🛣 Changes to the California Highways Web Site covering January-May 2021

[cahwyguy]

And they're done. I've finished the updates for January - May 2021. You can see the full discussion of the changes at either
https://cahighways.org/wordpress/?p=16110 or https://www.cahighways.org/chg2021.html#2021-05

There's loads of stuff to look at, from the CTC minutes to bunches of history additions. Here's the introduction:

What a long, strange year it has been. In March 2020, I saw my last live theatre for over a year: Passion at Boston Court. I had just returned from a trip to Madison WI to visit my daughter. We were just starting to worry about the Novel Coronavirus, with no idea of the long haul in front of us. Working from home had just begun. We were at the start of the 2020 election year, long before we had any inkling that the losing candidate would attempt an insurrection to overturn the election result and prevent Congress from doing their congressional duty. A long, long, strange year.

On the highway page front: I was continuing work on the major site redesign and rework, which was coming up in May. That behind me, updates preceded apace. I think the new site is fast. This year, due to some problems, I got rid of one of the plugins on the Wordpress side of the site, and suddenly that became faster and more reliable. I may be getting back into the blogging side of the equation.

As for 2021: Let's hope for a return to the new normal. We have a vaccine, and hopefully we'll all be vaccinated by the summer–and so we might start to be able to do events and roadtrips again. We'll likely still want to wear masks, as there will be those who refuse the vaccines, or for whom the vaccine is not 100% preventative. We have a new President, who is behaving a lot more...presidential. I don't have major site changes planned. The hope for 2021 is: a new normal, and an uneventful new normal.  כן יהי רצון Ken Yehi Ratzon–Let It Be So.

I do want to share one thing I saw going through the CTC Minutes that didn't make it into these pages. The following was amended into the SHOPP at the May meeting, and is $730,000 of your tax dollars at work:

May 2021 CTC Agenda Item 2.1a.(1a): 05-Mon-1 PM 10.5. Route 1 Near Gorda, at the Willow Springs Maintenance Station at 72115 Cabrillo Highway (Route 1). Repair failed electrical system. In January 2021, a microwave oven caught fire while not in use at the maintenance station employee housing facility.  A follow-up investigation of this incident, an ongoing low-voltage issue, and a history of damaged electrical appliances has identified numerous safety related issues due to undersized wiring, corrosion of components, long undersized wire runs, and all power runs connected to a ineffective single main breaker. This project will remove existing electrical components, install new pull boxes, conduit, wiring, and service panels.

On to the updates.

.... and as I say .... ready, set, discuss.

[TheStranger]

Not sure if you saw the info re: the new shields on Route 262, which seem to have been installed in the past few weeks:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=24485.25

[Max Rockatansky]

There was some cool finds on Gribblenation over the last five months like the original routing of 1 in San Francisco and that 24 for a brief time was aligned through the Kennedy Tunnel.  As of late I've been putting a lot of effort into tracking down old surface alignments of the US Routes via the CHPWs.  I just wrapped up the last couple pieces of US 99 from Los Angeles north to Sacramento.  I have some stuff coming up for US Route 50 and US Route 101 but I don't know if the upcoming trip to Florida will hold me up regarding getting stuff out. 

[cahwyguy]

Not sure if you saw the info re: the new shields on Route 262, which seem to have been installed in the past few weeks:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=24485.25

I saw the information, but I don't always track in the pages where routes are signed (unless they are completely unsigned), and there seemed to be some implication that things might be temporary. It's not noted as an unsigned route. Still, I'll add a note (and as I just did updates today), upload that page.

[cahwyguy]

There was some cool finds on Gribblenation over the last five months like the original routing of 1 in San Francisco and that 24 for a brief time was aligned through the Kennedy Tunnel.  As of late I've been putting a lot of effort into tracking down old surface alignments of the US Routes via the CHPWs.  I just wrapped up the last couple pieces of US 99 from Los Angeles north to Sacramento.  I have some stuff coming up for US Route 50 and US Route 101 but I don't know if the upcoming trip to Florida will hold me up regarding getting stuff out. 

I know, and I think those have been captured and summarized (with copious links back to the source).

[nexus73]

And they're done. I've finished the updates for January - May 2021. You can see the full discussion of the changes at either
https://cahighways.org/wordpress/?p=16110 or https://www.cahighways.org/chg2021.html#2021-05

There's loads of stuff to look at, from the CTC minutes to bunches of history additions. Here's the introduction:

What a long, strange year it has been. In March 2020, I saw my last live theatre for over a year: Passion at Boston Court. I had just returned from a trip to Madison WI to visit my daughter. We were just starting to worry about the Novel Coronavirus, with no idea of the long haul in front of us. Working from home had just begun. We were at the start of the 2020 election year, long before we had any inkling that the losing candidate would attempt an insurrection to overturn the election result and present Congress from doing their congressional duty. A long, long, strange year.

On the highway page front: I was continuing work on the major site redesign and rework, which was coming up in May. That behind me, updates preceded apace. I think the new site is fast. This year, due to some problems, I got rid of one of the plugins on the Wordpress side of the site, and suddenly that became faster and more reliable. I may be getting back into the blogging side of the equation.

As for 2021: Let's hope for a return to the new normal. We have a vaccine, and hopefully we'll all be vaccinated by the summer—and so we might start to be able to do events and roadtrips again. We'll likely still want to wear masks, as there will be those who refuse the vaccines, or for whom the vaccine is not 100% preventative. We have a new President, who is behaving a lot more…presidential. I don't have major site changes planned. The hope for 2021 is: a new normal, and an uneventful new normal.  כן יהי רצון Ken Yehi Ratzon—Let It Be So.

I do want to share one thing I saw going through the CTC Minutes that didn't make it into these pages. The following was amended into the SHOPP at the May meeting, and is $730,000 of your tax dollars at work:

May 2021 CTC Agenda Item 2.1a.(1a): 05-Mon-1 PM 10.5. Route 1 Near Gorda, at the Willow Springs Maintenance Station at 72115 Cabrillo Highway (Route 1). Repair failed electrical system. In January 2021, a microwave oven caught fire while not in use at the maintenance station employee housing facility.  A follow-up investigation of this incident, an ongoing low-voltage issue, and a history of damaged electrical appliances has identified numerous safety related issues due to undersized wiring, corrosion of components, long undersized wire runs, and all power runs connected to a ineffective single main breaker. This project will remove existing electrical components, install new pull boxes, conduit, wiring, and service panels.

On to the updates.

.... and as I say .... ready, set, discuss.

Let's not talk about "insurrections" unless you want to start a political war here.

Rick

[cahwyguy]

The only "war" I anticipate is over the removal of freeways in urban areas (which I discuss on my I-980 page), the war over whether I-710 will ever be widened, the war against nature near the Last Chance Grade on US 101, or the war against HOV "degredation" that was planned for discussion on the CTC agenda in Jan, noticed in Mar, and finally made it there in May. HOV degredation is when the average speed in the HOV lanes gets too low, and so Caltrans has to develop measures to increase the throughput on the HOV lanes. This is happening on I-5. From my pages:

HOV Degredation / I-5 Managed Langes and Improvements (12-ORA-005 29.1/44.4)

In March 2021 the CTC received notice of, and in May 2021 the CTC considered, a proposal to amend the STIP to program $2,200,000 in Interregional Improvement Program (IIP) shares to a new project — I-5 Managed Lanes project (PPNO 2833C) in Orange County, for the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase in Fiscal Year 2021-22. This project is in Orange County on I-5 from Red Hill Avenue to 0.5 mile north of Los Angeles (LA) County Line within the Cities of Tustin, Santa Ana, Orange, Anaheim, Fullerton, and Buena Park. The project proposes to address operational deficiencies related to High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) degradation (i.e., the fact that the HOV lanes are increasingly congested above Federal guidelines) through studies of alternatives that include Priced Managed Lanes (PML) strategies. The purpose of this project is to implement operational improvements that will address HOV degradation, increase operational efficiency, improve movement of people and goods, incentivize ride sharing, facilitate transit, strive to reduce vehicle miles traveled and increase average vehicle occupancy and improve freight travel while minimizing impacts to the surrounding communities and the environment. The project goals and benefits include the following:
(Source: March 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.1b.(4); May 2021 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.1a.(5))

• Address HOV degradation on this 16-mile section of I-5 in central and northern Orange County
• Improve safety and system performance throughout the corridor including for freight travel
• Improve the state's economy, community, and environment through benefits such as travel time savings, low-income assistance programs and emissions savings
• Address multimodal mobility and provide reliable travel time and addressing HOV performance
• Incentivize ride sharing and transit options
• Increase average vehicle occupancy
• Strive to reduce vehicle mile travel
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Implement technological advances
• Address equitable transportation solution through various strategies including supporting regional economic vitality via efficient and reliable transportation and quality of life via promoting ride sharing, carpooling, and enhancing transit opportunities.

This project is proposed to be funded with both State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) and Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP) to address improvements to existing infrastructure. This project will evaluate four alternatives:
(Source: May 2021 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.1a.(5))

• Alternative 1:  No-Build Alternative
• Alternative 2:  No-Build Alternative with modification to HOV minimum occupancy requirement to 3 passengers (HOV 3+) between Red Hill Ave and LA/Orange County Line (OCL)
• Alternative 3:  Convert the existing HOV lanes to Priced Managed Lanes (PMLs) between Red Hill Ave and LA/OCL
• Alternative 4:  Convert the existing HOV lanes to PMLs between Red Hill Ave and LA/OCL and construct an additional PML between: (4A) Route 57 and Route 91, (4B) Route 57 and LA/OCL

Also in May 2021, the following project was considered for amendment into the SHOPP: (1c) #1. 12-Ora-5 R29.1/44.382 PPNO 2833C ProjID 1218000006 EA 0Q950. I-5 In and near the cities of Tustin, Orange, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Fullerton, and Buena Park, from Red Hill Avenue to the Los Angeles County line.  Address High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane degradation.  (Additional $2,200,000 from Interregional Improvement Program (IIP) contribution.) (Long Lead Project). PA&ED $12,800K only. Begin const: 2/16/2028. While this SHOPP funding would to be used to evaluate Alternatives 1, 2, and 3, ITIP funding is proposed to study Alternative 4. The total anticipated cost for the project ranges between $0 and $1,430,000,000 for these four alternatives, depending on the selected alternative, at the completion of PA&ED phase.
(Source: May 2021 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.1a.(1c) #1, 2.1a.(5))

Lastly, in May 2021, the CTC approved the following pre-construction support phase allocation(s): (2a) #13. $12,800,000 (PA&ED). 12-Ora-5 R29.1/44.382. PPNO 12-2833C; ProjID 1218000006; EA 0Q950 . I-5 In and near the cities of Tustin, Orange, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Fullerton, and Buena Park, from Red Hill Avenue to the Los Angeles County line. Address High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane degradation. (Additional $2,200,000 from Interregional Improvement Program (IIP) contribution). (Long Lead Project) (Concurrent Amendment under SHOPP Amendment 20H-007; May 2021.)  Prog year 27-28.
(Source: May 2021 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.5b.(2a) #13)

But insurrection? History is what it is. I'll keep my thoughts on that to what I said above, quoted from my page: May 2021 be an uneventful year.

[nexus73]

Histories can be slanted to reflect POV's.  Your version of history regarding "insurrection" shows you take the leftist side.  I do not see events from that perspective.

Remember, politics is hard to discuss here due to moderation policies.  Best to tread very lightly and keep the political aspects to that which directly involves transportation infrastructure and operation.  The "insurrection" you refer to does not involve transportation in any way, shape or form.

Capiche?  Good!

Rick

[cahwyguy]

Histories can be slanted to reflect POV's.  Your version of history regarding "insurrection" shows you take the leftist side.  I do not see events from that perspective.

Remember, politics is hard to discuss here due to moderation policies.  Best to tread very lightly and keep the political aspects to that which directly involves transportation infrastructure and operation.  The "insurrection" you refer to does not involve transportation in any way, shape or form.

I was not intending to discuss politics. It was the narrative introduction to the changes from my blog. My pages themselves are neutral -- opinions only show up in narrative introductions and on the blog side. So, please, do not lecture me. Accept that people can have different positions than you, and you don't need to change their mind or suppress it Choose to keep the discussion to the focus of the post, which was the changes to the highway pages. But you know what, as you alerted me to a typo on rereading it: I've struck out those words on the post here.

I intend to keep the discussion focused on the highways of California, and the changes to my pages with respect to that. I encourage you to choose to do the same thing.

[cahwyguy]

[...] You may need more than a lecture, perhaps a brain transplant [...] Either way, GFY.

(And, for the acronym impaired, GFY means "Go F... Yourself")

And with that witty response, can we please return this to what was intended: A discussion of the actual changes that I captured between January and May, focusing on some of the interesting actions of the California Transportation Commission and some of the legislative proposals.  So, to try to stimulate that, here's some of the legislative stuff that was buried:

★ AB 744 (Rodriguez) State highways: State Route 83: reduction.
Existing law vests the Department of Transportation with full possession and control of all state highways. Existing law describes the authorized routes in the state highway system and establishes a process for adoption of a highway on an authorized route by the California Transportation Commission. Existing law authorizes the commission to relinquish to local agencies state highway segments that have been deleted from the state highway system by legislative enactment or have been superseded by relocation, and in certain other cases. Existing law designates State Route 83 from Route 71 to Route 10 near the City of Upland.

This bill would authorize the commission to relinquish to the City of Ontario all or a portion of State Route 83 within the city's jurisdiction and prescribe conditions that apply upon relinquishment.
05/20/21    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (May 20).

★ SB 512 (Atkins) State highways: relinquishment: Routes 75 and 282.
Existing law vests the Department of Transportation with full possession and control of all state highways. Existing law describes the authorized routes in the state highway system and establishes a process for adoption of a highway on an authorized route by the California Transportation Commission. Existing law authorizes the commission to relinquish to local agencies state highway segments that have been deleted from the state highway system by legislative enactment or have been superseded by relocation, and in certain other cases.

This bill would authorize the commission to relinquish to the City of Coronado Route 282 and specified portions of Route 75, under certain conditions.
05/20/21    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

★ SB 760 (Bates) State highways: State Route 241: reduction.
Existing law establishes the state highway system throughout the state and designates State Route 241 from State Route 5 south of the City of San Clemente to State Route 91 in the City of Anaheim.

This bill would delete from the state highway system the portion of State Route 241 from State Route 5 south of the City of San Clemente to Oso Parkway east of the City of Mission Viejo.
05/13/21    May 17 hearing postponed by committee.

P.S.: I do have an agenda. It is the highways of California. It's right there in my handle.

[ClassicHasClass]

Relinquishing CA 83 was inevitable. I don't see it surviving as a distinct route much longer anyway.

CA 282 is interesting, since I thought it was mostly there to service naval needs. But I guess the City of Coronado can do that.