Submitted by Council Member Bill Sandke
CORONADO & RELINQUISHMENT
Just as Hunter S. Thompson wrote of “Fear and Loathing” such emotions seem to surface as Coronado considers relinquishment for Highways 75 and 282. Taking responsibility and control of CA75 from the Shores to the Bridge, and thus through our downtown business district and residential neighborhoods, as well as CA282 from the NASNI gates to Orange Avenue rightfully should provoke diligent research and attention. But the necessity of local control over these roadways to recapture some semblance of this neighborhood’s nature and improve safety and quality of life along these corridors should with careful consideration of liability and maintenance expense guide us towards a successful relinquishment outcome.
Two recent experiences have helped me to know I am leading in the correct direction. The first came just days ago when a 4th street resident shared his positive experience with our recent installation of speed feedback signs near his home. He shared his observation of the instant success of both the signs and the in-road school crossing signs that we are attempting to make year-round additions to our traffic calming measures. The latter being up to CALTRANS, or us if these were our streets again. Treating these roads like the residential streets they are and not as an industrial highway WORKS! As an aside, the TAF group and specifically Toni McGowan have proven effective advocates for their neighborhood and our community.
My second observation I would share came at a recent Coronado Rotary Club meeting where keynote speaker Laurie Berman, District 11 Director for CALTRANS, outlined 5 years of maintenance and liability spending on behalf of her agency. Specifically, Berman touted $220,000 over a 5 year period as the maintenance cost and less than $100,000 in settlements over the same period.
Let’s drill down on those numbers a bit. First, we are by any reasonable measure receiving limited attention from CALTRANS, and if we are to assume maintenance for 75 we had better up that figure at least 3 times to achieve the level of attention our community deserves. CALTRANS will never take care of our town the way we want it taken care of and the sooner we reach that understanding, the better. Second, the liability number does not include two settlements that CALTRANS was successful in having paid by third parties. In planning on future tort liabilities, I submit we use the “plan for worst and strive for best” maxim.
Thankfully we have assistance on both the liability and maintenance issues. From a liability standpoint, our insurance coverage is extremely strong, and moreover, our legal team at the city has a solid record of protecting the interest of our citizens. Long term maintenance can be adequately addressed through strong negotiation during the relinquishment process as well as supplementing our city funds with both state and federal resources already legally available to us, especially as our roadways service vital National Security infrastructure.
The lesson from these observations is that when we make changes they work and that at first glance and with firm up-front negotiations on the conditions of the roadways, when we assume control we can apparently afford both the liability and maintenance. It is my hope that the upcoming election season features a robust discussion of the issue of relinquishment. To be sure, caution must prevail when CALTRANS is spring loaded to give us back our streets – what do they know that we don’t? But that prudent and necessary caution must not manifest itself in an irrational fear of being in control of our destiny or the loathing of the unknown.
