Caltrans workers. (Photo: dot.ca.gov)
Gov. Newsom Vetoes Bill to Require Caltrans Study Top Crash Locations on State Highways
Road safety is the very crux of Caltrans’ purpose and existence
By Katy Grimes, September 25, 2024 3:30 am
Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Senator Kelly Seyarto’s (R-Murrieta) Senate Bill 936, which would have tasked the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) with publishing a study that identifies the top 15 locations in the state highway system with the highest rate of vehicle collisions in an effort to then properly fund and prioritize rehabilitation for those roads.
In his veto message, Gov. Newsom said Caltrans is already “implementing various initiatives to prioritize road safety improvements.”
“I encourage the Legislature to partner with Caltrans to advance the implementation of these efforts,” Newsom said.
Caltrans’ Mission says, “Provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment.”
Caltrans’ Number #1 listed Goal is “Safety First.”
Road safety is the very crux of Caltrans’ purpose and existence.
In fact, the 8/27/24 Senate Floor Analysis addresses this:
According to California Traffic Safety Program (OTS), California continues to experience a road safety crisis. Projections from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) estimate more than 4,400 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes throughout California in 2022, or about 12 people every day. Early data from NHSTA for 2023 and 2024 estimates a year over year 5% increase in traffic fatalities. Across the state, traffic fatalities increased approximately 7.6% from 3,980 in 2020 to 4,285 in 2021.
“SB 936 was a critical step toward addressing the safety risks that countless Californians face every day on our highways,” said Senator Kelly Seyarto. “We cannot afford to continue patching up dangerous roads with short-term fixes that cost lives and escalate expenses in the long run. This bill would have provided a targeted, data-driven approach to ensuring that our most hazardous roadways receive the attention and rehabilitation they desperately need. I’m deeply disappointed by the veto, as it sends a message that road safety isn’t being prioritized at a time when fatalities are on the rise.”
But Caltrans is still advertising the Covid vaccine and Covid updates on its website.
And Caltrans’ commitment to sustainability and equity is front and center in Caltrans’ 2020-2024 Strategic Plan – a sure sign of poor leadership:
As leaders in transportation, we can push California toward a more socially responsible transportation network. Our energies will be focused on actions woven throughout our Strategic Plan that promote
sustainability and equity.
Seyarto continued:
Car crashes are consistently a top cause of unintentional injury or death for Californians. Traffic fatalities surged 22% from 2019 to 2022, while severe and fatal traffic crashes resulted in $166 billion in economic and quality-of-life costs for Californians in 2022 alone.
Senator Seyarto’s bill made it through the Legislature and was passed by the Senate 39-0, and Assembly 76-0 in what should have been a strong sign that the Legislature was already a “partner with Caltrans to advance the implementation of these efforts,” as Gov. Newsom said needed to happen.
As an aside, the Caltrans Cap City Corridor project in Sacramento, “the most congested corridor in the region,” was originally identified in 2015, the Project Study Report was prepared in 2016, Engineering and Environmental Studies 2016-2019, prepared plans, specifications and estimates, right-of-way activities, and permits acquired 2019-2022, advertisement and construction contract awarded in 2022, and construction started in 2023, which will continue through 2027. And that stretch of highway has never been more dangerous than it is right now with vehicle crashes and wrecks taking place daily.
The Globe does not harbor bad feelings for Caltrans’ employees – they are as much victims of lousy state leadership as the rest of us, and also have to drive on the state’s dangerous highways.
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So let me get this straight: Gov Gavin Newsom VETOED a bill addressing ROAD SAFETY on our most dangerous California roads, to figure out and fix the most vulnerable and deadly crash sites, something that is unquestionably a high-priority government obligation, which furthermore was passed UNANIMOUSLY in the California legislature, and this is supposed to be seen by Californians as an acceptable action by him?
Has this ever happened before? Has a CA governor ever VETOED, in its history, a bill that had been unanimously passed by its legislature?
Never mind, we already know Newsom is out of control, so I won’t waste time ranting about that. As a practical matter, the legislature needs to use its power in this case to OVERRIDE the governor’s veto on this extremely important matter. Hope this can happen.
Gavin “Hair-gel” Newsom and the criminal Democrat mafia in the legislature really don’t care about highway crashes or the horrible deteriorating condition of California’s highways? They and their evil deep-state WEF globalist masters want to ultimately ban private vehicles and the ability to travel freely while herding everyone into 15 minute prison cities in coffin like rental apartments where even walking will be restricted?
True, TJ. If they could they would.
yea, new-sum needs to sign a bill to put some type of force multiplier technology on ALL california state/fed funded freeways. The lack of driver self control is way out of hand, and those of us who are required to use aforementioned roads on our daily commutes see this every, single, day………and maybe since he saw fit to pass legislation regarding the types of fuel cars in california can use, why not also put limits on the speeds these vehicles can obtain. The tech is already built in and there is absolutley no reason a vehicle sold for use on public roads should be able to travel at a speed greater than 10-20% of any maximum posted limits.
Why stop at having Gavin “Hair-gel Hitler” Newsom dictate what find of vehicle you can drive and how fast it can go? Why not have your supreme master dictate every other aspect of your life?
This kind of submission is how Newsom and the criminal Democrat mafia have gained almost complete control over the state and are able to act like petty dictators?