Comments by Brian

Opinion: Fear of Foothill

May 31, 2006
As someone paying a little more than the "slightest bit of attention" (to use Mr. King's words), I will gladly admit to being lost in the morass of arguments presented for and against this bypass. But as a layperson with regards to all of this, I can emphatically assert that common sense dictates that a parallel route to SR1 is needed not just to what is being proposed here but all the way to Montara! And traffic mitigation is not the only reason - safety and emergency access is another. Whether…

Opinion: Fear of Foothill

May 24, 2006
Mr. Woren, The horse has already left the barn regarding the people who already live here. The infrastructure is simply dangerous and inadequate for the existing population. Now I respect your arguments about unending growth -- and I'll vote enthusiastically for measures that severely cap growth across the board no exceptions with strict enforcement. But I see that as orthogonal to rectifying the situation at hand for the existing citizens. And at the MCC meeting tonight, I won't certainly be looking…

Opinion: Fear of Foothill

May 24, 2006
Mr. Muteff, Thank you very much for this informative post. Please keep the information flowing in this forum - which political candidates and measures support this vision and vice versa. Brian Dantes El Granada

Caltrans gives HMB a chance to discuss traffic light

May 24, 2006
Keyhan Moghbel of Caltrans stated at the May 26th HMB City Council meeting that their traffic engineer had determined over several days that the main choke point for the SR1 southbound traffic was the intersection with SR92. While he did not offer the gory details, he did say that their data showed that the merge with the northbound SR1 traffic was part of the problem. He also said they would monitor the effect of the lights and disable them if they did not have an overall net improvement on the…

Caltrans gives HMB a chance to discuss traffic light

May 24, 2006
Mr. Bogner, The intent and tenor of your note is much appreciated. I mean that sincerely. I wholeheartedly agree with many of your points - most particularly that some of these issues would be moot if law enforcement were out actively doing traffic control as they should be. Metering lights and road closures would be completely unnecessary if CHP and the County Sheriff were helping rather than sitting in their cars shouting through their bullhorns. Nevertheless... From a legal perspective, I remain…

Caltrans gives HMB a chance to discuss traffic light

May 23, 2006
Mr. Keyhan Moghbel indicated to me that the metering lights issue would be discussed by the HMB City Council at a meeting tonight (Tues, 5/22). But I think he may have been confused into thinking that the Council meets every Tuesday night. It is my understanding that the HMB Council does not meet again until June 5th. Is that correct? If not, could someone please post here when the meeting is to be? But if so, it is infuriating that HMB will have succeeded in delaying these metering lights for three…

Caltrans gives HMB a chance to discuss traffic light

May 22, 2006
Ms. Slater-Carter, I think many (including myself) felt as you. However, Mr. Keyhan Moghbel of Caltrans explained at the HMB City Council meeting last week why these are not options. Mr. Moghbel said that Caltrans data showed that the SR1/SR92 was the main chokepoint that had a ripple effect all the way north. He also said that the cranes being used on Devil's Slide to make the repairs were too wide to allow traffic through. But then he later said that the tunnel construction traffic was still using…

Caltrans gives HMB a chance to discuss traffic light

May 22, 2006
Mr. Lansing, It is still not clear (to me at least) that what Caltrans did was "illegal, pure and simple" for all the reasons that I have listed in previous posts. I do not by any means claim to be an expert on the maze of bureaucratic laws in this area, but my readings and conversations with others have led me to believe that Caltrans has the authority to do what they did. I believe the only reason they have delayed is because of the intimidation of a wasteful lawsuit (despite the fact they would…

Caltrans gives HMB a chance to discuss traffic light

May 19, 2006
Mr. Lansing, While there may be some substance to the points you make, I am highly dubious that they form the real basis of yours and others' objections to these metering lights. Regardless, the sources of the northbound SR1 traffic are immaterial. In the simple name of fairness, the congestion at that intersection should be evenly spread among the cars coming at it from all directions. Brian Dantes El Granada

Caltrans gives HMB a chance to discuss traffic light

May 19, 2006
Ms. Carlson, I can't fault your logic, unfortunately. I would hope, however, that HMB Council members will be wise enough to realize that alienating their neighbors hurts them long-term. As of today, no one in my house is patronizing any local HMB businesses, particularly on Main Street, until such time as is perceived these attitudes change. I've just received an email from Mr. Moghbel from Caltrans: > The Department is working closely with all our > local partners to respond to all issues…

Caltrans gives HMB a chance to discuss traffic light

May 19, 2006
What the heck is wrong with trying them out and seeing if they help, just like Mr. Moghbel said at the council meeting? So the HMB folks have succeeded in intimidating Caltrans or misrepresenting that they have a weightier say or a majority opinion. Mr. Moghbel specifically stated that the lights would be turned on in a matter of days once the flashing yellow software updates were complete. So now they reversed course - Councilman Gorn and Mr. Lansing must be happy. Starting immediately and until…

HMB Review waves its petard about, with predictable results

May 18, 2006
Mr. Parr, This reader deeply appreciates and values the service you provide. You provided faster and more through information when the fiber optic cable was cut -- and for details about Devil's Slide. The reader commentary ability is also great -- I actually wish the comments could get posted faster (although I understand the need to have you moderate it). Now this is not to say that I don't like the HMB Review. For example, I thought their 10-item front-page FAQ this past Wednesday was great. I…

Caltrans may end “free” right turns onto Hwy 92 for HMB commuters

May 19, 2006
Mr. Lansing, You told me outside the hall Sunday night when I objected to these ludicrous attempts to block a *trial basis only* attempt to make the traffic flow more equitable for a shared resource that I should go live somewhere with no laws. But when laws serve only to cripple any action whatsoever and bias the use of a common resource on the behalf of one party, those laws are unjust and unsound. Until I hear it from some objective party outside HMB, I refuse to believe that HMB City Council…

Caltrans may end “free” right turns onto Hwy 92 for HMB commuters

May 18, 2006
Mr. Ferreira and Mr. Lansing, If Caltrans was careful to go through the permitting process for these other lights, then it seems to me that they must have a legal opinion that such permitting was not required in this case. Perhaps because no actual road construction was necessary? I don't know what would be involved with the Terrace light, but the Coronado light definitely required a good deal of construction beyond just the lights themselves. So perhaps these metering lights for temporary traffic…

Caltrans may end “free” right turns onto Hwy 92 for HMB commuters

May 18, 2006
Ms. Felgentreff, "That said, installing that stoplight to curtail the right-hand turn seems like really the wrong thing to do. The real bottlenecks are taking place at the turn from 1 south onto 92..." Exactly - which is why the signal was placed on the traffic going from SR1 northbound onto SR92 west - to lessen their interference with southbound people trying to turn left and merge with them. -Brian

Caltrans may end “free” right turns onto Hwy 92 for HMB commuters

May 17, 2006
I was at the HMB council meeting when Mr. Moghbel from Caltrans announced this metering light. While I certainly was not thrilled with all of the responses Mr. Moghbel gave (particular in response to Vince William's great points about the Devil's Slide repair), I applaud this particular effort. I was very frustrated to see again the efforts of HMB representatives and citizens to impose their own views to the exclusion of the rest of the community. Councilman Gordon went on *and* on about the lack…

Devil’s Slide will be open in late September, says Caltrans

May 16, 2006
Vince Williams or someone else absolutely needs to show up with Vince's excellent comments and questions at the Caltrans presentation at the HMB City Council tonight. Are there plans to do so? I am going to attempt to make it - but I'm not sure I'll be able to. No one wants to compromise safety - but I think Vince raises critical questions. If Caltrans claims that their design is the only safe design in any timeframe, then so be it. But I think they should have to justify why a shorter repair cannot…

Caltrans plans to announce schedule Tuesday

May 15, 2006
Mr. Hoffman, I tried several attempts to respond to your missive in a reasoned manner. But I realize that such extreme black and white views (despite the fact that there is likely some shared sentiments between us) are not to be argued with. I am thankful that your vote only impacts us on a statewide and federal level - and not the county or the immediate communities. When Devil's Slide does reopen, given your strong feelings, I trust you will not be contributing your pollution to our air and clogging…

Caltrans plans to announce schedule Tuesday

May 13, 2006
Mr. Hoffman, Your attitude that we who are living Coastside are simply whining about an inconvenience is not only ignorant but also insensitive and rude. As I shouldn't have to point out to someone living in San Francisco, it is no easy thing to dictate where you will find both an acceptable home to raise your children and where you will find gainful employment to sustain them. It used to be that property this side of the hill was actually *cheaper* than elsewhere (and may be so again is my guess)…

Opinion:  Foothill Bypass, Part II: A legal (and literal) quagmire

May 14, 2006
Timothy, "There are smaller roads parallel to HW1 from El Granada to Montara and the coastal trail serves nicely as a bike highway to HMB." What roads would those be? If you're including Airport and Sunshine Valley in one segment, I don't think that counts because it involves crossing Hwy 1 twice. And also, doesn't the bike trail fall apart and force bikers out onto Hwy 1 in several places? I really feel there should be a parallel artery east of Hwy 1 running from Montara all the way to HMB. It is…

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