California Autobahn? Long-shot bill proposes freeway lanes with no speed limit

Road sign contrasting from the deep blue sky pointing the way to Interstate 5 to Los Angeles.



Scroll ahead to see the best food stops on I-5 between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Road sign contrasting from the deep blue sky pointing the way to Interstate 5 to Los Angeles.



Scroll ahead to see the best food stops on I-5 between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Photo: (Photo By Dünzl\ullstein Bild Via Getty Images) Photo: (Photo By Dünzl\ullstein Bild Via Getty Images) Image 1 of / 19 Caption Close California Autobahn? Long-shot bill proposes freeway lanes with no speed limit 1 / 19 Back to Gallery

Motorists sick of idling in traffic on Interstate 5 in California would theoretically have another option, if a new bill introduced on Friday to the state legislature turns into a reality. But critics say that's not likely.

State Senator John Moorlach (R-Orange County) introduced SB 319 as a way to ease congestion on I-5 and State Route 99. Moorlach pitched the idea as a way to ease greenhouse gasses from idling cars.

The plan calls for the Department of Transportation to build two additional traffic lanes on the north and southbound directions of both highways. Those lanes would not have speed limits, although drivers in the other pre-existing lanes would still need to abide by the official 65 miles per hour limit.

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The bill states that there are several reasons for putting forth SB 319. Primarily, as it reads, the goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, noting that congestion "increases the emissions of greenhouse gases as it causes automobiles to idle longer while on roadways."

However, that claim, and the bill itself, have critics. A spokesperson for the Coalition for Clean Air, Bill Magavern, calls the notion that idling cars create more greenhouse gas emissions than speeding ones "ridiculous."

"In fact it would increase emission of greenhouse gas," he tells SFGATE. "Emission goes up at high speeds; this would encourage people to drive cars really fast on our highway, and that would increase emissions coming from transportation ... the only sector where emissions are increasing in California."

According to the proposal, funding for SB 319's new lanes would come from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which currently allocates 35 percent of its annual proceeds to projects supporting affordable housing, transit or sustainable communities. It's not yet clear how much it would cost to build the new lanes. (An additional 25 percent of the fund is saved for "certain components of a specified high-speed rail project.")

RELATED: Gavin Newsom calls SF-to-LA high-speed rail unrealistic, pushes for route from Bakersfield to Merced

Magavern is doubtful that the bill will get much further along in the legislation process, noting that in addition to the pollution issue, there's a significant added safety risk for drivers.

"This bill would appropriate dollars for this fool's errand," he added. "This money would be much better spent on increasing mobility for our communities through improved public transit."

SB 319 was also framed as an alternative to the high-speed rail system project. If constructed, the new lanes will provide drivers "with access to high-speed, unabated transportation across the state."

ALSO: Trump administration wants billions back from California rail project

The high-speed rail was projected for completion in 2033, though Governor Gavin Newsom recently detailed revised plans to focus on finishing a portion of the initially planned rail between Merced and Bakersfield. On Tuesday, the Trump administration said it plans to cancel future federal funding for the California project.

Last week, Newsom said the high-speed rail "would cost too much and, respectfully, take too long," adding that "there simply isn't a path to get from Sacramento to San Diego, let alone from San Francisco to L.A." with the project.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.

