Sunday, April 14, 2013

Letter to the Editor - Wagon Trail project by Al Segalla

Dear Editor,

In regards to the proposed highway improvements between Copperopolis and Angels camp, there are two important issues: The process for selecting alignment and the project impact on local property owners.

Choosing a highway alignment by process of "Groupthink" may not be the best way because the participants are not highway design experts and the result will tend to follow the strongest political faction. The process tends to create much unnecessary delay.  This is why our founders, in protecting the minority, created a republic - not a democracy. Once the purpose is decided, such as public convenience and safety, the engineers should propose the best route. Land acquisition is an important event and the effects can last centuries. According to studies, having some  curves reduces monotony and improves safety, but travel on this route in the future may be by vehicles not even yet invented. It seems to make sense to design for high speeds even if the speed limit would be set at 65 MPH presently.

Highway projects can have a profound affect on property owners.  The uncertainness of routing tends to create regulatory oppression because the property value may be harmed even if the land is not taken by eminent domain.  Who would buy land not knowing what you can do with it? If the process would be fair to the affected property owners, they should be compensated for all losses due to the proposed project. This also seems to be what the US Constitution requires.

Albert J. Segalla