Clarksburg Branch Trail Project Riding Along as Planned
Oct 18, 2024 12:32PM ● By Angela Underwood
West Sacramento officials approved a transfer of almost a quarter million dollars to complete the Clarksburg Branch Line Trail, which was made possible with nearly $1.9 million in grant funding. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The Clarksburg Branch Line Trail is all over the map on local, regional and state planning sketches.
West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero pulled the item from the Sept. 18 meeting consent agenda to discuss the project progress, also detailed in a staff report.
In June, the City of West Sacramento awarded Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. almost $1.9 million in grant funding from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). The Delta Protection Commission gave $75,000 to the project and another $143,000 was used from the Measure E fund.
In August, officials gave final approval for the overall $2,177,877 for the extension of the city-owned trails’ right-of-way from the Barge Canal locks to Pumphouse Road. The almost $1.9 million SACOG funding covered the preliminary and final engineering plans and the environmental exemption documentation for trail portions from the south city limit to Willow Point Road.
A 10% contingency of nearly $199,000 was also allocated for unexpected complications.
However, on Sept. 18, staff reported a monetary shortfall in the project and followed it with an answer: transfer $248,761 to the one-time General Fund budget.
While officials did not mention the monetary change, Guerrero had something to say about the project.
“I wanted to make sure the community was aware we are in the process and the timeline for the construction,” Guerrero said of the trail, of which 95% is city and county-owned, with a slight location on private property.
The mayor noted her trouble accessing a QR code for the trail, asking associate transportation planner Steven Rosen to look into the issue and suggesting an even more precise map.
The staff report thoroughly details the project and cites the transportation app “Strava” to stress the importance of completing the trail.
According to the app, Baby Boomers’ median bicycle trip distance is 20.9 miles, and 14 miles for Gen Z riders.
Furthermore, the staff notes that with “approximately 13.75 miles to downtown Sacramento and approximately 11 miles to central West Sacramento, the ride is accessible to strong bicyclists and to the growing number who use e-bikes.”
“People are going to be jumping on their bikes, and when they see that map, they will learn about the other trails throughout the city,” Mayor Guerrero said of the trail projected to replace approximately 20,050 motor vehicle trips with bike rides, eliminate more than 439,000 vehicle miles traveled and save more than 19,000 gallons of gasoline.
“I am really looking forward to seeing the completion,” the mayor said.