"It's a great relief the governor signed the bill, Wilson said Wednesday. This project has been delayed from the very onset, facing some major headwinds part of it is cost and how do we fund it. But every day that we don't do something, we are seeing serious negative impacts on the quality of life of the people driving on the road and many of them are our most vulnerable community members and lowest wage earners."
"The legislation enables project planners to secure permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the incidental take of four protected species, expanding the annual construction period beyond the seasonal three-month window. Incidental take means to incidentally harm or kill a fully protected species listed by the California Endangered Species Act during construction activity. The protected species in question include the salt marsh harvest mouse, the California Ridgway's rail, the California black rail and the white-tailed kite."
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 697 to accelerate a traffic and flood reduction project on Highway 37. The law authorizes Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and county partners to begin construction in 2026 on a $500 million, three-phase interim project. The project widens the highway to two lanes each direction and fortifies ten miles of San Pablo Baylands between Sears Point and Mare Island while planners pursue a long-term 21-mile corridor elevation. The law allows incidental-take permits for four protected species and extends annual construction beyond a seasonal three-month window to avoid costly, disruptive short work seasons.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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