Bill Overview
Title: To identify certain roads in the vicinity of Beale Air Force Base and Travis Air Force Base, California, as defense access roads for purposes of the Defense Access Road Program.
Description: This bill certifies specified roads in California in the vicinity of Beale Air Force Base or Travis Air Force Base as important to the national defense for purposes of the Defense Access Road Program. The program provides a means for the military to pay their share of the cost of public highway improvements necessary to mitigate an unusual impact of a defense activity (e.g., a significant increase in personnel at a military installation).
Sponsors: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals affected by infrastructure changes near Beale and Travis Air Force Bases
Estimated Size: 800000
- The Defense Access Road Program aims to fund improvements that support military logistics and residential traffic; this serves military personnel on base duty or commuting.
- Certifying roads around Beale and Travis Air Force Bases impacts military operational effectiveness by enhancing transportation infrastructure.
- This declaration directly affects those living near or commuting between these bases, including service members, base personnel, and civilians.
- There are approximately 1.3 million active-duty military personnel in the U.S., and these two bases contribute thousands of personnel.
- California's population is the largest in the U.S., meaning any initiative involving infrastructure has a substantial impact on traffic patterns.
Reasoning
- The new policy is primarily aimed at improving transportation infrastructure around Beale and Travis Air Force Bases, which will directly benefit military personnel and local populations relying on these roads.
- A significant portion of California's population is densely packed, and infrastructure improvements could indirectly enhance local traffic conditions by reducing traffic congestion.
- The limitations of the policy budget suggest that improvements will be modest but still beneficial depending on the specific roads targeted for enhancement.
- While the direct impact will be most pronounced among military personnel and base employees, the ripple effects may extend further to travelers and local businesses.
- The total affected population includes service members, civilian employees, and the broader community in the vicinity, estimated at about 800,000 people according to the target population estimate.
Simulated Interviews
Military Personnel (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This infrastructure update will finally address some of the roadblocks we face during peak hours.
- Commute to the base should be quicker, allowing more time with the family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Civil Engineer (Sacramento, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could generate more project contracts for my company, possibly boosting my career.
- Transportation improvements might spur economic growth in our sector.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Local Business Owner (Yuba City, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better roads might bring more customers from the base.
- I hope the improvement plan doesn’t disrupt traffic or deter customers in the short-term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Teacher (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While this doesn’t affect me directly, improved infrastructure near military bases is positive for the broader community.
- Traffic improvement there might somewhat ease regional congestion.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Civilian Contractor (Marysville, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased contracts due to this policy could mean more job security for me.
- I see potential project delays during construction phases as a concern.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (Rocklin, CA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved road access to the base will aid in getting to medical appointments more easily.
- As a retiree, safety in road development is of key concern to me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Tech Worker (Fairfield, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope these improvements will reduce my spouse’s commute stress.
- Traffic jams have been a major issue around these routes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Vallejo, CA)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If road improvements lessen congestion, my commute may be quicker.
- This indirectly impacts my ability to get to campus for classes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Trucker (Auburn, CA)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved road conditions could lead to less wear and tear on my vehicle.
- Traffic can be very frustrating in this area, so any relief would be welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Local Resident (Yuba City, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Road improvements are always welcome as they can enhance safety and reduce traffic accidents.
- Hope the policy mitigates congestion during peak traffic hours.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5200000 (Low: $4200000, High: $6200000)
Year 3: $5400000 (Low: $4400000, High: $6400000)
Year 5: $5800000 (Low: $4700000, High: $6900000)
Year 10: $6500000 (Low: $5200000, High: $7800000)
Year 100: $12000000 (Low: $9600000, High: $14400000)
Key Considerations
- Designating roads as defense access routes entails cooperative budgeting between local governments and federal entities, which involves complex cost-sharing agreements.
- The advent of environmental assessments and potential litigation related to infrastructural changes might extend project timelines.
- Local civilian impact is a significant consideration, necessitating community engagement and support for project implementation, possibly affecting project phases.