sierraeastAn Olancha area property owner has taken cyberspace action to oppose Caltrans’ plans to build a bypass around that area.  Scott Palamar objected strongly to the Caltrans plan to blend two alternatives with no public discussion.  Now, he has created a website for the purpose of fighting the Highway 395 bypass.

Palamar has said that he objects to the way Caltrans has handled the public process.  Caltrans Director Tom Hallenbeck had pointed to the rules that Caltrans does have the option of combining alternatives that have already gone public.

Palamar and many other residents say the bypass will kill off the small numbers of existing businesses.  Palamar’s website, www.sierraeast.org, says that instead of widening the current highway, Caltrans intends to “carve a new maximum width highway through wild public land, completely bypassing the community of Olancha and costing many millions more of federal and California taxpayer’s money.”

Palamar also posted an online petition to object to Caltrans plans: http://www.change.org/petitions/support-the-eastern-sierra-stop-caltrans.  Signing the petition automatically triggers emails to Caltrans, The California Transportation Commission, The Governor, our Federal and State elected representatives, and Supervisor Cervantes.  Palamar also commented that he sees that  Caltrans out of Anaheim has spent “all kinds of time checking out my websites.”

Caltrans District 9 is currently working on a final environmental document on the bypass plan.

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