HomeMy WebLinkAboutLitigation Against Caltrans and VTA - Press Release - 05.13.2015
CONTACT: Rick Kitson
Public Affairs Director
City of Cupertino
Telephone: (408) 777-3200 • FAX: (408) 777-3366 • rickk@cupertino.org
City Hall • 10300 Torre Avenue • Cupertino, CA 95014-3255
N E W S R E L E A S E
Cupertino City Council Authorizes Litigation Against Caltrans and VTA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Cupertino, CA – May 13, 2015 – The Cupertino City Council unanimously voted last night to authorize litigation
against Caltrans and VTA for failure to do a full Environmental Impact Report and certifying the Express Toll Lane project
for Highway 85 on a negative declaration.
Council also announced its intent to join with other cities that have standing in this case. On June 2, a study session is
scheduled for the City Council to hear from various parties and experts on what preferred alternatives might be
available. “We want and need the mass transit corridor that we were promised with various ballot measures,” said
Cupertino Mayor Rod Sinks. “Since 1992, regional transportation plans have had light rail through the corridor.”
In February of last year, the City Council has expressed several fundamental concerns with the project and its
environmental review.
• The Initial Study fails to adequately evaluate the project's environmental impacts or to propose effective
mitigation measures, rendering the document inadequate under both the California Environmental Quality Act
("CEQA"), and the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA").
• The project has the potential to hinder or preclude altogether light rail transit along the SR 85 corridor.
• Widening highways is an antiquated approach to meeting travel demand yet Caltrans fails to consider a single
transit-based alternative.
• The project, as currently designed is socially inequitable and fails to achieve its own goals.
• The City is concerned that federal funding for the project will require the existing truck weight limit on SR 85 to
be removed, which would create a significant environmental effect that must be analyzed.
A letter detailing the City’s objections, along with the transportation report prepared by MRO Engineers are available at
the city of Cupertino website, www.Cupertino.org/SR85 .
The State Route 85 Express Lanes Project would convert the existing High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on SR 85 to
express lanes, allowing single-occupant vehicles to pay a toll to use the lanes. The express lanes would extend along the
entire 24.1-mile length of SR 85 and 1.5 miles of US 101 from the southern end of SR 85 to Metcalf Road in San Jose.
Cupertino, CA, is on the western edge of Silicon Valley against the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. With a
population of 58,000 within 13 square miles, Cupertino is 42 miles south of San Francisco and home to Apple Inc. and
many other high-tech companies.
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