BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: acr 102
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: coto
VERSION: 1/6/10
Analysis by: Art Bauer FISCAL: yES
Hearing date: June 15, 2010
SUBJECT:
Joe Colla Interchange
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution designates the interchange of Interstate 680,
Interstate 280, and State Route 101 in the City of San Jose as
the Joe Colla Interchange.
ANALYSIS:
The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state
highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will
consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following
criteria:
The person being honored must have provided
extraordinary public service or some exemplary contribution
to the public good and have a connection to the community
where the highway is located.
The person being honored must be deceased.
The naming must be done without cost to the state.
Costs for signs and plaques must be paid by local or
private sources.
The author or co-author of the resolution must represent
the district in which the facility is located and the
resolution must identify the specific highway segment or
structure being named.
The segment of highway being named must not exceed five
miles in length.
ACR 102 (COTO) Page 2
The proposed designation must reflect a community
consensus and be without local opposition.
The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
designation unless the sponsor can document that a good
faith effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the
prior designation.
This resolution designates the interchange of Interstate 280,
Interstate 680, and State Route 101 in San Jose as the Joe Colla
Interchange. The resolution further requests the Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) to erect appropriate signs upon
receiving donations from non-state sources to cover the costs.
COMMENTS:
1) Purpose . This resolution honors of the life Joe Colla,
who during the 1970's was a member of the San Jose city
council, a bicycle racer, a promoter of bicycle races, and
a pharmacist.
2) Summary of Mr. Colla' life . The resolution seeks to
honor the memory of the late San Jose City Councilmember
Joe Colla. Councilman Colla became an urban legend when he
arranged for a helicopter to lift an automobile on top of
an unfinished interchange intended to connect Interstate
680, Interstate 280 and US Highway 101 in the city of San
Jose. Standing aside the car Councilmember Colla asked the
obvious question, "Where do I go from here?" The photo of
the dismembered interchange, referred to as the
"Interchange to nowhere", was widely circulated in the
media and became an icon, summarizing California's
inability to address highway funding needs during a period
of oil embargoes and high inflation. In response to the
derision brought upon the state by Councilman Colla's
action, Senator Alfred Alquist from San Jose pushed,
shoved, and cajoled Caltrans to connect the interchanges to
the freeways it was designed to serve.
3) Consistent with committee's policy . This resolution is
consistent with all of the provisions of the committee's
policy on highway designations, including requiring the
cost of signs designating the name of the highway being
paid for by non-state sources.
ACR 102 (COTO) Page 3
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 73-0
Appr: 15-0
Trans: 13-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
June 9, 2010)
SUPPORT: Dave Cortese, Member Santa Clara County Board of
Supervisors (Sponsor)
OPPOSED: None received.