Hwy 50 Project- Part of the Balancing Act

The state is currently facing an historic $40 billion budget imbalance over the next 18 months. State Controller John Chiang has warned the government will run out of cash as early as February and would have to start issuing IOUs for some bills  if a deficit-closing deal isn’t agreed upon before then. California’s budget troubles seem far from over and everyone is feeling the rather painful pinch. One controversial topic that many of us in Rancho Cordova hold dear is at odds because of the state’s environmental protection law. The proposed widening and adding of lanes and interchanges along Highway 50 has come up against harsh criticism in recent months due to environmental concerns.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger  has argued the benefit of going forth with such a project because of  the local jobs it would create.  In fact, the Governor is pushing for a fast-track launch this summer to build a seven-mile-long carpool lane between Sunrise Boulevard and Watt Avenue.

The Highway 50 project and nine other proposed state highway expansions would boost California’s sagging economy, Schwarzenegger said. To speed those projects, the governor wants them exempted from further review under the California Environmental Quality Act, and wants  to give them immunity from future lawsuits. It’s all about helping the economy, Schwarzenegger administration officials argue.

But legislative Democrats, led by Sacramento’s Darrell Steinberg, the Senate President pro Tem, argue that such exemptions would undermine the law and dilute California’s leadership in the fight against global warming. They say they have given some ground in negotiations, but insist the state complete a full, court-ordered environmental review of the Highway 50 project.

The state law in question is the 1970 environmental quality act, which requires large projects to be analyzed for potential adverse impacts on the environment and on surrounding communities, and requires steps be taken to off set them. The act is credited with giving the public a greater voice over large-scale projects in California and with reducing air pollution and other environmental impacts. But the law has long been criticized by some public officials and developers for causing delays and increasing already high costs, and for opening projects to lawsuits.

“We’re in the economic doldrums as a state,” state Department of Transportation head Will Kempton said. “One of the best ways is through immediate creation of jobs. The notion is to get a certain amount of work out the door as soon as possible. We are not talking about backing away from our environmental standards.”  The 10 projects, worth $1.2 billion, would generate 22,000 jobs, he said. Kempton also states that the highway projects already have had some environmental review, and that Caltrans would be diligent in dealing with environmental issues during construction.

Democrats and environmentalists still contend Schwarzenegger’s proposal would do little to boost the local economy. Instead, it is argued, the project will be a setback for California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. “I think it sets a horrible precedent,” said Eric Davis of the Environmental Council of Sacramento. Davis called it a cynical move by a governor who has promoted himself as a champion for the environment and wants California to set international standards for reducing global warming gases.

Local residents and environmental activists sued Caltrans last year, claiming the agency did not adequately study the possible increase in greenhouse gas emissions, increased noise and traffic in the area and the effect of pollution on area schools. In July, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley ruled Caltrans’ environmental review was inadequate and needed to be redone. It is believed to be the first court ruling on a transportation project to use global warming as a legal backdrop. Caltrans officials said they are redoing the environmental review to include greenhouse gas studies while they await the outcome of the state budget negotiations.

Last week, Schwarzenegger rejected an $18 billion, one-year fix proposed by Democrats. The governor, who claims a quick fix for a short period of time will only compound budget deficits in the future, counter-proposed a $40 billion balancing act for the entire projected 18-month deficit – including the proposed highway projects.

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Posted by Michelle Ventress on Jan 13 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.