 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 TEL: (510) 981-7100, FAX: (510) 981-7199, TDD: (510) 981-6903 Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Email: mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us |
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Press
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mayor
Bates’ Statement in Opposition to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Revised Bay
Bridge Plan
Mayor
Bates calls on Governor to “revisit his disastrous decision” to (To
view an rendering of the viaduct, click here.) “The
Schwarzenegger administration’s announcement today that it is switching
the design of the eastern span of the Bay Bridge to a viaduct is
completely unacceptable. This
revision fails in almost every respect.
First, it is a truly offensive design that will visually damage one
of the world’s most unique and beautiful areas.
Second, this change will delay completion of the bridge for years
– putting all of us at risk in an earthquake.
Third, the Schwarzenegger administration’s requirement that
local residents pay for this State project is in direct conflict with a
century of precedence in State transportation funding.
Lastly, even in the state’s own projections the savings amount to
as little as 6% of the total project cost – all of which may well be
spent to cover the costs of new environmental reviews, redesign expenses,
and to pay the contractor for work that has already been performed. This
decision has no justification whatsoever.
The viaduct design was a flawed concept when it was first rejected
years ago. It is an even more
flawed concept now. I urge
the Governor to revisit his disastrous decision and work with our local
elected officials and transportation experts on a solution that works for
all of us.”
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