Pacifica Tribune, 4/16/13, "My Turn: Council wisely lets Rt. 1 widening keep apace." by Paul Stewart
What was curious was that Councilmember Sue Digre was the one who made the request, though it was at the behest of a small number of opponents of the Route 1 widening.
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| Highway 1 widening allows for through traffic |
The whole matter seemed incongruous and the Council should be applauded for their pragmatism and leadership. Recall, those that pushed Digre to ask for the meeting were the same ones whose rhetoric included the widening will cause environmental degradation; the Measure A half-cent sales tax money should be spent on a more pressing county program; no one will accept 'our' comments after the EIR is finalized; and, (I'm not making this up)... the project will cause more delays than will it help alleviate when finished.
But let's go a step further in examining the Route 1 widening. One of the more pressing concerns is facilitating movement for emergency vehicles which are delayed in their response. Right now, these delays could be life altering as the nearest major hospital for most of the coast is Seton Medical Center in Daly City.
Without this project, ambulances and other emergency vehicles will continue to experience significant delays during commute times trying to transport patients, including on occasion, having to go north on a south bound lane. (No feedback from the opponents on this point yet.)
If protecting the public health, safety and welfare is not a primary consideration for this project, one would be hard pressed to find a reason more germane for Pacificans. (The improved shoulders on Highway 1 will also provide safety improvements for break downs, collision avoidance and the aforementioned emergency vehicles.)
What happens if the project is not constructed? To use a cliché: it's not rocket science. Air quality dramatically deteriorates as gas consumption escalates. Interestingly though, the facts of the project's environmental protection (implemented as a matter of settled and established law) will fully secure the wetlands (for those with snake and frog issues); plus, as we know, there is no shortage of state and federal oversight agencies to monitor these matters.
So now we'll all ready for the next round in the project's advancement...which will include a speed bump or two as the opponents plan a lawsuit to stop the widening of Highway 1 and/or an initiative designed to do the same thing.
Paul Stewart is Government Affairs Director for the San Mateo County Association of Realtors. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Pacifica Tribune." Note: Photograph from the NBC Bay Area, 9/9/12, "16 year old rescued from Pacifica coast."
Posted by Kathy Meeh
98 comments:
Stewy's assertions of public safety regarding emergency vehicles has been proven a red herring by not only the county emergency co-ordinator that directs all EMT traffic but by our own first responders who have clearly said traffic has not been an issue or caused an EMT call to be late at any time of day, much less been the cause of an in vehicle mortality.
Perhaps Mr. Stewart can do some home work instead of postulating?
Oh look a letter from SAMCAR.
Ka-ching ka-ching.
Postulating? You mean like NIMBY theories about the vast Caltrans-wing conspiracy? Or do you mean like NIMBY ideas that light sequencing will cure all traffic ills?
So Mr. Bray did you go thru every 911 call too see there has not been a case of the EMT's being late to a medical emergency.
This is just more of your puffury!
so when someone dies after a delay on HWY 1, will king of the Scootercons FINALLY admit he is wrong?
Or the Nimby nobee and hippies not saying a word about tunnel cost 500 million and this project on highway 1 being too expensive.
pot kettle black
The reason why they have zero credibility left.
geez, I sure hope Caltrans has plans for the roads on this stretch of the coast. you think a highway engineer doesn't look at the roads thru here and think how to fix them? nothing wrong with planning and you'd have to be naive to deny there's a regional Caltrans vision or fail to see how better roads support the region's growth. or could be you'll say just about anything for the "cause". Caltrans builds in segments, always has. what's wrong with opening the area up? the roads are inadequate and dangerous. pacifica isn't the worst--the worst are those narrow stretches further south where cars park along the narrow roadway-- but this is a logical place to begin the next phase of improvement because it's a population center on the smc coast.
Maybe synchronized lights would help. Particularly in the short term. Is there some reason it shouldn't be looked at? Other than " the cause"? Solving the problem is what's important, right? And there may be more than one solution rolled out.
If we genuinely believe the public safety argument, then how can we not look at the quickest available solution? That's not going to be widening the roadway. Given the opposition to widening and the history of activism on and for the coast, widening that road is a longshot for this decade. The quickest solution may be syncing the lights or some other technology and/or widening the shoulders. These deserve a serious look if the real issue is safety. And if the issue of safety is a real issue then why hasn't council taken an active role for the community? They're just getting around to it now?
Has anyone ever that of doing A "Big Dig" like Boston. Bury a six lane freeway, that has portals near Sea Bowl and the police station. Create above a two lane service road. Additioinal green area where the other two lanes were. Create viaducts inside the underground expressway on the south bound side that would lead to and from the Quarry to enhance access from the surface level @ the Reina Del Mar Intersection. Just asking....
Didn't the Big Dig take 50 years to complete? It is complete, yes? Time wise, it could be a toss-up. You may be on to something.
Oh yes, access to the quarry. 504 you so funny.
Big Dig took 25 years, cost 20 BILLION and had cost over runs of almost 200% and it leaks. Even Pacifica might not be able to effupp that much. We'd try but there are limits. Hey, could we include a library in that?
For another mega-project, seemingly without end, check out Dulles International.
@457 We don't genuinely believe the public safety issue so changing the lights isn't going to do it. Want a wider road and growth for Pacifica and proud of it!
Finally an honest Anon not caught up in political BS. Thank you Anon @ 5:41. I respect your honest opinion. I feel completely different, but that is no secret.
Now if we could just get some Nobies to admit that they don't want the highway widened because they don't want economic development.
I don't want the highway widened because it's a dumb idea that will hurt local business. Talk to some of the business people in the area, especially those on the east side of the highway.
So, I have to ask again, dear fellow ghosts: Where is the evidence that emergency vehicles have been delayed by the configuration of the highway?
It's utter crap, a figment, used to create the only six-lane segment of Highway 1 in the state of California.
652 Of course it's crap. The boys in blue have emotional crowd appeal. Always a go-to when your argument is based on personal financial gain, for example in the case of SAMCAR. And being against the highway widening is not the same as saying the traffic congestion problem does not desperately need improvement, nor, is it being anti-economic development. Plenty of people see the extension of a "freeway" through the heart of another section of Pacifica as the end of small business in that section and a disaster for the economically critical Rockaway business district.
@652 It would be the first, but certainly not the last, 6-lane segment of Hiway 1 in CA. No engineering degree required to figure that out. And that's what the real fight will be about.
"Where is the evidence that emergency vehicles have been delayed by the configuration of the highway?" Anonymous 6:52 PM
Funny thing, the dead and maimed don't speak. A 3 minutes delay for paramedics and fire trucks getting to critical citizen care may make the difference between life and death, so stop playing word games with people's lives.
Also, the extra 1.3 mile highway 1 lanes are access and exit lanes only, you know fix the 20 year highway bottleneck in Pacifica. Those lanes are similar to the access and exit lanes on Westborough Blvd leading up to Skyline Blvd. Here's a map. You may see the transition best by driving up the hill from South San Francisco to Pacifica.
" It would be the first, but certainly not the last, 6-lane segment of Hiway 1 in CA." Anonymous 7:52 PM
If true, its a brainless defense. And, again these lanes within the 1.3 mile bottleneck area allow highway 1 access and exit.
All those silent dead and maimed and even the garden-variety impatient commuters deserve a quick fix if one's available. Council has light synchronization demos scheduled with vendors this month, I believe. Fingers-crossed, because the controversial highway-widening alternative is a decade or more away and it may become something other than widening. Can safety wait?
Kathy, a lot of people find the idea of six lane highways along the coast objectionable. Same types that delayed the tunnel more than 20 years and ultimately changed it from a bypass to a tunnel. For the most part, just like you, they understand how it works and everything it would mean to the coast, good and bad. They just don't want it.
I'm a NIMBY and I have zero experience in this, but I know that light synchronization will solve all our problems because i stayed in a Holiday Inn!
Anon 8:40 PM, there is no way to know how many people who have had a medical emergency got care fast enough. Where's the data? So the comments covering that say 20 years are pure speculation.
As for fixing the highway 1 bottleneck, any of the above improvements are appreciated-- plus widen the highway to accommodate the access and exit lanes within the 1.3 miles. That's just common sense.
The only thing controversial, Anon 8:51 PM, is the merit of your anti-highway 1 widening comments, a project which you and your NIMBY friends find objectionable. City council majority members (about 20 years), Caltrans, all my friends, and those who actually travel the highway disagree with you.
FMV, the tunnel is a nice updated 20th century addition to the coast. I would have preferred the 10 year to build, half price 4-lane with access and exit turn-offs highway bypass, plus separate bike lanes. Oh, but that's just me. And that's just a less complicated, efficient idea-- you know, fix it and move on.
Uh, so where's the evidence, my fellow ghosts, of any emergency vehicle ever being delayed by the present highway configuration?
You haven't got any evidence, do you? Maybe this highway widening is about something else.
@945 Let me guess. You're a consultant hired by this city. I knew it. And definitely not one that was state-mandated or for which we'll be reimbursed. Hope you enjoy the breakfast buffet. Chow down!
Check out the new traffic light technology first. If it can improve the traffic flow--and if that is really the goal-- then the problem is "fixed and we can move on". If not, the lawyers are going to make a lot of money over the next ten or 15 years and nothing will change.
1011 Of course it's about something else. You thought it was about those "silent dead and maimed" or some other invented demographic? It's about growth and money. More houses built and sold, more services, more. Some want it that way, some don't. Life on the coast.
We have no proof or any kind of motive, but we NIMBYs are absolutely certain that Caltrans has some nefarious scheme to build a raceway along the coastside.
"Uh, so where's the evidence, my fellow ghosts, of any emergency vehicle ever being delayed by the present highway configuration?"
So you're saying that since it hasn't happened yet, it won't happen in the future?
"Maybe this highway widening is about something else." Anonymous 10:11 PM
Uh, apparently for you it is "about something else". Seemingly its about you advancing BS under Anonymous name. Proof, your comment goes back to duh.
When you, your family member, your neighbor, your friend need paramedic/fire department services, you better hope one gets there quickly. Otherwise you might be a "ghost", rather than an Anonymous NIMBY.
Thank you, anonymous posters, for solving all our problems by proposing light synchronization. Please post your credentials again, so we don't have to toss your recommendations out of the window again.
"So you're saying that since it hasn't happened yet, it won't happen in the future?" Steve Sinai, 4/20, 11:29 PM
Well, Anonymous 4/20, 10:11 PM, to claim paramedic/firefighter delays have not happened on highway 1 (or elsewhere for that matter), would require your proof. After all, first responder timing depends upon traffic conditions, location, distance, overlapping emergencies, etc. "Stuff happens".
Such data or records do not seem realistic, or accessible to the public. And individual confirmation might exist in paramedic, ambulance, hospital emergency room, physician, patient medical records. However, these private record sources are not available to the public. So where did you say you got your proof that no highway 1 paramedic/firefighter delays to medical emergencies had happen?
Oh the horror! If Council finds that synchronizing the traffic lights solves the problem, what will become of us? And them?
Kathy, it requires proof from you. The county coodinators office is one phone call away. Call and ask them if the data supports your imaginary reality of EMT service vehicles. It doesn't.
Todd
You can almost say everyone who passed away could have been saved had the EMT's got there 5 minutes earlier. Its all coulda woulda shoulda.
Had it been you that needed emergency care, you would be screaming for the highway to be fixed.
Quit being a hyprocite.
The noobees nimby's and hippies never bring in facts to support the argument. They just keep throwing out crap against the wall to see what sticks.
Not one of them said a word about Whole Energy's little failed bio-diesel experiment, due to the fact that queen hippie Nancy Hall, and Vreeland, King of the hippies were a big part of it.
show us the proof, the proof the proof we demand the proof.
Oh and the hippies noobees and nimby's never address the tunnel project as being too expensive 500 million dollars but Highway 1 improvements are too expensive.
zero facts+zero backup to statements=zero credibility!!
where is bray's credibility? when has he ever said something productive? has he pulled all the EMT logs to gauge response times? the police logs?
No, as usual he says things he wants to believe are true, then makes up cute names for people who disagree with him.
Dear Rantanon, dreams, every thing your are believing is true is purely in your head. When truth is presented to you you close your eyes ears and mind to it. From Kathy to Steve to all you (no more than 3 people) Rant/Drama?Redherring/Brownshirtanons, it makes no difference. You are incapable of accepting truth if that truth does not fit your imagined reality or your sense of entitlement.
To coin a phrase... you all need to grow up, extensively... until you do your reality will be your prison. Please, be well.
Todd has run out of arguments and given up.
".. it requires proof from you." Todd 4/21/13, 2:30 AM
Nope, this was a "time isn't everything" emergency care myth advanced from you. FMV anything that blocks first responders getting to an emergency is problematic. But that's just common logic, ask those at the Boston Marathon. (A bit too graphic, but you seem to need a visual picture).
Fixing the long standing Vallemar/Rockaway highway 1 traffic bottle neck (which blocks and stalls traffic) is presented to us in the form of a final DEIR from Caltrans and the County right now. Not in past years, not in future years, but right now (probably May or June, 2013). Take this opportunity to update the one highway only through our city. Pacificans and coastsiders must drive to work and for other reasons.
And don't forget, our coastal cities lack economic balance with too much land transferred into permanent open space. So there will be lawsuits to block this needed highway 1 improvement? That will just drive up cost. Isn't cost a complaint from the same eco-NIMBY factions? Such counter productive measures seem confusing, but I'm optimistic that progress will prevail.
"Not one of them said a word about Whole Energy's little failed bio-diesel experiment"
Not true, many of those opposed to the widening were against the biodiesel plant, most notably Todd Bray. (I personally was in favor of the biodiesel plant)
"the hippies noobees and nimby's never address the tunnel project as being too expensive 500 million dollars but Highway 1 improvements are too expensive."
Also untrue, many of us (including me) lament the ridiculous final price of the Tunnel. Caltrans estimated that the Tunnel would be slightly cheaper than the bypass - the fact that the price eventually ballooned shows just how much you can trust them. We should consider ourselves lucky, Caltrans estimated the Bay Bridge project to cost under a billion, and it is presently at $6.4 billion and counting. If you think the Tunnel cost too much (and it did), you should be very skeptical of anything Caltrans tells you.
seek therapy!
You guys do not understand. You are his enabler. By allowing him to post his bs lies and untruths and fantasies. The noobees nimby's and hippies ruined the city, let it deplete reserves and headed toward bankruptcy.
They have nothing else to say so they send bray out to spread more bs lies and fantasies.
Let's take a hypothetical example. Suppose one were to have a heart attach. A full scale cardiac arrest in front of their house. Let's also suppose that the house in quesion was a few doors up from the corner of Fassler and Hwy 1. Let's also pretend that this event happens at rush hour instead of mid day. Traffic is backed up to Crespi going northbound and past Roberts road trying to get on northbound 1. Emergency personnel cannot reach the home of the person in this pretend scenario. Would that person be happy the highway was fixed to provide rapid response times, or would they be dead? What if this happened in real life?
Again with the "Brownshirtanons" Todd.
Calling people Nazi's really doesn't help your credibility.
As for people actually dying from traffic on highway one we already have statements from EMT workers saying it is a problem. They have said there are delays and widening the highway will help response times.
Sorry, they don't keep statistics on traffic delays as the cause of death but any person with half a brain knows that seconds count when responding to a heart attack, stroke or other emergencies.
Again, I choose to believe professional firefighters who have gone on the record saying the highway should be widened for faster response, over a few people who oppose any kind of progress in this town.
Wasn't a Letter to The Editor posted a few months ago in The Pacifica Tribune from a Vallemar woman whose husband died from a heart attack? In her letter, I believe she cited a 20 minute response time from paramedics,
I don't recall if any of the response time was due to traffic delays or not.
Hutch 1
Bray 0
So, we want to save people's lives, but only if we get to widen the road, and, no, we don't care that we might be able to save them with a quicker, cheaper technology solution that, unlike widening Highway 1, won't be a marathon pitched battle between the ever-ready armies for and against growth on the coast. Got it.
Ian, your as misinformed as these folks regarding my opinion of the bio diesel plant. At issue for me was the way it was pushed through our local planning process.
The CCC Coastal development permit that was awarded contained 18 Conditions of Approval that, for me, addressed all of my concerns about the project.
So please enough with your total disregard for my opinions on anything.
"Your" [sic] making very little sense, Drama.
Todd,
My apology if I inaccurately described your position on the biodiesel refinery. I was responding to a post claiming that none of the widening critics said "a word" critical of the biodiesel plan. You certainly said quite a few critical words about the plan and I was just pointing that out.
But you are guilty of mischaracterizing my position as well, because I by no means have "total disregard" for you opinions, in fact I often find your opinions enlightening, and put effort into understanding them.
It does you and your point of view no good to treat everybody as your enemy. This is a small town and we all need to work together and treat each other with respect.
"So, we want to save people's lives, but only if we get to widen the road, and, no, we don't care that we might be able to save them with a quicker, cheaper technology solution that, unlike widening Highway 1, won't be a marathon pitched battle between the ever-ready armies for and against growth on the coast. Got it."
I'm assuming that the new technology being referred to is the "intelligent" traffic signal timing. The problem with that is it's still new, and thus unproven. It likely works in some cases, and doesn't work in others. I know Caltrans has expressed concerns about maintaining the circuitry with such salty air, which does sound like a legitimate issue.
I would have no problem trying it out if I knew the window of opportunity for widening would stay open during the test. But as everyone knows, and some people are probably counting on, the longer the process goes on, the more likely the window closes and the widening money will be allocated elsewhere.
In reality, the choice will be to try the intelligent traffic signals and forget about widening, even if the signal timing doesn't work; or just go ahead and widen the highway.
Ha, Ian... again, please leave me out of your opinion streams.
The undercapitalized, never been done, flaky biodiesel plant experiment had all the promise of disaster. Never mind it would have been hooked-up to our already struggling waste water treatment plant. My recall is that Todd stood-up against it, whatever the reasons.
Of course Ian makes a good point to treat others with respect, even though we may disagree.
The biodiesl plant would have been left as a half finished shell like the condo's on the top of Fassler Avenue.
The city would have got stuck with the bill to tear it all down.
Adaptive traffic control systems synchronizing the traffic signals are an alternative that needs to be looked at in depth. They're in use in many states and other countries under all kinds of weather conditions--no doubt even in corrosive sea air. They cost far less than widening a road, are less disruptive, and yield results in just a few months.
Regardless of our local decision or Caltrans' plans, it's likely an oversight agency like the CA Coastal Commission will require due diligence and full review of the "technology" alternative before issuing a permit to alter coastal real estate. You know how they are.
Oh bull crap 12:36. Adaptive traffic streams will do nothing to improve safety and access for emergency vehicles.
This is just a tactic by the NOBY's to derail this project which is moving forward. The money is there. We've needed this fix for 30 years. And now that it's happening you want to suggest all these fruity ideas?
On another note it's good to see the NIMBY's NOBY's and HIPPIES arguing amongst themselves in public. It shows futile desperation.
Anonymous@12:36PM = artist who has never taken a traffic engineering class in their life.
The delay on Reina Del Mar was because of a home being built and the worker's trucks were blocking RDM. The EMT'scould not drive around the worker's trucks. That is why you see signs on the south side of RDM saying no parking within five feet of the road. The delay was not caused by highway 1.
451 You're the one who sounds desperate and ignorant. If you are honestly worried about saving lives, why would you oppose responsible inquiry into new technology that could possibly provide a traffic solution many years sooner than any road-widening? Bring yourself up-to-date. Do a little research.
You are motivated by saving lives, aren't you? You say you are.
@745 Speaking of the artistic, you sly devil, I bet you inspired those new Caltrans signs, "Neanderthal Crossing".
Yes, anon, you were the muse.
Must have been something about the way you drag your knuckles, I guess.
45 minutes to get from Linda Mar Blvd & Highway 1 to Fairmont yesterday at 3 pm. BTW traffic backed up to Manor Drive on the way back. And the clowns in town think this is ok. BTW there was no accident or stall just traffic.
I was in that traffic around 5:30. Funny thing was, the congestion cleared up completely before you got to the Vallemar light. Widening the highway between Vallemar and Rockaway would do nothing to reduce that congestion.
Nobody's saying there isn't traffic. What they're saying is widening between Vallemar and Rockaway is a dumb idea that won't help and will hurt instead. Let's get rid of the Vallemar light with an overpass.
A combination of commuter traffic and beach traffic. You fixers say you want business, but not if it interferes with your personal comfort. I guess looking at SPGC and the ocean isn't compensation enough for that missed sitcom is it, Big Banker?
Brilliant Big Banker, you are brilliant! Next time you want to help the cause, don't.
"Let's get rid of the Vallemar light with an overpass."
Yes, and let's give every little girl in Pacifica a pony. What part of WE CAN'T AFFORD A REAL FIX don't you understand? With funding for the PRC questionable, let's just take what we can get from Caltrans.
@506 Keep your pony and put down your drum. The PRC is funded and, BTW, its funding has nothing to do with Caltrans or the highway issue. The obvious and right solution on highway 1 has always been an overpass at Vallemar. You've said so yourself. This being Pacifica, Caltrans would like us to settle for the low rent, screw your hillbilly town, highway widening. If the synchronized light system isn't a fix and it probably isn't, then we need to push hard for a better engineering solution than widening that road. That better solution has always been an overpass. We either fight for it here in Pacifica or we can expect the same lengthy regional battle that turned the bypass into a tunnel. If that happens you can throw all those cost estimates out the window--smart thing to do where Caltrans is concerned anyhow. Let's just do it right for once in this town. Overpass.
What part of the Caltrans widening don't you understand? They estimate the cost of widening at $50 million and the overpass at $50-70 million. Both figures are of course probably much lower than the actual cost would be. But they're irrelevant. There's no funding to complete either alternative anyway. Let's hope for widening the shoulders for better emergency access.
Nonsense 641. Who's going to pay for your Band-Aid no fix at all solution? You really need to do your homework on the process involved once Caltrans gets involved. Don't be so eager to accept scraps. This town is
entitled to benefit from regional infrastructure projects using public funds. That's not some cul de sac back in Park Pacifica. It's part of the coastal highway with regional significance.
I seem to remember the overpass being rejected because cost two or three times as much as the widening.
That seems high. It was definitely quite a bit more but not 2x or 3x. All just estimates and certain to be revised upward. The longer the discussion goes on the higher the cost will go. Protracted opposition to widening the highway could even bring the cost of that option well above the cost of an overpass if that less controversial option were chosen sooner. IMO, the overpass has always been the better solution for reasons ranging from less disruption to less likely to rally the opposition to drag this out. Fingers-crossed but by no means optimistic that the right choice will be made allowing the problem to be solved before it's Lark Scooter time for most of us on here.
"I seem to remember the overpass being rejected because cost two or three times as much as the widening." Wrong.
"a total cost of $51.6 million for the Landscaped Median Build Alternative." DEIR p. 20.
"The estimated construction cost for this alternative [grade separation] is approximately $50-$65 million." DEIR p. 33.
They are roughly similar in cost, but only the grade separation alternative will permanently and completely eliminate the congestion by eliminating the traffic light at Vallemar.
Do your homework, then come back and play.
Devil Slid tunnel cost $500 million and the hippies noobees and nimby's never said a word.
Pot Kettle black
The Caltrans grade separation alternative needlessly included a pedestrian overpass which jacked the price up beyond the cost of the widening. The widening would more than double the width of the highway, making it difficult for pedestrians to cross in time, and complicating the signal timing, so if any alternative needed a pedestrian overpass it would be the widening.
Walkway in Vallemar? Or replace the existing walkway?
Btw the dirt berm in Vallemar across the highway from Ash's Vallemar station was built for an overpass for the 380 project.
A Vallamar pedestrian walkway was also considered for the widening proposal but nixed for cost.
A lot of public safety issues revolving around the widening alternative were nixed for cost like a sound wall to protect the neighborhood of East Rockaway. The DEIR says that noise levels are currently high enough to compel Caltrans to build a protective sound wall shielding Harvey way and the neighborhood behind it from current highway noise.
This claim of public safety concerns here on Fix by the Rant/Drama/Redherring/Brownshirtanons is utter bunk. Caltrans has stated in it's DEIR that public safety is too expensive for them.
Except for the growth inducing impacts the widening will ensure, like a entry road for the acreage next to the Luthren church and the handful of property owners sitting on scraps of land waiting to sell to Caltrans for the widening (estimated at over five million for 1.2 acres) there is absolutely no benefit to the city from this project except the billing the city will submit to Caltrans for staff hours during the two year construction schedule.
Certainly public safety will not be a city benefit of this project. Caltrans has made that quite clear in the DEIR.
The highway sound increase was deemed "insignificant", Todd. See CEQA back of the report. The benefit is efficient automobile access and exit lanes to offset the existing 20 year bottleneck in that area. It progress, Todd.
As for cost, you and your friends have done everything to keep this city dirt poor. The highway 1 fix will be efficient. Want something more fancy next time, think about economic development to bring this city all the way up to "average".
I wonder what the gang of No will do once the city files bankruptcy?
Probably blame it on Caltrans, or the State, County or look to find blame.
I am still waiting for the list of 80 business that will close if the caltrans project starts?
Kathy, Ms Redherring Queen, the sound right now today generated by the highway has been "deemed" so high that it qualifies for a sound wall. Post project levels whether significantly higher or not will still be too high.
This fictitious gang of no... or as I like to call it Brownshirting those you disagree with is a healthy creation of yours full of levity and mirth.
The reason/reasons why you are allowed to post on this site mystifies me.
I bet the reason/reasons why you are allowed to post on here is, you owe the blogmaster/blogmasters money!
They are assuring you pay them back.
An overpass is the best solution for Pacifica. For Pacifica. The reaction it gets on here is hilarious and typical Pacifica. We'd rather grind the ax and settle scores than look for the best solution for this town we claim to care so much about. Cutting off our nose to spite our face has always been big in this town. We really are doomed.
No one expects Pacifica to handle Caltrans. That battle will be handled by others who understand what is at stake and what is possible. Same folks and organizations who turned a bypass into a tunnel to protect the coast.
I'm happy to see that battle fought if it means a better solution for Pacifica and I don't care who leads that fight. Council passed on the opportunity. It's probably just as well.
Thanks to time the cost comparison of a grade separation or round a bouts or any number of other non construction alternatives like busing, carpooling, staggered attendance times at local schools and smart Samtrans bus routes that provide for a targeted ridership the widening idea is truly the least effective for the money.
Not to worry folks. The idea of leaving something this important in the hands of Pathetica scares the crap out of people who care about this coast and that includes the future of Pacifica. This town's dysfunction is well-known. Let the adults handle it. It may take a while, but so be it. We had our chance and blew it.
With all due respect, Todd, these solutions that require behavioral changes from people are impractical. Dubious about synchronizing the lights being a solution but love surprises! An engineering fix at Vallemar is probably required. Agree with you and so many others that widening the road is not a solution for traffic congestion. Suspect that for some who support widening, it's a handy way to accomplish an entirely different goal.
518-521 lay off the schnapps.
Yes Anon 645, thank God Pacifica has no say so in this. Caltrans will do what they do and we will get a safer wider less congested road and the hippie nimby's will have a hissy fit.
Irish alcholanon is the real problem here not brownshirtanons. How dare you call people nazis.
@714 you'll have decades to dream about that. make it as wide and fancy as you want because the dream may be all you ever have.
You don't think Santa Cruz and Marin have more hippie nimby's? Caltrans is used to dealing with these people. Don't worry it will be done.
Yes, yes, of course, but on your way to your secret thrill in Santa Cruz you might notice that you're traveling through a tunnel instead of the bypass that Caltrans had in mind for Devil's Slide. Some 25 years ago people, most of whom you'd describe as hippies, etc., decided Caltrans' original plan wasn't good enough for the coast. They were willing to fight about it. Well, they're rested, seasoned, energetic, and ready to go again.
Time will tell "what will be done."
I'd be happy to as soon as I stop laughing over your inclusion of Cal Hinton on this list. Genius!
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