Author: mec_access

MEDIA ADVISORY

Date: June 20, 2012

District: 6, Fresno

Contact: Jose Camarena, Veronica Murray-R&L Brosamer Inc.

Phone: (559) 488-4067 (559) 255-3722 Ext. 200 Email: jose_camarena@dot.ca.gov or vmurray@brosamer.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CALTRANS ANNOUNCES OPEN HOUSE FOR STATE ROUTE 180 BRAIDED RAMPS PROJECT TO BE HELD TOMORROW

Fresno – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in partnership with the Council of Fresno County Governments (Fresno COG), the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) and primary contractor R.L. Brosamer Inc., invite the media and public to an Open House tomorrow, Thursday, June 21st in the Hildalgo Elementary School Cafeteria located at 3550 E. Thomas, from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. (See attached map) This Open House forum will include informative displays to allow the public to learn and ask questions from Caltrans staff and Engineers regarding this project and the initial construction phase. Caltrans and R.L. Brosamer staff will be available to discuss the construction schedule and answer questions about potential impacts to residents and commuters. A Spanish Translator will also be available. The Braided Ramps Project, located along State Route 180 between State Routes 41 and 168 in the City of Fresno, will reduce traffic congestion, improve traffic operations and enhance traffic safety within freeway-to-freeway interchanges. New branch connections and two new separate structures along State Route 180 would eliminate merging and transition conflicts allowing motorists to travel safely and efficiently from one area of town to another.

Fresno – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in partnership with the Council of Fresno County Governments (Fresno COG), the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) and primary contractor R.L. Brosamer Inc., invite the media and public to an Open House tomorrow, Thursday, June 21st in the Hildalgo Elementary School Cafeteria located at 3550 E. Thomas, from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. (See attached map)

This Open House forum will include informative displays to allow the public to learn and ask questions from Caltrans staff and Engineers regarding this project and the initial construction phase. Caltrans and R.L. Brosamer staff will be available to discuss the construction schedule and answer questions about potential impacts to residents and commuters. A Spanish Translator will also be available.

The Braided Ramps Project, located along State Route 180 between State Routes 41 and 168 in the City of Fresno, will reduce traffic congestion, improve traffic operations and enhance traffic safety within freeway-to-freeway interchanges. New branch connections and two new separate structures along State Route 180 would eliminate merging and transition conflicts allowing motorists to travel safely and efficiently from one area of town to another.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 1, 2012

Contact: Rose Willems, Measure “C” Advocate (559) 681-9369 or Rose_Willems@ dot.ca.gov

Academy Ave. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

24th Annual Blossom Day Festival

March 3, 2012

(SANGER, CA) – The community is invited to join the “Grand Opening” celebration for the completion of 23-miles of the Academy Avenue Widening Project. This $32.4 million transportation project is locally-funded through the Measure C half-cent sales tax. The Fresno County Transportation Authority in partnership with the County of Fresno, the City of Sanger and the Sanger Chamber of Commerce are cutting the ribbon to the mark the completion of the 1-mile phase of Academy Avenue in the City of Sanger. Emmett’s Excavation from Clovis, CA was the contractor on this $4 million phase of construction.

The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the Academy Avenue Project will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the following speakers at the Measure C Roadshow located at 7th and “N” street:

• Judy Case, Vice Chair, Fresno County Transportation Authority
• Pastor Sam Estes, Chair-Elect, Sanger Chamber of Commerce
• Debbie Poochigian, Chair, Fresno County Board of Supervisors
• Joshua D. Mitchell, Mayor, City of Sanger
• Marcus P. Johnson, Superintendent, Sanger Unified School District

“The Fresno County Transportation Authority in partnership with the County of Fresno and the City of Sanger would like to thank residents, businesses and commuters for their patience during this much anticipated project,” said Judy Case, Vice Chair of the Fresno County Transportation Authority. “The economic impact this Corridor will have on the City of Sanger and the County as a whole is one we look forward to and can attribute to Fresno County’s Measure C half-cent sales tax program.”

The 24th Annual Blossom Day Festival, Run and Car Show will draw thousands during the one-day event held in Downtown Sanger. The Festival is a Valley favorite that’s packed full of arts and crafts, kid’s activities, food booths, a car show and races for all ages. Many visitors enjoy the 62-mile self-guided Fresno County Blossom Trail, where they see the beautiful blossoms from the stone fruit and nut trees in Sanger and the surrounding areas in southeast Fresno County.

Event Festivities Include:

• Blossom Trail Races with over 1,500 participants (beginning at 7:30 a.m.)
• Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Academy Avenue Widening Project (9:30 a.m.)
• Live Entertainment from Sanger Unified School District (11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., & 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.).
• Car Show Awards (2:30 p.m.) • Arts and Crafts (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) • Food Booths (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
• Blood Mobile (11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 7th & “N”) • Sanger Library Book Sale (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
• Sanger Depot Museum (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) MEDIA PARKING: Behind Measure C Roadshow located off Academy Avenue at 8th & “N”.

Date: September 22, 2011

Contact: Rose Willems, Measure “C” Advocate (559) 251-6709 or Rose_Willems@ dot.ca.gov

MOTORISTS ADVISORY State Route 180 Construction Update AVOID SR-180 1-HOUR DELAYS Wednesday, September 28

WHAT: In order to OPEN all lanes to motorists on the SR-180 Expressway by 7pm on September 28, flaggers will be at every intersection and stopping traffic at various locations on SR-180 from Temperance Avenue to Quality Avenue performing multiple construction activities that will impact motorists, including: striping operations; activating new signal lights, and installing new directional signs. Motorists are advised to use DETOUR and may experience up to 1-hour DELAYS through the 6-mile Construction Zone.

WHEN: 8AM to 7PM on Wednesday, September 28, weather permitting.

DETOUR: All motorists are advised to use Belmont or Jensen Avenues to avoid the Construction Zone and use Temperance, McCall or Academy Avenues to travel north or southbound from SR-180.

SCHEDULE: This $30 million project is locally funded by Fresno County’s half-cent Transportation Sales Tax, “Measure C” & was leveraged with Federal Stimulus Money. It is scheduled for completion in October of 2011, weather permitting

QUESTIONS: For additional information on this project, please contact: Rose at 251-6709/email: Rose_Willems@dot.ca.gov or Gloria Rodriguez at 444-2409/email: Gloria_Rodriguez@dot.ca.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY

Date: September 22, 2011

Contact: Rose Willems

Phone: (559) 251-6709

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRESNO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES STATE ROUTE 180 EAST KINGS CANYON EXPRESSWAY RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD @ 10:00 A.M.

The Fresno County Transportation Authority, the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Teichert Construction will celebrate the completion of the first segment of the State Route (SR) 180 East Kings Canyon Expressway Project on Friday, September 23rd at 10:00 a.m.

The public is invited to attend a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to be held on the newly built eastbound lanes of DeWolf Avenue and State Route 180 intersection. This project received $18.4 million in stimulus funding from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The Kings Canyon Expressway Segment 1, built at a total cost of $67.6 million, extends SR-180 eastward, on a new six-mile, four-lane expressway from Temperance Avenue to Quality Avenue. This project is a partnership between the Fresno County Transportation Authority, Caltrans and the Fresno Council of Governments. In addition to Recovery Act dollars, funding was provided by federal demonstration funds and local Measure “C” sales tax funds.

Event speakers will include: Mistress of Ceremony, Judy Case; Vice Chair, Fresno County Transportation Authority; Malcolm X. Dougherty, Caltrans Acting Director; Linda Halderman, Assembly member-District 29; Darius Assemi, Commissioner, California Transportation Commission; Phil Larson, Chairman, Fresno County Board of Supervisor’s; Amarpreet Dhaliwal, Chair, Fresno Council of Governments; Joshua Mitchell, Mayor of Sanger; Bruce Batti, Chairman, Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce; Steve Badilla, Assistant Chief, California Highway Patrol-Fresno Area.

COMMUTER ALERT

Date: September 6, 2011

Contact: Rose Willems, Measure “C” Advocate (559) 251-6709 or Rose_Willems@ dot.ca.gov

State Route 180 Construction Update: Academy Avenue OPENS Thursday

WHAT: Academy Avenue south of the intersection of SR-180 OPENS to motorists. Construction of SR-180 will continue from Temperance Avenue to Quality Avenue through the end of September.

WHEN: Academy Avenue will OPEN at 10:00 AM on Thursday, September 8, weather permitting.

SCHEDULE: This $27 million project is locally funded by Fresno County’s ½ cent Transportation Sales Tax, “Measure C” & was leveraged with Federal Stimulus Money. It is scheduled for completion by the end of September, weather permitting

QUESTIONS: For additional information on this project, please contact: Rose at 251-6709/email: Rose_Willems@dot.ca.gov or Gloria Rodriguez at 444-2409/email: Gloria_Rodriguez@dot.ca.gov

COMMUTER ALERT

Date: June 21, 2010

Contact: Rose Willems, Measure “C” Advocate (559) 251-6709 or Rose_Willems@ dot.ca.gov

State Route 180 Construction Update: 45-Day Closure of McCall Avenue

WHAT: McCall Avenue will be CLOSED to all through traffic at the intersection of Kings Canyon Road/SR-180 as part of the on-going construction of SR-180 from Temperance Avenue to Academy Avenue, in Fresno County.

WHEN: This CLOSURE will be in place Monday, June 28 and remain in place for the next 45-days, weather permitting.

DETOUR: All motorists are advised to use Belmont or Jensen Avenues to avoid the Construction Zone and use Temperance or Academy Avenues to travel north or southbound from SR-180.

SCHEDULE: This $27 million project is locally funded by Fresno County’s ½ cent Transportation Sales Tax, “Measure C” & was leveraged with Federal Stimulus Money. It is scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2011, weather permitting

QUESTIONS: For additional information on this project, please contact: Rose at 251-6709/email: Rose_Willems@dot.ca.gov or Gloria Rodriguez at 444-2409/email: Gloria_Rodriguez@dot.ca.gov

Date: May 11, 2010

District: 6 – Fresno

Contact: Jose Camarena, Caltrans

Phone: (559) 488-4067

Or

Brenda Lauchner, Fresno COG

(559) 233-4148, ext. 219. www.measurec.com or www.fresnocog.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FINAL FUNDING SECURED FOR “BRAIDED RAMPS” PROJECT IN FRESNO METROPOLITAN AREA

Fresno – Today, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in partnership with the Council of Fresno County Governments (Fresno COG) and the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) announced $55 million in newly secured funding which will bring mobility improvements to State Route (SR) 180 between SR’s 41 and 168.

Commuters in the Fresno Metropolitan Area are more than familiar with traffic along State Route (SR) 180 between SR’s 41 and 168.  Daily traffic congestion and delays during morning and evening commutes are caused by vehicles merging onto SR180 from SR41 and/or SR168, and the traffic already on SR 180.  Converging streams of commuters become entwined in a dance of braking, dodging, darting vehicles that is enough to rattle even the most experienced driver’s nerves.

“Caltrans is working hand-in-hand with Fresno’s COG and the FCTA to ensure tax dollars are utilized quickly and responsibly to help stimulate our local economy, reduce congestion and further invest in Fresno County’s transportation infrastructure,” said Caltrans District 6 Director Malcolm X. Dougherty.

The Braided Ramps Project, which will receive $55 million in funding from Caltrans’ State Highway Operation & Protection Program (SHOPP) and an additional $14.5 million from Fresno County’s Measure C, will reduce traffic congestion and delays along this system of interlocking freeways by eliminating as many merging and transition conflicts as possible in order to get motorists safely and efficiently from one area of town to another.

Trinidad Rodriguez, Fresno COG Policy Board Chairman, stated, “This is yet another example of projects being delivered faster thanks to Fresno Voters and Measure C sales tax dollars. Thanks to this effort $55 million is now available for other regional transportation projects, and the Braided Ramps Project will likely be completed years ahead of our original schedule making this Ground Zero for Mobility in Fresno County”

March 12, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: John Downs Fresno Council of Governments City of Fresno (559) 621-1502 john.downs@fresno.gov

Public meetings set to gather input on transit plans

FRESNO – Fresno Area Express (FAX) and the City of Fresno are planning to apply for a federal grant of up to $40 million to improve transit along two key corridors, and public input on the plan is needed. Three meetings, all covering the same information, will be held to gather that public input:

• Wednesday, April 1, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Caltrans Yosemite Meeting Room (Room 145), Manchester Mall, 2015 E. Shields Ave. at Blackstone

• Thursday, April 2, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. outside Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno St. at P Street, and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. inside City Hall in Room 2125

• Wednesday, April 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Sunnyside High School Cafeteria, 1019 S. Peach Ave., Fresno.

The Federal Transit Administration (Very Small Start) grant would help fund improvements that decrease bus travel times, increase frequency of service and add passenger amenities at key stops. The corridors are East Ventura Avenue/East Kings Canyon Road and North Blackstone Avenue. In addition, street modifications are being considered, such as dedication of traffic or parking lanes to transit on Ventura/Kings Canyon and redesign of major intersections on Ventura/Kings Canyon and Blackstone. At each meeting, FAX staff will be available to answer questions and then will make a brief presentation, followed by an open comment period for the public. Comments can be made in writing during the meeting, or by calling FAX at 621-RIDE. Translators and refreshments will be available. Any person with a disability requiring an accommodation should contact The Lockwood Agency at 733-3737 at least two working days in advance of the meeting so that accommodations can be arranged. For more information on these meetings, visit Fresno.gov/FAX or Fresnocog.org

COMMUTER ALERT

Date: January 30, 2009

Contact: Rose Willems, Measure “C” Advocate Phone: (559) 251-6105 or Rose_Willems@dot.ca.gov

2-WEEK CLOSURE OF TEMPERANCE AVENUE STATE ROUTE 180 EAST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

WHAT: A 2-Week CLOSURE of Temperance Avenue between Kings Canyon Road and Tulare Avenue begins Wednesday, February 4, 2009. A posted DETOUR will be in effect.

WHEN: February 4, 2009 through February 18, 2009 WHY: Removal of false-work at the Temperance Avenue Overcrossing & a heavy equipment, dirt hauling operation across Temperance Avenue.

WHERE: State Route 180 East Construction Project Limits; Clovis Avenue to Locan Avenue in Fresno County. The Fresno County Transportation Authority, (FCTA) in partnership with the Department of Transportation, (Caltrans) reminds motorists to Slow for the Cone Zone and thanks the residents, businesses and commuters for their patience during this 2 ½-year construction project. This transportation project is locally funded through our “Measure C”, ½ cent sales tax program and is currently ahead of schedule with an opening date of Fall 2009. For further project information, please contact Rose Willems, Measure “C” Advocate at 251-6105, Eric Alvarez, Caltrans Public Information Officer at 488-4248 or visit our website at: www.MeasureC.com