For several years BATWG has tried to focus attention on the disastrous 1.5 mile East-West Connector highway (now euphemistically called the Quarry Lakes Parkway) that the Mayor of Union City wants to foist upon the mostly unsuspecting residents of south Alameda County.

First, the new roadway would obliterate a nicely wooded section of Alameda Creek just north of Paseo Padre.

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Second, it would break through and destroy the historic Ramirez Farmhouse. Third it would bring a great deal of additional traffic to the western half of Docoto Road. Fourth it would obliterate an initiative taken by the City of Union City to collect rain water in order to help raise the ground water level.

And last but certainly not least, with Caltrans busily expanding the access roads east of Niles Canyon, and the East West Connector and other roadway expansions being planned west of the Canyon, it is virtually certain that if these short-sighted measures continue, the now leisurely winding road leading through peaceful Niles Canyon will sooner or later become the bottleneck.

                                         

At which time, Caltrans will be standing by, eager to cram a four lane highway into the Canyon, thereby destroying its recreational value forever.

While Union City is being tight-lipped about the currently projected cost of its East-West Connector, it now appears to be at least three times the rosy $300 million floated two years ago. Mayor Dutra-Vernaci’s ill-considered urban highway remains an economic and environmental disaster waiting to happen.