A letter from Caltrans provides new details on the initial requirements for evaluating a potential route to divert heavy truck traffic from downtown Bishop. The communication, sent on July 7 from Caltrans District 9 Director Ryan Dermody to Inyo County Local Transportation Commission (LTC) Vice Chair Jeffery Ray, outlines the steps and funding questions involved.
The letter responds to a May 27 request asking Caltrans District 9 to initiate a Project Initiation Document, or PID, to study alternatives for rerouting heavy truck traffic around Bishop’s downtown corridor. It is important to note that Caltrans has not approved a bypass or selected a specific route at this stage. Instead, a PID represents the first formal step in determining which alternatives might be feasible for future consideration.
According to Dermody’s letter, a PID is "the first step in evaluating a project proposal" and would examine project planning, scope, cost, and schedule, alongside a full range of alternatives. Completing this initial document would not establish a preferred alternative; that selection would occur later, following a subsequent Project Approval and Environmental Document process.
Inyo County District 4 Supervisor Jennifer Roeser shared the Caltrans letter publicly and provided additional context. She noted that the idea of moving truck traffic away from downtown Bishop is not new, a point reinforced by Dermody, who wrote that alternate routes around Bishop have been studied “numerous times over several decades.” Previous efforts, according to Dermody, ended without further project development due to public engagement, feedback from business owners, and decisions by the Bishop City Council. Roeser further stated that Caltrans had previously studied bypass concepts at least three times at the City of Bishop’s request, none of which moved forward.
Despite the history, Roeser believes that circumstances have changed and revisiting previous studies may be worthwhile. She highlighted that truck traffic through Bishop has increased, with officials presenting data in a May 11 Bishop City Council discussion showing a rise in heavy trucks since 2017. LTC Commissioner Stephen Muchovej also raised the issue with the commission in 2024, discussing Main Street traffic and truck volumes, and framing the matter as a potential Highway 6 bypass or truck route. He argued that a growing share of trucks passing through Bishop are traveling to or from Highway 6.
A PID would begin to answer fundamental questions before any route could be seriously considered. Dermody’s letter explains that the process would examine possible alignments, operational and maintenance requirements, and potential changes in jurisdiction for existing and affected state highway segments. Caltrans is committed to public involvement, with Dermody writing that the agency is "committed to meaningful and transparent public engagement throughout this process." Due to the potential project's location and scope, tribal engagement and consultation would be an "essential and integral component" of the effort.
The Bishop City Council formally voted 5-0 in May to request that Caltrans initiate a PID. Their request specifically asked for the study to evaluate a route east of Bishop Airport that could connect State Route 6 with U.S. 395 several miles south of the city. This particular concept remains an option to be studied, not an approved alignment.
Funding is a significant aspect of the proposed study. Caltrans intends to request funding for the PID from its statewide PID budget in 2027. However, Dermody clarified that if the proposal moves beyond this initial stage, it would fall outside the scope of the State Highway Operation and Protection Program. This means future phases would require the City of Bishop and Inyo LTC to pursue other funding sources, which could include Inyo County’s State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) allocation, competitive grants, and federal funding. Environmental review, design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction would each necessitate additional funding. Dermody noted that the overall project timeline, "from PID initiation to construction, would extend over many years and is dependent on funding availability at each stage."
Supervisor Roeser expressed significant concern regarding the funding question, citing Inyo County’s recent substantial negative STIP balance. Official LTC records from 2022 show a roughly $15.5 million negative STIP balance for Inyo County, even with regional funding arrangements. This deficit previously prevented the commission from programming new projects during that RTIP cycle. Roeser emphasized that this history should be considered before local transportation dollars are committed to another major project. While using Inyo’s own STIP funding would be within the commission’s authority if they choose to pursue a truck route after the PID process, she warned it could affect how soon other transportation priorities receive funding. She also suggested officials could seek additional funding from the California Transportation Commission or other sources.
Roeser also raised questions based on her experience as a Class A driver, observing that passenger vehicles often use truck bypasses. She said she would not assume a Highway 6 bypass would be used exclusively by trucks. This is an issue that a future study could examine. She also suggested that a route east of Bishop could potentially offer transportation benefits related to Bishop Airport if commercial air service expands.
For now, no Bishop truck route has received approval. Caltrans has stated its intention to seek funding for a PID, which would formally begin the process of studying alternatives. The agency has also offered to meet with the Inyo LTC to discuss the PID process, possible funding sources, public engagement strategies, and tribal consultation. Any actual project would require additional study, environmental review, funding decisions, and public involvement before a route could be selected or construction could occur.
