The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved over $101 million in state funds to four transportation projects in San Joaquin County on June 11, 2013. Expect major improvements on mobility and congestion relief on Route 4 Crosstown Freeway with a freeway extension project from Fresno Avenue over to the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad to Navy Drive. The $96.8 million in state funds (from a Proposition 1B Bond Program) was made possible by San Joaquin voters’ approval of Measure K, the half-cent sales tax which already committed $64 million to the project. The completed project will provide direct access to the Port of Stockton and relieve truck traffic through local neighborhoods. Construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2013 and take three years to complete.
The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) put forward three projects for the California Transportation Commission approval in efforts to advance its Smart Growth Program. SJCOG’s program focuses on downtown revitalization and infill development. The CTC approved SJCOG’s request to use $4.3 million in State Transportation Improvement Program funds toward the Sacramento Street Pedestrian Enhancements and Beautification Project in the City of Lodi, the Louise Avenue Median Beautification and Bicycle Enhancements Project in the City of Manteca, and the Weber Avenue Streetscape Beautification Project in the City of Stockton.
These projects are examples of the partnerships between SJCOG, the state, the county and local cities in making San Joaquin County a place to work, to live, and for business to thrive.