Last Friday, Representative John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) led a forum in Marysville to discuss federal, state, and regional issues concerning transportation and infrastructure projects. Paul A. Smith, RCRC Vice President Governmental Affairs, attended the forum. The purpose of the forum was to develop a better understanding of regional needs and identify inadequacies in funding, planning, and coordination, with much focus on the Highway 70 widening project in Butte and Yuba Counties.
Marysville Mayor Ricky Samayoa provided welcoming remarks, followed by Rep. Garamendi with a presentation titled “Laying the Foundation: State and Federal Opportunities, and Why Our Region Should Be a Top Competitor.” Vincent Mammano with the Federal Highway Administration provided a federal overview, Norma Ortega with the California Department of Transportation (DOT) provided a state overview, followed by Amarjeet Benipal from the Department of Transportation with a presentation on regional competiveness.
Representative Doug LaMalfa (D-Butte) and Butte County Supervisor Bill Connolly provided a history of Highway 70. In concert with Butte and Yuba Counties’ senior transportation staff in attendance, Rep. LaMalfa and Rep. Garamendi emphasized on the importance of safety improvements to Highway 70.
Efforts to expand the Highway 70 corridor from Oroville (Butte County) to Marysville (Yuba County) have been on the planning agenda since 1988. The total distance of existing 2-lane highway that needs to be upgraded to 4 lanes is approximately 21 miles. If Segments 1, 2, and 3 are programmed into the 2018 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, the remaining investment needed to complete the widening project is $36 million for the Yuba County portion.