The five workshops along Folsom Boulevard, from Watt to Hazel, are a joint effort of Sacramento County, Rancho Cordova and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). The workshops not only bring together many local agencies to work with residents, they leverage two important grants. Keep reading to learn more about the grants.

Sacramento County was awarded funding from the Strategic Growth Council to facilitate the State of California Safe Drinking Water Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84) for planning activities that reduces energy consumption, conserves water, improves air and water quality, and provides other community benefits. The County’s strategy for meeting this goal is to create an Implementation Plan that focuses on supporting transit-oriented development (TOD) at five Transit Priority Areas (TPA) on the Sacramento Regional Transit Gold Line. The plan will focus on improving access for pedestrians and bicyclists by identifying where bike lanes and sidewalks are inadequate or non-existent; and will also identify utility infrastructure needs (sewer, water, drainage) that will be necessary to accommodate transit-oriented development. The grant work will engage the community in discussing barriers to walking and using transit and also inform residents of the related health benefits walking and transit oriented development can provide.

SACOG was awarded a grant from the Federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities. The Partnership includes the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Environmental Protection Agency. The grant has multiple goals including engaging residents to build more complete communities and understanding the benefits of and supporting transit-oriented development. The grant funds also supported the development of the Sacramento Region Sustainable Communities Consortium. This resident-based group works together on implementing and supporting sustainable growth in their communities. To join the Consortium or learn more, visit the website.

These efforts also help implement the region’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy by focusing on the five Transit Priority Areas. This work is designed to help streamline the permitting process and facilitate certain types of infill development and investment to meet transportation, housing and greenhouse gas reduction goals. It will also give our region practical examples of how to create complete communities near light rail stations and bus stops with planned frequent service.