North Bay Columnist Slams Delays on Richmond Bridge Traffic Fix
For two years, the Bay Area Council has been working to open a third lane on the upper, traffic-clogged deck of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to automobiles, fighting against bureaucratic inertia to advance commonsense solutions for easing the morning backup. So, we were gratified to see respected Marin IJ columnist Dick Spotswood weigh in this week with a commentary excoriating regional transportation and other regulatory agencies for taking so long to finalize simple changes that can bring motorists relief.
“There’s little indication that MTC and ABAG staff or most of its indirectly appointed commissioners care about those forlorn 40,000 souls stuck in traffic,” Spotswood wrote, referring to the morning commuters who must endure long delays almost every weekday. Many of these commuters are service workers, teachers, nurses, and store clerks, traveling from the East Bay to jobs in Marin County.
Spotswood’s column comes just days after a hearing to consider and possibly decide on a plan for opening the third lane to automobiles was delayed, one of several delays over the past year. In leading the effort to open the third lane, the Council is working hard to advocate for decisionmakers to take action.
