Letters to the editor

Monterey County Herald
Posted on May 11, 2007

Analysis not objective

Many voters are making their decision on Measure A based on an allegedly unbiased comparison by the Leagues of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas Valley, which, incidentally, share directors with LandWatch. Not surprisingly, the leagues' traffic analysis errs in favor of Measure A.

The analysis grossly inflates daily trips, assuming 12 trips per household as opposed to the 6 to 10 normally used by planners.

The analysis fails to place either plan in context. GPU4's extra 11,000 households would increase the current 1.1 million daily trips by 6 percent to 10
percent. Compared with Measure A, GPU4 adds, at best, one car to every 16 currently on Monterey County roads. At worst, one in 10. Hardly unrestricted
growth.

The leagues' analysis also ignores another important factor — trip distribution. GPU4 disperses new household trips over the county. LandWatch's Measure A
funnels new trips along narrow corridors, increasing congestion.

The leagues claim a C level of service under Measure A. LandWatch's fight against proposed Highway 68 improvements demonstrates its commitment to a level of
service F.


Alan Kemp
Aromas