The Lassen County Transportation Commission is continuing a series of community meetings to listen, and to discuss opportunities and a strategy for jumpstarting long overdue improvements to the US 395 Highway corridor.
Although the vision for the improvements is to widen US 395 to a continuous 4-lane, divided facility from the State Route 70 Junction to the State Route 36 Junction, the primary purpose of the improvements is to improve safety in a corridor long known for horrific accidents.
Community meetings will be held in the following locations at the noted dates and times.
- Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Johnstonville Grange Hall 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 16, 2018 Janesville Fire Station 8 p.m.
- Thursday, May 17, 2018 Milford Community Center 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 22, 2018 Standish Litchfield Fire Hall 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 23, 2018 Ravendale – Juniper Ridge Elementary School 7 p.m.
- Monday, June 11, 2018 Susanville – Location TBD TBD
Formal presentations will be made and opportunities for questions and community input are the primary purpose for the meetings.
“For decades we have seen no safety improvements and a series of terrible tragedies,” stated Commissioner Tom Hammond. “The Lassen County Transportation Commission is aggressively seizing the momentum created by the new Caltrans Transportation Concept Report for US 395 and working to build a coalition of public, private, and non-profit organizations that collectively have the might to get the much-needed funding.”
“Anyone that has driven US 395 more than 10 times knows this is the most dangerous corridor in northern California,” Commissioner Jeff Hemphill added. “No median, inadequate passing zones, cars and trucks travelling at different speeds, high wind events and winter weather… and it is only getting worse.”
Community input will inform how the LCTC, a joint agency overseen by three Lassen County Supervisors and three Susanville City Councilmembers, will approach future planning and engineering studies.
What segments of the corridor should be improved first? Is there a need for more or better public transportation for commuters, or Park-and-Ride facilities to support commuting and reduce trips on the highway? Are there any concerns about widening US 395?
“Building a strong coalition is the key,” said Matt Boyer, LCTC Executive Secretary. “Without a coalition that can attract attention and funding, we will likely not see even conceptual engineering completed. But conversations are happening with major players and the results should be game changing.”
For more information, please contact Matt Boyer, Executive Secretary, Lassen County Transportation Commission (916) 759-2268 (cell).
