Post by Joe Cocker on Jan 9, 2014 12:19:45 GMT -5
Wet Land?
"Rising sea level is a threat and that's what (the various groups) are looking for -- how not to have everyone commuting by gondola," said Don Brubaker, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge manager.
Highway 37's complexities, plus what solutions might work, have been the subject of ongoing meetings, studies and debate by Caltrans and other agencies. The debate includes conflicting views on whether a danger really exists.
Just how quickly any segment of the 22-mile-long Highway 37 could flood over permanently is unclear.
Environmental and governmental experts say portions will be submerged in 50 years; others add that an earthquake could quicken that eventuality. Still others question whether the threat is serious at all.
Flooding between Vallejo and Novato already happens when high tides occur during a heavy storm, Brubaker said. Those areas are at the Highway 121 intersection by Sears Point, and by the partial cloverleaf off Walnut Avenue in Mare Island.
Studying the problem
The University of California at Davis, Caltrans and a stakeholder group met more than a year studying Highway 37. They hoped to identify an ecological solution that balances commuter and efforts to restore Bay Area's dwindling marshes.
The group held seven unpublicized meetings -- in Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Solano counties. However, most public sentiment was secured through a survey sent to 500 area households.
Eliot Hurwitz of the Napa County Planning Transportation Agency said the meetings should continue, although any options will be expensive and have significant implications. But for Hurwitz's agency, keeping the corridor open is paramount.
"That really is the only connection between 80 and 101. If that gets closed, it pushes traffic (including heavy truck traffic) north and onto Highway 12, 121 and 116. That's totally unacceptable," Hurwitz said.
Currently, there's no money for Highway 37 and no immediate plans for roadwork or major projects, Caltrans Senior Project Planner Erik Alm said.
Nor is there funding for follow-up work on the stakeholder process, he said.
Despite the lack of money, various scenarios -- ranging from closure to an underground tunnel -- have been floated.
Highway 37 would need to be elevated six or seven feet to avoid sea level rising effects over a 75-year period, say Caltrans and other agencies.
One way to do that, deemed one of the more popular ideas, is to construct a causeway, although no funds for such an idea have been identified.
WANT TO READ MORE?
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesheraldonline.com%2Fci_21404175%2Fis-highway-37-destined-become-new-waterway&ei=7dfOUvS1MYHdoAT0kIGYAg&usg=AFQjCNE9WE6fFc3CyfYuutwLcYIiv9s52g&bvm=bv.59026428,d.cGU&cad=rja
Abandon Highway 37? Business responds – North Bay Business ...
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDAQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northbaybusinessjournal.com%2F34595%2Fabandon-highway-37-business-responds%2F&ei=7dfOUvS1MYHdoAT0kIGYAg&usg=AFQjCNFKyVkeg9ANqgjzKHuICjZkFmNrAQ&bvm=bv.59026428,d.cGU
"Rising sea level is a threat and that's what (the various groups) are looking for -- how not to have everyone commuting by gondola," said Don Brubaker, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge manager.
Highway 37's complexities, plus what solutions might work, have been the subject of ongoing meetings, studies and debate by Caltrans and other agencies. The debate includes conflicting views on whether a danger really exists.
Just how quickly any segment of the 22-mile-long Highway 37 could flood over permanently is unclear.
Environmental and governmental experts say portions will be submerged in 50 years; others add that an earthquake could quicken that eventuality. Still others question whether the threat is serious at all.
Flooding between Vallejo and Novato already happens when high tides occur during a heavy storm, Brubaker said. Those areas are at the Highway 121 intersection by Sears Point, and by the partial cloverleaf off Walnut Avenue in Mare Island.
Studying the problem
The University of California at Davis, Caltrans and a stakeholder group met more than a year studying Highway 37. They hoped to identify an ecological solution that balances commuter and efforts to restore Bay Area's dwindling marshes.
The group held seven unpublicized meetings -- in Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Solano counties. However, most public sentiment was secured through a survey sent to 500 area households.
Eliot Hurwitz of the Napa County Planning Transportation Agency said the meetings should continue, although any options will be expensive and have significant implications. But for Hurwitz's agency, keeping the corridor open is paramount.
"That really is the only connection between 80 and 101. If that gets closed, it pushes traffic (including heavy truck traffic) north and onto Highway 12, 121 and 116. That's totally unacceptable," Hurwitz said.
Currently, there's no money for Highway 37 and no immediate plans for roadwork or major projects, Caltrans Senior Project Planner Erik Alm said.
Nor is there funding for follow-up work on the stakeholder process, he said.
Despite the lack of money, various scenarios -- ranging from closure to an underground tunnel -- have been floated.
Highway 37 would need to be elevated six or seven feet to avoid sea level rising effects over a 75-year period, say Caltrans and other agencies.
One way to do that, deemed one of the more popular ideas, is to construct a causeway, although no funds for such an idea have been identified.
WANT TO READ MORE?
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesheraldonline.com%2Fci_21404175%2Fis-highway-37-destined-become-new-waterway&ei=7dfOUvS1MYHdoAT0kIGYAg&usg=AFQjCNE9WE6fFc3CyfYuutwLcYIiv9s52g&bvm=bv.59026428,d.cGU&cad=rja
Abandon Highway 37? Business responds – North Bay Business ...
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDAQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northbaybusinessjournal.com%2F34595%2Fabandon-highway-37-business-responds%2F&ei=7dfOUvS1MYHdoAT0kIGYAg&usg=AFQjCNFKyVkeg9ANqgjzKHuICjZkFmNrAQ&bvm=bv.59026428,d.cGU
