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June 14, 2010
Comment on Santa Fe Trail Connection
Tulare County residents have until June 16, to suggest what should be studied as part of an upcoming Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the planned Santa Fe Trail Connection.
The goal of the project is to create Tulare County’s first regional class I bicycle path/multi-use trail and preserve the historic Santa Fe Railroad corridor. Class I bike paths/multi-use trails are off-road trails that are separate from traffic and can be used for non-vehicular modes which include walking, running, cycling, rollerblading and equestrian.
Public feedback will guide the preparation of the environmental impact report. The report will examine impacts of a bike path that will travel along the historic Santa Fe Railroad corridor along with alternate routes suggested during this public comment period.
Comments can be e-mailed to chchavez@co.tulare.ca.us or mailed to Christine Chavez, 5955 S. Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93277.
June 8, 2010
Measure R committee names new chairman
The Measure R Citizens’ Oversight Committee has a new chairman and vice chairman.
Tom Barcellos, who serves on the committee as the Tulare County Farm Bureau representative, was elected as chairman during the committee’s June 7 meeting in Visalia.
Ty Holscher, who serves as the City of Tulare’s representative, was elected vice-chairman.
The next Citizens’ Oversight Committee meeting will be Monday, Aug. 9. For details,
click here.
May 28, 2010
Public invited to Santa Fe Trail meeting
Tulare County residents are invited to a meeting on Thursday, June 3, to discuss what they would like studied as part of an upcoming environmental impact report for the Santa Fe Trail.
A 4:30 p.m. open house will precede the 5:30 p.m. meeting at Mooney Grove Park inside the Tulare County Museum of Farm Labor and Agriculture’s Learning Center Room, 27000 S. Mooney Boulevard.
Comments can also be e-mailed or submitted in writing by June 16 to or Christine Chavez, 5955 S. Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93277.
May 27, 2010
Frequently asked questions about Measure R
Click here and get the answers to Measure R’s most frequently asked questions.
May 27, 2010
Measure R accomplishment’s celebrated
Tulare County officials celebrated Measure R’s accomplishments on May 18 with cake during a Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting. Measure R, a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2006, has boosted transportation funding for the county by 400 percent and doubled the amount of road projects started in its first three years.
May 20, 2010
Measure R: The Success Story
For a look at the successes of Measure R in its first three years, click here.
Expenditure Plan posted
May 17, 2010
TCAG delivers monthly Measure R update
Overall, $17.4 million has been received in Measure R revenues in fiscal year 2009-10. This figure is consistent with the Measure R Expenditure Plan projection of $21.8 million.
The Tulare County Association of Governments is also working with the County of Tulare Treasurer’s Office to facilitate a $20 million loan to keep Measure R regional projects on track. The agreement will be submitted for approval at the Tulare County Transportation Authority’s June meeting.
Additionally, the Tulare County Transportation Authority will soon get a look at the 2010 Measure R Strategic Work Plan. It is the master plan for the delivery of Measure R projects in the upcoming five-year period. It is expected to be approved this summer.
The next Measure R update will be delivered on Monday, June 21, at the Tulare County Board of Supervisors’ Conference Rooms A&B, County Civic Center, 2800 W. Burrel Ave., Visalia.
Ben Maddox under construction
Nearly 100 people attended the Ben Maddox Way Overcrossing Improvement Project on Jan. 8, which broke ground at Noble Avenue and Ben Maddox Way following a short ceremony at Visalia Ford. Work continues on the project, which will take the overcrossing from four to eight lanes relieving traffic congestion in one of the county’s highest-volume intersections and upgrading three existing traffic signals. It is expected to be complete in 2011.
The project was originally fully funded as a Measure R regional project slated for construction in 2012. However, the City of Visalia moved this project up two years thanks to $6.4 million in stimulus funds and a $1.6 million federal earmark of SAFETEA-LU funding secured by Congressman Devin Nunes, R-Visalia. Local funding, including Measure R funds, will fill in any funding gaps. To date, the project will be the largest project funded by stimulus funds in Tulare County.
Measure R pays for Mooney Widening
Measure R is helping pay to complete the Mooney Boulevard/SR-63 Widening Project. The Tulare County Transportation Authority recently amended the 2008 Measure R Strategic Work Plan to allow Measure R funds to be used to widen a “bottleneck” portion of the road just north of Packwood Creek from two lanes to three lanes.
City of Visalia regional project breaks ground
On Feb. 20, nearly 100 people turned out to celebrate the ground breaking of the Santa Fe Bridge Project, the newest regional project funded by Measure R.
“Measure R has been a great partner to the City of Visalia in this project,” said Adam Ennis, Engineering Services Manager. “We are certainly very thankful for the help that Measure R is providing us.”
The project will involve replacing the existing railroad bridge with a five-lane vehicle overcrossing. The project has been awarded to Agee Construction and work is expected to begin in March. Construction should wrap up by May 2010.
The Santa Fe Bridge Project is the City of Visalia’s first regional project funded by Measure R. Other City of Visalia regional projects funded by Measure R include the widening of Plaza Drive from SR-198 to Avenue 304, the Lovers Lane/SR-198 Interchange and the Ben Maddox/SR-198 overcrossing.
In the next five years, Measure R will provide an estimated $320 million to fund construction projects in Tulare County. In the next year work will also begin on other Measure R regional projects such as the widening of Scranton and Indiana in Porterville; the Ben Maddox overpass at Noble Avenue; and the Avenue 416 bridge study.
New Citizens’ Oversight Committee member appointed
Jack Ritchie has been named to the Measure R Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Richie’s term will end June 30, 2010. Ritchie replaces Rudy Mendoza, who has been elected to public office and is no longer eligible to serve on the committee.
Regional Project breaks ground
Ground was broken November 7, 2008 on the long-awaited signal at Avenue 416 and Road 56 in Dinuba, the first construction project to be fully funded by Measure R. The intersection is heavily congested, with traffic often backed up as much as a half mile in each direction. The addition of the signal is expected to result in a greater air quality improvement than the improvements to Highway 198 in Visalia. The signal project is expected to be complete in February 2009 at a cost of nearly $2 million.
In the next five years, Measure R will provide an estimated $320 million to fund construction projects in Tulare County. In the next year work will also begin on other Measure R Regional Projects such as the widening of Scranton and Indiana in Porterville; the Ben Maddox overpass at Noble Avenue; traffic signals at Avenue 280 and Road 156; and the Avenue 416 bridge study.
With support from all nine member agencies, the Measure R Expenditure Plan
was amended. On Nov. 17, the Tulare County Transportation Authority approved the first amendment to the Measure R Expenditure Plan, which spells out how Measure R funds can be spent.
The amendment was necessary to allow member agencies and the Transportation Authority to have more opportunities to partner with other agencies and apply for grants to allow for the creation of a $2 million Bike Fund Program and a $2-$3 million Rail Preservation Fund within the Transit/Bike/Environmental portion of Measure R.
Before the amendment was approved by the Transportation Authority, were reviewed by the Measure R Citizens’ Oversight Committee and approved by a majority of the cities with a majority of the population, along with the Tulare County Board of Supervisors.
Short-term lending helps Regional Projects
In an effort to move forward Regional Projects that are ready for construction, the Tulare County Transportation Authority has approved a short-term lending contract. The contract, approved in September, is a $10 million line of credit with the Tulare County Tax Collector-Treasurer. It allows the Authority to access cash needed to move projects forward through June 2009 at a cost savings greater than the interest paid.
Road 80 ground breaking a success
After more than a decade of waiting, the official groundbreaking of Road 80 was celebrated Sept. 12 with speeches and ceremonial shovels.
A crowd of nearly 100 gathered at the busy intersection of Riggin Avenue and Road 80, with heavy traffic serving as a reminder of the need for the widening of this key farm-to-market and commercial transport road.
Leading the ceremonies was Henry Hash, Director of the Tulare County Resource Management Agency, who commended all of the public agencies for the cooperative effort that made the road widening project possible.
Supervisor Steve Worthley, who represents Dinuba, recalled being told when he was running for the Board that the Road 80 project “was two years out … that was 11 years ago.” “This has been a learning experience for us in many ways,” Worthley continued. “Without Measure R we would probably not be sitting here. I’m grateful to still be on the Board and celebrating this great occasion.”
Visalia Vice-Mayor Bob Link commented that the new Ridge Creek Golf Course in Dinuba is “probably generating more traffic than ever before,” and again recognized the key role of Measure R funding in making the road widening possible.
The project will be completed in three phases: Goshen Avenue to Avenue 328, Avenue 328 to Avenue 376 and Avenue 376 to El Monte Way in Dinuba. Completion of phase 1 from Goshen Avenue to Avenue 328 is expected by Spring 2009.
Supervisor Mike Ennis, who chairs the Tulare County Association of Governments, compared the long wait for Road 80 to the long wait for improvements to Highway 65.
“This project will come to fruition and will affect so many people,” Supervisor Ennis said. “Thank you to the people of Tulare County who supported Measure R so we can have this kind of regional project.” The expenditure of Measure R sales tax funds is managed by the Tulare County Transportation Authority and monitored by the Measure R Citizens’ Oversight Committee. For information, contact Ted Smalley, Executive Director of the Tulare County Association of Governments at 733-6291.
New leadership on Measure R Citizens' Oversight Committee
The Measure R Citizens' Oversight committee has a new chairman and vice chairman. In August, David Harrald, who served on the committee as the County of Tulare’s representative, was elected chairman and Gil Jaramillo, who served on the committee as the Tulare-Kings Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s representative, was elected vice-chairman.
Harrald replaces Jaramillo as chairman, while Jaramillo replaces Greg Woodard as vice-chairman. The 16-member committee meets next on Nov. 10 at Government Plaza, 5961 S. Mooney Boulevard in Visalia. To view additional meeting dates, visit tularecog.org/oversight_committee.php.