Pittsburg Civic Action Request (by 5/29/13) -- Donlon-Buchanan Traffic Congestion Relief

Posted:  26 May 13

1.  Purposes

• To publicize background and actionable information on project planning, concerned with relieving serious traffic congestion along the James Donlon-Buchanan Road corridor in Pittsburg -- a matter with County-wide impact
• To publicize the May 29 deadline for public response to the Draft Environmental Impact Report
• To provide a convenient link for communicating with the City Council
• To transmit Pittsburg City Councilman Ben Johnson's comments on the issue

2.  References

1. Google search: Contra Costa Times Buchanan Donlon
2. Contra Costa Times article, Long-awaited Pittsburg road extension project plans roll forward, by Paul Burgarino, 04/29/2013
3. Contra Costa Times article, Pittsburg making new push on James Donlon extension, by Rick Radin,  09/23/2011
4. City of Pittsburg Documents on the James Donlon Boulevard Extension
5. Official Pittsburg website (Contact the City Council)

3.  Critical Deadline -- Please note, in reference (2), that:

"The public is invited to vet documents for the James Donlon Extension, a 1.7-mile road that would run from the western edge of Discovery Builders' planned Sky Ranch II subdivision to Kirker Pass Road. James Donlon Boulevard dead-ends at Antioch's western border, the road built as part of a housing development by the Seeno company."

"Pittsburg released a draft version of an environmental impact report earlier this month."

"Comments on the plan will be accepted until May 29."

Please take a few minutes to email your thoughts to the City Council

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4.  From Pittsburg City Councilman Ben Johnson

Ref:  Councilman Ben Johnson's Facebook Page, 4/20/13

COMMUTERS!!

Smooth-flowing traffic East-to-West 

and West-to-East County each day! 

How can we accomplish this great feat?

Working for the same common goals would be nice!

1.  How would the people who make the 5,000,000 commuter trips annually through far East County -- using James Donlon and Buchanan Road each weekday -- like to commute to work on a road that will BYPASS Buchanan Rd and the City of Pittsburg?

2.  We need all of East County to support the JAMES DONLON EXTENSION. 

• Currently as a member of the Pittsburg City Council and for many years prior, I have watched East County EXPLODE with housing, business, new family growth, 
• ... and traffic which is unable to keep up with these inflows. 

2.  We have continued to be the stepchild when it comes to projects.

• So many years to get Highway 4 widened to four lanes and now to eight. 
• It has also taken almost a lifetime to get the BART and E-BART extensions just to Pittsburg.
• At long last, the E-BART system is nearing completion, to serve Pittsburg, at Railroad Avenue, and Antioch, at Hillcrest Avenue -- with possible future locations farther east. 

3.  With the 2010 Census, the count of far east residents has grown to over 310,000 people -- which equates to over 30% of the county's population. 

• It is time to take even greater control of our future and insure we are no longer the stepchild! 
• It is time for you all to speak out about your commute frustrations. 
• Help us get this new Bypass route finished and it is for the betterment of all commuters and hopefully will reduce commuter stress. 

Pass this on to your City Councils and County Supervisors! 

4.  THE ACTION TIME IS NOW! BE PROACTIVE!

• LET'S GET THIS DONE and make far East County a better place for ALL who live here. 
• IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST ONE CITY.  It's about a much better future for this entire place (and beyond). 
• THE TIME TO WORK TOGETHER IS NOW!!!!

Ben Johnson

City Councilmember

Pittsburg City Council