Gains and Losses in the Campaign to Stop Highway Expansion
Last week, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) held a hearing to decide whether to grant funding to a number of projects that Transform opposes, most notably a project to widen State Route 37. As expected, the commission approved $73 million for the SR 37 project, which won’t solve congestion and will be underwater due to sea level rise within a short time.
While we would have preferred a different outcome, this hearing wasn’t a total loss. We brought awareness to the fiscal irresponsibility of spending money on an expensive project with such a short life span. The press covered the issue, focusing on Transform’s perspective that funding the project is the equivalent of throwing taxpayer dollars into the ocean. Not surprisingly, the more people know about the SR 37 project, the more they oppose it.
We also shook up the CTC. The commission usually serves as a rubber stamp for Caltrans projects, granting most funding requests with little pushback or public scrutiny. Nearly 200 Transform supporters emailed the commissioners to object to funding SR 37, and a number of people came to the meeting to testify against it.
We were pleased to see some commissioners asking tough questions. Although it ultimately approved the funding, the CTC is on notice that it will be held to account for its actions by a newly engaged public.
Next steps to stop the Highway 37 project
We haven’t given up on our campaign to stop the SR 37 widening project. The CTC’s $73 million in grants only partially fund the construction, which is estimated to cost $500 million. Transform will oppose the allocation of other funding. We also continue to work to defeat AB 697, which smooths the way for construction by lifting limits on how many endangered species Caltrans can kill in the wetlands surrounding the current roadway.
Congestion on State Route 37 and many highways around California is a real problem. But, while it looks like a highway and transportation problem, congestion is actually a development, housing, and transit problem. The issues with SR 37 are caused by a lack of affordable housing near jobs in Marin and inadequate public transit between Solano, Napa, and Marin. We’re working toward a world with more affordable, infill housing, more transit, and fewer highway lanes.
