Regional plan tries to drive fine line on cars, transit
By Tony Bizjak -
tbizjak@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, March 21, 2008
Story appeared in METRO section, Page B4
After two years of debate, Sacramento has a new regional transportation spending plan, but no end to the disagreements over how many of us should still be driving cars in the coming years.
The $42 billion Metropolitan Transportation Plan was approved unanimously Thursday by representatives of six Sacramento-area counties and 22 cities, serving as the Sacramento Area Council of Governments board.
Proponents say the spending plan for the next 28 years strikes a balance between the often competing desires for more roads for cars, and for more transit and pedestrian-oriented development.
That is a dramatic reversal from past regional spending plans, which focused mainly on roads to move more cars, SACOG executive Mike McKeever said.
"We're turning the nose of the ship," McKeever said. "We're not all the way where we need to be, but we've significantly raised the bar."
Not nearly far enough, opponents contend.
Environmentalists argued the plan should be tied directly to city and county land-use policies; cities that approve sprawl growth shouldn't receive transportation funds to support that.
"It just hasn't gone far enough," said Alex Kelter of the Environmental Council of Sacramento.
The plan, which covers Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Yolo, Sutter and Yuba counties, will be revisited and updated in four years, as required by the federal government, officials said. Some projects could be dropped from the list and others added.
The current list includes commitments to fund light rail toward Sacramento International Airport and expand bus service throughout the region.
It earmarks funds for a plan to reintroduce streetcars downtown, connecting West Sacramento's redevelopment area with Sacramento over the Tower Bridge. The plan puts more emphasis on adding cycling and pedestrian areas on new streets.
It also addresses what some contend is a weak spot in the region's transportation grid – a lack of bridges. Two of them – one over the Sacramento River at Broadway, the other over the American River at Truxel Road in Natomas – are controversial and face lengthy public fights.
Notably, the plan does not include money for any river crossing between Watt Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard, where many battles of over potential bridges have been fought in the past.
Officials also voted to list a number of major road projects, including more freeway carpool lanes, an expressway between Roseville and Highway 99, and road widenings between Elk Grove and El Dorado Hills.
Other elements of the current plan include:
• A new transit center in the downtown railyard.
• At least 40 new or more frequent-express bus routes and 10 proposed bus rapid transit routes.
• Expansion of the Fifth Street Bridge connecting Yuba City and Marysville.
• Expansion of Hazel Avenue/Sierra College Boulevard to six lanes.
• Funds for pothole repair and other road maintenance.
• Technology to make traffic flow more smoothly.
• Funds for projects reducing sprawl.
• Investments in clean air programs such as ride sharing.
To view details of the plan go to
www.sacog.org/mtp.
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