rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/stop-the-expansions-of-the-sr-85-and-us-101?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-stop-the-expansions-of-the-sr-85-and-us-101' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Silicon Valley DSA https://actionnetwork.org/groups/silicon-valley-dsa-2 https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/797/221/normal/VTA_SVEL_map_unofficial_-_showing_new_lanes_-_color_coded.png Air, community health, and traffic in Santa Clara County are under threat! VTA is planning on widening SR-85 and US-101 which will put more cars on our roads and substantially increase greenhouse gas emissions in the region. Sign the petition here to tell the VTA board that we won’t accept this plan! Here’s what’s going on: VTA is working on a program to put express lanes on Santa Clara's highways to encourage carpooling, generate revenue for transit, and keep inner highway lanes moving at a steady pace. Early phases converted existing lanes into express lanes (you may have seen them on SR-237, I-880, US-101, or SR-85). But in the coming years, VTA hopes to create brand new highway lanes on US-101 and SR-85, and eventually on I-280, I-680, and SR-237 as well. Creating new lanes is a huge problem that will ultimately lead to more people driving, worse traffic, and worse air pollution. And on SR-85, the new lanes will literally be taking over space that is supposed to be for future transit-only lanes. As they have already done in early phases, VTA should convert existing lanes to be the express lanes – not widen freeways. The VTA board is discussing the plan at the September 18 Board of Directors meeting, and will vote on it in the near future. Highway expansions are a waste of taxpayer money that do nothing to relieve congestion in the long-term, and further lock our region into a cycle of car-dependency. Sign our petition to help send the message to VTA that their constituents will not accept this plan. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-expansions-of-the-sr-85-and-us-101