Draft EIR for Highway 1 Widening Proposals Released

The Campaign for Sensible Transportation has said, "...widening Highway One STILL won’t work. Repeated scientific studies have shown that expanding busy freeways just encourages more traffic, so they soon become congested again."

For purposes of environmental analysis, the project is divided into two components:

Tier I – A long term, program level analysis for the future of the Highway 1 corridor between Santa Cruz and Aptos. The Tier I concept for the corridor would be built over time through a series of smaller incremental projects (referred to as Tier II projects).
Tier II – Project level analysis for auxiliary lanes between 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive and a pedestrian/bicycle overcrossing of Highway 1 at Chanticleer Avenue.

Public questions and comments can be submitted via U.S. Mail to:

Matt Fowler, Senior Environmental Planner
California Department of Transportation
50 Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Or submitted via e-mail to: matt.c.fowler [at] dot.ca.gov

Be sure to submit comments by the deadline: Monday, January 18, 2016

An Open Forum Public Hearing is scheduled for:

6:00 – 8:30 pm, Thursday, December 3, 2015

Live Oak Elementary School, Multi Purpose Room
1916 Capitola Road (at 17th Ave), Live Oak

The event will feature information displayed in an open house-type format with Caltrans and consultant staff available to answer your questions. Written comments may be submitted at the meeting and a court reporter will be available to transcribe your comments. In addition, Spanish-English language interpretation services will be available.

The Draft EIR/EA is available in hard copy at the following libraries: Aptos, Capitola, Central Library, Live Oak, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville. Copies are also available for viewing at the RTC’s Office; 1523 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95060.

More information:

Urgent Memo: Widening Highway One Still Won’t Work
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/11/16/18780052.php

Highway 1 Corridor Program
http://sccrtc.org/projects/streets-highways/hwy1corridor/environmental-documents/