Plan Getting Update
Now, four years later as the plan is being updated again, only subtle changes are being made.
One major change is the deletion of improvements to Highway 99 south of Tipton. That project has been a casualty of the economic downturn and is now not scheduled to occur for at least the next 15 to 25 years.
Tulare County Senior Regional Planner Ben Giuliani said the region plan must be updated every four years and mostly it is a fairly routine matter, as it will be this time.
But, four years ago, after the countywide sales tax measure was passed for transportation improvements, there was a major overhaul.
“The difference between 2004 and 2007 was drastic,” said Giuliani, saying that Measure R provided funding for scores of projects, some now completed, some underway and several still in the planning stages.
Current major projects underway in the county include the widening of Highway 198 from Visalia to Hanford and the improvements to Road 80 from Visalia to Dinuba.
Soon to begin are the widening of Demaree from Visalia to Tulare, improvements to Ave. 416 west of Dinuba, rail crossings in Tulare and the widening of Highway 99 from Goshen to Kingsburg.
Long-range projects include the widening of Highway 99 through Tulare, the widening of Highway 65 south of Porterville, improvements to Highway 190 from Porterville to Highway 99 and improving Caldwell to four lanes all the way to Exeter.
Giuliani said he will probably have to add planned improvements for Highway 65 from Highway 137 to Highway 198, although that could be further out than 25 years.
“There's not a huge amount of
adjustments,” said Giuliani of this year's update.
TCAG has just begun the process of updating the plan, including a presentation
to the Visalia city council. That public outreach will continue through
May, with the update expected to be adopted by the TCAG board in July.
The plan is not just limited to roadways. It also looks at train travel and the movement of freight – both by trucks and trains – and even air travel. It also addresses transit needs, including trails. However, Giuliani pointed out, there is no light rail system in the plan since that is likely more than 25 years away.
Measure R continues to exceed revenue estimates, said the planner. He explained the county conservatively estimated how much money the sale tax hike would bring in annually, so even in bad economic times it would meet projections.
He said Measure R will provide $1 billion over 30 years.
The above story is the property
of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit
permission in writing from the publisher.