Traffic, growth to cost county millions

Roughly $500 million worth of projects are needed to support expected growth and traffic problems in Yuba County during the next 20 years, county supervisors were told Thursday.

In the second of four general plan study sessions, county officials discussed traffic problems and possible solutions, as well as how to prepare infrastructure to support growth. The county is in the process of updating its general plan.

Among the projects discussed were a third bridge connecting Yuba and Sutter counties, a Yuba River Bypass that would filter traffic around Marysville and a Highway 65/70 connector near the Sleep Train Amphitheater.

"We understand the magnitude and cost of these projects," said Public Works Director Mike Lee. "But these are some of the challenges we are facing. Lots of other smaller projects, like widening, expansion and paving of roads, is not even on that list."

The projects, supervisors said, all involve state highways and have to involve Caltrans.

"We cannot be held responsible for projects that need to be completed by Caltrans," Supervisor Don Schrader said. "We are accepting responsibility for Caltrans' mistakes."

Supervisor Dan Logue noted "90 percent" of traffic clogging Marysville streets is coming from outside the county to work and shop.

Supervisors agreed that Caltrans should be brought into discuss future highway projects because traffic issues are a regional concern.

"It doesn't matter if we choose to be a no-grow county or if we choose to follow the anticipated growth patterns because the counties around us are growing and it is impacting us," said Supervisor John Nicoletti.

Supervisor Mary Jane Griego suggested the county's growth should focus on retail and industrial outlets in south county so that traffic does not need to cross the bridges.

"If you put services - retail, industrial and jobs - in the south county, you won't see us going over the bridges," Griego said. "Those are achievable goals. If we develop, then you'll see less traffic." Supervisor Hal Stocker said development should be tied to infrastructure growth and traffic issues.

"New development needs to pay for infrastructure in terms of highways that will serve that area," he said. "As far as other funding to support it, I don't know where that's going to come from."

Suggestions to fund transportation projects and infrastructure needs included raising developer impact fees, an increased sales tax, increased fees for aggregate trucks using the roadways and infrastructure bonds.

The third study session is scheduled for Feb. 7.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or at akoskey@appealdemocrat.com