Dear Honorable Governor Brown:

State Route 16, the Jackson Highway, is a ‘life‐link’ interregional roadway connecting Amador County and other foothill mountain communities with Sacramento and areas beyond.  We understand that Caltrans has plans to relinquish this important State asset to Sacramento County and that there are plans for 55,000 new homes in this area – currently, vacant land mostly used for rock quarries.

We, the undersigned, understand Sacramento County’s right to plan for development as they see fit; but, we also think the State has a vested interest in protecting interregional travel along long‐standing and historic highways in our beautiful state. 

The plans for development call for 15 new traffic signals along the SR 16 corridor which will result in increased congestion and significant adverse impacts to interregional travel.  Without consideration of these impacts, the SR 16 corridor may very well resemble and operate like Sunrise Boulevard or Watt Avenue in the not too distant future – stop and go traffic as far as the eye can see.

Despite direction from members of the California Assembly and Senate, Sacramento County has refused to work in collaboration to address valid concerns raised regarding this proposal.  Now, we understand that legislation (AB 652) may soon arrive at your desk asking for your signature.

We respectfully ask that you consider a ‘veto’ of this legislation and direct Sacramento County to engage in good faith negotiations with affected jurisdictions whose citizens’ lives and livelihoods will likely be adversely impacted if this bill is enacted as currently written.

Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.

For more information please visit the Amador County Transportation Commission's website at www.actc-amador.org or on Facebook  at www.facebook.com/JacksonHighway.