Amador County – Members of the Pine Grove Corridor Improvement Project’s Stakeholder Working Group spoke in support of a hybrid, 3-lane project endorsed by the Amador County Transportation Commission last week, as staff was assigned to take a request for proposals on the project.
Volcano Television executive Sharon Lundgren said options came up during work group meetings on ways to help ease traffic, such as adding a parking lot at the school, extending the passing lane coming up to Aqueduct Road, and placing a passing lane at Tabeaud Road, so hay and logging trucks can plow through unstopped.
Lundgren thanked commissioners for allowing her to work on the committee, and said: “I am one opposed to the 5-lane. I don’t think they have the right-of-way impact correctly assessed on businesses.”
Paul Johnston of Pine Grove Community Service District said: “There wouldn’t be a Pine Grove if you put in a 5-lane, period.” He also asked if the Southern Bypass idea was dead. Planner and Program Manager Neil Peacock said it and all bypasses are dead, due to high costs. He said “we recommend three lanes and adding stream-liners,” such as synchronized signals, turn pockets and lanes, and channelized acceleration and deceleration.
Johnston said the CSD is installing 60,000 feet of pipeline behind Claypool’s and the impact should be known.
Jan Houghton said not building a project would have an affect on Pine Grove-Volcano Road, which would get a lot of new traffic signals, gerrymandered in, and more loss of level of service than the 3-lane or 5-lane options.
Commissioner John Plasse asked if the hybrid would need CEQA and NEPA study, or “can we use our own expertise to create it?”
Peacock said he was not sure, but he hoped to get a lot of creative brainstorming done with Caltrans experts on the Project Design Team, and he hoped to be able to say that the 5-lane does not need the study. ACTC Executive Director Charles Field said they hope to not have to waste a lot of money on the 5-lane alternate. Field said: “I think Caltrans will be practical” and Peacock will take it up the chain of command as needed.
Commissioner Richard Forster said: “Why not simplify this thing and save a whole bunch of money?”
Peacock said the traffic model should be out next march and they will see a whole wall-size exhibit, along with the costs.
The commission voted 6-0 to advertise for a “Request For Proposals” for a consultant to do environmental studies on the 3-lane hybrid alternate, and on a “no build” alternate. The commission also appointed Commissioner Keith Sweet to assist with hiring a consultant.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
