What you really need to know about the widening of Highway 84…
Are you aware CalTrans intends to expand Highway 84 through our community to 6 lanes, and in portions 4 lanes with dedicated heavy truck passing lanes? Even with the traffic signalization, the design speed is still 55 miles per hour.
This expansion is purposeful to encourage greater use of Hwy 84 by commuter and heavy truck traffic that travels between the central valley and Silicon Valley. In addition to the increased “cut-through” commuter and freight traffic, there will be destruction of vineyard conservancy land to facilitate this expansion. As evident under their current proposal, there is no consideration toward the aesthetic or environmental aspects of existing natural open spaces or vegetation. (this is clearly demonstrated in their recent destruction of the old growth native Oak trees just south of Ruby Hill Drive).
Absent of suitable environmental review, and undercover of an excuse this project has been planned for years, CalTrans and ACTIA have proceeded to push portions of this major roadway expansion through. CalTrans has proceeded in a “piece-meal” fashion by failing to consider the environmental impacts of the entire project and has chosen instead to pursue as three separate projects. Not surprisingly, with Caltrans having both prepared and approved their own environmental study, it purports there are NO negative impacts resulting this widening project or the increase in vehicular traffic. Further, it allows them to proceed when there is no firm commitment on the part of Caltrans to mitigate selected environmental impacts and references “to be done under a future project” on others.
Given the existing semi-rural nature of our wine country setting and natural open spaces, does a 6 lane, 140 wide asphalt highway really seem fitting for our community? Do they really believe an expanded highway with an emphasis toward attracting more commuter and heavy truck traffic can have no negative impacts on our local air quality, noise, safety, aesthetic resources or property values?
We are concerned citizens who believe our community deserves better than a typical “Caltrans standard” highway from which we will bear the entire regional environmental burden. We believe the current Caltrans prepared environmental assessment fails to adequately and accurately portray the environmental impact that will result from the consolidation of traffic and further encouragement for vehicles to travel through our community. We further oppose this project because we believe Caltrans has failed to consider alternative solutions which offer a greater benefit to citizens within the Tri-Valley region and that are more in character with the fabric of our community.
The following are extracts directly from the current CalTrans Environmental Assessment …
· “One of the Bay Area’s heaviest regional commutes is between the employment centers of the South Bay and Southern Alameda County, and the growing residential areas in Eastern Alameda County and the Central Valley”. (page 1-7)
· “The added capacity on SR 84 is expected to attract more regional traffic to SR 84 and reduce congestion on I-680 and I-580”. (page 1-8)
· “Widening SR 84 within the project limits in combination with adjacent corridor improvements (5) would also divert truck and commute traffic from residential and commercial areas in the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton to SR 84.”
[(5) Caltrans SR 84 Pigeon Pass Safety Project and City of Livermore/Caltrans I-580/Isabel Avenue Interchange Project.] (page 1-9)
The following is an Excerpt from the Livermore Downtown Specific Plan (Section 7 pg 34):
· “The large volume of through truck traffic in the Downtown is an obstacle to creating a pedestrian-friendly environment, primarily due to excessive noise, vibration and emissions. It is essential to the success of the Downtown revitalization effort to relocate through truck traffic to other roadways outside of the Downtown.”
For those involved in opposing past proposals that were in contrary to our community interests and voiced concerns about traffic and noise impacts that result from the expansion of the Airport, the Oaks Industrial Park, and a Super WalMart; after they build a 140 ft wide, 6 lane boulevard, that is purposely designed for heavy vehicle and truck traffic, what should we anticipate will happen next……
