California’s Infrastructure Priorities Are for the Cars
Of course the High Speed Rail Program made the Governor’s list. But only one other transit project is as important as cars. Photo: NPR
Governor Jerry Brown delivered a letter to President Trump today outlining priorities for transportation infrastructure spending in California.
The priorities are “pursuant to Executive Order 13766,” signed today, that aims to “streamline and expedite. . . environmental reviews and approvals for all infrastructure projects” and especially those projects that are “a high priority for the Nation.”
Governor Brown responded with this list of “high-priority infrastructure projects in need of expedited environmental review,” to wit:
- a highway expansion
- another highway expansion
- demolishing a bridge
- a streetcar
- a highway expansion
- a highway expansion
- a highway expansion
- a highway expansion
- high-speed rail
- the Oroville dam spillway
At least it's consistent with the focus of the transportation funding bills currently being considered: more highways for cars, with a dollop of transit and one very urgent waterway.
Also, would it have hurt to add the electrification of Caltrain to the list, even though it has cleared its environmental hurdles already? Just to make a point.
Read More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog California
Caltrans Readies Guidance for Complete Streets, with a Big Exemption
But somewhere along the way, highway interchanges - roads crossing and going under and over freeways and highways - were exempted from the guidelines
Guest Opinion: Ten Years In, CA Active Transportation Program Lays Bare a Tale of Two Agencies
L.A. County needs to embrace physically-protected bikeways, robust traffic calming around schools, and similarly transformative, safety-focused projects
To Help Save the Planet, Take the ‘Week Without Driving’ Challenge
Former Sierra Club President Ramón Cruz is urging Americans to give up driving for seven days — and support policies to make it optional for everyone.
Commentary: Let’s Talk About the Real “Fatal Flaw” on Valencia
How many people have to die before professional advocates stop endorsing the Valencia Street "experiment" on people?
Friday’s Headlines
Caltrans, we need complete streets everywhere, including at freeway interchanges (or maybe especially there); Public agencies and academics join forces to develop AV standards; Republicans really want to suspend the gas tax; More
