North Main Street once you get north of Alameda Street has not been a safe area for pedestrians.
In the past three years alone, two pedestrians have been killed and four others struck while trying to cross the street.
The proposed City of Manteca budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 has a new project to address pedestrian safety on North Main Street from Alameda Street to Northgate Drive.
The $181.3 million overall spending plan also includes funds to reduce traffic congestion on the West Yosemite Avenue corridor from Main Street to Walnut Avenue.
The City Council will review the preliminary budget that includes $45.1 million worth of capital improvements when they meet Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.
The $2.1 million North Main Street will install raised medians that will be placed in key locations on the wide arterial that includes four travel lanes, a continuous left turn lane and parking on both sides of the street in a number of locations. Medians placed to make it easier for pedestrians to cross North Main Street will have fencing as well. The medians are being installed to reduce accidents involving pedestrians as well as vehicle collissions.
Bike lanes will also be installed as well as enhanced pedestrian crossings. Traffic signal detector loops at Louise Avenue and Main Street will also be modified.
The Yosemite Avenue project will include installing a continuous two-way left turn lane from a point west of the train tracks to Walnut Street as well as bike lanes without reducing the width of the travel lane. That will allow people to make left turns without backing up traffic as well as reduce the likelihood of collisions. This is likely to require the elimination of street parking on the impacted stretch.
A pedestrian crossing will be installed at an uncontrolled intersection while existing crosswalks will be enhanced and improved curb ramps installed.
The $45.1 million in capital improvement endeavors includes projects that are actually breaking ground, are having preparation work such as plans and studies conducted or are having funded added to finish up work that started in the current fiscal year ending June 30.
The biggest project is $30.4 million for the diverging diamond interchange being built at Union Road and the 120 Bypass. Other major projects include building a Manteca Transit bus facility for $3.1 million, the public works facility consolidation for $1.4 million, and the alternate energy project for the wastewater treatment plant.
There are a number of projects you won’t see such as replacement water and sewer lines. There are things such as replacing three solid waste collection trucks at $458,000 apiece, and small projects such as upgrading the Morezone Baseball Field infield for $82,500. It also includes funds such as $100,000 to assess city hall needs as a prerequisite of planning for a new building.
While the general fund that covers the day-to-day expenses of running the city such as providing for police, fire, and park services comes to $46 million, the overall proposed budget of $181 million covers services provided by ratepayers such as solid waste, water and sewer as well as restricted funds for transportation upgrades and such.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
