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Kiyoshi Tomono's Blog

Big Rig Blues: How to fix Kern County roads?

****Wow....corrected the title at 3 pm July 18. Why didn't anyone tell me I was writing about big rib blues?****

 

Trucks rumble down Kern County roads carrying goods across the state.

But critics say we get potholes, bad air and traffic with little in return.

They say, we've become the transportation equivalent of a middleman for our neighbors to the north and south.

Congressman Kevin McCarthy is renewing his push for a half-cent, self-help sales tax that might help Kern County get matching federal funds.

It's a proposal that Kern County voters shot down in the form of Measure I in November 2006: Here's how the ballot read: To relieve congestion, improve traffic safety, and match federal and state transportation funding for (1) widening/improving State Routes 14, 46, 58, 99, 178, 202, 223 and 395; (2) fixing potholes, maintaining local roads and synchronizing signals, (3) improving high accident locations and routes to schools, (4) and improving senior/disabled transit.

So, what should we do to fix Kern County's traffic troubles?

Published Thursday, July 17, 2008 6:13 PM by Kiyoshi Tomono

Comments

 

kimjauch said:

I think that when several years ago, California raised the vehicle taxes on semi trucks causing them to leave California and register their trucks in other states causing California to lose a large amount of revenue.  This could be easily be fixed that if you operate a semi truck in California at any time, you would be charged a fee.
July 17, 2008 7:16 PM
 

FreakBoy said:

What a great idea, we need these big rigs off the road. Sometimes I fear that they don't see us. I stay away from them when I drive. They feel like big bullies....
July 17, 2008 7:22 PM
 

dsuess said:

Where is the railroad from Bakersfield to Long Beach Kevin mentioned..  i'm taking Amtrak from LA to Chicago next month and have to take the Amtrak bus to LA..  a big link to the plan is missing..
RR on coast works and around Tehachipi but not following the 5 down south..
love your show
Dave
July 17, 2008 7:37 PM
 

catpaw said:

I voted for the half-cent tax. It was very little for alot in return. Since then, the roads have gotten more congested. The recession (most unemployed would call it a depression) has lowered tax revenues. One penny tax for $2 is not a financial burden to the average consumer. Maybe the 1/2 cent tax will be proposed again. Assuming that will be enough to work on our roads.
July 20, 2008 10:21 PM
 

Kiyoshi Tomono said:

Catpaw...given what we heard from local leaders, it's probably only a matter of time before the voters see something like it on the ballot again.
July 21, 2008 6:02 AM
 

tfaulk13 said:

First I'd like to say that I am not a truck driver. Just a regular person that drives a four-door compact car. I think a lot of people tend to forget where over 80% of their daily used items come from...A TRUCK. A truck delivers the groceries we eat, the clothes we wear, the fuel that we put in our cars and the toilet paper that we...well you get the point. As long as there have been trucks powerful enough to climb over our mountains, Bakersfield has been a mini-hub. It's not an issue of economics or who has the most rights on the road; it boils down to geography with an influence by climate with our agriculture. People have complained about farmers and ranchers for quite a bit lately. The farmers are stirring up too much dust or the trucks are too numerous or the dairy attracts too many flies and of course the refineries are ugly and emit too many pollutants. But what would each and every individual do if their complaints were acted on? We could have nothing but homes and small businesses to view because everything else has been moved out of the area. Milk would cost about $8.00 per gallon, fuel would be at about $7.00 to $9.00 per gallon. all produce would cost about $4 to $5.00 per Lb. Clothes would triple in price and lets not forget the traffic would be 30 times worse...with no trucks allowed to make deliveries, all deliveries would be with cargo vans and pick up trucks (how many vans would it take to replace that semi that bothers you so much? And at what cost?)
August 22, 2008 11:53 PM
 

heggar said:

It doesn't sound practical but too bad there isn't some way to charge a toll fee at the base of the vine for northbound traffic.  Revenues collected could be used for road repair and clean air.  Seems like in this day and age of electronic gizmos and computers there would be a way.  Just wishful thinking.
November 14, 2008 3:47 PM
 

raymond blanco said:

First of all as an ex truck driver, no one wants to come to California. When i drove a truck I did everything that I could do to avoid coming here, I even took lesser paying jobs to avoid it.

California laws prohibit truck drivers from making any money here unless your a local driver and then your forced by your company to drive illegally just to make a living because the law doesn't allow you enough hours of driving time to make it through this state in 1 day.

Even if u did have the hours to drive this state in 1 day the speed limit makes it impossible to do so.

If you want trucks out of your way, allow them to use the fast lane and match the speed limit with cars. that way truck will be out of your way when you try to merge onto highways also your less likey to jump in front of a truck while attempting to jump off the fwy exit you knew was coming up 2 miles ago.

This works in many states however California is way to greedy wanting truck drivers to pay for the roads and numerous other things.

People wake up. If you bought it a Truck brought it to you. If there was a national ban on trucks in California we wouldn't last 1 week....

So stop picking on truck driver's make matching speed limits, equal fines for equal crimes, ie. a truck driver is charged 4 times the amount as a person in a car for going over the speed limit.

In states with no lane limits there are fewer truck accidents then in California.

One last note, don't jump in front of a truck nand hit your breaks then expect 80,000 pounds to stop behind you. I had many friends that went into a ditch and died to avoid killing a family who's driver decided to do just that.... Food for thought.

God bless the driver's whp have lost their lives for the stupid, Inorder to save your families....
November 18, 2009 9:16 PM
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About Kiyoshi Tomono

Kiyoshi Tomono joined the 17 News team in March of 2004. He currently anchors 17 News at Sunrise and reports for other newscasts. Kiyoshi has won two Golden Mike Awards and an Associated Press Mark Twain award for his investigative and feature reporting. He is also the recipient of the 2008 RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for investigating reporting on Crisp and Cole Real Estate that ended in an FBI raid of the company

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