| Nearly $10 million in funding to meet
the transportation and land use planning needs of the greater Sacramento
Region was included in the federal omnibus appropriations bill approved
by Congress and signed by the President on January 23.
The money will fund a number of projects of the Sacramento Area
Council of Governments (SACOG), the region’s transportation planning and funding agency. The
projects include the Sacramento Region Blueprint: Transportation/Land
Use Study; a region-wide “intelligent transportation system;” and a project to close the gaps in night and weekend
transit services region-wide. A number of other Sacramento area
projects also were awarded federal funding in the bill.
SACOG Board Chair Christopher Cabaldon thanked the region’s congressional delegation for their efforts in
securing federal funding for these projects.
“The success of these important transportation projects
rests with the leadership and dedication of the Sacramento area’s congressional delegation, including Senator Dianne
Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressman Robert Matsui, Congressman
John Doolittle, Congressman Doug Ose, Congressman Mike Thompson,
and Congressman Wally Herger,” SACOG Board Chair Christopher Cabaldon said. “We thank them for all of their hard work throughout
the year and for helping SACOG improve our communities.”
The funding is included in the FY 2004 Consolidated Appropriations
Bill, otherwise known as the “omnibus appropriations bill.”
SACOG projects highlighted in the bill include:
Sacramento Region Job Access Reverse
Commute Program – Congress earmarked $1.5 million for SACOG to continue
and enhance the ongoing Sacramento Jobs Access Reverse Commute project
and fill the Sacramento region’s “transit gaps.” High unemployment areas are geographically distant
from job centers, and traditional transit service hours often do
not correspond with available jobs. The federal appropriations will
fund extended hours and weekend service along existing transit routes,
community shuttles within low-income areas, corridor bus service
from distant high unemployment areas to job centers, and increased
service to community colleges and industrial centers.
Sacramento Region Intelligent Transportation
Systems – Congress awarded SACOG $1.175 million to develop
STARNET, a dedicated multi-jurisdictional communication network
that will connect traffic and transit operators in the Sacramento
region. STARNET will improve the coordination of transit operators
throughout the region and will gather traffic and transit information
that will become available to travelers.
Sacramento Blueprint: Transportation/Land
Use Study – The congressional earmark of $250,000 for Sacramento
Blueprint helps fund an unprecedented effort in the Sacramento region
that provides an in-depth analysis of the region’s land use and transportation development patterns.
Along with its civic partner Valley Vision, SACOG is engaging the
public in discussions about future land use and transportation plans
in a series of community workshops throughout the Sacramento region.
Information gathered at these workshops will be folded into one
or more future scenarios that civic leaders can use to make decisions
on land use and transportation alternatives.
Other Sacramento area projects awarded federal funding in the bill
include:
- City of Auburn: Sacramento Regional Bus Expansion, Enhancement,
and Coordination Program – $100,000
- City of Citrus Heights: Streetscape improvements along the Auburn
Boulevard Commercial Corridor – $225,000
- City of Elk Grove: Sheldon Highway 99 Interchange – $300,000
- City of Lincoln: Auburn Ravine Bridge – $250,000
- City of Lincoln: Sacramento Regional Bus Expansion, Enhancement,
and Coordination Program – $500,000
- City of Woodland: Parking construction – $100,000
- Davis Intermodal Facility – $200,000
- Elk Grove Traffic Operations Center – $960,000
- Lincoln Boulevard Improvement Project – $1,000,000
- Lincoln bypass-SR65/Ferrari Interchange Construction – $2,000,000
- Roseville Multitransit Center, California – $500,000
- Sacramento Regional Transit District: Bus Maintenance Facility
– $500,000
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) is the transportation
planning and funding agency for the six-county Sacramento Region
that includes El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba
Counties. For more information about SACOG, visit http://www.sacog.org.
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