Editor:
Like Hank Sims, I too was assured the Richardson Grove project was just a minor tweak, without any environmental consequences, and great for local businesses but without any impact on traffic, or sprawl, or Big Boxes, or anything else bad (“Town Dandy,” April 9). The county’s media campaign was very effective — that is, until we discovered that it was publicly funded propaganda, and that we’ve been ham-handed.
Now I know better, because I have learned a few things:
The economic benefits of this project are questionable and confusing. As Caltrans itself put it: “Proposed project would not result in significant increases in overall economic productivity in the region.” (DEIR pg. 45). It’s not about safety, which is best accomplished with speed control, but about accommodating (fostering?) growth, development and inter-regional commerce, according to Caltrans’ Strategic Plan. With 299 at Buckhorn and 199/197 open, we will see lots more truck traffic that is currently shunted off to I-5.
Murrelet surveys will be done only after the project. Even though Richardson Grove is critical habitat, no one knows much about the resident population, and murrelets are going extinct south of Richardson Grove.
More troubling is what is not being discussed, namely reasonable alternatives. Whatever remains in that convoluted Headwaters Grant should fund a thorough and unbiased real educational campaign that takes a genuine look at the serious consequences of the Richardson Grove project and some of the real alternatives to diesel trucking, including the long-awaited appropriately scaled maritime highway using our port.
Jessica Puccinelli, Fortuna
This article appears in Dr. Ring’s Single-Payer Puppet Show.
These are excellent and educated points you make here, Jessica. You have it spot-on. Alternatives in the Caltrans Draft Environmantal Impact Report include:
~~~slowing to 30 mph or less.
~~~putting in a signal that can be tripped with a hand-held remote by the gigantic truck drivers 1/4 mile before approach, and this will put up the yellow and then red light to stop traffic in both directions for less than 5 minutes for a gigantic truck or modular home to go through single file.
~~~increase traffic fines for speeding, and all other violations to generate $$
Obviously you have taken time to actually study the Caltrans Environmental Impact Report for Richardson Grove to have observed these valid points you make here.
Someone pointed out to me that there are websites to learn more from all the people who have researched the cutting into Richardson Grove. It is called Save Richardson Grove.
Sure hate this cartoon again, like the tooth missing. Last weeks cartoon without a head was more representative of what will happen if this is allowed. Disasterous to the roots of the old growth along the State Park there.
If Caltrans is allowed to proceed, and an old growth then falls (as a result of cutting into its roots), and heaven forbid, it falls on your child driving through during an earthquake or big storm in the next few years, and they are crushed to death, who will be responsible???