The largest-ever San Joaquin One Voice® delegation today begins work in the nation’s capital securing vital federal funding for a dozen projects important to San Joaquin County’s future.
One Voice® is the San Joaquin Council of Governments’ (SJCOG) federal advocacy program promoting projects, programs, and policies that matter most to the San Joaquin region. The effort brings regional leaders together to champion funding and legislative support for initiatives with countywide impact.
“Being in Washington, D.C., gives us the chance to look our lawmakers in the eye and share why these projects matter so much to the people we represent in San Joaquin County,” Lathrop Mayor and SJCOG Chair Paul Akinjo said. “When they see how committed we are, it makes a difference. These aren’t just line items, they’re real needs for our communities.”
With more than 75 local elected officials, government staff, and regional stakeholders, the One Voice® delegation will spend the next few days in Washington, D.C., meeting with key federal leaders. Meetings are scheduled with U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, U.S. Reps. Josh Harder and Adam Gray, and the staffs of Reps. Pete Aguilar and Jim Costa.
Delegates will also meet with officials from key House committees and subcommittees, and representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, all with the goal of securing federal support for priority projects across San Joaquin County.
One Voice® delegates this week aim to keep the momentum going and build on past success.
“The One Voice® trip has made a real impact over the years, and SJCOG and its partners keep that momentum going,” SJCOG Executive Director Diane Nguyen said. “These projects touch people’s daily lives, from congestion relief to jobs to quality of life. We’re here to make sure that message comes through loud and clear.”
A recent success came earlier this year when the City of Tracy received word it had secured $41.35 million in federal funds for the I-580/Corral Hollow Road project, which was on the previous year’s One Voice® slate of projects. Other recent successes came when three projects promoted by One Voice® each received funding: SJCOG’s State Route 99/120 Interchange Phase 1B, $5.5 million; San Joaquin County’s Grant Line Road Improvements, $2.5 million; and San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission’s The Rail Academy of Central California, $1.5 million.
One Voice® delegates this year will advocate that the following receive funding:
- I-5/Louise Avenue Interchange, Lathrop.
- Energy Center Hydrogen Conversion, Lodi.
- SR 120/Airport Way Diverging Diamond Interchange, Manteca.
- Mountain House Regional Mobility Hub, Mountain House.
- Stockton Metropolitan Airport Taxiway D Connector, San Joaquin County.
- Grant Line Road Realignment, San Joaquin County.
- Megaregion Investment Strategy, including funding requests for I-205 Managed Lanes and the next phase of the State Route 99/120 Connector project, SJCOG.
- North Lathrop Transfer Station, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission.
- Vehicle Replacements, San Joaquin Regional Transit District/United Cerebral Palsy.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Rail & Roadway Reconstruction, Stockton.
- Bellota Weir Modifications, Stockton East Water District.
- I-205/Mountain House Parkway International Parkway Interchange, Tracy.
SJCOG Board in February approved the 2025 SJCOG Legislative Platform, which provides direction to the congressional delegation and agency officials on the county’s transportation, infrastructure and policy needs. Projects fall under the platform’s policy themes: transportation funding and finance; economic development; environment; Megaregion infrastructure.