🛣️ Headlines about California Highways – September 2018

Ah, September. The last month of the US Government fiscal year. Silly season 3. But also the time when we are gearing up for the November elections — and for us roadgeeks, the battle over Proposition 6 — the initiative to repeal the gas tax increase, which (if passed) will do horrible things for the highways in this state. As for me, it has been a month of adding maps to the county sign route pages; as the month finished, I’ve added routes through all the letters up to “S”, and am working on the “S”s. So while I work on that, have some headlines:

Big Sur’s new stretch of highway already cracking. The newly rebuilt section of Big Sur’s scenic Highway 1 near the town of Gorda is beginning to crack, an early sign of wear for the road that opened just a month ago. But it’s nothing to be alarmed about, state officials say. Several cracks in the pavement, sometimes a foot or longer, were reported this week across the one-third mile stretch of coastal road, which was closed to traffic in May 2017 after being washed out by the enormous Mud Creek Slide.
Mineral King Road/Mountain Road 375; the unbuilt California State Route 276. Back in July of 2016 I took Mineral King Road east from California State Route 198 to Mineral King Valley in Sequoia National Park. Mineral King Road is a 24.8 mile roadway which travels from the confluence of the Middle Fork and East Fork Kaweah River in modern day Three Rivers to Mineral King Valley. Mineral King Road has an approximate starting elevation at about 1,000 feet above sea level in Three Rivers and ends at approximately 7,400 feet above sea level in Mineral King Valley in the High Sierras.
Yesterland: Walt Disney’s Mineral King. It was a Friday. It was about a week before Christmas. And it was official: The U.S. Forest Service awarded the right to develop the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Forest to Walt Disney Productions. The year was 1965. A wire service article quoted Walt Disney: “When I first saw Mineral King five years ago, I thought it was one of the most beautiful spots I had ever seen and we want to keep it that way.” To Walt Disney, that meant a self-contained “Alpine Village” designed to preserve the natural beauty of valley. Other people wanted “to keep it that way” too. But to them it meant no development at all.
The western end of US Route 6 and Laws Depot on the Carson & Colorado Railway. Back in June of 2016 I visited the western terminus of US Route 6 at US Route 395 located in Bishop, California of Inyo County on my way to Laws Depot. US 6 is one of the longest US Routes at 3,205 miles between Bishop, CA east to Provincetown, MA. Historically US 6 was the longest US Route ever when it ended in Long Beach at 3,652 miles. US 6 is known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway and is mostly known for traveling through some of the most rural corners of the Continental United States.

Ghost Town Tuesday; Millerton, California and the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. Back in 2016 I visited Millerton Lake in Madera County to view the 1866 Fresno County Court House which was located in Millerton on the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. Millerton traces it’s origins back to the founding of Fort Miller during the Mariposa War in May of 1851. Fort Miller was a fortification on the south bank of the San Joaquin River originally designated as Camp Barbour but was renamed in 1852. The community of Millerton came to grew around Fort Millerton and remained even after said Fort was abandoned in 1858. In 1856 Fresno County was created from parts of Mariposa County, Merced County, and Tulare County. Millerton was selected as the original County Seat of Fresno County due to it’s ferry location on the Stockton-Los Angeles Road at the San Joaquin River.
Highway 101 work progresses in North Bay, but political, legal challenges imperil funding. Motorists on Highway 101 in southern Sonoma County have noticed big changes taking place in recent months around the county line as the long-running freeway widening project takes shape through the Sonoma-Marin Narrows. Unfortunately, traffic relief is not expected for at least another year as the complex project drags on. Separately, funding for other key bottlenecks not yet under construction is in jeopardy because of a ballot measure and a court case.
CityLab Daily: Why Widening a Road Doesn’t Ease Traffic. As the urbanist aphorism goes: Widening roads to reduce congestion is like loosening your belt to cure obesity. Yet nearly all freeway expansions and new highways are sold to the public as a way to reduce traffic. Anyone who’s stuck on the road has had the thought: If there were only one more lane, everyone would move faster.
Caltrans Accelerates Highway 1 Repairs. Caltrans continues repair work to eight bridges on State Route 1 from Willow Creek to Garrapata Creek due to funds from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. “This route hugs the scenic coastline, serving the tourists and local residents along the Big Sur Coast who depend on this busy north-south road,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman. “Safety improvements to Highway 1 now are key for motorists to be able to enjoy safer and smoother travel for years to come.”
Fundraising Effort Announced to Pay for Freeway Signs Renaming Section of State Route 134 the “President Barack H. Obama Highway”. Pasadena-area State Sen. Anthony J. Portantino and the Pasadena Community Foundation are hosting a Fundraising Reception on Sunday, September 23, as the Senator and local community residents continue to raise funds to pay for Caltrans highway signs renaming a section of the 134 Freeway as the “President Barack H. Obama Highway.” State lawmakers agreed to the dedication effort between the Glendale CA-2 and the Interstate 210 on the condition it was paid for with private, not state, money.
Caltrans announces closure of section of Holman Highway in Pacific Grove for safety improvements. Both directions of Highway 68 along Holman Highway will be closed for continued construction operations beginning Sunday, Caltrans announced in a news release Friday. An ongoing $3 million safety improvement project on the stretch of highway from Piedmont Avenue to the Highway 1/Highway 68 junction will affect traffic Sunday through Tuesday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night. The roadwork is performed by Granite Construction and will consist of one-way reversing traffic control with flagging and up to 30-minute delays for motorists. The work will not cause any ramp closures and access to the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula will be granted.
This crumbling Sacramento freeway has been ‘Band-Aided until you can’t Band-Aid it any longer’. Several lanes of Interstate 5 in downtown Sacramento will be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights as crews continue repairing sections of the freeway that crumbled twice last month. The emergency work will take place in both directions of the freeway, south of Richards Boulevard, from 9 p.m. through early morning, sometimes as late as 5 a.m., Caltrans spokeswoman Deanna Shoopman said
Homes Sold Along 710 Freeway Corridor. There were big developments Friday in the now defunct plan to extend the 710 Freeway. Caltrans just sold the first of hundreds of homes, purchased decades ago, in preparation for the project, the NBC4 I-Team spoke to the new owners in South Pasadena. The new owners were making it official within the last couple of weeks many of them long-term rental tenants of the homes who got quite a deal.
Equity concerns explored in 101 express lane project. After receiving feedback about the Highway 101 Managed Lanes project over the summer, C/CAG is conducting additional research into how it might address the persisting equity concern some have with respect to charging a toll to drive on a public highway. The Managed Lanes project seeks to build a new lane in each direction on the stretch of Highway 101 in San Mateo County between Interstate 380 and Whipple Road.
Caltrans HQ on Twitter: “Here’s the direct link to the Ten-Year Project Book” . State Highway Operation and Protection Program Ten-Year Project Book Year Project Book Year Project Book: Fiscal Years 2017/18—2026/27 link.
Sept. 13, 1947: The Light Rail That Failed — Transit Plan Calls for Trains on Freeway Medians. Someday an inquisitive person studying the history of transportation and urban planning will tell the world exactly what became of Los Angeles’ 1947 blueprint for dealing with transit problems. In the meantime, we’ll have to settle for the knowledge that at least they made a valiant effort. They certainly knew what was coming—without much argument, you could call them futurists.
Nevada State Route 28. In 2016 I drove the entirety of Nevada State Route 28 twice on the northeast corner of Lake Tahoe. NV 28 is a 16.3 mile state highway beginning at US Route 50 in Douglas County which travels northwest around the shore of Lake Tahoe. NV 28 crosses through the outer limits of Carson City and Washoe County before terminating at CA 28.
Cave Rock Tunnel; US Route 50 Lake Tahoe. Back in 2016 I visited the Cave Rock Tunnel on US Route 50 on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe in Douglas County, Nevada. The Cave Rock Tunnel is a dual-bore tunnel through a rock formation of the same name. The Cave Rock Tunnel was intended as a replacement of the original alignment of US 50 which was routed on the South Branch of the Lincoln Highway. Prior to the Cave Rock Tunnel being built traffic had to use a one-lane swing bridge located on the edge of Cave Rock which dated back to 1863.
Caltrans paving project to last into 2019 on I-10, highways 111 and 86. Indio police sent out an alert Wednesday that there was a major traffic backup on Interstate 10 and all anyone really knew was that it involved road construction and some kind of crane. The week ended without similar conditions popping up, but motorists should look forward to the crane and lane closures for another few months. And by that, we mean 2019.
Why isn’t the new section of the 210 Freeway called Interstate 210?. Q: Dan Centurioni of Alta Loma had a question about the 210 Freeway. He observed that ever since the completion of Interstate 210, connecting La Verne with Redlands, the new section has never assumed the designation of Interstate 210 but is instead referred to as California State Highway 210. “Is there a reason why it is not designated as part of the Interstate system?” he asked. “Just curious because I don’t see this anywhere else in the state.”
Caltrans Accelerates Repairs on State Route 140 in Mariposa County Due to SB 1 Funds – Says Project Will Provide A Safer and Smoother Commute for Tourists, Commercial Traffic, And Locals. Caltrans will repair more than six lane miles of State Route 140 (SR-140) from the SR-49/SR-140 junction to Whitlock Road in Mariposa County, due to the funds from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and caltrans 1Accountability Act of 2017.
Anger in California’s carpool lanes as up to 200,000 drivers set to lose clean-air decals. For some California commuters, cutting down on carbon emissions isn’t a sexy enough reason to buy an electric car. But the ability to bypass freeway traffic without having to carpool — that’s another story. So there is grumbling in high-occupancy-vehicle lanes across California these days. On Jan. 1, the owners of as many as 220,000 low- and zero-emission vehicles stand to lose the white and green clean-air decals that allow them to drive solo in the diamond lanes.
Road construction in Southern California would change if Prop 6 passes. Here’s a look at how Prop 6 might affect some specific road, freeway, street and transportation projects in Southern California: …
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway; US Route 97, California State Route 161, Tule Lake, and Lava Beds National Monument. Back in 2014 and 2016 I visited a large number of the highways that consist of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway in northern California. In 2016 I traveled much of the Byway in Siskiyou County via; US Route 97, California State Route 161, and Hill Road to Lava Beds National Monument.
Mile Marker: A Caltrans Performance Report, September 2017. In This Issue: Mile Markers ● Starting to Fill in the Gaps ● Budget Picture Much Brighter for Caltrans ● Strategy to Cut Water Use Pays Off Big ● Teaching Water-Wise Ways ● Freight Route Bridges Top SB 1 Fix-It List ● Caltrans Keeps Close Eye on Bridge Condition ● Projects Relieve Traffic Squeeze on I-15 ● Solar Keeps Caltrans on Green Goal Track ● Litterbugs Still Foul Roads, Local Waters ● Early Truck ‘Platoon’ Tests Show Promise ● Staying in Your Lane Just Got Easier ● Caltrans Keeps Project Pipeline Filled ● New Law Puts Strategic Vision in Motion ● New Caltrans App Can Be a Lifesaver ● From the Archives
Judge denies motion to dismiss Willits Bypass tribal lawsuit against Caltrans. U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White on Jan. 23 denied Caltrans’ motion to dismiss regarding a lawsuit by California Indian tribes against Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration for allegedly destroying known Indian cultural sites, according to a press release by the tribes’ legal representation. The denial comes more than one year after the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the Round Valley Indian Tribes filed a lawsuit in federal court asserting claims that Caltrans and the FHWA violated several federal statutes including the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Department of Transportation Act and the Federal-Aid Highway Act.
Caltrans to close Highway 163 for maintenance and construction. Stretches of state Route 163 will be closed beginning Monday night and continuing through Friday morning for maintenance work and to reduce the height of the overpass at Friars Road, Caltrans announced. Crews will close all southbound lanes of SR-163 between Genesee Avenue and Interstate 8 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, according to Caltrans. All northbound lanes of SR-163 between Genesee Avenue and I-8 will be closed from 11:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
Caltrans Has Completed Accelerated Repairs on State Route 108 in Tuolumne County Due to SB 1 Funds. Caltrans has replaced four lane miles of pavement on eastbound and westbound State Route 108 from Lyons Dam Road to the community of Long Barn, due to funds received from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. “The completion of this project will benefit residents in the Long Barn area, as well as travelers and the businesses in that region that rely on tourism dollars to bolster their local economy,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman. “We’re just scratching the surface with these initial SB 1 projects.”
Signed County Route J37; the last Signed Tulare County Route and the Lone Pine to Porterville High Sierra Road. Recently I drove the entirety of Signed County Route J37 located in rural Tulare County. Signed County Route J37 is notable in that it is the last Signed County Route which actually has field signage left in Tulare County and was intended to be part of a Trans-Sierra Highway known as the Lone Pine to Porterville High Sierra Road.
Caltrans worker suffers fatal injuries in San Diego fall. A Caltrans worker fell to his death on a road project north of San Diego early Wednesday, the department reported. Caltrans leadworker William Casdorph, 57, fell about 50 feet off of a transition ramp on State Route 163 where it crossed over Highway 805 in Kearny Mesa, the California Highway Patrol reported to San Diego news outlets. The accident occurred about 3 a.m. “We don’t know exactly how or why yet, but he did take a fall over the center divide,” California Highway Patrol Sgt. Brent Lowry told Fox 5. “He got out of his truck, went to step over the wall. We don’t exactly know how or why” he fell.
Booze at cemeteries? The weirdest, most interesting new California laws. Image 19 of 27: A section of Route 185 in San Leandro will no longer be a part of the state highway system (AB 2473).
First segment of Los Patrones Parkway will open Wednesday, Sept. 12. The first section of the new Los Patrones Parkway is expected to open after the morning commute on Wednesday, Sept. 12. The road gives residents of the growing Rancho Mission Viejo and nearby South County neighborhoods another route for accessing the 241 toll road and other major roadways out of the region. Once built out, Rancho Mission Viejo is expected to have 14,000 homes.
Drivers to pay Treasure Island toll in both directions starting in 2021 – by – September 19, 2018. Starting in 2021, drivers travelling to or from Treasure Island will be forced to pay a toll in addition to the tolls they already pay to cross the Bay Bridge, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority announced Wednesday.
Express lanes, longer carpool hours coming to Highway 237. Q: What’s the latest on extending the carpool lanes on Highway 237 west of Interstate 880? They have been installing a new median barrier in that area.
Portion of Highway 4 named for Hayward Police Sergeant Scott Lunger, who was killed during traffic stop. A portion of State Route 4 is now named for Hayward Police Sgt. Scott Lunger, who was killed three years ago during a traffic stop, according to the California Department of Transporation. The agency today unveiled signs for the Police Sergeant Scott Lunger Memorial Highway, on State Route 4 between Laurel Road in Oakley and Balfour Road in Brentwood.
District 10 – State Route 99/Fulkerth Road Interchange Project. The project will widen Fulkerth Road to accommodate six to seven lanes, with five-foot wide shoulders and six-foot wide sidewalks; Widen the northbound (NB) off-ramp to provide two lanes where it connects to Fulkerth; Reconstruct the NB on-ramp to provide two mixed-flow lanes and one future high occupancy vehicle (HOV) preferential lane with provisions for future ramp metering; Realign the southbound (SB) off-ramp to improve intersection spacing and provide three lanes where it connects to Fulkerth; Realign the SB on-ramp to improve intersection spacing, and provide two mixed- flow lanes and one future HOV preferential lane with provisions for future ramp metering; Align Dianne Drive with existing Auto Mall Drive, eliminating the offset local street intersection on Fulkerth Road; Signalize the Dianne Drive/Fulkerth Road, State Route 99 (SR-99) SB ramps/Fulkerth Road and SR-99 NB ramps/Fulkerth Road intersections. This project includes $5.5 million from the Local Partnership Program, part of Senate Bill 1.
District 10 – State Route 132 Dakota Avenue to Gates Road Project. The project will construct an access-controlled facility (expressway) adjacent to the existing State Route 132 (SR-132) alignment or on new SR-132 new alignment, or a freeway/expressway on new SR-132 alignment. The project is in western Stanislaus County, 3.1 miles east of the San Joaquin River Bridge, extending from the Dakota Avenue/Kansas Avenue intersection to the Gates Road/SR-132 intersection.
Caltrans Central Valley District 6 – Posts. Information for residents and commuters in the Armona area. Work will begin Tuesday October 2. Long Term Intersection Closure. Hanford Armona Road and 13th Ave in Armona along Route 198.
Hating Caltrans isn’t a reason to repeal the gas tax. If Caltrans weren’t such an easy target for criticism, the decision on Proposition 6 would be clear. Despite those misgivings, voters should reject the Nov. 6 ballot measure – and keep the gas tax increase that is paying to repair crumbling bridges and roads, including busy commuter routes such as Highway 50 and Interstate 5 in Sacramento.
Vote no on Prop. 6 gas tax repeal. The single biggest complaint Petaluma residents have about the city is the horrendous condition of the streets. The single biggest fix to the horrendous condition of Petaluma’s streets is SB1, an increase in the gas tax that state legislators approved last year. SB1, which is generating $5 billion annually statewide, has already made a significant impact on local streets. Petaluma is getting a $1 million annual injection, which it has used to repave 4th Street, 6th Street and Caulfield Lane. Many more miles of street repairs are planned with the projected revenue from SB1.
Prop 6 gas tax repeal opponents campaign in Coachella Valley. Proposition 6, the ballot initiative that would repeal California’s 2017 gas and car tax increase, is a key component of California Republican’s strategy heading into the midterm elections. The party hopes California drivers troubled by high gas prices will show up to the polls in November to vote for the repeal, and at the same time case ballot to fuel conservative candidates to victory in races for state, federal and local office. Democrats, led by Gov. Jerry Brown, are campaigning against the repeal proposition and saying the tax revenue is essential to infrastructure improvement, including roads and bridges throughout the state.
Proposition 6: Vote no because gas tax-funded improvements are much-needed. Proposition 6 would repeal the fuel and vehicle-license taxes and fees that Gov. Jerry Brown got the Legislature to enact last year, reducing the excise tax on gasoline by 12 cents, among many changes. The Republican-touted measure is certain to appeal to the Californians who feel overtaxed. The exaggerated claims about how much this would save motorists and how certain it is that the $5 billion a year generated by the 2017 law will be diverted for non-transportation uses are also sure to round up votes. The inclusion of a provision that voters must approve any fuel and vehicle taxes going forward is also likely to attract those with a populist streak. Nonetheless, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board encourages a no vote on Proposition 6. The protections meant to ensure funds are used properly — for road and transit improvements — are substantive. And it’s obvious that the state has an immense backlog of transportation renovations that are needed to keep our economy strong.
California’s Prop 6 is a cynical political ploy. I remember how fresh and new everything seemed the day I arrived in San Luis Obispo County more than four decades ago. The smooth roads seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. The bridges seemed to glisten. Cars and trucks flowed over fresh concrete in crisply painted lanes. We seemingly were energized with a powerful sense of freedom. There was no “rush hour.” I remember blowing through a new stop sign at Spyglass Drive and Shell Beach Road for months before finally realizing it was there.
Editorial: No on Prop. 6 to keep state roads, transit funds. Proposition 6 is the sort of public vote on a tax increase that Jerry Brown promised when he ran for governor in 2010 but later reneged on. Instead, the governor’s political opponents gathered signatures to place an initiative on the ballot that would overturn his gas and car tax increases. So, voters will have a say, after all, on the transportation funding plan. But when they cast their ballots, they should side with Brown. They should uphold the increases by voting no on Prop. 6. Note that we said vote no. A yes vote would overturn the transportation plan; a no vote leaves it in place.
Gas tax increase appeal supporters not telling entire story to voters. One dropped word can make almost any written passage wholly misleading and confusing. Imagine if President Trump’s 2016 election slogan had lacked the word “great.” What would “Make America Again” have done for his campaign? Not much. This year in California it’s the opposite. One missing word gives the current initiative to repeal last year’s gasoline tax increase much of its impetus and popular appeal. That word is “increase.” When Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox and other proponents like former San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio take to their campaign rally microphones, they almost always shout “Repeal the gas tax.” Only rarely do they include that extra word “increase.” In fact, Prop. 6 would not end the gas tax. No state initiative can do that by itself since the current total tax of about 77 cents per gallon includes 18.4 cents in federal taxes, something state officials can’t touch. Instead, the current proposal would merely eliminate an increase of just over 12 cents per gallon imposed last year after a narrow legislative vote.
Editorial: No on Proposition 6 — cynical political ploy would destroy California’s roads. California’s roads are ranked as some of the worst in the country. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that driving on them costs each driver $844 per year in vehicle repairs. Roads, highways and traffic congestion are among Californians’ top complaints about quality of life in this state. So it’s critical for voters to understand how destructive Proposition 6, a November ballot initiative to repeal last year’s gas tax increase, could be for each and every motorist.
It’s hard to overstate how destructive Proposition 6 would be for California. Vote no. There is bipartisan agreement that California needs to fix its deteriorating transportation infrastructure. Too many roads are potholed and crumbling. Too many bridges could collapse in the next big earthquake. Too many Californians are stuck for hours in traffic without the option of a train, bus or bike. But even though everyone agrees on the need, some people don’t want to pay for it. The most logical way to fund these critical transportation improvements is the way California, and the federal government, have always done it: through “user fees” imposed on drivers. In California, those include gas taxes and assessments paid by owners on their vehicles. But the taxes haven’t increased with inflation and more fuel-efficient vehicles have reduced the revenue as well. Last year, state lawmakers finally reached a deal to increase fuel taxes and vehicle fees to pay for the massive $130-billion backlog of transportation maintenance and to start modernizing as well. It was the first gas tax increase in 23 years.
Get ready for traffic as Willits’ Main St. relinquishment enters its final phase. Get ready for a bit more traffic in Willits for the next couple weeks, as the work on the the relinquishment of Main St. (from CalTrans back to the City of Willits) enters its final and most disruptive phase. Beginning Monday Oct. 1, CalTrans will be repaving Main St. during the days, for several days, with work starting at about 9 a.m. This work will mean one way traffic control, with a pilot car, on Main St. The paving work is expected to be completed Oct. 15, with the next phase being “striping” which is expected to be done by Nov. 1. Work will also be continuing on the new junction between Sherwood Rd. and Main St. All this work is being done as part of the project to bring Willits Main St., which was formally part of U.S. Route 101, up to snuff, and ready to be returned to the ownership, control and responsibility of the City of Willits. The street has been controlled by the various incarnations of the California Department of Transportation since the early part of last century.
Atascadero Council reviews improvements on SR41. The Atascadero City Council got an update Tuesday, Sept. 25 on plans to restripe and add or redesign sidewalks along Highway 41 coming into the city center from San Gabriel Road. According to the report delivered by Public Works Director Nick DeBar, the state’s transportation agency, Caltrans, “is currently in the final design phase of the State Route (SR) 41 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) project that will provide for pedestrian and [Americans with Disabilities Act] ADA improvements.”
Highway 52 Coalition ready to move ahead on traffic help for Santee. The Highway 52 Coalition, a task force created by the city of Santee to deal with growing traffic congestion along the east-west freeway, launched its campaign last week. Its aim is to bring together local and regional leaders to share in finding solutions to ease the gridlock, which local officials say threatens the economic health of the region. The coalition is very much in its infancy; its only members at present are Santee Mayor John Minto and City Manager Marlene Best. At the group’s first meeting last week, they told a packed crowd of Santee residents and outside parties that they are serious about improving commutes.
Tree cutting in Napa to clear way for roundabouts near Highway 29. Trees near a major gateway to downtown Napa will begin to disappear – at least for a time – as the city and state prepare to build a trio of traffic roundabouts near Highway 29. Starting in October and continuing for just over a month, a contractor will remove about 60 trees in the vicinity of First Street and California Boulevard, according to Eric Whan, Napa’s interim public works director. The removals will clear space needed to start demolition and grading for construction of three traffic hubs that will connect Highway 29 with First and Second streets and California Boulevard, eliminating traffic signals at an interchange that funnels visitors into central Napa.
$100 million at stake for Yuba-Sutter roadways. Since a statewide gas tax increase was passed in 2017, cities, counties and agencies in Yuba-Sutter have used their portion of the generated funds to carry out a number of road improvement and rehabilitation projects. If Proposition 6 passes this November, repealing the gas tax increase, the area stands to lose an estimated $102 million in funds over the next 10 years, officials say.