An Environmentally Sensitive Solution to the Highway 37 Traffic Jam
One never knows when traveling on Highway 37 between Sears Point Raceway and Mare Island, a nine-mile section of highway that ‘handles’ over 38,000 cars per day, whether there will be an hour-long back up, an accident, or an errant seal (which happened again on April 4th, shutting down east-bound traffic for over an hour). Unfortunately, traffic on this section of highway is only going to get worse! Indeed both state and local coffers are empty, particularly when it comes to finding funding for this section of the highway. The situation is so dire that Caltrans doesn’t even have a potential project ‘penciled-in’ over the next 40 years (which is as far out as they plan). Further exacerbating the problem is global warming. Currently in heavy rains the roadway has sections that are prone to flooding. This will only increase in the future as the Bay waters rise.
Fortunately, hope may be at hand. In an effort to seek a long-term, viable solution, a Highway 37 Task Force comprised of city and county elected officials from Marin, Sonoma, Napa and Solano Counties has been charged with finding an answer to the Highway 37 mess. We are proud to report that United Bridge Partners (UBP), a consortium comprised of American Infrastructure MLP and Figg Engineering has a proposal we have been asked to present on May 5th which will specifically address this nine mile stretch of roadway.
Briefly, United Bridge Partners proposes to take ownership of this section of highway from Caltrans and immediately start work on the CEQA process. Bearing 100% of ALL costs, from CEQA to construction and maintenance, upon obtaining the negative declaration from CEQA and approval from the regulatory agencies, a flyover roadway commencing from the 3-way interchange at Sears Point Raceway would likely run to the far side of Sonoma Creek (parallel to where the existing Jensen Bridge starts). The remainder of the approximately 6 miles would be raised fill similar to the existing roadway only much higher to ensure that the water remains far below.
The new roadway will be on the Bayside and will be two-lanes with an additional bike lane and barricade to separate it from traffic. The existing roadway would have the center barrier removed to allow for two westbound lanes. The existing roadway will then be re-built to the same standards as the new side within a few years. The roadway will be 100% fast pass operated with no toll booths to slow traffic. Tolls will be commensurate with the other bridges around the Bay (guarantee will be included in the contractual agreement) and a portion of the toll will be dedicated to helping fund marsh restoration and other environmental projects within San Pablo Bay.
If approved, this would be the third project of this type that UBP would build. The first is on the Elizabeth River in Virginia http://pilotonline.com/news/local/transportation/new-jordan-bridge-delivers-on-a-tall-order/article_6c95419d-67e7-5aa9-9638-72eced9e815e.html
and another is currently breaking ground, the Cline Avenue Bridge http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-cline-avenue-bridge-st-1208-20151207-story.html
Want to See the Highway 37 Mess Resolved in your Children’s lifetime? We need your Letter of Support!
United Bridge Partners has been asked to make a formal proposal/presentation to the aforementioned 4-county Highway 37 task force on Thursday, May 5th. We have been allotted 20 minutes for the presentation, so we decided to seek letters of support from as many in the affected community as possible. These letters of support will be included in the proposal packets that will be presented to each member of the task force on May 5th.
Attached with this project overview is a suggested letter which we would urge you to customize to your own needs on Highway 37.
Please email your letter to: Phil Vermeulen – phil@pvgov.com
Please mail the original letter to:
Phil Vermeulen
3457 Castle Creek Ct
Roseville, CA
Have questions or want to discuss the project? Please call Phil at (916) 784-7055.
We wish to stress:
California faces over $750 million in badly needed roadway upgrades throughout the state. The UBP proposal is intended to be one potential option of many that need to be tried on a pilot project basis. If you would like to see this project become a reality, please send your letter on your letterhead today.
Thank you!
PLEASE ENSURE YOUR LETTERS ARE SENT TO US BY MONDAY, MAY 2ND.