Plans for California 34

What is it in our nature that we tend to believe a rumor? Even if it’s incredible we still believe it. Take the rumor going around Somis lately: Caltrans intends to wipe out our rural hamlet by four-laning State Route 34. To four-lane SR 34, also known as Somis Road, north of State Route 101, would mean the disappearance of a landmark community. Not only would Fulkerson’s Hardware and the Somis Cafe be put under the bulldozer, so would the Somis post office and the fire station. Does this make any sense?

After being cornered at the post office to sign a petition to save Somis from Caltrans, I decided to do some checking. I called Ginger Gherardi, director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, and found out there is nothing on the priority list for such a massive project, and neither has any money been programmed into the Caltrans budget to four-lane SR 34 north of the 101. Ms. Gherardi pointed out that there are better ways to remedy the traffic problems in Ventura County than spending money on the destruction of a whole town.

I believe Ms. Gherardi. The improvement of the intersection of State Route 118 and State Route 34 will relieve the growing traffic congestion there. The Somis rush hour is getting worse, backing up for five miles at a stretch and delaying people 30 minutes. The most expedient thing to relieve the problem is improve the intersection so traffic flows more efficiently.

With all respect to my well-intentioned neighbors, I’d like to remind them it’s always a fine idea to check out a rumor to see if it’s true or not, especially if it just doesn’t make good sense.

DEBRA TASH

Somis