{Crossposted from InAlameda}
The Alameda County Director of Public Works, Daniel Woldesenbet, has sent a letter to all County Supervisors identifying the impacts of the Governators proposed shift of local gas taxes to the state for two years. Right at the top of page 2? “Estuary Bridges” saying:
“Current 24-7 operations would cease. Vehicle traffic would be diverted to the Posey Tube; Negative impacts to residents, businesses, emergency personnel and Port of Oakland operations”
In speaking with the staff at the County’s bridge division, they said that the Coast Guard will fine the County for each boat that tries to go through a bridge. the fines for for each vessel at each bridge and based on the county’s records they figure not opening the bridge at night would cost the county about $5 million a month.
The current proposal is to maintain bridge operations during the day, but open them and keep them open through the night time, thus saving the county the money of not employing nighttime bridge tenders.
What’s really sad in all this, is that the State just wants to use the gas tax money to pay back bond debt that they issued a few years ago to cover deficits, nothing new will be created with this redirected money. Which is what a lot of worried about back when the Governator started pushing bonds as a way to cover the states deficits.
Here’s the full letter:
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Is the government legally required to dredge the estuary to keep it navigable? If not, they can stop that expense and eventually the need for drawbridges will disappear.
Not that most people would care or even be aware, but the sand barge operation staged just south of the the High Street Bridge could be one of the most negatively impacted operations. It is one of the last viable industries on the estuary of any kind and definitely one of the last marine operations besides Bay Ship and the Port itself. The sand is used for local construction in a wide radius. The Port has it’s eye on building residential condos on that sight anyway, so this should help them push that idea.
I can’t recall exactly what the cycle of the sand barge trips is based on. Tide? They do unload regularly during night hours. They also are one of the main causes for bridges being up around 8 a.m., so those whose only priority is the fastest possible commute will probably cheer their demise.
I’m thinking that could have a real negative impact on safety, considering fire, police and ambulance…
Hey John,
Do you have any info about the hours that the county is talking about right now? “Keeping them open during the day” isn’t very descriptive, so if you have any more details, can you please post them? I have visions of coming home late from work and seeing my bridge in the air!
thanks,
I’ll see what I can dig up.