[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6558162,"mediaKeyId","3275690-f9e55c0a23ca31dcb434bca6e9eaf7cc","parentId",3275690,"title","Caltrans updates District 6 and 9 project timelines, signals summer starts for several Kern County jobs","audioSeconds",496,"startMs",2593000,"endMs",3089000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275690-f9e55c0a23ca31dcb434bca6e9eaf7cc&start=2593&end=3089","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275690-f9e55c0a23ca31dcb434bca6e9eaf7cc/thumbnail_2593000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6558162/Kern-County/California/Caltrans-updates-District-6-and-9-project-timelines-signals-summer-starts-for-several-Kern-County-jobs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558162-0106cc03b3a0bfe5134d0a265f883dcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1774882528&Signature=iD-pGRcaBg1A5gwiwxLNr1BrbswQYa8iWYILb3AIM1dHlldZgXEagR-DMT9ifXapEOqyK8ziRtfD7NN5S~cdNN5r41lj90Kbe-Ruew1OjbayKzvw1FShEiZms-yucAzUjSh42UyhxX-U3EhpeYGd9EzeWDlC-uuKQCS3xB96F6WP5yKDJERbSNrNXe9qJpbI-SjoXw2xwuXmaHOVRsXyJ1Qo~uXNdq0YSiUaum6A4Q1Ns1RVEtKsxzVfzADnoGePhS5fFvGsLukDgjuSJZ~u1hByRlv7iwwmR6Q49p27fKya9PbCWRy3dY01mL25oFcR~ZoK15v4zKFQHm9wk0V2sA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-12T21:29:19Z","article","Shane Gunn, acting deputy district director for Caltrans District 6, provided an update to the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee on statewide and local projects, construction milestones and grant opportunities.

Why it matters: Caltrans project schedules and permitting constraints shape local traffic impacts, right‑of‑way efforts and short‑term construction planning across Kern County.

Key District 6 updates Gunn reported:
- Southbound State Route 99 to westbound State Route 58 connector ramp: team is working toward the 30% PS&E milestone scheduled for the end of the month.
- Bakersfield Freeway Connector (Route 58 to 99): facilities are open to traffic and the project is about 95% complete; final punch‑list work is expected so the team still targets fall 2025 for project closeout.
- SR‑58 CAPM (post miles 59–77): project at 30% P&ED with P&ED completion anticipated by winter of the year.
- California Aqueduct (Route 166) bridge rehab: contract awarded to Granite Construction; Caltrans is awaiting encroachment permits from the Department of Water Resources (DWR); target construction start is July or August with completion hoped for next summer, Gunn said.
- Several rehabilitation and CAPM projects (Bakersfield 99 Rehab South, Maricopa CAPM, Pumpkin Center 3R, Kern 33 rehab north of McKittrick) have staged P&ED, right‑of‑way or construction milestones scheduled through 2025 and into 2026.

Gunn also announced grant and program notices: the U.S. DOT Safe Streets for All Notice of Funding Opportunity was live with applications accepted through June 26; Gunn offered district support and said, “If required, we would be happy to provide, issue a letter of support, at the district level. And if you're interested in doing that, please reach out to me.”

District 9 updates: A District 9 representative (Miss Carr) reported that a new Tehachapi maintenance station will have a ribbon‑cutting May 6, and that recently completed lighting replacements and barrier repairs on multiple segments of SR‑58 and US‑395 were wrapping up. Carr listed near‑term work at Tehachapi Pass, crack sealing, lane closures and local utility pull maintenance and noted the district compiled a comment matrix for the OWP that was sent to District 6 in March.

Questions and follow‑up: Committee member Gilbert Reyna asked for more information and a link about Safe Streets funding; Gunn replied he would provide the requested materials. No formal actions were taken on project updates during the meeting.

Provenance: The Caltrans report opened with the item label “Caltrans report, District 6” and closed when a presenter stated, “that is the end of the updates from Caltrans.”

Ending: Committee members thanked Caltrans staff and were invited to contact district staff for additional project and funding details; several projects noted will require further permitting and right‑of‑way steps before construction can begin.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) April 17, 2025 Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Shane Gunn, acting deputy district director for Caltrans District 6, briefed the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee on project milestones including the SR‑99 southbound to SR‑58 westbound connector ramp, which is working toward a 30% PS&E milestone.","taxTitle","Kern County, California","taxId",2913,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6558168,"Kern County survey: life‑satisfaction dips; homelessness, crime and housing affordability top resident concerns",1811,185000,1996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275690-f9e55c0a23ca31dcb434bca6e9eaf7cc&start=185&end=1996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275690-f9e55c0a23ca31dcb434bca6e9eaf7cc/thumbnail_185000.jpg","/articles/6558168/Kern-County/California/Kern-County-survey-lifesatisfaction-dips-homelessness-crime-and-housing-affordability-top-resident-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558168-2aa581c5f12e9209f41c7dc1b5819835/orig.mp4?Expires=1774882528&Signature=cAeyIq8t0v5SVqoGPVnd~ifXnX2lJoAQ3sltCQkvfyz0~8~I-k4kxNyNMlRYrRLf8wjXmJAlxqRcADi-LEm9CRgqZs3Ge3AmpZlslluqqe1DB~CBn3JVfAbUVdDjlpugk91rXEyV4jDML~bnc19NteqTuzuHOoqAYGWlwtzqt4kYH~sFXhITyOfJm9ZGOZCRPxql7Oa2jKQQiaR0f70VdfP795~XKXI4NvRsln3eExBikpNzhSuJpwj~uzCVLGlr3Jial7RE8FIoTFl2G991uZSsEBLD4dc0fzs1o0XAzoBiY03t-a03oNfueEcgiVHryH0DheWXfRS~gH8WaR6PEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Godby, a consultant presenting survey results to the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee, said the survey completed 1,400 interviews and had a margin of error of about ±2.62%.

The survey found that when respondents who were “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with their community are combined, 57.8% reported satisfaction with quality of life in 2025, down from 66.3% the prior year but up from 56% in 2023, Godby said. He also reported long‑term trends stretching back to the program’s start in 2008.

Why it matters: the poll measures resident priorities that local and regional planners use to shape transportation, housing and public‑services planning across Kern County.

The presenter summarized what residents like most: a ‘‘small‑town atmosphere’’ (about 40% of responses), cost of living (34%), sense of community (31%) and location (30%). On the negative side, respondents most often named homelessness as the top problem; other rising concerns included crime rates, air quality, gang activity, job opportunities, housing affordability and lack of community resources such as hospitals and social services.

On transportation, nearly eight in 10 respondents reported driving alone as their primary commute mode (about 79%). Godby reported that weekly commute distance was frequently in the 0–100 miles range (roughly 58% of respondents), which the presenter noted implies many Bakersfield‑area commuters have one‑way trips in the low‑to‑mid tens of miles when typical midpoints are assumed.

Telecommuting figures: Godby told the committee that combining responses across questions yields about 20% of the population telecommuting to some degree in 2025. Among telecommuters, most (about 56% of that subgroup) telecommute three to five days per week. Telecommuters most often cited greater productivity as their primary reason for working from home; cost savings and reduced driving followed.

The survey also asked about commercial truck traffic and recent warehouse development. A plurality of respondents (about 58%) said truck traffic had increased in the prior three years; when asked why, the top responses were construction on roads and freeways (24%), increased delivery demand (20%) and local Amazon fulfillment or distribution activity (19%). Asked about the effect of new warehouse facilities built in the last three years, 41% said they were a net benefit (new jobs and increased tax revenue), 12% said a net negative (traffic and safety/road‑repair costs), and 35% said mixed effects.

On fees and road funding, a majority of respondents (about 52%) supported higher vehicle registration fees for commercial trucks to offset road repair costs. In a separate question about electric vehicles, roughly 46% said EV owners should pay higher registration fees to offset lost gas tax revenue; about 20% said EVs should receive discounted registration fees as an incentive to buy EVs.

Housing findings: 55% of respondents reported they own their home and 36% rent. Sixty‑plus percent of respondents currently live in single‑family homes (large or small yard), with 43% reporting a single‑family home with a large yard and 37% a single‑family home with a small yard. When asked whether they would consider shared‑lot housing or duplexes, 35% of all respondents said yes; among homeowners asked if they would consider adding a second dwelling unit or converting to a duplex, 36% said yes and 41% said no. Godby flagged that the share saying they would consider second units has risen from the high‑20s in earlier survey years to the mid‑30s now.

Committee discussion and data access: Committee members asked clarifying questions about trends in sense of community, natural‑resource responses and the new weekly‑mileage question introduced in this year’s survey. Godby noted the survey includes extensive cross‑tabulations by gender, age, ethnicity and region; the full report and community surveys will be posted on the COG website soon and the final report will be available within days to a week following the meeting.

Provenance: The presentation began when Godby introduced the survey and screen‑shared the results and concluded when he said, “And that concludes the survey data that we have to show you this evening.”

Ending: Committee members acknowledged the data and said staff and local agencies would use the findings to inform outreach and project planning; staff did not take any formal action on the presentation itself.","Brian Godby, a consultant presenting survey results to the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee, said the survey completed 1,400 interviews and had a margin of error of about ±2.62%.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6558158,"Votes at a glance: committee approves consent agendas by roll call",1096,2552000,3648000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275690-f9e55c0a23ca31dcb434bca6e9eaf7cc&start=2552&end=3648","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275690-f9e55c0a23ca31dcb434bca6e9eaf7cc/thumbnail_2552000.jpg","/articles/6558158/Kern-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-approves-consent-agendas-by-roll-call","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558158-a569f9faa258019fbd4b42518689557e/orig.mp4?Expires=1774882528&Signature=m7i4A1CED~e2QD3ikqZN~Na5cXyXIvUDUevVnMNQrlvCuy1OSbxYG2WHYxrcwN0uEBt1IpNiwZ0uC7wDQ2sfK7-kHp-c0~wKM6ao3TJx6bCzhMf-Ytobqbf-Lxgxovw5ibeCUiprqvYK5yi-GN3ZUlT4feKoeH3TQphVcU2mqmaZ7SPHpefdRxNLb31hSMQXMv-ERREkqfDvKgXgZ5JXbFY2s1Ezw0eSVXA0WIQhMLiVbZGsceIsyPG387ZCsdSBUOOLvZ9i7IdhHVq7-7i6jmGs2nCAsd4JcwcHeOOKT4yNDWa0c2vzRkHM8bLX70DlkaMaQ53l-C21JkUDMNiJdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee approved items on two consent agendas during the meeting by single motions and roll‑call votes. Committee members did not pull any items for separate consideration.

First motion: Committee staff described the items as routine and noncontroversial; a member moved to approve the consent agenda and another member seconded. The chair called a roll call vote; the following named members voted yes: Carr, Couch, Gorman, Hawkins, Parra, Reyna, Bob Smith, Phil Smith, Solorio Ruiz and Anne Morne. The motion carried and the consent agenda items were approved.

Second motion: Later in the session the committee again moved the consent agenda and took a roll call vote. The following named members voted yes: Couch, Gorman, Hawkins, Reyna, Bob Smith, Phil Smith and Solorio Ruiz. The motion carried and the consent agenda items were approved.

No votes were recorded in the transcript as opposed, abstained or recused, and no items were removed for separate discussion during either consent vote.

Provenance: The meeting transcript shows the first consent motion introduced and passed with roll‑call responses beginning at about 42 minutes into the audio and the second consent motion passed later in the session with roll call recorded near the end of the meeting.

Ending: Committee business proceeded after the votes; no additional action on consent agenda items was taken in the meeting.","The Transportation Planning Policy Committee approved its consent agendas in two roll‑call votes during the session; both motions were approved unanimously by members present and no items were pulled for separate consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Caltrans updates District 6 and 9 project timelines, signals summer starts for several Kern County jobs

Kern County survey: life‑satisfaction dips; homelessness, crime and housing affordability top resident concerns

Votes at a glance: committee approves consent agendas by roll call