Caltrans has announced the awarding of more than $225 million in federal funding for local projects to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries on city and county roads, including three projects approved in San Joaquin County.
According to Caltrans, two of those will take place in Stockton and the other will be in Tracy.
“Safety is always Caltrans’ top priority,” Caltrans director Tony Tavares said in a news release.
Funding for the roadway safety projects was provided through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), according to Caltrans.
The first project, which received $2.35 million, including $2.1 million in HSIP funds, will take place on various segments along South El Dorado Street between Clayton Avenue and Third Street.
“These projects will enhance systemwide safety features … and move us closer to our vision of reaching zero fatalities and serious injuries on roadways throughout the state by 2050.”
Tony Tavares, Caltrans director
Crews will install rectangular rapid-flashing beacons, crosswalks, bulb outs, bike boxes, bicycle video detection, painted buffers and cycle track, median refuge islands and sidewalks, and a railroad reconfiguration.
The other Stockton project receiving the funding will install systemic pedestrian safety enhancements that include a high-visibility crosswalk, left-turn phasing, curb extensions, raised median, curb ramps and left turn lanes at Hammer Lane and Lorraine Avenue.
Other areas included will be Wilson Way at Park Street and Wilson Way at Waterloo Road.
HSIP provided $2.5 million of the $2.8 million in funding for the project.
“These projects will enhance systemwide safety features, including enhancing safety for people who walk and bike, and move us closer to our vision of reaching zero fatalities and serious injuries on roadways throughout the state by 2050,” Tavares said.
Tracy was given about $2.6 million for a safety improvement project at numerous signalized intersections throughout the city, according to Caltrans.
The project is set to install a series of traffic signal updates and engineering countermeasures such as backplates and leading pedestrian interval signal timing.
HSIP funds accounted for $2.3 million of the $2.6 million cost for the project.
Victoria Franco is a reporter based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. She is a Report for America corps member.
