Public Invited To Help Plan Kern Region’s Transportation Future

April 8, 2010

More than 70 highway, road maintenance, transit, pedestrian and bicycle improvements worth an estimated $2.8 billion are projected to be funded throughout the Kern region over the next 25 years, according to Kern Council of Governments’ draft 2011 RegionalTransportation Plan (RTP), which will  be made available for public review.

The RTP, a blueprint for Kern's transportation network, details how our region will spend federal transportation dollars over the long term.

The 2011 RTP contains an ambitious blueprint of roadway corridor, transit, bicycle, pedestrian and other improvements designed to keep the regional economy moving over the next 25 years.

Many of the proposed projects already have funding dedicated to early phases, such as planning or engineering. Others expected to be carried out more than 25 years from now do not have identified funding sources but would be eligible should new revenue streams become available.

Specific improvements spelled out in the RTP do not include projects that each of Kern’s 11 cities or the county may choose to complete with their own general funds.

While the document touches on practically every aspect of transportation -- with proposals for funding high-speed rail, public transit, pedestrian walkways, bike paths, landscaping and air quality improvements – the bulk of federal funding will go toward expanding and improving the regional roadway network.

Beginning next week, Kern COG will offer a series of public workshops throughout the region to solicit public comments on the document and the projects represented in it.

Copies will be made available at Kern COG’s office, 1401 19th Street, Suite 300 in Bakersfield; at all Kern County Library branches, or on the Web at www.kerncog.org. Kern COG will host the following Regional Transportation Plan Public Workshops beginning with the Downtown Bakersfield Street Fair on April 15.

April 15
Downtown Street Faire
Chester Avenue, Bakersfield (5-9 p.m.)

April 17
Warbirds in Action Airshow (9 a.m.- 3 p.m.)
Minter Field, Shafter
401 Vultee Ave.

April 25
Arvin Wildflower Festival
Smotherman Park (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)

April 28
Delano Town-hall meeting (4-7 p.m.)
Civic Hall
925 Ellington Street

May 1
California City Desert Tortoise Days (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Central Park

May 4
Frazier Park town-hall meeting (4-7 p.m.)
Veterans Hall
300 Park Drive

May 5
Kern River Valley Revitalization Committee (9-11:30 a.m.)
Kernville Community Room, 11447 Kernville Road

May 12
Indian Wells Valley Community Collaborative (10 a.m.-noon)
Kerr-McGee Center, Ridgecrest
100 W. California Ave.

May 20
Downtown Street Faire
Chester Avenue, Bakersfield (5-9 p.m.)
Rosamond Town Council (7-9 p.m.)
Hummell Hall
2500-20th Street West, Rosamond

May 27
Tehachapi Farmer's Market (4-7 p.m.)
Railroad Park, Tehachapi Boulevard & Robinson Street

June 12
Rails-to-Trails Car and Motorcycle Show (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)
6th and Main Street, Taft

For more information please contact Ron Brummett or Robert Phipps at (661) 861-2191