The I-80 Causeway Bike Path is part of the main route cyclists use travelling between Davis and Sacramento. It is well-traveled, with over 200 cyclists (including approximately 100 students) using the path per day.

PG&E is going to be conducting a pipeline replacement project across Prospect Slough in West Sacramento. They are saying it will require the closure of the I-80 Causeway bike path for approximately four months total over the course of two years, starting in 2027. This project is a horizontal drilling project to replace the pipeline under the Yolo Bypass.

Caltrans thinks that the best option while the work is being conducted is to place work trucks and the crane on the ramp up onto the causeway bike path. The parties involved – the City of West Sacramento, PG&E, and Caltrans – are proposing a shuttle service to get riders across the Causeway.

SABA thinks the shuttle option is unacceptable because shuttles can’t take more than a few riders at time. Shuttles mean a schedule will be created which cyclists then need to adhere to, which makes their commute harder and longer. It would mean that SABA and other groups could not use the Causeway for a social ride or an event where many (over 20) riders would cross the Causeway because a shuttle services can’t serve that many people at a time. Undocumented workers who are using their bikes may be reluctant to get in a PG&E van. Any cyclist may be reluctant to have their bike thrown into the back of a van and out of their sight.

Better Options

SABA is pushing Caltrans and PG&E to consider other options, including:

• Utilize the I-80 West Capitol Park & Ride Lot for staging away from the bike path. The Park & Ride is rarely used to capacity, so additional parking would not necessarily need to be found, as claimed by PG&E and Caltrans.
• Build a temporary bike path entry to the Causeway. Caltrans and PG&E think this will take too long and be costly, but as a temporary quick-build project, it should not take too long to complete. PG&E made a similar accommodation in Marin and Caltrans has a quick-build toolbox that they could use to implement this.

Take Action

You can help advocate for the options SABA has proposed by contacting the following people:

• Jimmy Fong, Sr. Transportation Engineers City of W. Sac: jimmyf@cityofwestsacramento.org

• Christine Mier, PG&E project lead: CAHy@pge.com

• Gurtej Bhattal, Caltrans: Gurtej.Bhattal@dot.ca.gov

• Pierson Rohr, Sacbike & W. Sacramento Transportation Commission: Pierson@sacbike.org

• Mayor Martha Guerrero: mguerrero@cityofwestsacramento.org

• Councilwoman Orozco: quirinao@cityofwestsacramento.org (this project is in her district)

Sample language: I’m contacting you about the proposed closure of the Causeway Bike Path in 2027 due to PG&E conducting a pipeline replacement project across Prospect Slough in West Sacramento. Closing the bike path and having to use a van shuttle, as PG&E and Caltrans have proposed, would greatly inconvenience my travel between Davis and Sacramento, as well as the many other cyclists who use that route. I would like PG&E and Caltrans to either stage their equipment away from the bike path using the I-80 West Capitol Park & Ride Lot or build a temporary bike path entry to the Causeway. Both these options can be done at low cost and will accommodate cyclists without having to use a shuttle, which would be very inconvenient.