Press Release

Today, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07) announced that he secured $19.6 million for six Sacramento-area transportation projects.

"I'm proud to announce that I've secured $19.6 million in federal funding to support six important transportation and infrastructure projects in the Sacramento region," said Representative Bera. "This critical funding will help expand and improve our region's roadways, bike lanes, and public transportation options, leading to less congestion, better public safety, and more good-paying jobs. I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure this funding get signed into law."

The following projects championed by Rep. Bera were included as Community Project Funding requests in the FY23 House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill, which passed the House of Representatives today:

Project Sponsor: City of Elk Grove

Project Name: Laguna Creek Inter-Regional Trail Crossing at State Route 99

Project Location: 8939 E Stockton Blvd, Elk Grove, CA, 95624

Funding Amount: $2,000,000

Explanation: This project would build a Class 1 bicycle/pedestrian overcrossing over State Route (SR) 99 along the Laguna Creek Inter-Regional Trail System. The project is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it would provide an alternative transportation option along one of the City's busiest roadways and closes a gap and removes barrier in the existing Laguna Creek Trail System that will allow for over 7 miles of continuous trail use.

Project Sponsor: City of Elk Grove

Project Name: Old Town Streetscape Project Phase 2

Project Location: Elk Grove Boulevard. From School Street to Waterman Road. Elk Grove, CA, 95624

Funding Amount: $2,000,000

Explanation: The funding would be used to widen Elk Grove Boulevard from School Street to Waterman Road in Old Town Elk Grove and construct streetscape improvements and buffered bike lanes in both directions. This project is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it would improve ADA accessibility and active transportation opportunities. The ADA accessibility, transit, and pedestrian and bicycle safety enhancements will provide thousands of residents throughout the Historic Old Town District with safe and efficient alternative mobility access.

Project Sponsor: City of Folsom

Project Name: Riley Street Safety Improvements

Project Location: Riley St, Folsom, CA 95630

Funding Amount: $4,000,000

Explanation: The project will fund the construction of upgraded sidewalks and installation of class II bike lanes on both sides of Riley Street from Sutter Street to East Bidwell Street. The project is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it would improve safety for active transportation users by addressing a key pedestrian gap closure between the City's Central Business District (CBD) and the Historic District and bicycle collision focus area identified in the City's Active Transportation Plan.

Project Sponsor: City of Rancho Cordova

Project Name: White Rock Road – 0.5 Mile East of Rancho Cordova Parkway to Rio Del Oro Parkway

Project Location: White Rock Road – 0.5 Mile East of Rancho Cordova Parkway to Rio Del Oro Parkway, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742

Funding Amount: $4,000,000

Explanation: The project will improve the final portion of White Rock Road beginning 0.5 miles east of Rancho Cordova Parkway and ending at Rio Del Oro Parkway through replacing, realigning, and widening the roadway from two to four travel lanes and the addition of class II bike lanes. The project is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it would improve safety for all modes of transportation by repairing a deteriorating segment of roadway and installing bike lanes that will connect to a regional active transportation network. It will also provide parallel capacity and be a reliever route to U.S. Highway 50, reducing congestion and greenhouse gases.

Project Sponsor: Elk Grove - Rancho Cordova - El Dorado Connector Authority

Project Name: Capital SouthEast Connector - D3a Class I Multi-Use Path

Project Location: White Rock Road, County of Sacramento/ City of Folsom, CA 95630

Funding Amount: $4,000,000

Explanation: The project will construct a new 3 mile stretch of regional Class 1 Multi-Use path parallel to White Rock Road and install broadband infrastructure. The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will be an active transportation gap closure by providing connections to existing bicycle facilities on White Rock Road and the growing Sacramento regional bike and active transportation network. These investments improve safety of all transportation system users, encourages active modes of transportation, and improves quality of life.

Project Sponsor: Sacramento Regional Transit District

Project Name: Gold Line Light Rail Station Conversions

Project Location: Watt/Manlove Station (Sacramento, CA 95826), Mather Field Station (Rancho Cordova, CA 95827), Sunrise Station (Rancho Cordova, CA 95742) and Historic Folsom Station (Folsom, CA 95630).

Funding Amount: $3,647,591

Explanation: The funding would be used to complete phase 2 construction of 4 low-floor light rail station conversions to accommodate new low-floor light rail vehicles. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars because the current light rail vehicles and station configurations limit the mobility of many community members and the new vehicles and converted stations would provide increased ADA capacity and accessibility for passengers with bicycles and strollers.

The FY2023 House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. In total, Representative Bera secured more than $32 million to support 15 community project funding requests for the Sacramento-region in the FY 2023 House Appropriations bills. Representative Bera voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021, which makes the largest federal investment in public transportation in our nation's history.

"The City of Elk Grove is truly grateful and honored that Congressman Bera champions our critical projects. The SR-99 Overcrossing Trail and Old Town Streetscape projects included in the recently passed House bill will improve public health and safety, support economic development and enhance walkability and quality of life. Securing federal funding for these priority transportation initiatives in our community will make a difference – not just for the City of Elk Grove - but for the greater Sacramento region," said Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, City of Elk Grove.

"Folsom is grateful for the $4 million in federal funds in the just-passed THUD bill for the Riley Street Safety Improvement Project," Mayor Kerri Howell, City of Folsom . "This project will add sidewalks and bike lanes along Riley Street from East Bidwell Street to Sutter Street and will improve pedestrian safety and connectivity from the Central Business District and Sutter Middle School to the Historic District and Light Rail Station."

"The City of Rancho Cordova is grateful for the support of Congressman Bera in securing gap funding that will bring the final portion of White Rock Road improvements to fruition," said Mayor Donald Terry, City of Rancho Cordova. "By replacing, realigning, and widening this important but deteriorating arterial roadway from two to four lanes and adding bike lanes, we improve safety for all who use it. Improving White Rock Road provides critical parallel capacity to U.S. Highway 50 for both first responders and regional drivers, better connects residents of the greater Sacramento region to the 65,000+ jobs in Rancho Cordova, and helps spur economic development."

"This is an important investment for the community and Connector project as a whole. The success of this project relies on partnerships and community collaboration, and we thank the Congressman for his continued support of the project. Once completed, the project will reduce congestion, improve air quality along congested corridors, advance safety, and foster economic development. This piece will help construct the multi-use trail, which will provide health and recreational benefits for our community," said Derek Minnema, Executive Director of the Capital SouthEast Connector.

"SacRT is extremely thankful for Congressman Bera and his hard work to secure funding for our Light Rail Modernization Program," said Henry Li, SacRT General Manager/CEO. "New low-floor vehicles are currently being built by Siemens in south Sacramento, and these funds will help SacRT renovate and upgrade supporting infrastructure to accommodate these new state of the art vehicles."