Peggy - Vallco Impact on Noise, Traffic, Emergency Response

From: Peggy Griffin
Date: Sun, Nov 15, 2015 at 10:58 PM
Subject: Vallco EIR Scoping Comments - Noise, Traffic, Emergency Response impacts
To: Piu Ghosh <PiuG@cupertino.org>
Cc: Grace Schmidt <cityclerk@cupertino.org>

SUBJECT:  Vallco EIR Scoping Comments –

 

The traffic on I-280 and CA-85 has gotten so bad that the following occurs every day:

-        Noise levels have increased so that insulation does not cut the noise level inside the home anymore.
-        Even at night now the noise is high.  It doesn’t die down anymore.
-        Everyday there seems to be an accident on I-280 between Foothill Expressway and Lawrence Expressway.
-        The large employee buses and cars are ditching the freeways and hauling down side streets in Cupertino and Sunnyvale to get to the De Anza Blvd and Wolfe areas.
-        Apple employees are parking up and down our neighborhood streets to avoid having to get out on Mariani and De Anza Blvd.

 

With the addition of 2,000,000 square feet of office that the Hills-at-Vallco is proposing, on top of existing and upcoming projects in the area (Apple 2, Main Street, Agilent re-development, etc.)

please study the impacts of traffic on

-        Noise during commute times as well as at off-peak hours in the evening and during the day
-        Increased accident rates
-        Response times to those accidents

 

When looking at traffic, please look at these points as bailing points and the subsequent traffic on the local streets as a result of cars

-        CA-85 and El Camino
-        CA-85 and Fremont Ave.
-        CA-85 and Homestead Road
-        I-280 and Foothill Expressway
-        Foothill Expressway to Stevens Creek Canyon Road

 

Please study the impacts of traffic as described above on

1.       Noise levels along CA-85, I-280, Foothill Expressway, El Camino Real, Fremont Ave, Homestead Road, Mary Ave., Hollenbeck/Stelling, Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road/De Anza Blvd, Wolfe/Miller, Tantau Ave, Lawrence Expressway from El Camino to Prospect since Prospect goes into the Cupertino hills.
2.      Increased accident rates along those roads listed in #1
3.      Increased emergency response times along those roads listed in #1.

 

Please study the impacts of traffic on cell reception.  Many people have dropped their land lines and are only using cell phones.  When the traffic increases, more people are using their cell phones and the capacity of the cellular companies is stressed.  It is very common now to not be able to complete a call while on De Anza Blvd during rush hour.  This impacts emergency response and the ability of residents, workers and commuters to report an emergency.  This can effect fire, ambulance, etc.  Please study all cellular carriers.

 

Please study the impacts of 10,000 additional workers in the Vallco area on cell reception.  This can impact emergency response due to lack of capacity to complete a call.

 

Sincerely,

Peggy Griffin