Regarding the latest multiple-fatality accident on Highway 152’s
two-lane section
…
Editor,
Regarding the latest multiple-fatality accident on Highway 152’s two-lane section …
I was on the Citizens Committee for a Safer 152 and I belong to a number of other pro-highway groups. There is no excuse for Highway 152 to have remained two lanes for 20 years after the initial Santa Clara County segment was done some 20 years ago – except for politics.
The paper did a wonderful job then of keeping the issue in front of the public and politicians until miraculously the anti-highway Jerry Brown administration found the money. We can do it again with our powerful legislative contingent – Hollister Free Lance, Gilroy Dispatch and Morgan Hill Times and support and drumbeat. I would be glad to help. There is no need for a toll road.
Pacheco Pass is being held hostage so the public will support toll roads.
This is unconscionable greed on the part of public officials for the generated campaign dollars from toll-road backers and other vested interests.
These include the human-hating, anti-road environmentalist zombies, and anti-road transit (and transit union) backers of another socialist, government-run train – the high-speed rail proposal through Pacheco Pass. This is the clear policy of the South Bay Democrat machine. They don’t care that people die, or are maimed for life, etc. This cruel policy can only be stopped with a free press that forces the issue.
Every death on this highway is nothing short of voluntary manslaughter by public officials – and they must be held accountable until they lead the fight to get funding from multiple sources, including line-item legislation by our representatives and senators (as Dianne Feinsten is working to do for levees) and every Democrat does in D.C. for multiple transit projects that do less for fewer people with even more cost.
Also, don’t believe the baloney about a $1 billion cost for the last 20 miles of Pacheco Pass. That is typical “cover” for politicians to hide behind when they don’t want to support a project. They said this about Highway 85 20 years ago too. Unfortunately, some believed it and backed off, but we citizens persevered and won. Force the politicians out in public NOW, especially now that election season is here for most politicians up the ladder in the this area ? Simon Salinas, Jim Beall (the real culprit!), Feinstein, Richard Pombo and Mike Honda.
I think it important to specifically call out the dereliction of duty of James T Beall of San Jose. Some 15 years ago, after another multi-fatal accident, I asked Jim to support a divided highway solution for state route 152. His answer was basically that it wasn’t his district. I will never forget that!
I think he is beholden to environmentalists, transit and sister unions, and other big monied interests (bonding lawyers, transit finance, etc.) and other potential campaign contributions. Beall supported Highway 85, so he is not intrinsically anti-road as some other pols are, but he needs some “help” in the form of public pressure. Beall sits on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. He is a Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 4 now running for 24th Assembly District. He has been involved in SCC transportation since the late 1970s. He could have long ago pushed for full Highway 152 funding, but didn’t. Please expose Jim as the Pacheco Pass do-nothing politician who can do the most. He is, in short, the SR152 Motorist Executioner and Mortician due to his deliberate inaction.
During the 20 years, he has opposed adding Pacheco Pass to the various sales tax measures (ask former state Assemblyman Rusty Areias) while supporting billions of dollars for useless light rail and some Caltrain waste that moves fewer people and costs more to build and subsidize. The newly opened $350M Vasona Light Rail corridor is expected to move only up to 9,000 riders, not save any lives, and replaces existing bus routes … same with other newly built and planned LRT routes.
Any new 1/4-cent sales tax should go to fixing Pacheco Pass Highway first, or, get line-item budget support from Feinstein and Barbara Boxer for an appropriation bill.
We need a six-lane divided highway now. Too bad if a six-lane, non-toll “safe” freeway in the corridor hurts the high-speed rail numbers to get federal funding later. The numbers would be fraudulent anyway
Santa Clara County Don Gage also should work on Highway 152 as he did on U.S.101 between San Jose and Morgan Hill. Pombo can help, by working with Boxer and Feinsten on special line-item funding to settle on a route.
The “picked bone” of a grade separation at the intersection of highways 152 and 156 is not enough. While this will be good, it will only mean that cars will go faster, travel on 152 more frequently, and crash together that much more. It is not enough. It should not placate us. Fight for the full freeway, now, by all means possible.
Omar Chatty, San Martin
