[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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",6747146,"mediaKeyId","5489222-29fc2efc711d034bbbde5738c758434a","parentId",5489222,"title","Caltrans updates show progress on Keane pavement, SR‑178 work and grant timelines; Kern projects await corridor plan","audioSeconds",447,"startMs",285000,"endMs",732000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489222-29fc2efc711d034bbbde5738c758434a&start=285&end=732","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489222-29fc2efc711d034bbbde5738c758434a/thumbnail_285000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6747146/Kern-County/California/Caltrans-updates-show-progress-on-Keane-pavement-SR178-work-and-grant-timelines-Kern-projects-await-corridor-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747146-6493f6d49c0b81a602f3c5f7cacc228b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999625&Signature=WxZVa0pyZvBZprnOhSsVQ2kFI1AlG3xEvVkijBF07tCXMzpY1zC03hfkmUEWB3Zd-IKCophv1VVrOSHTQ-BJEKNdvJvW98TQZZ0Yfxoc9yIu0~5GRbyVH9l6o07kS2TD4aUmRsuRyMmT~hyQx5yt-ueLXdFFDWNAjXymH6osNJFp5nDSI-yVj2-VBxMDvOsvpAWE6FgLD-3gDYtgYKHlZuFl4fd~MgUzFUOnwc-FavaYiijfaejOiVkTYMGl8rpVY0dt4MN8yvmn8RPFVLKiQFrczTiShakGcGMtmvTBQ43Lcd5XEtnxsWopNehBqCWhMsi68qE~8ljoa5XMkc7iog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-28T21:54:17Z","article","Caltrans representatives told the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee (TPPC) that work on multiple highway and pedestrian projects across Kern County is advancing but that several items remain on time-sensitive schedules and permit tracks.

\"We've reached 60% design on that project,\" Caltrans staff said of the Keane pavement project, and added construction began April 28 with a tentative completion date of Aug. 1. The Caltrans representative said the program also includes slab replacements and median safety work associated with the project.

The district reported several traffic impacts on State Route 178 in Ridgecrest and the Bakersfield area, including sewer line tie-ins on SR‑178 east from Coso Avenue to Ridgecrest Boulevard that require intermittent lane closures, a closure of the left-turn lane at Drummond Avenue while a city paves the street, and shoulder work between US‑395 and Third Street that will close the westbound shoulder Tuesday through Thursday.

Caltrans also announced a 5310 call for projects: applications were released on June 30, a virtual application webinar is scheduled for July 30, technical consultations are planned for mid‑August, and the application deadline is Sept. 3.

On regional planning, a Caltrans District 6 representative said the 99 comprehensive multimodal corridor plan — delayed earlier by modeling issues — is expected to be released for stakeholder review by the end of this month or early next month. The district noted staffing has stabilized after recent changes and that the USDOT BUILD round 2 awards announced recently included only one California project in Placer County; Kern County applications were not selected in that round.

The district-level updates also covered a long list of individual project statuses: permit submittals for Wasco pedestrian beacons (one permit expected to issue within two weeks from a July update), the Bakersfield 99/58 connector (funded with $39.9 million in TCEP awarded at the June CTC meeting), completed rehabilitation on White Lane (accepted June 23), scheduling updates on Delano SR‑155 rehab, ongoing constructability reviews, and projects in punch-list or suspension stages pending subcontractor work or utility completion.

Board members raised local safety concerns about two overpasses on State Route 58 in Tehachapi (Mill Street and Dennison Road), noting guardrails are low and pedestrian traffic has increased near a hospital and new businesses. Supervisor Parlier asked Caltrans to treat any railing or screening improvement as a safety priority, and asked to be kept informed of follow-up with city staff.

A board member also asked Caltrans to standardize graffiti‑removal paint colors used on state structures in Bakersfield; Caltrans said it would relay that request to the district maintenance deputy, John Liu.

The Caltrans representative invited follow-up questions and committed to additional permit and schedule updates to staff who requested them.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) July 17, 2025 Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Caltrans representatives told the Kern Council of Governments TPPC that work on multiple highway and pedestrian projects across Kern County is advancing but that several items remain on time‑sensitive schedules and permit tracks.","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},6747131,"COG legal counsel advises caution on meeting invocation; board will consider options later",310,2301000,2611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489222-29fc2efc711d034bbbde5738c758434a&start=2301&end=2611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489222-29fc2efc711d034bbbde5738c758434a/thumbnail_2301000.jpg","/articles/6747131/Kern-County/California/COG-legal-counsel-advises-caution-on-meeting-invocation-board-will-consider-options-later","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747131-ba17806fa4c7d917cd8e5f227e6b5ed4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999625&Signature=NkVtPoOmeZlDyeSopWdydvruDLLn~foaReBS7MVxc2CzoXlbOhGCHUha-8IvKA5TS9tHN-VYZayKNvjoacmMawGql8RaZwmHZFuciQhi89XDwHsSsucoNqhkoxtGqz9SGLSZvOSxkEouhzOD6R4sL61NqMD2GSJjLpzXjC1uqO4~YhkODFHXB4MEWMNZBq~YbJk0NtHf4H9dUvcdHEQdZDz8T~lbC7w4IodKv8Lk02VEggQkOgnTll2cOcynQ2aeuPkWu2VPVZ5-3rc4iDcTXM58smHFsi56c7yFoEh6NcB1HxtodCc5nYW9Qxriz3BQOaEWRwl1X5vo5u9Fhge9ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legal counsel told the Kern Council of Governments board that adopting an invocation or prayer to begin meetings implicates First Amendment law and can produce civil‑rights litigation costs if not carefully implemented.

\"The biggest thing that you need to be aware of is that whatever you did choose to adopt ... it very clearly has to be nonsectarian,\" counsel said, noting the requirement not to advance or disparage any particular religion and the need for nondiscrimination policies to be consistent with any invocation practice.

Board members expressed differing views. One member said the meeting is not the right venue and cited Matthew 6:6 as a reason to avoid a public invocation; another member said an invocation could bring calm, unity and guidance and urged the board to consider it. The executive director said staff would prepare several agendized options for the board to consider and bring the item back for a formal decision.

No policy change was adopted at the meeting.","Legal counsel advised the Kern COG board that invitations to open meetings with a prayer or invocation raise First Amendment issues and litigation risk and recommended any invocation be nonsectarian; board members expressed mixed views and staff said it would return with agendized options.",{"_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},6747136,"COG board raises questions about $16.1M USDA-backed Lake Isabella senior housing posting; board acknowledges clearinghouse notice",389,1446000,1835000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489222-29fc2efc711d034bbbde5738c758434a&start=1446&end=1835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489222-29fc2efc711d034bbbde5738c758434a/thumbnail_1446000.jpg","/articles/6747136/Kern-County/California/COG-board-raises-questions-about-161M-USDA-backed-Lake-Isabella-senior-housing-posting-board-acknowledges-clearinghouse-notice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747136-6ed1ccf39ac88ddeea43741ceec92ba9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999625&Signature=YkEy-JnZufekgXwdu9zmIH9LkVZPma-NsHrg2uY43hZ1EV1P7QI-jxsfV7fprY0ifdFC-1X0IsJMfs2GWppwqslS~9PFZHJkP0cY8shIiCZ5TRacpBPdsoo2FdE~VjNuKwVu557FgMdXDkQ0ULDvKXQILnSL-1xipIstamYL7hX0WMCNNFbTIYKDN7UsLWo2AR8nOWDQMuA6resJV0DcCscSP3oP66uHyHLfEbxSZUmLIoT2T~8Bmdouq4AvOk2r-EiGTakNHfzG37Y625J3RybGHw-kT4I4SR-q1IVk6quzNFDHPsK2Mp54QvCDc03q~2oD3DDyVm-GyRY2qSF6pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members pulled a local clearinghouse notice from the consent agenda to question incomplete application details for a proposed USDA‑backed acquisition and rehabilitation of a senior apartment facility in Lake Isabella.

Staff explained the COG acts as a designated local clearinghouse whose role is limited to posting state notices and that the state clearinghouse and USDA would be the proper recipients for comments. The executive director told the board he reviewed the application materials and that the USDA filing appeared to propose federal funds for purchase and rehabilitation of an existing senior apartment property.

Board members said the application lacked sufficient supporting attachments and requested more information. One board member recited figures from the application packet: a total project value listed at approximately $16,100,000, an applicant contribution of $329,000, program income of $1,100,000, and other funding of $5,666,000. The member said those numbers raised questions about whether a for‑profit purchaser was receiving a large public subsidy without clearer documentation of uses and scope.

Staff recommended that the board is not approving the loan or project but is acknowledging receipt of the clearinghouse notice. The board moved, seconded and approved a motion to receive and acknowledge the posting; staff said they would investigate whether a public link or contact information could be provided to the board and the public and reiterated that comments on the federal loan should be directed to USDA.

No formal approval of funding or transfer of property occurred at the meeting.","Board members removed a local clearinghouse item from consent to ask why a USDA loan/rehabilitation application for a Lake Isabella senior apartment complex lacked detail. The clearinghouse posting was acknowledged by the COG board; staff said the agency's role is to post notices and that comments should be directed to USDA or the applicant.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6747141,"New COG executive director highlights $39.9M TCEP award, TDA reimbursements and RTP outreach mini‑grants",1197,1036000,2233000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489222-29fc2efc711d034bbbde5738c758434a&start=1036&end=2233","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489222-29fc2efc711d034bbbde5738c758434a/thumbnail_1036000.jpg","/articles/6747141/Kern-County/California/New-COG-executive-director-highlights-399M-TCEP-award-TDA-reimbursements-and-RTP-outreach-minigrants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747141-af0a99ea12b39f6aace972892d0141e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999625&Signature=oGc~MEdbINDHvFE74wXiysELc1uGCSgnHe~iwwmpeAOqsx5gvkGBeFTEFMfUx2C~OcS7MtXB1ZOFd~1en2GdFbDqMFtbm7Mfb~ywTgq-jQPhIIQQ-cMuw4eENZrsCqarwCWaIENYjtR6UgqMIeHtJ0pyrGcpmSRrkw07YCYbVNVc2uHO7tUC75vS8wpSKMSJ02JUVGcFbGdPKXJ5wBr1T~Cd-6jgLoQH3zEagY3xzojKVCmZjojJ7gGC2whVOO0CplXmWJTO38IPh-o3BcVA-HwuRvXunjdmyjPEJ5nv~UIeCKsdZ0uYuZF~gwNtwTI3rDk-97tgZnTgoe1kw6XuLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kern Council of Governments' new executive director used his first TPPC/COG report to highlight a recent $39,900,000 Transportation Community and Environmental Protection (TCEP) award for the southbound State Route 99 to westbound State Route 58 connector and to brief members on local grant and outreach activity.

\"It was a huge moment,\" the executive director said of the TCEP award, noting staff and prior leaders were responsible for the application work. He added the region also pursued a USDOT BUILD grant but was not selected in that round; the project is still funded through TCEP and STIP allocations.

The director described the TDA Article 3 actions the TPPC had just approved: \"That's a relatively small awarded projects. It's very flexible money for bike and pedestrian improvements,\" he said, and he encouraged agencies to compete for leftover TDA funds that will roll into the next call for projects.

Staff also reported that CMAQ and RSTP applications for the current cycle closed today at 5:00 p.m. and that the COG received a complete slate of applications from member agencies.

To boost public participation for the regional transportation plan (RTP), staff described a community‑based outreach mini‑grant program offering up to $2,500 per project to support local organizations that can host RTP discussions and gather feedback for plan development.

The executive director asked member agencies to consider invitations for short briefings to local councils and to identify local staff to liaise with COG staff on project and permitting issues. He said he would follow up with agency staff and requested board members pass congratulations to their staff for meeting application deadlines.

The director also provided the board a July progress report on projects of regional significance and a memorandum from an air‑quality consultant about conformity risks. He said federal and state differences on conformity rules create an unresolved technical issue that a handful of projects are tracking, but that exempt program funds such as RSTP and CMAQ were not immediately at risk.","The COG executive director reported on recent funding outcomes, said the board's TDA Article 3 slate was approved, announced the region received a $39,900,000 TCEP award for the 99‑to‑58 connector, confirmed CMAQ/RSTP applications were submitted, and promoted a $2,500 community mini‑grant to support RTP outreach.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Caltrans updates show progress on Keane pavement, SR‑178 work and grant timelines; Kern projects await corridor plan

COG legal counsel advises caution on meeting invocation; board will consider options later

COG board raises questions about $16.1M USDA-backed Lake Isabella senior housing posting; board acknowledges clearinghouse notice

New COG executive director highlights $39.9M TCEP award, TDA reimbursements and RTP outreach mini‑grants