Somis Bypass Would Reroute a Problem

Many people in the Las Posas Valley and the community of Somis are deeply concerned about the long-range consequences of plans by Caltrans and the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) for a monstrous intersection at the junction of state highways 34 and 118, just north of “downtown” Somis.

If the $4-million intersection is built as planned, it preordains that California 34 (Somis Road) ultimately be widened to a four-lane superhighway through the heart of Somis. That would devastate the town and forever change the character, spirit and soul of the community.

Toward “Saving Somis” and also solving traffic flow problems at this intersection, a Somis bypass concept was presented by myself and a community-hired traffic engineer to the public, Caltrans and VCTC in October. It has been endorsed by hundreds of residents of the community.

As can be seen in the accompanying map, the proposed bypass would parallel the railroad tracks and avoid going through Somis. Highway 34 traffic would also bypass the existing intersection and the east leg of Highway 118, providing more efficient and faster travel for commuters.

The concept of a bypass around a town or problem area is certainly not new or unique. Caltrans used it to bypass downtown Saticoy. And, after just eight years of living with an “improved” and widened 118 through their town, Moorpark is trying to get a bypass to alleviate the traffic impacts caused by Caltrans’ earlier transportation decisions.

I urge the transportation agencies to plan ahead and avoid what happened in Moorpark. Caltrans’ purported short-range goals and plans for the proposed Somis intersection fail to address the long-range consequences and impacts.

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Caltrans and VCTC want better traffic flow, less congestion and safer highways. The community of Somis shares those concerns but also wants to survive without a future of impending devastation from a superhighway. With the proposed bypass both sides could get what they wanted. (More flow, less congestion, safer roads and the town saved.)

The community’s traffic engineer consultant has calculated that the two-lane bypass concept would flow more vehicles than the 90-foot-wide intersection proposed by Caltrans, well into the next millennium.

The bypass concept could utilize either a conventional intersection or a roundabout at the east end. Due to its potential traffic flow and safety advantages, I hope Caltrans will consider a roundabout.

The bypass proposal offers advantages over the Caltrans proposal in addition to better traffic flow. It would reduce Highway 34 travel distance by 0.3 miles, translating to less time commuting and less pollution. It would eliminate the impact on businesses and residences on the east leg of Highway 118. Additionally the accident rate would drop on Somis Road and the east leg of Highway 118 due to reduced traffic congestion.

Environmentally, the wetlands next to Donlon would not have to be invaded. Above all, it would preserve one of Ventura County’s treasures for not only the present generation but also for its descendants yet to be born--a unique, 100-year-old small town in a Southern California agricultural setting.

The bypass clearly appears to be a win-win solution. The community and its engineers who proposed the concept hope to be included in the dialogue between the involved parties regarding the bypass and other alternative ideas. After all, Somis will be the most affected by the decisions of the transportation agencies.