Should Highway 1 Should Highway 1 be widened? be widened?
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Should Highway 1Should Highway 1
be widened?be widened?
Caltrans BrochureCaltrans Brochure
The County RegionalThe County Regional
TransportationTransportation
Commission (RTC) plansCommission (RTC) plans
an eight-lane wideningan eight-lane widening
project from Santa Cruzproject from Santa Cruz
to Aptos, including newto Aptos, including new
HOV (High OccupancyHOV (High Occupancy
Vehicle) through lanes, and exit-to-exitVehicle) through lanes, and exit-to-exit
““auxiliary” lanes. The currently estimatedauxiliary” lanes. The currently estimated
cost = $640 million.cost = $640 million.
Soquel Ave. to Morrissey Blvd. is aSoquel Ave. to Morrissey Blvd. is a
segment within the proposed HOVsegment within the proposed HOV
lanes project limits.lanes project limits.
In 2004, county voters defeatedIn 2004, county voters defeated
Measure J, a sales tax measure toMeasure J, a sales tax measure to
widen the highway. It required awiden the highway. It required a
2/3 vote to pass, but was defeated2/3 vote to pass, but was defeated
with a “no” vote of 57% county-with a “no” vote of 57% county-
wide, being approved by only 43%,wide, being approved by only 43%,
far less than the required 2/3.far less than the required 2/3.
Despite the vote against theDespite the vote against the
widening, the Regional widening, the Regional
Transportation Commission began Transportation Commission began
widening the highway in segments.widening the highway in segments.
The The first segmentfirst segment was was
completed (except forcompleted (except for
the landscaping) inthe landscaping) in
2008.2008.
Soquel/Morrissey is the Soquel/Morrissey is the second segmentsecond segment..
La Fonda Bridge would be lengthened toLa Fonda Bridge would be lengthened to
provide space for the full eight lanes. Allprovide space for the full eight lanes. All
the trees and shrubs would be removed,the trees and shrubs would be removed,
and replaced by walls of concrete.and replaced by walls of concrete.
Caltrans is jumping the gun.Caltrans is jumping the gun.
Caltrans is jumping the gun.Caltrans is jumping the gun.
Soquel/Morrissey is a segment of the total Soquel/Morrissey is a segment of the total
project.project.
Caltrans is jumping the gun.Caltrans is jumping the gun.
Soquel/Morrissey is a segment of the total Soquel/Morrissey is a segment of the total
project.project.
The Environmental Impact Report for the The Environmental Impact Report for the
total project is not due to be released until total project is not due to be released until
2013.2013.
Caltrans is jumping the gun.Caltrans is jumping the gun.
Soquel/Morrissey is a segment of the total Soquel/Morrissey is a segment of the total
project.project.
The Environmental Impact Report for the The Environmental Impact Report for the
total project is not due to be released until total project is not due to be released until
2013.2013.
Caltrans has issued an environmental Caltrans has issued an environmental
Negative Declaration for Soquel/Morrissey.Negative Declaration for Soquel/Morrissey.
Caltrans is jumping the gun.Caltrans is jumping the gun.
Soquel/Morrissey is a segment of the total Soquel/Morrissey is a segment of the total
project.project.
The Environmental Impact Report for the The Environmental Impact Report for the
total project is not due to be released until total project is not due to be released until
2013.2013.
Caltrans has issued an environmental Caltrans has issued an environmental
Negative Declaration for Soquel/Morrissey.Negative Declaration for Soquel/Morrissey.
Construction is to begin in July, 2011.Construction is to begin in July, 2011.
Jumping the gun is illegal.Jumping the gun is illegal.
California law clearly states that the environmentalCalifornia law clearly states that the environmental
study of a total project must not be segmented instudy of a total project must not be segmented in
order to avoid analysis of the overall projectorder to avoid analysis of the overall project
impacts.impacts.
In October, 2009:In October, 2009:
The lawsuit requests the court to stop theThe lawsuit requests the court to stop the
Soquel/Morrissey Project until the EnvironmentalSoquel/Morrissey Project until the Environmental
Impact Report for the total Highway 1 project isImpact Report for the total Highway 1 project is
completed, with full consideration of alternatives.completed, with full consideration of alternatives.
When a highway is When a highway is widened:widened:
The new capacityThe new capacity
allows people toallows people to
live farther fromlive farther from
work, generatingwork, generating
new trips andnew trips and
longer trips.longer trips.
When a highway is When a highway is widened:widened:
New cars fill up the space (Generated Traffic).New cars fill up the space (Generated Traffic).
When a highway is widened from 4 to 6 lanes,When a highway is widened from 4 to 6 lanes,
this graph shows what happens to each sidethis graph shows what happens to each side
of the highway if the demand grows at 2%of the highway if the demand grows at 2%
per year:per year:
Historically, demand on Highway 1 has grownHistorically, demand on Highway 1 has grown
at 6% per year.at 6% per year.
Thus, any congestion relief resultingThus, any congestion relief resulting
from adding lanes to Highway 1 isfrom adding lanes to Highway 1 is
not likely to last for more than fivenot likely to last for more than five
years. Caltrans does not account foryears. Caltrans does not account for
Generated TrafficGenerated Traffic, even though its, even though its
existence is well-studied andexistence is well-studied and
documented.documented.
How is congestion reliefHow is congestion relief
like the melting of ice?like the melting of ice?
IceIce WaterWater➡➡
Near the freezing point, only a smallNear the freezing point, only a small
temperature change is needed totemperature change is needed to
transform ice to water. It's a phasetransform ice to water. It's a phase
transition.transition.
Likewise, when a highway is atLikewise, when a highway is at
capacity, only a small reductioncapacity, only a small reduction
in the number of vehicles isin the number of vehicles is
needed to relieve congestion.needed to relieve congestion.
It's also a phase transition. It's also a phase transition.
Congestion Congestion Free-flow traffic Free-flow traffic➡➡
Congestion Congestion Free-flow traffic Free-flow traffic➡➡
One way to reduce the number ofOne way to reduce the number of
vehicles is to install ramp metering,vehicles is to install ramp metering,
but ramp meters have not beenbut ramp meters have not been
analyzed for Highway 1.analyzed for Highway 1.
What the Campaign stands for:What the Campaign stands for: Transportation investments that Transportation investments that
make non-auto travel safe, attractive make non-auto travel safe, attractive and convenient:and convenient:
What the Campaign stands for:What the Campaign stands for: Transportation investments that Transportation investments that
make non-auto travel safe, attractive make non-auto travel safe, attractive and convenient:and convenient:
A better bus systemA better bus system Improved bikeways and routesImproved bikeways and routes A better rail systemA better rail system Implementation of ride-sharingImplementation of ride-sharing Walkable, livable communitiesWalkable, livable communities Reduced greenhouse gas emissionsReduced greenhouse gas emissions
Providing better mobility Providing better mobility
is essential for a viable is essential for a viable
transportation system.transportation system.
Some bus routes, like the UCSC routesSome bus routes, like the UCSC routes
and the 17 Express shown above, areand the 17 Express shown above, are
overloaded.overloaded.
Over 145 “Rails withOver 145 “Rails with
Trails” exist in the U.S.Trails” exist in the U.S.
They are popular, andThey are popular, and
extremely safe.extremely safe.
Our rail line is an idealOur rail line is an ideal
candidate.candidate.
Improved bikeways and routesImproved bikeways and routes
would increase bike commuting.would increase bike commuting.
Acquiring our rail line will allow it toAcquiring our rail line will allow it to
be used for transporting passengersbe used for transporting passengers
in addition to freight.in addition to freight.
Safe Routes to SchoolSafe Routes to School
A lifetime ofA lifetime of
being active canbeing active can
begin on the waybegin on the way
to school.to school.
Safe routes to school will allowSafe routes to school will allow
people not to drive.people not to drive.
Ride-sharing ProgramsRide-sharing Programs
Santa Cruz-based RideSpring reducesSanta Cruz-based RideSpring reduces
solo-drive commuting with carpoolsolo-drive commuting with carpool
matching and alternative commutematching and alternative commute
incentives.incentives.
Walkable CommunitiesWalkable Communities
Many communitiesMany communities
are working toare working to
make their spacesmake their spaces
more walkable, andmore walkable, and
therefore moretherefore more
livable.livable.Athens, GeorgiaAthens, Georgia
Walkable communities reduce car trips.Walkable communities reduce car trips.
In a well planned In a well planned
community, people don't community, people don't
feel forced to drive.feel forced to drive.
But the RTC's Top Priority But the RTC's Top Priority
is for Highway Wideningis for Highway Widening
As long as the top fundingAs long as the top funding
priority is for highwaypriority is for highway
widening, we won't be ablewidening, we won't be able
to achieve a well plannedto achieve a well planned
community.community.
Popular opinion supportsPopular opinion supports
sustainable transportation:sustainable transportation:
““We must accept that global warming is a problemWe must accept that global warming is a problem
and should have long term planning in Santa Cruzand should have long term planning in Santa Cruz
County that will result in less individual car use andCounty that will result in less individual car use and
more efficient transportation choices.”more efficient transportation choices.”
Popular opinion supportsPopular opinion supports
sustainable transportation:sustainable transportation:
““We must accept that global warming is a problemWe must accept that global warming is a problem
and should have long term planning in Santa Cruzand should have long term planning in Santa Cruz
County that will result in less individual car use andCounty that will result in less individual car use and
more efficient transportation choices.”more efficient transportation choices.”
Agree = 75%Agree = 75%
““We need to drastically reduce our reliance onWe need to drastically reduce our reliance on
cars in Santa Cruz County, even if doing so iscars in Santa Cruz County, even if doing so is
difficult for us to do today.”difficult for us to do today.”
““We need to drastically reduce our reliance onWe need to drastically reduce our reliance on
cars in Santa Cruz County, even if doing so iscars in Santa Cruz County, even if doing so is
difficult for us to do today.”difficult for us to do today.”
Agree = 59%Agree = 59%
Back to the Campaign's Back to the Campaign's Lawsuit:Lawsuit:
Winning our lawsuit will guide us to aWinning our lawsuit will guide us to a
more sustainable community.more sustainable community.
Our lawsuit will cost a total of $40,000Our lawsuit will cost a total of $40,000
in fees, plus about $6,000 in costs.in fees, plus about $6,000 in costs.
So far we have raised over $43,000So far we have raised over $43,000
from supportive community members.from supportive community members.
We need to complete the job.We need to complete the job.
Please consider helping us Please consider helping us complete the job by making a complete the job by making a donation to the Campaign for donation to the Campaign for
Sensible Transportation.Sensible Transportation.
Just Just click hereclick here to donate. to donate.
ReferencesReferences
A copy of our lawsuit may be found A copy of our lawsuit may be found herehere..
A short video by Peter Calthorpe on A short video by Peter Calthorpe on transit-oriented development may be transit-oriented development may be found found herehere..
Visit Visit RideSpringRideSpring to see a short video about to see a short video about how they provide alternative commute how they provide alternative commute services to employers.services to employers.
More ReferencesMore References
To learn more about Safe Routes to To learn more about Safe Routes to School, click School, click herehere..
To learn more about Generated Traffic, To learn more about Generated Traffic, Latent Demand and Induced Travel, an Latent Demand and Induced Travel, an excellent recent paper is that by Todd excellent recent paper is that by Todd Litman. To obtain a copy, click Litman. To obtain a copy, click herehere..
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