What's New - News Archives

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.

Expenditure Plan Amendment approved
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.