benefit beyond shaving a few minutes (maybe) off a commute. This is a Caltrans town-killer and a waste of money. Oh yeah I know it's our money and Caltrans will spend it somewhere. It's still just another nail in Pacifica's coffin and wrong.
I just came from Serramonte Shopping area. Their west 4 lane frontage road with turn-outs serves their shopping center side-road traffic function, without carrying the kind of traffic our 4 lane coastal highway does.
Anon (939) talk to Anon "to be or not to be" (905) about all your backward complaints, maybe together you'll "figure-it-out". For example, you might ask, is a 1.3 highway widening to allow for transition traffic a 6 lane highway? And why can't school buses replace highway improvement, even though these are related but separate issues-- and separate funding sources? School buses are a good idea, but as is the case with so many other good ideas in Pacifica: no money. No money because inadequate structural economic improvement. Want more money? Develop the quarry for "highest and best use".
Commuters and those of us who avoid peak hour traffic when possible need a safe road. The rest of you, "who cares". But, we should not have to suffer for your misguided "no progress, no vision, no future" ideology.
Kathy we suffer your ideology every day and don't attack you for it. I'm sure you feel attacked but don't. Your ideology maybe blinding you to a few insights that could change your life. For the better. I hope some day you can feel free to enjoy Pacifica as much as I do. Sometimes it's the little things like a foot print in the sand or a humming bird washing itself in our bird bath. I hope someday you will like Pacifica for what it is and not be perpetually engaged in activities you feel will make it more to your liking at the cost of the little things that makes Pacifica so oddly amazing.
Since when is the block between Vallemar Station and the Shell station considered "Scenic Pacifica"? There will be a turnout to go into Nick's/Lighthouse/small shops so what is the problem? We can make the commute easier for the Park Pacifica, Rockaway and upper Linda Mar folks, not hurt the businesses in the area and think ahead for once about the traffic impact the tunnel will cause. Anyone who thinks the tunnel will not impact the traffic has not tried to use Highway 92 from Half Moon Bay at the same time the Half Moon Bay High School is in session.
Todd (245), what's fair, practical and balanced for a self-sustaining city that can thrive is completely REASONABLE, an ideology that that mirrors what citizens who live in a city have a right to expect. Citizens have a reasonable right to expect that their congested highway will be updated for improved traffic flow. And, that's what we're talking about this time. Do I think continued NIMBY leadership and city financial neglect is heading this city off-a- cliff? Yes, I do.
Trust me, with an improved city, the humming birds will still flock to your back yard bird bath. We live close to nature in this city, the good and the not-so-good.
Chris (330) mentioned Rockaway, and what can be seen from the highway. Here's the DEIR/EA, link again, see pdf pages 137-143: Old view, then new view with the highway widening. Guess what, the area looks better with the widening, check-it-out. Main thing is, with the widening, the traffic will function better; and, its doubtful that businesses will suffer from not being seen.
Think about NINE LANES at Rockaway.
Nine freakin'lanes.
The Chamber of Commerce, in their respective majesty, has endorsed NINE LANES at Rockaway.
Of course, the only problem is that these lanes condense to FOUR lanes southbound.
Profoundly stupid, we need other kinds of breakfast foods at Chamber meetings.
There are already 7 lanes at the Reina Del Mar intersection. But no that's not enough... dear Lord they want even more. Incredible. Stop the insanity.
From what I've been reading on page 13 of the DEIR, it's already nine lanes at Rockaway. I haven't heard anyone bitching about it before. The widening would merely add one more lane.
"The northbound SR 1 approach (south leg of the intersection) would be widened from four lanes to five lanes which would include one left-turn lane, three through lanes, and one right-turn lane."
"The southbound SR 1 approach (north leg of the intersection) would remain the same with five lanes, including two left-turn lanes, two through lanes, and one right-turn lane."
The merge down to two lanes occurs past the point of heavy traffic. The roads can handle it.
I've tried but I just don't see the benefit to Pacifica from this $30 to $50 million project. The benefits mentioned here are pure speculation, and even if fully realized, pretty meager for that kind of expense. Soundwalls along a coastal hiway? Bottlenecks still there. Is this really an improvement? This town breeds anger and frustration and we're seeing it on this issue. The potential damage to Rockaway businesses and the loss of visitor and local dollars should not be underestimated. Caltrans builds roads. That's their meal ticket and they know and care little about the towns they cut through. Tunnel vision?
If money isn't spent on the highway here, it will be spent somewhere else. The government isn't going to save any money by not expanding Highway 1.
Why would Rockaway businesses be against better highway access?
Is it better access? Does a wider road with more lanes discourage drivers from taking a turn off? Current signage would seem inadequate and perhaps no longer visible. Was signage covered in the plan?
I know at least 2 Rockaway businesses are opposed to the highway widening project. I believe there are more but I haven't talked to them to confirm it.
An anonymous comment about two anonymous businesses?
No cred.
Better for some of you unidentified Anonymous people to look at the current view with the 4 lane highway, plus access and exit lanes; and, the proposed view looking west, including the businesses. The pictures are posted on the DEIR, pages 137-143, link posted at 8:16pm above.
Anon (1059), no identity, no business names, who knows what you know.
I've seen it mentioned here by numerous individuals that the traffic will increase when the Tunnels open in 2012. Caltrans doesn't know for sure if it will increase or decrease.
They even speculated that it might decrease due to the fact that some folks just don't like driving thru tunnels. Think about it, are there hoardes of people avoiding driving across Devils Slide now and just waiting for the Tunnels to be open? When it opens, will it be like opening a flood gate and thousands will be zipping thru?
One Pacifica business in Rockaway was concerned about what kind of turning lane into Rockaway would be built.
Other businesses are worried where the caltrans equipment will be stored when it is not used. Probably in the quarry?
Talk to businesses in Rockaway.
I talked to them. They all want the highway fixed.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid Idea. Fix the Highway. Do Not Make It Bigger , Just Fix The Dang Highway. We want people to drive slow, through Pacifica. Why would we want people driving 65 miles an hour through Pacifica? This is such an insane idea (9 or 6 lane highway) and very worrisome to me. Speculations is just that, speculation. No one knows the future, and, if you or I, will even be here. We are a little coastal town. Keep the roads, that take us in and out of town, small and safe. The highway breaks open once you pass the police station, going north. Why would we want to make it bigger, once you pass the police station going south? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Clarification: highway pictures as is, then with improvement, are pdf, pages 137-143, DEIR Here.
Rockaway Anon (704), "The proposed staging area is located along the west side of S-R1, approximately 600 feet south of Reina Del Mar Avenue, within the state right-of-way." (DEIR 2.21, text page 171).
Exorcised Anon (1016), how smart are you? We have waited a long time to fix the 1.3 mile highway bottleneck in Pacifica. The research, findings, extensive considerations (including those withdrawn) are all found in the DEIR. The engineering is the best science and very green. Read, view the pictures, then drive over to Rockaway and see what that looks like. The current highway through Pacifica is 4 lanes only with some exit and access turn lanes.
I talked to them. Several do not want the highway widening project.
Unless you provide the names of the businesses that oppose the highway widening, there's no reason to believe you.
And put your name behind it, too.
What about the businesses on the east side of the highway? How do they feel about it?
Whether or not you believe me is irrelevant. It's about reality. If you want to be in denial of reality by believing that all Rockaway businesses want the highway project, that's your choice.
I talked to them all
They all want the freeway fixed
I talked to them all too. They all agree with the NIMBYs that the best way to drum up business is to create traffic jams.
Each one also proposed the same brilliant idea for the Chamber. First, spend the entire CoC budget on jackhammers. Then, solicit volunteers to use them to tear up as many Pacifica streets and highways as possible.
I know the Indian restaurant and Boston Bill's want the highway widened. Oh yeah, and the Shell Station, Tire & Service Center, Pet Hospital, Gorilla BBQ, Vallemar Station. They're all going to make so much money while the highway is widened.
Who says people are going to be driving through this City at 65 MPH? We are talking about one block folks and why do all you anonymous' think you can speak for the business people? We show up at the meetings and give intelligent comments, well thought out and not changing our minds with how the wind blows. You people against the widening are the same people who were against the Quarry project because the Highway would be jammed. Now you have a chance to rectify that situation and there is no problem! Some of us do remember what the no against everything people say and how they always change their mind to suit the situation. I even heard now that the red legged frog and snake have not been seen in the Quarry but now someone is saying it's an Indian burial ground? I remember when Tod Slessinger said he saw the Lockness Monster there. I guess it is all relative
People will drive thru as fast as they can.
I guess it is just one block. $50 million dollars to "fix" one block of roadway carrying less traffic than it used to and with nothing but speculation about future load. Is there really no cheaper alternative that could be tried?
Ms. Porter
I saw big foot walking thru the quarry!!
Right. It's just one block. That's what I am trying to say, ONE BLOCK! Stupid. Fix The Dang Highway. Do Not Widen ONE BLOCK of the Highway into 9 or 6 lanes. Stupid.
enviro protections are a huge part of the price tag Re rt. 1 rebuild.
Sierra Club and various anons want it both ways: full enviro protections; now project is too expensive; numerous state and federal agencies monitor the project with state of the art legal authority to protect the environment; project will ruin environment because no one is watching; everyone should ride the bus, just not me...
Fake arguments.
"People will drive thru as fast as they can."
If the CoC can't get jackhammers, we need to start putting sawhorses and abandoned vehicles out in the middle of Highway One and perhaps start tossing Molatov cocktails. That's the only way that we can help our local businesses -- through terrorism.
I'm a NIMBY and I approve this ad.
Sick but really really funny.
Trolls charging tolls would also work nicely.
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