The City of Turlock wants to promote bicycle and pedestrian projects that will benefit the overall well-being of the city and is looking towards the residents to supply a few options.
The City of Turlock will be hosting a series of community workshops aimed at getting public input on projects that will promote biking and/or walking, improve safety, reduce harmful emissions from motor vehicles and benefit a disadvantaged community or public K-12 school.
The first of the four meetings is set from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at California State University, Stanislaus in MSR Room 130. Additional meetings are scheduled for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Turlock City Hall in the Yosemite Conference Room; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 21 at Cunningham Elementary School’s cafeteria; and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 7 also at Cunningham Elementary School.
The community outreach is one avenue to bolster support for Turlock’s Active Transportation Plan and has proven financially beneficial in the past. In October 2015, the City of Turlock was awarded more than $1 million in state funds to be used to construct pedestrian and bicycle improvements along West Linwood Avenue near Cunningham Elementary School, and along the entire length of Christoffersen Parkway, which will also include two bicycle connectors when completed.
All of the proposed projects that come out of the series of community meetings will be considered for inclusion in one or more grant applications submitted by the City under the current Active Transportation Plan funding cycle from the state.
“We want to hear from the community and have them involved in this process,” said Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth. “Their involvement has been a large part of our success in being awarded more than one million dollars to build project to enhance and benefit our community.”
The Active Transportation Program was established and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in September 2013 to increase the proportion of trips accomplished by biking and walking, increase safety and mobility for non-motorized users, achieve greenhouse gas reductions, enhance public health, promote safe routes to schools and provide a specific emphasis on disadvantaged communities. Since its creation the Active Transportation Plan has gone through two funding cycles and allocated more than $726 million towards meaningful active transportation improvements. The state is currently finalizing the application and guidelines for Cycle 3, which seeks to dole out $230 million on a fully competitive basis.
Those unable to attend the workshop can send comments or suggestions directly to Wayne York, Transportation Engineering Supervisor, by mail at City of Turlock, Engineering Division, Attn: Wayne York, 156 S. Broadway, Suite 150, Turlock, CA 95380, or by email at wyork@turlock.ca.us, or by fax at 209-668-5563.
