by Brendan P. Bartholomew
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| Brendan P. Bartholomew/Special to The S.F. Examiner |
Pacifica residents are feuding over the question of whether a short section of Highway 1 should be widened in order to alleviate traffic congestion.
On one side of the debate are residents who say they're fed up with bumper-to-bumper traffic jams they encounter on the coastal highway during commute times, and officials who say the road's lack of adequate shoulders and medians creates safety hazards. Opposing them are residents and officials who say the proposed project could destroy the city's small-town charm, doesn't address pedestrian safety issues, and might not end up relieving congestion.
Officially known as the Calera Parkway Project, the proposed alterations would add an additional lane of traffic in each direction to a 1.3-mile section of Highway 1 between Shark Park and Rockaway Beach. North of this section of roadway, the Pacific Coast Highway has freeway on-ramps and off-ramps, and a 55 mph speed limit. In the affected area, however, the highway resembles a city street, with the speed limit dropping to 45 mph and intersections allowing pedestrians to cross the road. The Caltrans project would cost about $52 million, and would be paid for with Measure A funds.
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Posted by Steve Sinai
36 comments:
Join PH1A. General meetings are the 4th Thursday of every month at 7PM at the Sharp Park Library in Pacifica. The next meetings are scheduled on March 27th, April 17th, May 15th, June 20th, July 24th, and August 28th. Committees include Steering, Outreach, Liaison, and Alternatives to the Widening
One more reporter who is understating the projects impacts on Pacifica. It's not just a lane north and south, it's all the additional infrastructure that the project will need like retaining walls to allow the construction over what is now thin air, that makes the project twice it's current width.
If would be nice to have an article posted here that is an honest journalistic look at the project not just another fluff piece.
851, no thanks.
BTW, after two months, the anti-highway widening petitions included only 834 Pacificans. Never mind, there is no Plan B. And if there were a theoretical Plan B (after 20 years of non-start), there is no funding. After several years of authorized research, the highway widening is the best plan, and the funding is available now. PH1A NIMBIES, its over, have a party at your meeting; the city must move forward without you.
About the petition, I counted 1,322 signatures, 238 or 18% Oakland. Amazing how your Oakland friends care so much about the highway through our city. Or should I say, your Oakland friends don't care about the traffic congestion through our city-- and neither do you. Tell us the "alternative" truth: no plan, no money, no improvement, no vision. The usual, more of the same.
Todd 952, welcome to the 21st century, we have people, and we have traffic.
9:52
Back over to Riptide.
A question regarding the post of 8:51 am. Does anyone else find it disingenuous to post under Anonymous to foster a cause you so strongly support?
Anon 8:51 - I tried to attend but the last time I was stuck in traffic and couldn't get there on time. So I decided widening isn't such a bad idea.
No problema. We signed for ya!
In other unreported Pacifica News. The Meyerhoff vs Mudler feud took another step into court. Meyerhoff filed a harassment restraining order and it was granted. Meyerhoff got Karen Ervin and Courtney Conlon to vouch for him.
Resident goes to the city to get help in ongoing problem only to have city council testify against him in court.
Classy move council.
The writer Bartholomew mentions that the speed limit north of the proposed Calera Parkway is currently 55 mph as compared to 45mph from Fairway Park to Rockaway. Does a part of the widening call for increasing the speed limit to 55mph?
No changes to the speed limit.
Contrary to what those opposed to the widening are saying, it's not being turned into a freeway. The traffic lights will still be there.
651 "Vouch" in what way? It's a nasty boil. JMO but elected officials should just make sure the city is doing right and not take sides. Who told Ervin to do this? The Chamber is the Chamber. Meyerhoff's paid his dues.
Anonymous 6:51 You don't even know half the story of what's going on so you really should not continue to show your stupidity by this post but it's ok because you posted under anonymous so no one can hold you accountable.
Ms. Porter, share your half? Not all anonymi are the same and some want to know what's behind this odd situation.
Porter's right. Move on. This stream is about highway one, not your perverse interest in a situation that has nothing to do with anything. Go home and go away.
Oh Pea. Think I met you on a playground once.
Wasn't interested in 651 before but I am now. Another chapter in the Pacifica Nut Chronicles?
Many of the Pacifica so called busy bodies think they carry an offical capacity inside the city, in realty they are just another big mouthed blabber mouth.
Just a very quick hit and run comment. Chicken shit if you ask me.
This Mudler vs Meyerhoff will come back and bite the city in the ass just like everything else.
Karen and Courtney had no reason to testify against a citizen vs business dispute.
Pathetic.
Karen Ervin is an elected official. Is she representing the city in this? Is that somehow a troublesome question? Anything she does is open to public scrutiny and she should know that. I don't believe she'd ever do anything unethical but questions are valid and clumsy attempts to discourage them work like a red flag. Couldn't care less what the chamber does but very interested in what public officials lend their name to and why.
May 17 6:33 Anonymous Again, you have no idea what you are talking about so the continuation of your stupidity is confusing to me but again you post under anonymous so no accountability. If you all want to know the truth, ask Bill Meyerhoff. It's his story to tell.
I totally agree with Chris Porter, you should never believe anything an anonymous poster says!
911 We've got to keep it simple. Count me in!
Yeah sure let's throw a 40+ year Pacifica business under the bus because a whiney new neighbor makes up facts and refuses to compromise. Bill Meyerhoff and the courts have tried to appease Mudler, but he is not willing. The city council SHOULD be defending a long time business. Mudler moved in well knowing of an auto shop in his back yard. There has found to be no loud noise as he claims. And an agreement in the courts to build a sound wass was turned down. Mudler is obviously not stable. If you have any doubt take a drive behind Walgreens and check out the big billboard he has in his back yard. This is true NIMBY issue. Mudler doesn't want a long time business in his back yard.
He claims to have severe hearing loss.
Then 929 he shouldn't be bothered by any noise if he's almost deaf. BTW no other neighbors, (even ones that are much closer than Mr Mudler) have any problems with Seaview Tire & Brake. This is a case of harassment and I hope Bill goes after this guy for damages.
This is what lawyers are for. Everybody get one and head on down to court. You, too, City of Pacifica.
The guy goes into city hall for help to try to settle a dispute, and city hall sends a council member who has nothing to do with the dispute to testify against him.
Sounds like a crock of shit to me.
City Hall tried to help Mudler many times. They helped him get a compromise. The Judge ruled. But the guy wouldn't have it. He's a crackpot that just wants Seaview Tire shut down. The court ruled against him in 2008 and he continues to harass employees of Seaview.
Tell me why a council member shouldn't stand up for an upstanding Pacifica business over a whacko with an axe to grind who's been told by a judge he has no case?
You sound like a crock anon 1248. Why don't you put your real name on that or stfu.
I've known Bill Meyerhoff for over 30 years. He's a good man who loves this city. He operates with the highest integrity and has gone out of his way to appease this nutcase.
Again another anonymous at 12:48..You are again completely off base.....
2:30
Medler not Mudler!
Sounds like Meyerhoff's on the side of the angels. What's he need the City for? Credibility? Legitimacy? OK, then the Chamber makes sense but the City? Really?
544, well it seems there was a lawsuit settlement, 11/20/10, which may have indicated "game over" then.
Speculating, if sound is the main issue, could be that Roger Medler's house location receives more noise from Bill Meyerhoff's business than other neighborhood houses. Roger is hard of hearing, which may or may not be a related issue.
544, you brought-up City involvement. So why didn't Roger Medler name the City in his original lawsuit?
Good question Kathy. Since the city appears to have ditched the role of impartial listener/mediator for something more partisan, Medler may get around to us. Thanks for the link and info to the cases.
There's a lot more to this than any of you know. And when you do I think you'll see why the city went against this guy.
When's the reveal for this covert city operation?
11:02
The covert program the city of Pacifica is working on is called.
Chapter 9
630 Edward Snowden you ain't and bankrupt we aren't. We did however take the prize for inept and inert local government. Zombie Council is a hit!
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