Monday, July 08, 2013

101 Corridor Plan Stalled

CalTrans' plan to modify the 101 corridor between Arcata and Eureka is being postponed because of concerns over a coastal commission ruling. Just as well, I suppose.

I haven't thought much about the plan to make that stretch of road safer, but I'm wondering if their supposed safety improvements might cause more problems than they solve? After all, as others have pointed out, even before the speed limit was lowered there weren't that many accidents along that stretch. With the lowered speed limit, I can't recall the last time we've had a bad one there. I'm sure it's been at least a year or two. Maybe longer?

And this idea of stoplights and intersections has me concerned. Seems to me they might cause more accidents than they prevent. As it is it's kinda hairy trying to get onto 101 from the two or three crossroads between Arcata and Eureka, but it's fairly easily done in actual practice.

Maybe that's why there's not so many accidents along that stretch of road? People are paying more attention to traffic because they're nervous about what they're about to do. When people feel safe they don't pay as much attention. That's when accidents happen.

I'm thinking maybe we should leave the corridor as- is.

6 Comments:

At 11:32 AM, Blogger Localgal said...

Leave it be. I can't think of any improvements that justify the cost. The average citizen (taxpayer) will not benefit much, only the contractors. The next lowest cost solution is signals at the intersections. I am concerned that signals would give a false sense of security and actually cause more accidents.

 
At 1:32 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

I am concerned that signals would give a false sense of security and actually cause more accidents. .

Yep. That's what I'm thinking.

 
At 8:18 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Henchman Of Justice"
says,

Like peds and crosswalks - when people feel safe, they get hurt; or, when people intentionally "wreck the train" they get hurt. No difference.

Bypass Eureka and increase the speed limit back to 65 mph - why should other past stupid drivers (minority problem makers) cause us majority drivers to suffer reduced speed limits and loss of tax dollars.

Further, put fricken 3 lanes in south and 3 lanes in north between McKinleyville and Fortuna because of CONGESTION. It will be like Santa Rosa soon enough between McKinleyville and Fortuna because it partly already is.

HOJ

HOJ

 
At 8:32 AM, Blogger Travis said...

Don't worry after they bypass Willits and expand Richardson's grove and the big international truck start rolling through they'll have no other option but to bypass Eureka its all part of the NAFTA agreement old slick Willy signed

 
At 8:38 AM, Blogger Travis said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 7:42 PM, Anonymous Chloe said...

This is great!

 

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