Reopen Lake Chabot Road Now

As a resident of San Leandro directly affected by the on-going closure of Lake Chabot Road, I respectfully request that the San Leandro City Council direct staff to take measures to reopen this important transportation route to one-way alternating traffic, as soon as possible. Not only does 17% of the traffic between Castro Valley and San Leandro utilize Lake Chabot Road (see Alameda County General Plan, Page 6-2), but this delayed road closure and subsequent diversion of traffic through a residential neighborhood has created significant traffic, noise, air quality and environmental hazards impacts.

These changes to the City’s transportation network were not previously evaluated in the 2035 San Leandro General Plan and Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) adopted for the 2035 San Leandro General Plan (SCH 20011092001 dated August 19, 2016). As a result, it is requested that the City conduct proper CEQA environmental review to determine what impacts these changes in circumstances related to the closure of Lake Chabot Road are having on its residents and to determine adequate mitigation measures.

Further, California legislation (AB 747 and SB 99) requires all local agencies to review accessibility and evacuation routes when specific elements within the General Plan or other emergency planning documents are completed or updated by a local agency. An Environmental Hazards study should be conducted to determine the significance of the changes in circumstances associated with the closure of Lake Chabot Road, as well as to comply with the legislative changes set forth in AB 747 and SB99.

It is requested that the City take immediate measures to re-open Lake Chabot Road now to alternating one-way traffic with portable traffic signals on either end - until a more permanent solution to the reopening of Lake Chabot Road can be reached.

–Maryann Miller, San Leandro