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Public Not Understanding Caltrans

Started by cahwyguy, January 05, 2025, 12:26:16 PM

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cahwyguy

This is a bit of a rant, but where else, right? I must remember to never read Nextdoor.  :banghead:

I went over there today, and saw this:

Link to post with video: https://nextdoor.com/p/jb7pPRwF2M8k?utm_source=share&slp=&share_platform=10&extras=MjY0NzEyOQ%3D%3D&utm_campaign=1736097427248

QuoteSubject: SB 101 Winnetka Off-ramp | Closed Right Lane

Cal-Trans has had the right lane of the 101 Southbound Winnetka off ramp blocked off with K-rails for the last few weeks and have done absolutely NOTHING but inconvenience drivers who use this off-ramp.

A search on the Cal-Trans website says that they will be performing "pavement" work for the week from 1/6 to 1/10. I have a feeling it has nothing to do with pavement and rather has to do with fixing the broken signage that was apparently damaged in a car accident at some point in the past few months.

But come on, Cal-Trans, did you really need to close the right lane for the past two or three weeks while absolutely nothing was done!? Talk about some terrible planning. Unreal.

I see s....stuff like this quite often: People who complain about how slow Caltrans is. It fits the general hatred that folks on NextDoor have for government (which is a reason I avoid the site). I got in a long ... discussion ... last year with these folks about the slowness of the repair of the Reseda Offramp sinkhole. But that's because I knew what was going on through looking at the CTC minutes for my pages.

How do we educate people that government processes are very different than what you do as a homeowner. Caltrans can't just go to Lowes and get new poles. They likely need to order a new sign to be fabricated, allocate the G12 funding for this, and the block off the lane to ensure public safety with the repairs.

Projects that seem simple to us are often more involved because we don't know the details. Utility relocation. Uncooperative other agencies with different piorities. Supply chain issues. Scheduling issues.

We here have our disputes with Caltrans, but at least we understand their processes. How do we teach the public.

There. Now I feel better.
Daniel - California Highway Guy ● Highway Site: http://www.cahighways.org/ ●  Blog: http://blog.cahighways.org/ ● Podcast (CA Route by Route): http://caroutebyroute.org/ ● Follow California Highways on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cahighways


Max Rockatansky

#1
Stuff like NextDoor is the lowest common denominator and caters to people complaining.  There isn't much you can do to educate that crowd on much of anything.  Around me most of the posts are comprised of people either losing dogs or thinking they hear explosions. I'm still flustered that Jessica used my email to sign up for said site.

vdeane

I would think they could at least wait to close the lane until they're ready to do the work, however.  No need to have it closed if they're still securing materials and funding.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

jdbx

I see the same thing in local NextDoor and Facebook groups. People are incredibly confident in knowing the answers and having better solutions while being blind to their own ignorance. More than half the time, the people complaining don't even know which city or agency is in charge of a given project.  I don't often join in the conversations, since more often than not people are just finding a reason to bitch and moan rather than actually learn or have questions answered.

NextDoor is great if you want to play the "gunshots or fireworks" game, or rally the torches and pitchforks when some local jurisdiction dares to approve new housing being built.  It's pretty lousy for actually having thoughtful discussion or getting new and accurate information.  The Facebook groups are even worse.

In my town, this project is in progress: https://www.phillca.gov/1609/Contra-Costa-Boulevard-Improvement-Proje

You would not believe the amount of bellyaching and misunderstanding from folks who have no idea what is going on, or even what city this project is taking place in.  I tried answering questions and joining the discussion at first, but people became nasty so I gave up.


DTComposer

Quote from: jdbx on January 07, 2025, 01:40:08 PMrally the torches and pitchforks when some local jurisdiction dares to approve new housing being built.

This is my least favorite. Around here any proposed new development is met with a NextDoor chorus of "they're ruining the valley I grew up in" and "I remember playing in the orchards and picking fruit for summer jobs." The "Valley of Heart's Delight" hasn't been a thing since 1970, if not earlier - a new apartment building on the site of an abandoned Carl's Jr. isn't what tipped the scales from bucolic farmland to metropolis.

Invariably, of course, the next post will be about the lack of affordable housing.

jdbx

Quote from: DTComposer on January 07, 2025, 02:49:47 PM
Quote from: jdbx on January 07, 2025, 01:40:08 PMrally the torches and pitchforks when some local jurisdiction dares to approve new housing being built.

This is my least favorite. Around here any proposed new development is met with a NextDoor chorus of "they're ruining the valley I grew up in" and "I remember playing in the orchards and picking fruit for summer jobs." The "Valley of Heart's Delight" hasn't been a thing since 1970, if not earlier - a new apartment building on the site of an abandoned Carl's Jr. isn't what tipped the scales from bucolic farmland to metropolis.

Invariably, of course, the next post will be about the lack of affordable housing.

Bingo. Awhile back, some local gadfly was railing against an apartment building that was being constructed on the site of an abandoned office building downtown.  In the next thread where somebody was listing an in-law unit for rent, they were scolding the person for charging too much for rent.  I'm sure the same person is more  than happy to be sitting in a house worth $2MM that they paid $36k for in 1978.

It's the same mentality that can't understand why they can't just add more lanes to the freeway, or tear out the bike lanes to add more parking. (This is my attempt to bring the discussion back on topic)



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