Measure A Partnerships: The City of Folsom
Transportation plays an integral role in the City of Folsom’s story. From the 1860s, when it served as a critical stop for the Pony Express to its historic and iconic Rainbow and Truss Bridges. From its Class I biking and pedestrian Johnny Cash Trail to the $140 million Folsom Lake Crossing roadway built to mitigate the road closure across Folsom Dam following 9/11.
Made famous, first as a gold rush town then as home to Folsom State Prison, the City of Folsom has grown into a twenty-first century suburban hub where tech industry giants, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and health and education live side-by side. Crucial to supporting the community’s current and future transportation needs are taxpayer approved Measure A funds.
“We have many priorities ranging from annual road maintenance and accessibility to capital improvement projects like the future Empire Ranch Road interchange on Highway 50,” explains Folsom Major Justin Raithel. “Measure A funds provided through the Sacramento Transportation Authority supplement our existing programs to help get work completed. We are able to do a lot more than we would otherwise be able to accomplish through Measure A.”
Raithel has lived in Folsom for 12 years. He is a licensed professional engineer and represents Folsom’s District 2. He is also a member of STA’s Board of Directors, advising on Sacramento County-wide proposals and programs impacting all modes of transportation. Whether it be making regular repairs or developing a significant roadway expansion plan, Raithel strongly believes that all STA partner cities within Sacramento County would have a difficult time getting projects from concept to completion without the taxpayer approved dollars.
Measure A fund allocations from STA to the City of Folsom, and all STA partners, are made annually through a transparent budget formula process. The voter approved half-cent sales tax is designed to augment existing local transportation revenues.
“We don’t expend a tremendous amount of dollars from our general fund for transportation infrastructure maintenance,” says Raithel. “We really rely on our annual almost $4 million in Measure A funds to help us maintain our road network and I don’t think most people realize it. Measure A funds also allow us to take advantage of work that’s already being done that impacts our streets to make a project better. We use Measure A to fill in the gaps on sidewalks and improve accessibility when we can.”
Measure A funds are also an important tool to help with local matching to compete for federal and state funding. The city’s Folsom Lake Crossing was an extensive and substantial multi-million dollar, multi-year construction project where $38 million in Measure A capital improvement dollars were used to make the project possible. The project resulted in a new four-lane roadway and included a bridge over the American River.
“The City of Folsom was the ‘first out of the gate’ after Measure A was renewed to spend our Measure A capital dollars. The project was required after the federal government closed the Dam Road for security reasons,” explains Raithel. “We exhausted those funds. However, we did so with the understanding that the project would have an impact lasting decades and possibly centuries.”
Traffic congestion improvements, safe routes to schools, pavement maintenance, access for the city’s historic district, and thinking about future transportation technology and what it means in terms of how people commute are all on the City of Folsom’s transportation agenda, in large part as a result of public input.
“I am a big believer in local democracy,” Raithel shares. “A lot of different ideas make us better and stronger. It’s important to keep listening and identifying priorities. We want to continue to see public participation in our funding decisions.”
The city’s housing expansion over recent years is a prime driver of voter expectations. Partly a consequence of State of California legislation requiring cities to build more homes, housing across the city has boomed. “I’m a believer, especially when you build houses, that you need to build infrastructure. That’s my drum beat,” Raithel shares. “These things go together, and Measure A funds are helping us to do it. Voters expect we will build infrastructure to support all the new homes.”
Raithel readily admits that most people are unaware that Folsom’s transportation needs are largely met through STA and Measure A. He continues to educate people about the importance of the Sacramento Transportation Authority and the funding it provides. Ultimately, STA helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used purposefully, providing its partners and the communities they serve with safe access in and around their cities.
