Caltrans faces opposition to Niles Canyon Road work
by Matthew Artz-Oakland Tribune
09/14/2010
FREMONT — Caltrans is reconsidering planned safety improvements to Niles Canyon Road in the face of increasing opposition.
The transit agency has proposed widening and adding both medians and shoulders to the meandering two-lane state highway as well as building nearly two miles of cement retaining walls.
The work is designed to reduce fatal accidents along the scenic route from Fremont to Sunol and Interstate 680, but residents, environmental groups and city officials fear it would increase speeds and diminish the beauty of Niles Canyon.
“Why ruin something as beautiful as that; it’s almost like tearing up a park” said Fremont Mayor Bob Wasserman, who has requested Caltrans to address the City Council next week to explain its plans.
Caltrans has divided the work along Niles Canyon Road into three projects.
The first, which faced little opposition, involves widening shoulders and improving sight distances along portions of the road in Fremont, Union City and the county, and could be completed by 2013, Caltrans spokesman Allyn Amsk said.
The third project, a new Alameda Creek Bridge, hasn’t undergone environmental review yet.
But the second project, which is still under environmental review and calls for removing 439 native trees to make way for retaining walls, has run into strong opposition.
The California Regional Water Quality Control Board warned in an Aug. 18 letter to Caltrans that the tree removal could pose such significant impact to habitat along Alameda Creek that “our agency would be unlikely to issue the necessary approvals for this project.”
The East Bay Bicycle Coalition has come out in support of safety improvements, especially the wider shoulders, but stated in its letter that it feared the project would increase driving speeds and make the road feel more like an expressway.
The second project would include a 2-foot center median and standard 8-foot shoulders on sections of the road mostly around Sunol. It also would soften curves to allow drivers to see farther down the road.
The environmental review period for it has been extended to Oct. 7, and Caltrans will decide next spring whether to move forward with the road improvements, Amsk said.
Caltrans has been working since 2003 on safety improvements to Niles Canyon Road, after studies showed the road had an above-average number of fatal traffic accidents.
Caltrans will outline the second project to the Sunol Municipal Advisory Council at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (9/15) at the Sunol Elementary School Cafeteria. 11601, Main St. Sunol.
The agency then will discuss all of its Niles Canyon Road projects with the Fremont City Council at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, 3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont.