Cyclists and pedestrians – including schoolchildren – will be able to get around more safely after the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) Board of Directors at its latest meeting approved more than $14.7 million in funding for three Regional Active Transportation Program (ATP) projects.
“These projects make it safer and easier for people in San Joaquin County to get where they need to go, especially those who walk or bike, such as children,” said Lathrop Mayor and SJCOG Chair Paul Akinjo. “They’re meaningful for a lot of folks, especially those who rely on active transportation, because they don’t own a car, or use it to bridge the gap between transit and their destination.”
The SJCOG Board was intentional and deliberate in helping to make these projects possible.
“The SJCOG Board made strategic steps to increase funding for this region’s bicycle and pedestrian projects,” SJCOG Executive Director Diane Nguyen said. “The board approved combining state funding from the California Transportation Commission, federal funding via the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program, and Measure K, the half-cent transportation sales tax in San Joaquin County, to infuse millions of dollars specific to bike and pedestrian safety projects.”
The projects at least partially funded include:
Manteca Safety Route to School Priority Safety Project, Manteca, $3.8 million: The project includes adding safety improvements and non-infrastructure education elements in coordination with the police department. The proposed project would improve pedestrian and bike safety for students, parents, school, teachers, and school staff. It also closes gaps in pedestrian and bike facilities around Stella Brockman Elementary School, Sierra High School, Brock Elliot Elementary School, Golden West School, Shasta Elementary School, and Manteca High School.
Boggs Tract Sustainable Transportation Improvements, San Joaquin County, $4.4 million: The project includes adding curb, gutter, and sidewalks on several streets in the Boggs Tract community focusing on improving pedestrian and bicycle mobility to key destinations. Those include Washington Elementary School, the Boggs Tract Community Center, a community farm, and various other commercial and religious locations. This proposed project will also provide connectivity to the future planned community space below State Route 4.
Citywide Stockton Bicycle-Pedestrian Connectivity Project, Stockton, $6.5 million: The project would create an active transportation network to improve access to schools and safer connections to adjacent neighborhoods where residents could access a supermarket and other shopping opportunities. The project will greatly enhance active transportation opportunities with an emphasis on protecting users from vehicle traffic. The project would also significantly improve the safety along routes to school, benefiting students who attend several schools in the neighborhood and high school students traveling to school.
Other projects from throughout the county were placed on a contingency list should more ATP funding become available.
ATP was created by Senate Bill 99 and Assembly Bill 101 to encourage increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking. ATP combines various federal and state transportation programs, including the Transportation Alternatives Program, Bicycle Transportation Account, and State Safe Routes to School, into a single program with a focus to make California a national leader in active transportation.
Learn more by visiting the ATP webpage.