I do not support the 4-lane freeway Willits bypass project in Northern California. There are several misleading descriptions and actual errors in the nomination packet for the 4-lane freeway Willits bypass project.
The nomination implies that the congestion on Highway 101 through Willits is caused by interregional traffic. In fact, Cal Trans' own studies indicate that Willits local traffic accounts for 70-80% of the traffic in Willits. The nomination packet states that "community cohesion", "walkability" and "livability" will flow to Willits as a result of building a 4-lane freeway bypass. These two pieces of information, at best, indicate a lack of clarity and logic.
It is my belief, based on living in Willits since 1984, that many Willits residents are concerned about the traffic within Willits and want relief. Interregional traffic volumes have remained flat since 1989, while locally generated congestion has grown. A 4-lane freeway bypass will divert local STIP funds from much needed local projects.
I don't understand the logic employed here that Willits "needs" a 4-lane freeway bypass when:
- there is no provision made to deal with the interregional traffic that flows within Willits from Highway 101 to Highway 20 towards the coast
- there is NO planning ever to widen Highway 101 north of Willits due to environmental and topography of the area
- Duration of Peak Period
- Number of Traffic Lanes with and without the project
- Project Length in miles
- Average Daily Traffic Figures
- Percent of Truck Traffic
- Accident Data (due to the error in project length and location)
IN ADDITION, the COST PROJECTIONS WERE LEFT BLANK !!! I find this to be astounding, and reason alone to deny this nomination. This nomination is being submitted with glaring errors, omissions and inaccurate information.
Cal Trans is using a 4.1% inflation rate for construction costs. Industry sources predict, a best possible scenario of 12-14% inflation rate for materials and fuel. If industry rates are accurate, this 4-lane freeway project cannot be built with either the $150 million or the $177 million CMIA fund requested.
PLEASE use your authority and wisdom to deny this project and do NOT agree to approve a project that wastes taxpayer money and cannot be completed without enormous, and possibly prohibitive costs increases.
2 comments:
Money spent on this boondoggle will be wasted; the bypass isn't likely to be finished. Ever.
We can put public transportation funds to good use by expanding bus and jitney service, which will have a real benefit in reducing congestion and helping the people of Willits meet their needs.
The California Transportation Commission releases funds for these projects.
http://www.catc.ca.gov/
Contact CTC
1120 N Street
Room 2221 (MS-52)
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (916) 654-4245
FAX: (916) 653-2134
Do we have to protest everything in this town?
Removing the heavy truck traffic from downtown will benefit everyone who lives here and making Main St. more walker friendly will benefit the downtown merchants.
If more merchants decide to locate themselves in downtown, more jobs are created and the downtown will become more attractive to tourists. Tourists bring money and stay in hotels and eat at restaurants and shop at stores - all providing more jobs for Willits residents and encouraging more entrepreneurs to open up shop, thereby producing even MORE jobs for local residents.
We don't have to become activists about every single thing. Some government decisions are actually beneficial (hard to believe for some, I know!)
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