Regarding False and Misleading Claims
Dear Board Members,
As Caltrans and TAMC staff currently reviews and answers the Public’s questions and comments on the proposed roundabouts on Highway 68, the Board needs to prepare for giving their input to Caltrans and realize the real facts behind this Project. Since 2017, the board has been basing their opinions and subsequent votes on information that has proven to be false and misleading. Now is the time to start correcting important misconceptions and become prepared to give input to Caltrans on their upcoming decisions on this project.
The false and misleading information that was given to the board is as follows:
Emergency Response Times
The Board and the public were told by Caltrans and TAMC staff in their Project Fact Sheet, (shown below) that installing 9 roundabouts would “reduce emergency response times” when both the Monterey County Sheriff and the Monterey County Fire Chief have stated in letters to Caltrans shown on Emergency Response Times , that the roundabouts would actually increase emergency response times. The Fire Chief, David Sargenti, actually used real fire trucks to determine that each roundabout would add 32 seconds to their response or 5 minutes to the entire 8-mile section. He also expressed concerns in his letter of the negative impact the 9 roundabouts would have on emergency evacuation of the area.
Vehicle Emissions
The Board and the public were told that 9 roundabouts would “decrease greenhouse gas emissions” in the “Project Fact Sheet” when the roundabouts would actually increase emissions since Caltrans and TAMC staff failed to include in their calculations, the emissions that would be caused by forcing all 30,000 daily vehicles to slow to 15-20 mph and then accelerate back up to 55 mph 9 times in 8 miles, 24/7. TAMC staff are now aware of the studies that clearly show that emissions from accelerations are 5-10 times more than emissions from idling and by their own admission, the only emission reduction that was projected to happen was the 5 minutes less of idling during the 2 hours of the PM commute. That obviously does not come close to compensating for the increased emissions caused during the other 22 hours of the day.
Safety and Collisions
The Board was told that the 9 roundabouts were going to “reduce collisions rates” per the Project Fact Sheet when the data from Caltrans (shown below) obtained by a Public Record Request, showed that the recent collisions (65 collisions from 7/1/17-6/30/23) at the Pebble Beach/Holman Hwy roundabout are almost twice the rate of similar intersections in CA. Other data (shown below) also obtained from Caltrans in a Public Record Request showed that the 8 mile stretch of Hwy 68 addressed by this project is below the collision rate average for CA since 2017 and that TAMC own collision data does not show a recent history of fatalities or serious injury collisions at any of the 9 intersections. Plus, there is also the potential for the 9 roundabouts actually increasing rear end collisions, which already comprise 70% of the accidents on 68, by forcing all vehicles to slow to 15-20 mph or stop 9 times over 8 miles both day and night.
Roundabouts Costs
The Board was told in an April 26, 2017 power point presentation by TAMC staff (shown below) that the roundabouts would cost $48.2 million for 11 roundabouts or $4.4 Million each. Now, 9 roundabouts are projected to cost $227 Million, according to the Project Fact Sheet, or $25.2 Million each for a huge 473% increase. Plus, you well know that all constructions projects of this type go significantly over budget after being started.
Congestion Reduction
The Board was also told, and the public led to believe, that the 9 roundabouts would significantly reduce the peak commute congestion along Hwy 68 with the Project Fact Sheet claiming they would “improve traffic flow” and “reduce congestion”. When the claims were actually quantified, TAMC’s own studies showed that the 9 roundabouts would only reduce the 2 hours of PM peak commute by 5 minutes and the AM peak commute by even less when it was described as a “marginal” improvement over doing nothing.
Wildlife Safety
The Board and the Public were also led to believe that the roundabouts project would actually “provide safe passage for wildlife” and “reduce vehicle collisions with animals” when in fact the Wildlife Crossings had nothing to do with the roundabouts and could just as easily be installed with the existing intersections and highway structure. While Caltrans and TAMC resisted for months in providing a separate cost for the crossings, even after admitting they could be installed separately, a Public Record Request revealed that the Wildlife crossings would cost a total of $5-7 Million.
Omission of Other Alternatives
The biggest information that was omitted from all the presentations to the Board was the omission of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based adaptive signal controls as a viable alternative to address the congestion challenges on Hwy 68. The AI Signal controls were already being effectively used in the US in 2012, well before the 2017 promotion of roundabouts. This new technology provides significantly better congestion and emission reduction and does so at a fraction of the cost. ($440,000 versus $227 Million for roundabouts) They also can be installed in the existing intersection, using the same signal hardware and be up and running in a few months without disrupting traffic flow during the installation.
AI Signal Control Pilot Study
Caltrans engineers and TAMC staff, after discussion with members of the public, had a meeting with a major supplier of AI based Adaptive Signal Controls. Following that meeting, the engineers were impressed with the potential of the system and agreed to apply to Caltrans headquarters for doing a pilot study to evaluate the performance of the AI Signals at 4 of the 9 intersections on Hwy 68. That process is still underway.
Summary
I urge each member of the Board to relook at the claims that influenced past decisions and compare those to currently revealed facts that refute them. Ask TAMC staff directly about the claims and the newly revealed facts. I have given all this information to both Caltrans and TAMC staff and have not received any feedback or information that disputes or disproves my assertions. In fact, I usually get a reluctant agreement.
I further ask the Board to support Caltrans in doing the pilot study and to stop the well-intended but misguided proposal to install 9 roundabouts on Hwy 68. I truly believe the study will show AI Adaptive Signals will prove to be a much better option for the traveling public that uses 68 and a much better investment for the taxpayer funds. The Board can be the entity that applies today’s technology both now and, in the future, since AI can adapt to real time traffic conditions.
I further encourage Board members to spend some time reviewing the details of what AI Signal Controls have done and can do for traffic challenges as compared to roundabouts by going to the website: 9roundabouts.com Home – 9 Roundabouts versus Artificial Intelligence Traffic Signals
Thank you,
Dwight Stump
Based on true and hopefully accurate information provided in the above letter, the cost and impact makes installing roundabouts an ineffective and excessive expense. The construction alone would be extensively expensive, not to mention extremely dangerous if a wildfire occurred again. Do any members of the board take this commute daily or is it a decision based on something that doesn’t impact any of them?
Thank you for this update.
This would not be on the agenda if original plans were completed in 1974 when 4 lanes were built. – only to Toro Park. What was the reason original plan was changed ???
Seems to me the AI traffic signal control is a more viable, cost effective alternative to roundabouts that people seem to not comprehend how to navigate. The cost savings can be used to complete other needed improvements along our rundown highways.
It only makes sense to use the existing light standards in place for the Ai trials. Considering the expense of roundabouts. Ridiculously over priced project!
Please do not continue with this extremely expensive and unsafe plan. Listen to the Fire Department and others. Listen to the public and realize we can not afford to do this and it’s not the best interest of the public. Stop wasting OUR money
Thank you for taking the time to read my request and concerns regarding the subject of traffic management on the 7.8 mile stretch of Highway 68 between Toro Park and Monterey Regional Airport/Olmsted Road. I am a 23 year resident of living in the “Highway 68” corridor and my working career has provided me with numerous opportunities to provide public input on public projects. I have been reading the documents and following the public comments regarding the 2 options for addressing the issues related to rush hour/event traffic congestion on State Highway 68: traffic roundabouts at an estimated cost of $200M or AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signalization at an estimated cost of $440,000.
While either solution would have a potential positive impact on the current congested “rush hour” traffic challenges, my project management experience begs me to ask the appropriate taxpayer funded entities (TAMC and CalTrans, et al) to prioritize the AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signalization solution through the following steps:
1) Study and evaluate the AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signalization, in a transparent process with verifiable results which must be presented to our public. With positive outcomes at this step, then:
2) Develop and implement a pilot installation process of the AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signalization, at both ends of the 7.8 mile stretch of the Highway 68 project, to best be able to measure the impact on both the morning and the evening commute times during the congestion periods:
• AM on the west end: Does traffic move more efficiently from the first AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signal, through the 2nd and last AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signal, when compared to current westbound traffic travel time, as a baseline? And,
• PM on the east end: Does traffic move more efficiently from the first AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signal, through the 2nd and last AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signal, when compared to current westbound traffic travel time, as a baseline?
All interested parties (TAMC, CalTrans, emergency response entities, commuters and corridor residents) realize that the AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signalization is the one solution of the 2 options that provides a unique opportunity to implement a low cost “trial run” to determine its’ efficacy.
What are the risks of implementing this “trial run” of the AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signalization solution?
• Potential delay in implementing the multi-year roundabout project—all interested parties have been waiting for a reasonable solution to the rush hour traffic congestion issue, any delay related to the proposed AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signalization trial run should be short-lived AND may result in a solution that can be implemented on a much shorter schedule, at an estimated potential savings of $199,560,000, without considering any costs associated with the proposed wildlife crossing.
What are the risks of not pursuing a “trial run” of the AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signalization?
• A $200M taxpayer-funded project that will impact the commute for 2 years that will have untested results, prior to property acquisitions and on-goingconstruction.
Please support the public’s request to conduct a “trial run” of the AI Traffic Control Adaptive Signalization.
Thank You,
Terry Ryan
A Concerned Resident of the Highway 68 Corridor and
A Taxpaying California Resident
I think roundabouts is a bad idea on Hwy 68.
You are addressing entities that have already decided what they will do. The same ones that spent $millions and years to put a bike lane across the Salinas River that no one uses. These people are in typical coastie la la land. They consider themselves superior and to be rulers of their perception of the public good. The logical conclusion has always been to make Hwy 68 four lanes and properly engineer intersections. Too simple and cost effective and of course politically pragmatic. There is very little common sense in Monterey County and TAMC/CalTrans are probably the most obvious examples.
Highway 68 – 4 lanes as planned and stopped in the 1970’s is the correct plan – Why did they change plans and stop at Toro Regional park?