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$1.1 billion plan for road improvements presented during public workshop

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Thursday, February 18, 2010, 12:00 AM)

The draft plan to spend an estimated $1.1 billion for road improvements throughout Madera County over the next 25 years was presented during a public workshop in Oakhurst last week.

Nine area residents were present at the Oakhurst Community Center Feb. 9 for a public workshop for the proposed Madera County 2011 Regional Transportation Plan.

The workshop, conducted by staff from the Madera County Transportation Commission, provided attendees an opportunity to review and comment on future identified transportation projects in the county.

The Regional Transportation Plan is a long-range planning document prepared by commission staff every three years in accordance with state and federal regulations. Included in the plan are projected revenues and expenditures for transportation projects countywide through the year 2035.

Measure T, the half-cent transportation sales tax measure passed by voters in 2006, will provide a projected $213 million towards the plan. The increased sales tax will be collected through 2027.

Other sources of funds will come from federal and state sources and developer impact fees.

Ray Beach, Madera County Resource Management Agency director, said the county is constantly competing with other counties for federal and state highway funds.

"We have done a good job in getting our share of funds for road projects."

"The listing of transportation projects, including Measure T projects in the Regional Transportation Plan is an essential step for project delivery," said Patricia Taylor, executive director of the commission. "The Regional Transportation Plan will allow us to meet federally imposed air quality and transportation planning regulations."

The plan includes 57 road projects, costing from $35,000 for restriping a portion of Road 26, to $116 million to increase Highway 99 from four lanes to six lanes from Avenue 7 to Avenue 12.

One project listed in the Measure T list calls for widening Highway 41 from two lanes to four lanes from the top of Deadwood Mountain to the Highway 41-49 intersection in Oakhurst. According to the plan, the project has a completion date of 2029 at a cost of $23 million.

Taylor said when it comes time to improve the roadway on Deadwood, Caltrans and local agencies will study the specifics of the project and determine what would be the most cost-effective way to proceed.

The plan also lists the construction of passing lanes on Highway 41 just north of Road 208.

Other projects will be funded solely through developer impact fees, such as the widening of Road 400 from two lanes to four lanes between the Hensley Lake entrance and Lilly Mountain Road.

The plan was presented by Richard Poythress, transportation planner with the Madera County Transportation Commission.

The commission policy board is made up of county supervisors Tom Wheeler, Frank Bigelow, Max Rodriguez, two Madera city councilman, Rob Poythress and Sam Armentrout, and Chowchilla councilman Jim Kopshever.

A seven-member Citizens' Oversight Committee, selected after an application process, has been formed to ensure that the funding is spent as promised to the public. There is a member from each supervisorial district and two at-large members. District 5 is represented by Bill Bunnell of Ahwahnee. The two at-large positions are filled by Chris Baker of Oakhurst and Tom Swire of Yosemite Lakes Park.

The draft 2011 Regional Transportation Plan will be released for public comment in April and is scheduled for final adoption by the commission policy board in July.

Details: Richard Poythress, (559) 675-0721, maderactc.org/.