Toll lane project on Interstate 80 between West Sacramento and Davis gets green light
The California Transportation Commission approved $105 million for Caltrans to begin work on the first phase of the Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements Project.
WHY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARE AGAINST IT. REPORTER IMPROVE INTERSTATE 80. THE CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION APPROVING $105 MILLION FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF CALTRANS YOLO 80 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. IT WOULD ADD ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION OF I-80 BETWEEN WEST SACRAMENTO AND DAVIS, GOING FROM 6 TO 8 LANES TOTAL. THE GOAL IS TO EASE CONGESTION AND IMPROVE TRAVEL TIMES. THE EXTRA LANES, ESPECIALLY COMING IN DAVIS INTO OVER THE CAUSEWAY, WILL DEFINITELY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, BUT THE NEW LANES WOULD BE HIGH OCCUPANCY TOLL LANES, SO CARS WITH FEWER THAN THREE PEOPLE INSIDE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A FEE. THE TOLLS DON’T MAKE SENSE TO SOME DRIVERS. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT THAT. I’M NOT A BIG FAN OF THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY PAYS FOR IT, RIGHT? WE’RE ALL PAYING FOR IT. AND THEN WHY WOULD YOU BE CHARGED FOR IT AGAIN IF IT WERE ALL PAYING FOR IT? WE’RE ALL TAXPAYERS. OTHERS ARE WILLING TO PAY UP. I GOT KIDS, SO TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE FAST, YOU KNOW, WITH KIDS AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT’S GOING TO HELP US FOR SURE. WORTH THE MONEY. IN ADDITION TO THE 17 MILES OF TOLL LANES, THE COMMISSION SAYS THE PROJECT WOULD PUT RAMP METERS AND CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGNS IN PLACE AND CREATE 2600 TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION JOBS, ADDING LANES IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT CLIMATE JUSTICE GROUPS SUCH AS 350 SACRAMENTO TELL ME THEY’RE WORRIED THE PROJECT WILL CAUSE MORE POLLUTION, INCREASED VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, INCREASED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THAT COME FROM THOSE VEHICLES WILL EXACERBATE MAKE WORSE, THE CLIMATE DISASTERS WE’RE SEEING. 350 SACRAMENTO SAYS SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SIGNED LETTERS OPPOSING THE PLAN, AND EVEN THOUGH CALTRANS NOW HAS THE GREEN LIGHT, ADVOCATES WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT. WE CAN’T STOP. WE’RE AT A POINT. WE’RE AT A BREAKING POINT. MEANWHILE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE PLAN ARE EAGERLY WAITING. JUST HAVE THEM GET TO WORK AND KNOCK IT OUT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. PERIOD. I REACHED OUT TO CALTRANS TO ASK WHEN THE ROADWORK WOULD BEGIN, AND THEY DID NOT GET BACK TO ME, BUT THEIR WEBSITE SAYS CONSTRUCTION COULD START THIS FALL. REPORTING IN YOLO COUNTY, ORKO MANNA KCRA THREE NEWS. IT’S UNCLEAR RIGHT NOW HOW MUCH MONEY THE TOLL PAYMENTS WOULD BE. THOSE FEE AMOUNTS WILL B
Toll lane project on Interstate 80 between West Sacramento and Davis gets green light
The California Transportation Commission approved $105 million for Caltrans to begin work on the first phase of the Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements Project.
The California Transportation Commission approved funding for the first phase of Caltrans’ Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements project, which would add toll lanes to Interstate 80 between Davis and West Sacramento.Officials said one High Occupancy Toll lane would be added to I-80 in each direction, which would expand that portion of the interstate from six lanes to eight lanes total. The new lanes would be free for cars with three or more people inside, but solo drivers and drivers with only one passenger would have to pay a toll fee.The CTC approved $105 million for the first phase of the project, which essentially serves as a green light for Caltrans to begin looking for a contractor to start construction work.The goal of the 17 miles of toll lanes is to ease congestion, lower travel times and make the roadway safer for drivers. According to CTC documents, the project would create around 2,600 temporary construction jobs.Additionally, documents show that the project would “construct pedestrian and bicycle facility enhancements, construct a new Class I (fully separated from the road) pedestrian and bicycle facility, as well as intelligent transportation system elements such as ramp meters, closed circuity televisions, and changeable message signs.”The Caltrans website for the project also says the plan would improve freeway operations on the mainline, ramps and at system interchanges, as well as support the reliable transport of goods and services throughout the region.Drivers like the idea of increasing traffic flow and reducing congestion on the portion of I-80 between Davis and West Sacramento.“The extra lane, especially coming from Davis over the causeway, will definitely make a big difference as far as commute times coming into Sacramento,” driver James Stenson said.But some do not agree with the toll payments.“I don’t know about that. I’m not a big fan of that. Because I feel like everybody pays for it, right? We’re all paying for it, and then why would you be charged for it again if we’re all paying for it? We’re all taxpayers,” Stenson said.Other drivers said they do not mind paying a toll if it means adding more lanes to the interstate.“I got kids, so to be able to get there fast, you know, with kids, I think that’s going to help us for sure. Worth the money,” driver Jeremy Gibson said. “If they’re going to have to wide enough and in time, it’s worth it, definitely.”However, several environmental groups, such as the climate justice organization 530 Sacramento, have opposed the plan, stating that it would cause more pollution.“Increased vehicle miles traveled, increased greenhouse gas emissions that come from those vehicles will exacerbate, make worse the climate disasters we’re seeing, so adding lanes is a huge problem for the environment,” 350 Sacramento program director Katie McCammon said.McCammon added that different species and habitats in the wetland area near the Yolo Causeway would be negatively impacted by the construction and additional lanes.“It’s a really bad idea to increase inorganic infrastructure in those areas because it minimizes the capabilities of those ecological areas,” McCammon said.McCammon said 350 Sacramento, as well as several other environmental organizations, formed a coalition and have signed letters opposing the project. Although Caltrans now has the go-ahead to begin work on the project due to the CTC’s decision, McCammon said climate activists will continue to speak out.“We don’t have time to stop. Climate is going to continue to persist as a problem,” McCammon said. “We’re at a breaking point. We’re beyond a breaking point.”It is unclear how much the toll fee would be. The CTC said the Capital Area Regional Toll Authority is in charge of the details of the tolling program, such as rates.KCRA 3 asked Caltrans for a timeline on when construction on the project could start and how the roadwork would impact traffic along I-80. A spokesperson said in an email that due to the recent approval from the CTC, Caltrans needed to update its project information. The CTC said construction of the new lanes is expected to begin this fall.
YOLO COUNTY, Calif. —The California Transportation Commission approved funding for the first phase of Caltrans’Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements project, which would add toll lanes to Interstate 80 between Davis and West Sacramento.
Officials said one High Occupancy Toll lane would be added to I-80 in each direction, which would expand that portion of the interstate from six lanes to eight lanes total. The new lanes would be free for cars with three or more people inside, but solo drivers and drivers with only one passenger would have to pay a toll fee.
The CTC approved $105 million for the first phase of the project, which essentially serves as a green light for Caltrans to begin looking for a contractor to start construction work.
The goal of the 17 miles of toll lanes is to ease congestion, lower travel times and make the roadway safer for drivers.According to CTC documents, the project would create around 2,600 temporary construction jobs.
Additionally, documents show that the project would “construct pedestrian and bicycle facility enhancements, construct a new Class I (fully separated from the road) pedestrian and bicycle facility, as well as intelligent transportation system elements such as ramp meters, closed circuity televisions, and changeable message signs.”
TheCaltrans website for the project also says the plan would improve freeway operations on the mainline, ramps and at system interchanges, as well as support the reliable transport of goods and services throughout the region.
Drivers like the idea of increasing traffic flow and reducing congestion on the portion of I-80 between Davis and West Sacramento.
“The extra lane, especially coming from Davis over the causeway, will definitely make a big difference as far as commute times coming into Sacramento,” driver James Stenson said.
But some do not agree with the toll payments.
“I don’t know about that. I’m not a big fan of that. Because I feel like everybody pays for it, right? We’re all paying for it, and then why would you be charged for it again if we’re all paying for it? We’re all taxpayers,” Stenson said.
Other drivers said they do not mind paying a toll if it means adding more lanes to the interstate.
“I got kids, so to be able to get there fast, you know, with kids, I think that’s going to help us for sure. Worth the money,” driver Jeremy Gibson said. “If they’re going to have to wide enough and in time, it’s worth it, definitely.”
However, several environmental groups, such as the climate justice organization 530 Sacramento, have opposed the plan, stating that it would cause more pollution.
“Increased vehicle miles traveled, increased greenhouse gas emissions that come from those vehicles will exacerbate, make worse the climate disasters we’re seeing, so adding lanes is a huge problem for the environment,” 350 Sacramento program director Katie McCammon said.
McCammon added that different species and habitats in the wetland area near the Yolo Causeway would be negatively impacted by the construction and additional lanes.
“It’s a really bad idea to increase inorganic infrastructure in those areas because it minimizes the capabilities of those ecological areas,” McCammon said.
McCammon said 350 Sacramento, as well as several other environmental organizations, formed a coalition and have signed letters opposing the project. Although Caltrans now has the go-ahead to begin work on the project due to the CTC’s decision, McCammon said climate activists will continue to speak out.
“We don’t have time to stop. Climate is going to continue to persist as a problem,” McCammon said. “We’re at a breaking point. We’re beyond a breaking point.”
It is unclear how much the toll fee would be. The CTC said the Capital Area Regional Toll Authority is in charge of the details of the tolling program, such as rates.
KCRA 3 asked Caltrans for a timeline on when construction on the project could start and how the roadwork would impact traffic along I-80. A spokesperson said in an email that due to the recent approval from the CTC, Caltrans needed to update its project information. The CTC said construction of the new lanes is expected to begin this fall.
