FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Measure C is providing $6 million for new sidewalks, crosswalks, and other improvements aimed at making school routes safer for students across Fresno County.
The Fresno County Transportation Authority approved $6 million for seven Safe Routes to School projects serving 20 schools in rural communities and unincorporated Fresno County.
For some students, getting to class can mean walking along dirt paths, crossing busy roads or navigating traffic without a complete sidewalk.
Selma Unified Superintendent Edward Gomes said improving those routes is critical because students get to school in several different ways.
“That’s critical because you have our bus riders and you have those who are walking and you have those whose parents are taking their kids to school,” Gomes said.
The need for the money far exceeded what was available.
Fresno COG received 18 applications requesting more than $17 million, nearly three times the $6 million available through the one-time Safe Routes to School funding program.
The cities of Fresno and Clovis excluded themselves from consideration, giving smaller and rural communities across Fresno County a better opportunity to compete for the limited funding.
Seven projects were ultimately selected:
- Selma: Rose Avenue and Olive Avenue Crosswalks — $644,800
- Parlier: Madsen Avenue SAFE Projects — $906,588
- Sanger: Fowler Switch Canal Pedestrian Bridge — $906,588
- Reedley: T.L. Reed Safe Routes to School Project — $906,587
- Fowler: Safe Routes to School Project — $906,587
- Mendota: Safe Routes to School Master Plan Implementation — $906,587
- Fresno County: Cantua Elementary Pedestrian Pathway — $822,263
Fresno COG Principal Planner Simran Sangha said projects were evaluated in part by how many schools they would serve and the severity of existing safety concerns.
“The projects that serve the most amount of schools and then also where the highest safety concerns, whether that’s as minimal as just dirt pathways to as far as injuries or fatalities and preventing those types of collisions and hazards,” said Sangha.
The projects include new and improved sidewalks, reconstructed crosswalks, better striping and signage, and a pedestrian bridge over the Fowler Switch Canal in Sanger.
More than half of the selected projects will also install pavement on dirt pathways, currently used by students to get to school.
Selma will receive $644,800 for improvements to crosswalks along Rose and Olive avenues.
Gomes said families can already see the types of safety improvements that can make a difference around Selma schools, including pavement markings and signage designed to make potentially hazardous areas more visible.
“Things that will normally support safety for our families as they come into school,” Gomes said. “Something you can see in all our schools right now are newly painted areas that allow parents to see where areas that are more hazardous zones.”
What happens to the projects that weren’t selected?
With 18 applications and only seven projects receiving money, 11 applications were left without funding through this round.
Sangha said Fresno COG will continue working with those cities and school districts to identify other potential sources of funding.
“A potential local transportation funding source would be another avenue,” Sangha said. “But we’ll also be working with all of these cities and the school districts alike to identify other funding, whether it’s beyond just local or state, but federal programs as well.”
The funding shortage comes as Fresno County approaches another major transportation decision.
The existing Measure C half-cent sales tax, which helps fund transportation projects throughout Fresno County, is set to expire in June 30th, 2027.
Fresno County voters are expected to consider the citizen-led Better Roads, Safe Streets transportation measure on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The proposal would continue the existing half-cent transportation sales tax for another 30 years, with funding designated for transportation needs including local road repairs, sidewalks, public transit and Safe Routes to School projects.
City of Fresno voters will also see a separate half-cent sales tax measure.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer has publicly said he supports voting for both measures, describing the city proposal as a backup in case the countywide transportation measure does not take effect.
Under the city’s proposal, if the countywide Better Roads, Safe Streets measure passes and takes effect, the city’s half-cent tax would be voided, meaning both taxes would not ultimately be imposed.
