City’s rejection irks Caltrans

California transportation officials are unhappy with the City Council’s rejection of the two routes suggested for State Route 126 but will consider Santa Clarita’s request to pursue other alternatives.

“Caltrans is disappointed with the council vote, but we want to work with the community,” said Russeli Snyder, spokesman for the California Department of Transportation.

On Tuesday, the City Council urged Caltrans not to certify environmental documents regarding the proposed northern and southern alignments, saying the two paths are unacceptable.

“I think it was a victory for the city and a victory for the City Council, who showed courage from the decision,” said Jack Curenton, leader of the Citizens For A Better 126 group that opposes the two alignments.

As proposed, the expressway would run from Interstate 5 east along Newhall Ranch Road and ultimately connect with Highway 14.’ One route arcs north of the Santa Clara River and the other south of the Southern Pacific Railroad line.

Residents living near the suggested alignments say even if the road is never built, their property values have already declined from the possibility of the eight-lane expressway. They are also concerned about losing their homes or at the very least having to deal with increased air pollution and noise.

Caltrans Director Jerry Baxter is scheduled to respond to the council decision but, Snyder said, has not yet” received Santa Clarita’s letter indicating Tuesday’s ruling.

Transportation officials and critics of the northern and southern alignments agree the council’s vote, which came one day before the end of the Caltrans comment period for the State Route 126 environmental documents, was an important one.

“It’s a significant action the council has taken,’ Snyder said, adding the decision will significantly influence how Caltrans officials approach the project.

“I would seriously hope they will recognize the resolve of the community and the City Council to protect the interests of the community,” Curenton said.

Wally Rothbart, project manager for Caltrans, said transportation officials will need more time to digest the letter of the council ruling but that it may be possible to refine the northern and southern alignment to make them “more palatable” to the public.

He said it would be difficult to construct such an expressway in most areas like the Santa Clarita Valley.

‘To locate a highway in the Santa Clarita area, because it’s basically an urban area — it’s really hard to do that without affecting someone,” Rothbart said.

Environmental documents on the expressway indicate that the northern alignment would cost $283 million, disrupt 46 existing homes, 32 future planned homes, IS businesses and 54 acres of wetlands.

They indicate the southern alignment would cost $307 million, not disrupt any existing houses but would interfere with 138 planned houses, 19 businesses and 39 acres of wetlands.

Tuesday’s decision by the City Council came after more than 100 residents, concerned about the proposed expressway, attended the council’s regular meeting and asked for a ruling before the closure of the public comment period on the environmental documents.

Members of Citizens For A Better 126 say they are not opposed to all proposals concerning the expressway, but would like to see more than two project options.

The comment period officially closed Wednesday, but Snyder said Caltrans still welcomes input from the public.