We finally reach the end of the current extension of the 180. Of course, further extensions are already being planned.
2009: Academy Ave to Quality Ave
2010: Academy Ave to Quality Ave
2009: Quality Ave to Madsen Ave
2010:
Quite the bustling metropolis this highway extends to! I guarantee, in 10 years, these same images will be full of subdivisions, and not farms.
2009: Indianola to Bethel
2010: Indianola to Bethel
2009: Bethel and Fairbanks
2010: Bethel and Fairbanks
2009: Academy Ave
2010: Academy Ave
We continue east.
2009: Dockery to Del Rey
2010: Dockery to Del Rey
2009: Del Rey to Indianola
2010: Del Rey to Indianola
Let’s continue moving east. Is there more destruction of prime valley farmland? You bet!
2009: Thompson to McCall
2010: Thompson to McCall
Here’s something interesting…they’ve built a parking lot in the middle of nowhere. It looks to be a park and ride. A transit element you’d think, a place to park a car to take the bus. But no, not here in Fresno County. I’m guessing there’s some kind of “reward” for including park and rides in projects, because these little (useless) parking lots are popping up next to all the freeways….but there’s no corresponding bus service! Carpools perhaps? Maybe, but none of the highways here have carpool lanes….
As I noted yesterday, I am going to be taking a look at the extension of highway 180 and the effect it is having on agriculture. All you see below can easily be found on google maps, I’m just putting it in one place so it’s easier than switching back and forth between the aerial and satellite imagery.
We begin at 180 and just east of Temperance (Locan pictured), which was built only a few years ago, and from there move east.
You’ll note the highway goes from farmland…to more farmland. No urban area in sight, at least not yet. Once the developers see all those pretty off-ramps, subdivisions will be sprouting up like weeds.
One of the arguments being used against High Speed Rail in California is the impact it will have on agricultural land. After all, the valley depends on the prime farming land for our economic needs, and it just doesn’t make sense to pave over productive farmland.
The argument itself isn’t a bad one. Yes, high speed rail will take up farm space. Yes, high speed rail will require taking people’s property.
But my question is, why aren’t these same people bringing up these concerns when it comes to other transportation projects in the valley?
Some like to bring up the building of I-5 as an example, but I don’t think it’s a good one. The same people protesting today were in a very different place 40 years ago, so I can’t blame them for not bringing up the concerns in the past. After all, people’s opinions change, and people generally become more informed as time goes on.