The Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee advanced AB 697, allowing for more lanes on State Route 37 in Sonoma County, despite its impact on protected habitats. Assemblymember Lori Wilson highlighted severe commute delays faced by low-wage workers, arguing for the bill as a necessary temporary fix to a longstanding bottleneck. Environmental groups and tribes oppose the expansion, citing ecological harm and historical failures of similar projects to mitigate traffic issues. The construction, if funded, could begin in about five years, while a larger highway project remains uncertain.
"Today, SR 37 has two lanes in each direction except for a 10 mile stretch where it has one lane, cresting a major bottleneck...adding an hour and a half to two-way commutes."
"Are we going to let perfection be the enemy of the good?" queried Committee Chair Diane Papan when closing discussion and offering her support for the legislation.
"This coalition opposed not just the legislation but the widening project completely, citing the damage that highway widenings cause the surrounding area."
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