In the mid-1990’s, I served on the Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Committee for the Stanislaus Area Association of Governments, currently called the Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG). After each meeting, I would corner Dana Cowell, the Caltrans representative appointed to attend our monthly meetings. I always had questions for Mr. Cowell. Very knowledgeable, he patiently answered each one. After one meeting, we discussed Route 132, west of Modesto. I asked Mr. Cowell why a […]
Highway 132 extension
Pay for 132 and Almonds Too
During the first week of March this year, laborers planted almond trees in the right of way of the future 132 Freeway/Expressway near Morse and Kansas Avenues. The new trees are almost completely hidden by tall weeds. Caltrans announced in January 2017 that the new road would be completed by 2020. The almond trees will have to be removed first—after Caltrans pays top dollar for them. Meanwhile, Caltrans says it doesn’t have […]
Elected Officials Need to Speak Out on 132 Expansion, by Rhett Calkins
In “How Would the New 132 Freeway Affect Wood Colony,” Bruce Frohman wrote that plans to change the route of 132 are “gaining momentum.” People need to ask, “Gaining momentum to do what? Introduce sprawl out to Dakota? Introduce another major intersection to reduce momentum on an already jammed-up Carpenter Rd? Is this something we can be proud of?” Look at where they plan to take the 132 west project: […]