Here are the undisputed facts about the I-80 Freeway widening:

1. It is likely to increase congestion through “induced traffic.”
2. It will reduce incentives for people to take transit or carpool.
3. It is likely to add 495,000 vehicle miles traveled daily.
4. It is likely to increase GHG emissions by > 79,000 tons annually, or 14% of Davis citywide emissions.
5. It will potentially increase congestion on surrounding roads such as Mace.

So why are $465,000,000 dollars being used for a freeway widening near Davis? 

• Many local Davis politicians think freeway widening will be popular among constituents.
• They don't care that this won't solve traffic congestion.
• They don’t care that this will increase CO2 emissions.
• Many elected members of the Yolo Transportation District are more excited to collect freeway tolls than consider their other options.

They argue that freeway widening is the only option since it has been supported by the Federal Government and local business interests.

By signing we hope to show them that we know that the days of Freeway widening are OVER. The people of California are looking for better transit and less traffic, not more freeway lanes.

Why your signature matters:

"Influence and control in California’s highway policy arena largely rests at the local level." - (Lee 2023).

The decision-makers for this freeway widening are our local city council members and board of supervisors who live in our neighborhoods. They are technically locked in with what they can use the money for, but they can turn it down and they can renegotiate this money. If they wanted to. 

As of today, many politicians have expressed they would rather accept the money and hold a ribbon cutting for a freeway toll lane. They are not actively considering other transit options.

However, is not too late, our local politicians can stop this --- We just need your help.

Tell our local Davis City Council Members, and the Yolo Board of Supervisors: Stop the Freeway Widening!

 

 

 

 

 

More information:

CalTrans has not been entirely transparent in how they are funding this project using public money. A former Deputy Director at CalTrans, Jeanie Ward-Waller, realized that "Caltrans officials were widening the freeway, using state funds that cannot be used to add lanes." 

She wrote about this in The San Francisco Chronicle:

"My concerns were repeatedly brushed off by my bosses, who seemed more concerned about getting the next widening project underway than they were about ensuring that Caltrans followed the law or considered the future... Most of the time, adding lanes worsens traffic within a few years" 

Caltrans has not been fairly analyzing how adding lanes to I-80 will work within the law, the environment, or how it will effect citizens. UC Davis Professors Susan Handy and Stephen Wheeler held a teach-in in December explaining their opposition to the project. Both are nationally recognized transportation experts. 

In response to this criticism, CalTrans has bent itself into pretzels justifying the project, arguing that tolls will somehow offset the increased carbon emissions of freeway widening.

Since local politicians have not listened to experts, they need to know that we also understand the situation, and care. We know freeway widening doesn't work, and we are not excited about a toll lane for private vehicles that doesn't help improve transit in Yolo County.

For more information I highly recommend reading: https://cal.streetsblog.org/2023/11/03/i-lost-my-job-at-caltrans-for-speaking-out-against-highway-widening

For why your voice really matters RIGHT NOW, read Dr. Lee's recent UCD dissertation. She says that local politicians push through freeway widenings against the advice of experts and California state guidelines, and that we locals are well positioned to stop this pattern.

Lee, A. E. (2023). The Policy and Politics of Highway Expansions. UC Davis. ProQuest ID: Lee_ucdavis_0029D_22550. Merritt ID: ark:/13030/m58q6vxt. Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/13x3n8zr

 

Note: Money donated goes to Change.org NOT petition organizers.