Caltrans officials are confident they’ll be able to move forward with plans to build a roundabout in Lompoc, despite opposition from local government officials.
The Purisima Road Safety Improvement project calls for the construction of a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Highway 246 and Purisima Road. Construction costs are estimated to be $2.6 million.
Lompoc Mayor John Linn claims the air pollution and other environmental data used by Caltrans to warrant the project’s categorical environmental exemption isn’t thorough enough. He’s also concerned the roundabout will threaten people’s safety.
Another aspect of the project he’s concerned about is the indemnification clause Caltrans granted to the Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA), which oversees a water pipeline that falls within the project’s footprint.
“I don’t understand why [Caltrans] would agree to do that,” Linn said. “I think Caltrans is amoral and in a world of its own.”
CCWA Executive Director Bill Brennan said, “It seems like a lot of the local governments are not in favor of the roundabout. There are a lot of simpler solutions, and I keep expecting something to happen [to stop construction], but Caltrans is keeping its head down and going straight forward.”
Brennan said that before construction starts on the roundabout, CCWA has to strengthen its pipeline to withstand heavier traffic loads.
According to an inter-agency agreement, Caltrans will pay CCWA approximately $350,000 to design and construct fortification elements for the pipeline. Caltrans will also assume all liability for the project.
Brennan said CCWA has already received $41,000 for the design aspect, but officials are still waiting on the $309,000 for construction.
Paul Martinez, project manager for the roundabout, said Caltrans should release the money by the end of the week.
He confirmed the indemnification agreement, citing it as common procedure as owner of the project, and said that his agency has addressed all of the public’s safety and environmental concerns.
“I believe there is a small group of people alleging non-compliance, including the mayor of Lompoc,” Martinez said. “We’ve sent letters explaining the benefits of the project … and we’ve adequately addressed all of the issues per CEQA [California Environmental Quality Act].”
According to Caltrans, the roundabout will improve driver safety at the intersection by lessening the number of collisions at all hours, and will improve air quality in the area because there won’t be any idling vehicles at the intersection.
This article appears in Oct 6-13, 2011.