The California Transportation Commission allocated $1 billion on March 15 from the voter-approved Proposition 1B Transportation Bond for Highway 99 improvements. The SACOG region received funding for four projects totaling $118,580,000 in Sacramento and Sutter counties.
According to SACOG Board Chair and El Dorado County Supervisor Rusty Dupray, "Highway 99 is a major corridor for commerce and commuters. These four projects will go a long way to upgrading this critical piece of northern California's transportation network."
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 four projects approved are part of the Highway 99 Improvements Account, one of 12 programs from Proposition 1B. The projects funded were:
Projects were required to be consistent with the Sacramento Valley Route 70/99 Corridor Business Plan, and the funds will provide safety, operational enhancements, rehabilitation, and capacity improvements.
Business and public officials spent April 21-25 in Washington, D.C. to advocate for flood protection, transportation and other regional priorities. The Cap-to-Cap Transportation team advocated for several high-priority regional projects, including light rail expansion, funding for the Sacramento Valley Station, key freeway interchanges, and other projects that support the movement of people and goods within and through the region. In addition, they advocated for balanced transportation solutions and sought full funding of the federal transportation bill, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
Providing 200-year flood protection was another chief priority of the 2007 Cap-to-Cap Trip. The region's congressional delegation was encouraged to fund projects such as the Folsom Dam Outlet Modifications, the South Sacramento County Streams Group Project, the American River Common Features Project, the Folsom Dam Bridge Component, the Natomas Phase I Reimbursement, and the Sacramento River Bank Protection Project.
This year SACOG's delegation included Board Chair Rusty Dupray, Vice-Chair Tom Cosgrove, Directors Lauren Hammond and Helen Thomson and Executive Director Mike McKeever. For more information regarding the Cap-to-Cap Trip contact the Sacramento Metro Chamber at (916) 552-6800 or visit www.metrochamber.org.
Regional Report for April - May 2007 (text-only version)
Sacramento Area Council of Governments