LVEDA chairman writes letter to Caltrans deputy director of environmental planning
By PETER DAY
Senior Reporter
LUCERNE VALLEY • The Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association is suggesting Caltrans eliminate the Apple Valley stretch of State Highway 18 from its High Desert Corridor Project plans.
"The only good solution is to eliminate the Apple Valley link between I-15 and Highway 18," LVEDA chairman Chuck Bell wrote in a letter to Ronald J. Kosinski, deputy director of environmental planning for Caltrans' District 7. "(It's) not realistic anyway due to the cost of bridging the Mojave River, etc."
The 63-mile High Desert Corridor Project would connect Palmdale in Los Angeles County with the town of Apple Valley in San Bernardino County. Proponents say the project would reduce auto and truck traffic through the San Gabriel, Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys while increasing freight and travel speeds. The Antelope and Victor Valleys could also benefit by newly generated economic growth, they suggest.
Featuring a new, large-scale freeway running east to west, Bell is concerned the corridor could bring too many vehicles for the two-lane portion of Highway 18, which begins at Central Road in Apple Valley, to handle.
"Under the current project description, which includes the Apple Valley link between I-15 and Highway 18, the Corridor’s eastern terminus — with its four to six lanes— dumps traffic on two-lane Highway 18," Bell wrote. "(That) will create significant congestion and safety hazards on Highways 18, 247 and 62 along the route to the I-10."
Bell also noted that the project's draft environmental impact report doesn't reference potential impacts, "which will make it vulnerable to litigation."
He suggested a solution could be to incorporate improvements to eastern segment's in High Desert Corridor planning and financing. Those improvements could include wider lanes, turn pockets and shoulder enhancements.
But the best alternative, Bell said, is to eliminate the Apple Valley link entirely. If not, the project may get delayed in the courts.
"Many agency and Apple Valley town representatives don't even know why it is still included," Bell said. "But as long as it remains, the project is vulnerable to litigation."
Caltrans and project partner the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority are planning to break ground on the High Desert Corridor project in 2016.