By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Ripon seeks money to upgrade River & N. Ripon intersection
north ripon
The River Road and North Ripon Road Intersection Improvement project will be part of the One Voice Advocacy Trip 2021.

 

The Ripon City Council voted Tuesday to move the North Ripon Road/River Road intersection improvement project over that of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District Water Supply as the "Local Priority Project" for the upcoming San Joaquin One Voice Advocacy trip.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 One Voice trip will be conducted virtually.

"Once in April and once in May — it will be different than the previous years," said City Administrator Kevin Werner.

In the last few years, he and one of the local elected leaders served as advocates not just for Ripon projects but also important regional projects and regional transportation policies. Council voted to do that once again as well as approve the Ripon Multimodal station as the "Regional Transportation Project."

Mayor Daniel de Graaf expressed an interest in going to in-person One Voice Advocacy Trip scheduled for now from Oct. 18 through 21 in Washington, D.C.

Each year, the San Joaquin Council of Governments request submittals from the participating cities for the One Voice trip.

For Ripon, the Multi Modal station has been an important part of those plans going forward — not only will the rail station, once completed, serve as a regional ACE station, but could enhance economic vitality to downtown while adding to the improvement of air quality, Werner said in his report.

The City has already purchased the property near the old Nestles tower and has received several funding sources. "We still have a funding gap estimated at about $7 million," Werner noted.

Elected leaders, meanwhile, pointed out that the SSJID Water Supply project has been "a waste of time,"

The North Ripon Road/River Road intersection has been described as "glorified stop signs with an island in the middle."

This area was a sticking point due to traffic-related and safety issues concerns when Council and the Planning Commission voted against a gas station project in recent months.

"It's an issue," said Councilman Leo Zuber, who added that getting any sort of funding just to get a study going on this intersection would be a great start.

"This is a safety issue and a regional issue," Councilman Mike Restuccia said.

The One Voice program can provide that platform to effectively advocate for policy and regulatory reform, and possibly fund projects that bring economic prosperity and improve transportation choices and / or infrastructure.