The mayor of Lompoc has launched a letter-writing campaign against construction of a Caltrans-approved traffic roundabout planned for Highway 246 on the city’s outskirts.
In a recent interview with the Sun, Mayor John Linn said he was shocked Caltrans officials chose to move forward with the project.
“It’s pretty heinous,” Linn said of the roundabout. “We’re going to kill people with this thing.”
He said he’s sent letters protesting Caltrans’ decision to local and state officials, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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.
According to documents from Caltrans, the roundabout would reduce the potential for broadside collisions and decrease the severity of accidents that do occur. Caltrans reports that from April 1, 2001, to March 31, 2006, there were 25 collisions at the intersection—approximately four times the statewide average rate for similar intersections.
In a letter to the media, Linn recalled that during the 2008 and 2009 public meetings Caltrans held regarding the project, department representatives stated “the roundabout would generate rear-end accidents and side swipe accidents, but that was acceptable [because] it would eliminate the serious injury T-Bone accidents.” He went on to say the road re-striping project he championed in 2009 has already greatly reduced those kinds of accidents.
Linn is also claiming the air pollution data used by Caltrans to warrant the project’s categorical environmental exemption is false because it doesn’t take into account the roundabout’s specific design. He also says the project could threaten tiger salamanders in the area—something he claims Caltrans
has ignored.
“Also, there are three less expensive alternatives to the roundabout,” Linn continued, adding he plans to take the matter to court if Caltrans doesn’t change its plan.
And Linn isn’t the only one concerned. Buellton Mayor Ed Andreski and Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joni Gray have both sent letters opposing the project to Caltrans and other government
officials.
When asked about the roundabout, Caltrans spokesman Jim Shivers said, “We’re confident in how we have addressed this project.”
Based on Caltrans research, he said, the roundabout didn’t require further environmental review.
“These roundabouts are proven to reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions,” he said, “and to improve traffic safety by eliminating crossing conflicts.
“What drives us always at Caltrans is safety,” he continued. “We looked at all of the alternatives, and this is the project our professional staff of public safety engineers recommended. That’s why we’re moving forward with it.”
Construction of the roundabout is scheduled to begin in October.
This article appears in Sep 22-29, 2011.