Our six-county region was awarded over $242 million for six projects from the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account, the first of 12 bond programs. The California Transportation Commission awarded projects submitted by regional transportation planning agencies and Caltrans. The Sacramento Area Council of Governments nominated projects in Sacramento County, while the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency and the El Dorado County Transportation Planning Commission nominated projects in their counties.
According to SACOG Board Chair and El Dorado County Supervisor Rusty Dupray, "congestion is a major concern of everyone who drives in this region, and the six projects approved will go a long way to improving our transportation system. We are pleased that these projects were selected for the first part of the comprehensive transportation bond passed by voters last year."
The region is working to follow the Blueprint smart growth patterns to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. SACOG is seeking a mix of highway, local road and transit projects through the variety of transportation programs to emerge from the $19.9 billion in transportation bonds approved by voters.
The six projects approved are part of the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account, one of 12 programs from Proposition 1B. According to Caltrans estimates, these regional projects will save drivers and their passengers 1.7 million minutes per day during peak travel times.
In Sacramento County, from Sunrise Boulevard to the El Dorado County Line, this project includes a four-lane roadway along the existing alignment of White Rock Road. The White Rock Road project was not included in the CTC staff recommendation, but the Commission used $150 million that had been set aside for traffic management systems to fund this and other projects from those submitted.
In Sacramento County from Watt Avenue to Sunrise Boulevard, the project adds carpool lanes to U.S. 50.
This project adds carpool lanes on U.S. 50 in El Dorado County from the County Line to the Bass Lake Road interchange.
Two separate phases of improvements to Interstate 80 in Placer County will add carpool lanes and auxiliary lanes. Auxiliary lanes add additional freeway capacity between two interchanges and support local traffic traveling shorter distances. Phase II is between the Sacramento County Line and Eureka Road; Phase III extends carpool and auxiliary lanes from Eureka Road to Route 65.
This project adds a new 4- lane Route 65 Lincoln Bypass in Placer County near Lincoln (from Industrial Boulevard to south of Yuba County Line). For more information contact Rebecca Sloan at (916) 340-6224 or rsloan@sacog.org.
Regional Report for February - March 2007 (text-only version)
Also available: PDF version
Sacramento Area Council of Governments